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Homotopy Types of Spaces of 2-dimensional Functorial Field Theories
Full text linkThis work studies homotopy types connected to classifying spaces for 2-dimensional functorial field theories valued in -categories built from the 2-category of Kapranov-Voevodsky 2-vector spaces . First, we analyze theories valued directly in a smooth -enhancement of . We find the corresponding classifying space has the homotopy type , which after group completion produces the suspension spectrum . We also establish a differential model identifying these FFTs with unordered tuples of bundle gerbes with fiberwise connections. Motivated by Baas-Dundas-Rognes' work relating KV 2-vector spaces to iterated K-theory, we introduce an -category based on concordance classes of chain complexes. The core -groupoid serves as an -groupoid completion of KV 2-vector spaces with ``weakly invertible'' morphisms. Computing the classifying space for FFTs valued in , we show its additive group completion recovers the iterated K-theory spectrum
Future in Motion: Building Community Through Transportation
Full text link26 pagesThe authors would like to thank Lane Transportation District (LTD), Robert Binder, and the students of PPPM 410/510 for making this project possible. The writers would also like to thank participating LTD staff for offering the support and resources integral to the completion of this report: Brandon Melton, Senior Planner and Dave Roth, Director of Mobility Planning and Policy.
This report represents original student work and recommendations prepared by students in the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program for Lane Transit District. Text and images contained in this report may not be used without permission from the University of Oregon.The Transportation Policy class worked with Lane Transit District (LTD) to develop a series of policy proposals developed over a 10-week term intended to provide the basis for developing LTD’s Long-Range Mobility Plan (LTD Connect 2045). The students’ policy proposals provide a vision for the future of an equitable, sustainable, and transformative transportation system in Eugene-Springfield and the broader Lane County area. Students worked in groups to research transportation policy through the lens’ of education, social capital, economics, housing, and health. Students imagined policy solutions outside of the Overton window of the next long-range mobility plan and finalized their perspective in a series of policy proposals. Students furthered LTD’s goals of sourcing imaginative solutions to issues of connectivity and accessibility. The LTD policies that students recommended work to improve mobility, opportunity, built environment, inclusion and accessibility, land use & housing, and evaluation. By impacting the physical, cultural and systemic environments, students believe LTD could further connect and improve their service. The most feasible, impactful, and creative policies are highlighted in this final policy report document.Community partnerships are possible in part due to support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending
Tax Multilateralism in Regional Economic Communities
Full text link40 pagesThis paper assesses the challenges to tax multilateralism in regional economic communities (RECs). In addition, this paper assesses the impact of tax multilateralism in RECs on revenue mobilization of the respective member states of the RECs as well as on the tax harmonization efforts of member states’ tax policies
Mechanisms for Charge Selectivity in Photoelectrochemical Systems
No full textPhotoelectrochemical (PEC) systems rely on charge-selective contacts to facilitate electron transfer processes critical for energy conversion reactions. This dissertation examines the fundamental electron transfer mechanisms that enable charge separation at semiconductor-electrocatalyst interfaces. Through experimental studies, we establish that heterojunction formation and the pinch-off effect dominate charge selectivity in a noble metal/III-V photocathode system. Additionally, we develop a wireless photovoltage mapping technique that enables direct measurement of interfacial potential gradients across chemically distinct sites, advancing the characterization of buried charge transfer processes.Further, this work identifies the presence of adaptive and cooperatively adaptive junctions in SrTiO3-based overall water splitting systems. These mechanisms dictate charge separation efficiency and influence carrier transport at the semiconductor-electrocatalyst interface. The ability of electrocatalysts to dynamically modulate their electronic properties under operating conditions is demonstrated as a key factor in achieving efficient charge selectivity.
