2011-2012 MICS Student Research

An Analysis of Trends in Chapel Attendance Patterns

 Chanell Anderson and Lauren Waggoner

Advisors: Greg Crow and Maria Zack

 Abstract: Chapel is an integral part of nearly every student’s time at Point Loma Nazarene University. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday provides a time for the student body to gather together as a whole along with faculty and staff in order to participate in Christ-centered community. Prior to Fall 2011, students enrolled in 12 or more units and all residential students with Freshman or Sophomores standing were required to attend 36 Chapels each semester and students with Junior or Senior standing were required to attend 28. In Fall 2008, the student-led service Time Out was offered to students as another opportunity to receive Chapel credit during the week. Through Spring 2009, a student could receive a maximum of three Chapel credits per week. This meant that Time Out could count as an alternate third Chapel credit for a given week. This policy changed in Fall 2009, however, and in a given week a student could earn up to four Chapel credits if they were to attend each Chapel service and Time Out. Because of flexibility in acquiring Chapel credits, it can be valuable from a Chapel programming perspective to understand the make-up of the congregation at different points of the semester. This project will explore the last five years of Chapel attendance, from Fall 2006 to Spring 2011, in order to better understand trends in attendance patterns, identify any emerging trends related to student demographics in the congregation throughout each semester, and determine if there are any correlations between the speaker of Chapel and who is in attendance. This will build off of the research project completed by Marilee Rickett, a 2010 PLNU graduate, who began analysis work on Chapel attendance from 2006 to 2009.

Image Compression Using Tensor Decomposition

 Nathaniel McClatchey

Advisors: Ryan Botts and Jesus Jimenez

Abstract: This paper describes multidimensional image compression using canonical polyadic tensor decomposition. It suggests methods for decomposing two-dimensional and higher-dimensional tensors, then describes how the result may be used for compression. Finally, the results of this technique are compared with the results of other popular image compression techniques.

The Calculus of Variations

 Tyler Levasseur

Advisors: Ryan Botts and Jesus Jimenez

 Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explain the fundamental techniques of the calculus of variations. This includes explaining the details of the derivations of the Euler-Lagrange equation and the Beltrami identity, and their applications to the brachistochrone problem.