This study used time series analysis of 21 years (1970- 1990) of school productivity data from Virginia to demonstrate the usefulness of time series models in describing variations in school input (primarily expenditures) and output (primarily student attainment and achievement) variables. In the study, a series of trend-removed, ARIMA(1,0,0) autoregressive time series models for school input variables were developed to describe long-term trends in school expenditures, instructional salaries and pupil/teacher ratios and to account for year to year variation in levels of school inputs. Residuals from these models for school inputs were correlated with student attainment scores and achievement score residuals with student ability removed to identify those school productivity inputs having the strongest association with school outputs. The scores of input variables having strong associations with school outputs were then plotted over the 1970-90 time period and descriptively related to historical records of legislative and administrative policy decisions thought to have had statewide effects on school productivity in Virginia. The association of school productivity relationship changes with actual policy events was then described. All school input variables could be described with time series accounting for 90+% of the year to year variance in inputs. Time series residuals from expenditures, instructional salaries and pupil/teacher ratio inputs were moderately to strongly associated with two output measures: 1) the percent of Virginia school graduates attending college; and 2) the percent of dropouts, in most Virginia (30 < N < 100) school districts. These inputs shared 20 to 40% of their variance in common with school attainment outputs. School input residuals for local expenditures and pupil/teacher ratio were also strongly associated with reading, math, and language arts achievement residuals in a small number (N=2- 31) of Virginia school districts. Stronger relationships between inputs and achievement scores in greater numbers of Virginia school districts may be revealed when more years of data are available for future analysis. Plots of significant school input variables concurrently with school outputs and historical policy change events suggested that at least three policy change events may have had positive long term effects on school productivity in Virginia from 1970-90. Legislative commitment to a reduction in pupil/teacher ratio in the early 1980's seems to be associated with a long term decrease in dropout rates and increases in college attendance among students in most Virginia school districts. Commitment to higher teacher salaries in the same time period also seems to be associated with positive changes in college attendance and reductions in dropout rates. Finally, the long term expansion of total educational expenditures in Virginia, primarily through adoption of special education, health education, and dropout prevention curriculum initiatives, seems to be associated with rising levels of student promotion rates, percent of ninth grade students graduating and percent of students attending college from 1970-90. / Ph. D.

In 1987, public colleges and universities in Virginia began complying with state-mandated outcomes assessment requirements. Administrators and faculty were expected to assume the responsibility for conducting assessment planning/activities, and substantial administrator and faculty support for formal assessment was expected to develop gradually over a ten-year period. The purpose of this study was to investigate administrator and faculty support after three years of compliance. The objectives were (1) to investigate across-time involvements and understandings related to institutional/departmental assessment planning and activities; (2) to investigate across-time perceptions of the importance of formal assessment; and (3) to identify factors which had influenced these involvements, understandings, and perceptions of importance. A total of 1,101 administrators and faculty from 37 of the 39 public colleges and universities in Virginia participated in this study. Results indicate that, by 1990, administrator and faculty involvements, understandings, and perceptions of importance had increased significantly. Respondents expected future levels of perceived importance would decline significantly external reporting requirements were eliminated. The most prevalent external factors which had influenced administrators and faculty were the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The most prevalent internal factors were chief academic officers, assessment coordinators, and resource constraints. The findings of this study suggest that after three years of compliance, momentum for formal assessment among administrators and faculty had been generated. While this momentum did not represent administrator and faculty "ownership" of assessment, without doubt more administrators and faculty had become involved in assessment, more had begun to better understand assessment, and more had begun to perceive of formal assessment as important. If SCHEV were to remove its requirements, this momentum would be lost. If SCHEV requirements remain, wider administrator and faculty involvements and understandings should be accompanied by higher levels of perceived importance as more departments begin the process of assessing learning outcomes. By 1990, however, future widespread administrator and faculty "ownership" of formal assessment in Virginia remained uncertain. / Ph. D.

Three-fourths of educational change in recent years has been mandated by external groups such as legislative bodies, executive agencies, and accrediting organizations. Much of this mandated change affected the academic realm of the colleges and universities. Newcombe and Conrad's development of their 1981 mandated academic change (MAC) model, which identified four stages of progression of implementation and four variable categories that affected this implementation, was the only research which addressed this important topic. More research was needed to add to the knowledge base regarding mandated academic change as a strand of planned organizational change. The purpose of this study was to examine the applicability of Newcombe and Conrad's theory of mandated academic change to two-year public institutions in Virginia in the context of the state mandate for all public colleges to adopt student outcome assessment plans. This research employed the qualitative case study method at two community colleges in Virginia which provided real-life examples of the extent of the MAC model's applicability to the implementation of student outcome assessment plans. One-on-one interviews with the college personnel most closely associated with the implementation were utilized. The principal finding was that the stage theory of the MAC model was unsubstantiated. It was also determined that the four variable categories described by the authors were appropriate in a community college setting, but further refinement of these categories using Creamer and Creamer Probability of Adoption of Change model of planned change might be helpful. It was also found that communication and vision, particularly determining the lines of authority, dissemination of information, and the early involvement of those affected by the change, should be given consideration as separate variables in studying mandated academic change. / Ed. D.

