Date of Graduation

4-2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College/School

School of Education

Department

Leadership Studies

Program

Organization & Leadership EdD

First Advisor

Danfeng Koon

Second Advisor

Nicola McClung

Third Advisor

Darrick Smith

Abstract

Subsidized transit policy is a strategy used to lessen environmental impacts and increase institutional accessibility in higher education. Program funding to support this subsidized transit policy can vary between institutions. This research focuses on the geographic analysis of Eco Pass, a student led initiative implemented in the Foothill De Anza Community College District in California to offset transportation costs for students. Through the use of Environmental Science Research Institute software, the research aimed to determine which geographic areas, if any, were of high and low probability of Eco Pass use from data during 2011-2017 using Tobler’s first law of geography. Exploratory regression was conducted using income, population, crime, vehicle ownership, and educational attainment (per census block) to determine Eco Pass use prediction. The results of the analysis indicate that over time the mean of the Eco Pass population, by student address, shifted eastward for the entire district. The impact of De Anza College’s Eco Pass students impacted the overall district, more than Foothill. Exploratory regression of selected variables revealed that population, with crime index on the borderline, as predictors of Eco Pass use. Ultimately, regression models were rejected to non-stationarity.

Recommendations based on findings include assessing the goals of the Eco Pass policy. This study found that Foothill has less influence in the district Eco Pass geographic distribution and no significance of hot or cold spots. De Anza college has the larger influence and the largest area of high probability of use is that adjacent to the campus community. Spatial analysis based on Tobler’s law indicates that the district Eco Pass policy is providing access to students who differ from its own community, but further analysis resulted in discussion around the impacts of the changing composition of the district community. Being that the district exists within the unique area of the Silicon Valley, these changes will ultimately impact the student population.

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