Factors Affecting Student Graduation Rates

Over the past few years, colleges and the United States government have become increasingly interested in raising graduation rates. This paper uses data from a survey given to students during their freshman year to analyze factors specific to an individual student that makes them more or less likely to graduate. Previous research shows that high school GPA and SAT scores are the two most statistically significant factors. In my study, I use a logit regression model to determine which factors are significant to a student’s likelihood of graduating. As with previous research I found high school GPA to be the most statistically significant. Other factors found to be statistically significant were if the student is a first-generation student, how well the student feels they can pay for their next semesters costs, the students self-reported ability to prioritize, manage their time, and take notes

Exploring utilization of visualization for computer and network security

The role of the network security administrator is continually morphing to keep pace with the ever-changing area of computer and network security. These changes are due in part to both the continual development of new security exploits by attackers as well as improvements in network security products available for use. One area which has garnered much research in the past decade is the use of visualization to ease the strain on network security administrators. Visualization mechanisms utilize the parallel processing power of the human visual system to allow for the identification of possible nefarious network activity. This research details the development and use of a visualization system for network security. The manuscript is composed of four papers which provide a progression of research pertaining to the system. The first paper utilizes research in the area of information visualization to develop a new framework for designing visualization systems for network security. Next, a visualization system is developed in the second paper which has been utilized during multiple cyber defense competitions to aid in competition performance. The last two papers deal with evaluating the developed system. First, an exploratory analysis provides an initial assessment using participant interviews during one cyber defense competition. Second, a quasi field experiment explores the intention of subjects to use the system based on the type of visualization being viewed

An investigation into the implementation of green building features and initiatives among stakeholders in the Zambian property market

There is a global challenge and demand in the current century to develop buildings that conserve and preserve the environment; implementing green building features and initiatives (GBFIs) is one way to achieve this. The success of implementing GBFIs requires inclusive participation of the stakeholders in the property market. A multiple case study analysis was conducted on the Zambian Property market, involving three buildings that had different GBFIs. A total of six interviews were conducted across the three cases with relevant stakeholders, namely Facilities managers, tenants, project architect and regulatory body representative. Interviewees were asked questions pertaining to their company’s participation in the development of green building, the benefits of GBFIs, the perception of GBFIs, the relationships among stakeholders as well as the impact of GBFIs in the property market. The findings revealed that there were different approaches to implementing GBFIs. However, a lack of knowledge by some stakeholders on green features and their benefits was noted. This lack of knowledge was a product of inadequate education and poor integration of stakeholders in implementing GBFIs in the Zambian property market. It is important to note that there are vigorous efforts by stakeholders including the government in contributing to conserving the environment in the Zambian property industry. This is evident in the formulation of green building guidelines and environmental impact assessment guidelines for the construction industry

Utilizing a Virtual Internet Testbed and Private Cloud to Teach Organizational Cloud Integration

Cloud based technologies have steadily diffused into corporations, and even while educational institutions have adopted such resources to improve student experiences, little has been done to educate students on how such services are integrated into an organization. We posit that it is vital to enhance the ability of IS professionals in training to perform successfully in post academic environments that utilize cloud technologies. Unfortunately, the very nature of cloud technology requires public IP’s, DNS servers to route to external cloud resources, organizational credentials, and more. To minimize organizational overhead, we use a private cloud, existing within an Internet-Scale Event and Attack Generation Environment (ISEAGE) testbed, to mimic real-world processes required for deployment of these services. This, compared via post and pretest surveys, will be directly compared to more traditional deployment methods to view any statistical differences in the pedagogical efficacy of such an environment

This Isn’t Your Parent’s TV Show…Oh Wait, It Is

Popular conception holds that Millennials and Gen Z’ers do not like old stuff. Whether it be old games, books, technology, movies, or TV shows, the prevailing thought is that the younger generation prefers newer things. While this may be perpetuated online and in popular press, it may be less than accurate as more and more data shows these younger generations preferring older content. This research tests this assumption by tracking favorite TV shows of Millennials and Gen Z’ers over a seven-year period. Results show that these individuals actually prefer non-current TV shows and the level of “non-currentness” of their preference is growing over time providing interesting results for online content providers

Gophish: Implementing a Real-World Phishing Exercise to Teach Social Engineering

Social engineering is a large problem in our modern technological world, but while conceptually understood, it is harder to teach compared to traditional pen testing techniques. This research details a class project where students implemented a phishing exercise against real-world targets. Through cooperation with an external corporate partner, students learned the legal, technical, behavioral, analysis, and reporting aspects of social engineering. The outcome provided both usable data for a real-world corporation as well as valuable educational experience for the students