Literature illustrates that work attitudes and work behaviors of young agricUltural workers are of major concern to employers, even exceeding their concern about academic skills students bring to the work environment. Little consistency is found in the research about the relationships of various factors to work attitudes and work behaviors of agricUltural education students. The primary purpose of this study was to examine work attitUdes and work behaviors of students in secondary agricultural education programs in selected counties in Virginia and to assess the relationships and predictive value of certain variables to work attitudes and work behavior. The independent variables were gender, academic skills (reading, mathematics, and writing), supervision, work variety, nature (importance) of job, relationship of work and school, and learning on the job. Survey methods were used to collect the data. The study participants consisted of 477 sophomore, junior, and senior students from three rural counties in Virginia. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Factor analysis of the work attitude statements resulted in identification of three factors which were named cynicism about work, intrinsic motivation about work, and extrinsic motivation about work. Factor analysis of work behavior statements resulted in a single factor that had to do with honest behavior on the job. / Ph. D.

Dairy farmers in Virginia are confronted with the problem of continually re-organizing and adjusting their farming operations in an effort to maintain or improve their competitive position. Increasing competition in dairying within the state, as well as potential competition developing in areas outside of the state, makes it essential that dairymen operate efficiently. In particular, they must give careful consideration to various ways of reducing their production costs. Feed costs make up 50 to 60 percent of the total cost of producing milk. Consequently, the feeding program on any dairy farm greatly affects the cost of producing milk and, ultimately, the net return to the farmer. This study had four objectives: (1) to determine the available resources and their restrictions on the farms included in this study; (2) to determine an optimum forage and grain production system and forage to grain feeding ratio for three levels of milk production per cow with milk sales at the blend price not to exceed the present total base sales; (3) to determine which of the three levels of milk production is the most profitable at the present blend price of $5.73 per 100 pounds; (4) to study the effect of changes in the price of milk on the relative profitability of the three levels of production per cow and the forage-to-grain feeding ratios when the amount of profitable milk production is less than the present base. / Master of Science

Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] is an important Christmas tree species in Virginia. Because it is responsive to fertilization, and because most Fraser fir growers fertilize their crop, a scientifically-based nutrient diagnosis and fertilizer recommendation system is needed. The objective of this study was to develop and test DRIS norms for Fraser fir Christmas trees grown in Virginia for the ultimate purpose of establishing a nutrition diagnosis and fertilizer prescription system. A total of 107 Fraser fir plantations were sampled for foliage, soil, and diameter measurements. These plantations represented the range in site conditions and management practices for Fraser fir Christmas trees grown in Virginia. Foliage was analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, and B. Soil was analyzed for extractable macro- and micronutrients. DRIS norms were developed from these data using standard DRIS procedures. A total of 42 nutrient ratios were significant discriminators of tree performance as measured by variation in ground line diameter. The norms were tested using sixth year data from a factorial fertilizer trial. Nutrient limitations due to both deficiencies and imbalance were detected and correctly diagnosed using the newly-derived norms. A complete validation is required, but this preliminary test showed that these norms are useable and useful in their present form. In the process of developing and testing the norms, modifications to traditional DRIS methods were used to meet the special conditions of this crop. DRIS symmetry was maintained by including non-significant ratios, but setting their standardization functions equal to zero. This reduced the influence of the non-discriminating nutrient ratios on the DRIS analysis. Norm ranges as opposed to discrete norms (ratio means) were used to correct for the influence of extremely variable micronutrient ratios on the DRIS analysis. Soil norms did not enhance diagnoses over and above using foliar norms alone. This is due to soil sampling variation, poor correlations of extractable nutrients with tree performance, and an incomplete understanding of fertilizer reactions and uptake chemistry in a variety of soils. Each crop presents unique challenges in the application of DRIS. DRIS should not be naively applied without investigating these problems. The DRIS norms established in this study, and the modifications to standard DRIS methods, provide a sound scientific basis upon which to build a nutrient diagnosis and fertilizer recommendation system for Fraser fir Christmas trees grown in Virginia. / Master of Science