The experimental techniques developed in this dissertation advance the characterization of PEC systems, allowing for precise determination of interfacial charge transfer dynamics. The results provide a framework for improving PEC device efficiency by refining material interfaces and optimizing electron transfer pathways. The findings contribute to the broader understanding of interfacial charge dynamics in semiconductor systems and have implications for applications beyond water splitting, including CO2 reduction and nitrogen fixation. By identifying and quantifying dominant charge-selective mechanisms, this work enhances the theoretical and experimental understanding of PEC devices and provides strategies for improving their performance through material and interfacial engineering.2026-04-2
Case Study: Examining Teachers’ Perceptions of Need in Areas Crucial for Preparation and Practice in Five Pacific Northwest Districts
Full text linkAdam M. Watkins
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership
Title: Case Study: Examining Teachers’ Perceptions of Need in Areas Crucial for Preparation and Practice in Five Pacific Northwest Districts
This dissertation investigates the perceived effectiveness of teacher preparation and professional development programming in enhancing critical pedagogical skills and teaching outcomes. An examination of the research base identifies four critical areas: clinical experience and classroom practice, culturally responsive professional development, technological advancements and 21st-century skills, and collaboration and mentorship opportunities as a basis for developing teaching knowledge and skills. The study employs a mixed-methods case study approach, exploring teachers’ experiences, perspectives, and practices during pre-service preparation and since entering the teaching profession, with a particular focus on the role of school building administrators in influencing teacher professional development. Data is collected through survey and interview with teachers at various career stages, in both urban and rural settings. The dissertation is structured around an exploratory framework that includes thematic analysis to uncover the importance of and path to supporting effective teaching in the four critical areas. The study addresses the following research questions:
1. How do teachers perceive the effectiveness and quality of the four critical areas in their teacher preparation programs?
2. What elements do teachers identify as essential in teacher training and professional development based on their perceptions and experiences?
By addressing these questions, the dissertation aims to contribute to the ongoing refinement of the supports that districts and school administrators provide for teachers, ensuring they align with the evolving needs of educators, educational systems, and research-proven professional development. The study underscores the importance of teacher voice in identifying and addressing areas in need of systematic change informed by teachers’ professional needs. The longer-term goal of this research is to create a responsive and dynamic framework that supports teacher training within districts, with a focus on continuous improvement and adaptation, equipping educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive and contribute effectively to classroom teaching and learning
Advancing Digital Periodical Preservation: A Framework for Expanded Collection Scope and Enhanced Accessibility
Full text linkPreservation of digitized and born-digital newspapers is not new to libraries, museums, historical societies, and other cultural heritage institutions in the United States. As the Library of Congress-designated successor to the chronam application, which originally supported the Chronicling America website, Open Online Newspaper Initiative (Open ONI) encompasses a collection of open source, collaboratively developed newspaper-hosting software. This white paper establishes a framework for institutions seeking to expand their digital newspaper collections beyond traditional boundaries while maintaining adherence to established preservation standards and enhancing accessibility for contemporary researchers. First, it demonstrates strategic modifications to the established National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) batch specification, incorporating enhanced rights declarations and expanded metadata fields while addressing the complexities of potential batch versioning for dynamic digital collections. Second, it provides detailed workflow protocols for newspaper metadata creation implemented through a curation application ("Scoop") designed to address the particular challenges of license agreements, content embargoes, rights management protocols, and born-digital PDF processing. Finally, the paper examines proposed enhancements to optical character recognition methodologies currently employed by major digitization vendors, identifying potential improvements to accuracy, accessibility, and discoverability within large-scale newspaper digitization initiatives.National Endowment for the Humanitie
Sustainable City Year Program Annual Report 2025
