The problem of this study was to determine through a review of the literature the reliability and validity of using student, alumni and faculty perceptions of program quality as criteria in the evaluation of off-campus programs, developing data gathering instruments to obtain these perceptions, administering the instruments, and determining if there were significant differences in the ratings within and between the three groups.

<p dir="ltr">Large-scale events pose significant challenges for security professionals, requiring robust and redundant, comprehensive frameworks to mitigate potential threats and ensure the safety of attendees. This dissertation presents a multifaceted approach to enhancing large-scale event security, incorporating diverse methodologies and technologies. The study examines security screening technologies, hardened cyber-physical fortifications, and modeling & simulation methods for staffing and resource allocation. Experiments were conducted on the technical evaluation of the XTRACT technology, as well as the implementation of secret shoppers to unveil security vulnerabilities. A comparative analysis was then conducted to reveal the distinguishing characteristics of each experiment and their benefit to human-tech security. Recommendations for future research encompass the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in event planning and security, highlighting the potential benefits and ethical challenges, as well as methods for improving military installation (cyber) physical defense.</p>

This thesis analyses major U.S. military bases closed by the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission since 1988. The study focuses on geographic patterns of pre-existing versus BRAC bases, statistical attributes, environmental restoration, and reuse of bases. Comparative case studies supplement the analysis, highlighting rural versus urban location, success versus failure, politics, conflict, and local versus national goals. Thesis findings are that: 92 bases closed versus 97 commonly published; a fairly even national closure pattern occurred, indicating Commission efforts to achieve equity, except for three closure clusters indicating efforts to consolidate functions in some regions and leave others; base reuse, while commonly perceived negatively, has been positive in most cases; the BRAC process is becoming more efficient, such that allowed years between BRAC closure decisions and base closures should be reduced from six to three years to benefit both communities and the Defense Department.