The titanium deposits of Nelson and Amherst counties, Virginia, occur in Precambrian (?) rocks that constitute part of the core of the Blue Ridge-Catoctin Mountain anticlinorium. Approximately 72 square miles were mapped in this study. The central part of the mapped area is underlain by a mass of pegmatitic anorthosite, about which other mappable rock units are distributed more or less peripherally. The chief units, listed from oldest to youngest, are: augen gneiss, biotite pencil gneiss, biotite aplitic gneiss, granitic gneiss, feldspathic gneiss, hypersthene granodiorite, pegmatitic anorthosite, and nelsonite. The pegmatitic anorthosite occurs as sills and dike-like bodies. It originally consisted of coarse-grained, antiperthitic plagioclase (An₃₀). Most of the primary textures in this rock have been obliterated by alteration so that the present rock consists of saussuritized feldspar and minor amounts of altered mafic minerals, plus introduced or recrystallized quartz, rutile, and ilmenite. The mafic minerals include tremolite or anthophyllite, in complete or partial pseudomorphs after coarse-grained pyroxene crystals, and abundant alteration halos of biotite and chlorite. Most of the rocks have a well developed, generally northeasterly striking, southeasterly dipping gneissosity. The rocks were deformed prior to and after alteration and mineralization. Layered structures in hypersthene granodiorite suggest that the rocks have a domal arrangement. A low angle fault in the northeast part of the mapped area apparently resulted in thrusting of the augen gneiss over part of the pegmatitic anorthosite. Most of the rock types are believed to be of igneous origin, although the augen gneiss may be all or in part metasedimentary. The pegmatitic anorthosite and the hypersthene bearing rocks are believed to be comagmatic. Most of the titanium occurs as ilmenite in ilmenite nelsonite bodies and disseminated in highly altered rocks adjacent to the pegmatitic anorthosite. Lesser amounts of rutile occur disseminated in relatively pure but altered pegmatitic anorthosite, in rutile nelsonite end in rutile-bearing quartz veins. The titanium deposits are associated with zones of intense alteration characterized by the development of chlorite, biotite, and amphiboles from mafic minerals in the wall rock, and by saussuritization of the feldspars. Evidence indicates that most or all of the deposits formed by replacement of the wall rock. Titanium, fluorine, phosphorus, water and minor carbon dioxide were added to the wall rocks during alteration and mineralization. The iron-titanium. ratio increases outwardly from the central pegmatitic anorthosite. The original mineralizing fluids may have acquired iron from alteration of the wall rocks. Although the mineralizing fluids may have been derived by differentiation of the same magma from which the hypersthene granodiorite and pragmatic anorthosite were derived, the mineralization was later than the crystallization of the relatively titanium-rich wall rocks. The purer pegmatitic anorthosite is quarried and ground principally for use in the glass industry. Reserves are probably large, but the discontinuity of the pure feldspar rock units demands that each prospective quarry site be drilled thoroughly to determine the quality and extent of the feldspar. A conservative estimate places the reserves of TiO₂ at approximately 12 million tons. Only weathered deposits of ilmenite, at Piney River and the Wood property, are being mined at present, but some of the dike-like ilmenite nelsonite bodies and the disseminated rutile deposits are of present-day ore grade. Areas of intensely altered rocks near or adjacent to the border of the pegmatitic anorthosite should be investigated further so far as their containing economically recoverable titanium. / Ph. D.

In this study I observed, described and measured differences in morphological, physical and chemical properties as a function of age on mine soils formed from overburden from the New River formation of the Pennsylvanian system in southern West Virginia. Within each group, we sampled nine separate sites and further categorized each to one of three predominant overburden types as observed in the exposed highwall (either predominantly sandstone or shale or an approximately even mixture of the two). Three “topsoiled” sites were sampled for comparative purposes, along with three contiguous soil series commonly found in the region. The most striking differences attributable to age were depth of profile development and horizonation. Aggregate stability, hydraulic conductivity and soil color also showed significant variance with age. The mine soils were generally more fertile in those elements analyzed than the natural soils, and the A horizons of mine soils and the natural soils contained approximately the same amounts of coarse fragments. Among the mine soils, the 5 year old soils were more fertile than the 2 or 10 year old soils. Ten years was not enough time to cause significant differences in textural classification of these soils. Texture was reflective of the parent material. / Master of Science

Large amplitude seismic reflections from within the Catoctin Formation of central Virginia are interpreted to originate from acoustically thin beds of interlayered metabasalts and metasediments. Large acoustic impedance contrasts exist between epidotised layers ( epidosites and volcanic breccia) and non-epidotised layers (greenstones and phyllites) within the Catoctin Formation. Acoustic impedance contrasts also exist between greenstones (metabasalts) and phyllites (metasediments). Constructive interference of small amplitude reflections from thin beds result in large amplitude, reverberating reflections. Thin bed reflections that approximate the first derivative of the source wavelet constructively interfere to give even larger amplitude reflections than those originating by conventional tuning. Computer modeling based on two geologic sections of thin beds of epidosites interlayered with greenstones and of greenstones interlayered with phyllites and epidosites indicates that large amplitude reflections result from constructive interference of thin bed reflections. / Master of Science

no abstract provided by author / M.L. Arch.