No full text55 pagesThis compilation report celebrates 15 years of collaborative efforts of the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) and details the partnership with the City of Oakridge. The City of Oakridge and SCYP are partnering over two years to match resources from existing university courses with priority city projects. The 2024-25 academic year partnership involved over nine projects across four schools and colleges, eight faculty members, and over 250 students addressing key strategic priority areas identified by the Oakridge City Council. In year one of the partnership, students and faculty undertook projects to include marketing and development for the Oakridge Industrial Park, operational and fundraising strategies for the Willamette Activity Center, promoting tourism with local businesses, middle housing planning and design, community service program options, affordable GIS alternatives for the city, and a GIS-based environmental assessment and geological field study of the TV Butte area. The report summarizes the SCYP partnerships to provide practical recommendations and innovative solutions to help the community tackle its challenges, leveraging the latest academic insights and the energy of university students to drive forward a more sustainable future.Community partnerships are possible in part due to support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending
Homelessness and the Law: Analyzing City of Grants Pass v. Johnson
No full text41 pagesAlready being deemed a landmark decision by some, the Supreme Court ruled last summer in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson that cities who choose to pursue punitive approaches in addressing the homelessness crisis are not in violation of the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause. This thesis seeks to explore the events and circumstances surrounding this decision, as well break down the logic behind the opinions. Additionally, it sets out to highlight how the law tackles inherently political issues, utilizing the issue of homelessness and the town of Grants Pass as a case study. Drawing upon the case, relevant precedents, law reviews, amicus briefs, local reporting, substantive research, and personal perspectives, this thesis demonstrates that the central debate concerns who is to bear responsibility when addressing the homelessness crisis, and moreover, in what manner. From the perspective of many municipalities, the most effective approach is to minimize the visibility of homelessness, as well as seek solutions that ensure immediate public safety. However, advocates for the unhoused often dismiss such passive approaches and demand solutions that are long lasting and actively address the underlying issue at hand—the housing crisis. As a result, this thesis unearths the ways in which the law goes about being political, while simultaneously, performing its obligatory duty of interpreting the Constitution in all its vagueness. The central conclusions focus on dissecting municipalities’ focus on encampments, the plight of neglected rural communities, where unhoused populations often do not meet the standard definition of “homelessness,” and lastly, the legitimacy of the Supreme Court when engaging in judicial activism.2145-01-0
THE SHIELD, THE POEM, AND THE POET: MATERIAL, THEMATIC, AND CREATIVE RESONANCE IN THE EKPHRASIS OF ACHILLES’ SHIELD IN BOOK 18 OF THE ILIAD
Full text link37 pagesThe ekphrasis of Achilles’ Shield has been a topic of scholarly interest for millennia due to its unusually lengthy description and departure from the formulaic structure of ancient epic poetry. Crafted by Hephaestus and described by Homer, the Shield occupies a unique position, unable to be concretely classified as narration or description. The distance between the immortal craftsman and mortal poet leaves the Shield’s physical appearance ambiguous; the scenes engraved on the face are simultaneously characterized as static visual art features and dynamic vignettes. The veiled materiality of the object and the passage’s ekphrastic format curate an environment for innumerable metaphorical and thematic interpretations. The cosmic center and oceanic border surrounding the anthropocentric vignettes enclose the scenes within a self-sufficient universe, creating a microcosm of the Iliad’s central plot and themes. Homer’s presence during the fabrication of the Shield complicates the boundaries between the narrative and its author, as the poet aligns himself with the divine craftsman. Embedding a microcosm of the poem within itself creates a doubling effect that, along with depictions of oral poetry on the object, shifts creative authority away from Hephaestus and labels Homer the Shield’s creator
Elementary Students’ Social Emotional Need Fulfillment Post Pandemic: An Exploratory Study
Full text linkThis dissertation presents an exploratory study examining the social emotional development of elementary students who experienced long-term social distancing and disruptions in learning during the COVID-19 global pandemic. I employed student self-report surveys to discover: (a) how each of the CASEL environments are helping to develop the social emotional competencies of elementary students post pandemic, and (b) what social and emotional needs are not being addressed for elementary students. The participants in this study included 93 third through sixth grade students in two K-6 elementary schools in a frontier-rural Eastern Oregon school district. These data were triangulated with class discussions with 136 students in the larger of the two schools and Oregon SEED Survey data from the 2020-21 through the 2023-24 school years. Oregon SEED data from pilot years 2020-21 through 2022-23 included 8,462-9,802 third through sixth grade public school students in Oregon. The pilot years represented less than 10% of students enrolled in Oregon public schools. Oregon SEED data from the 2023-24 school year included 93,322 third through sixth grade students. This represents approximately 44% of enrolled students in grades 3-6. Key findings include elementary students self-reported a statistically significant decline in school enjoyment, emotional safety, and sense of belonging among peers, particularly among fifth and sixth graders. Addressing these gaps in classrooms, schools, families, and communities is essential to shifting the trajectory of students’ SEL competency development to support student growth