First-of-Its-Kind Survey Discussed at 20^th-Anniversary Knight Commission Meeting Reveals Dilemma of Reform, Overwhelming Agreement on Excessive Coaching Salaries

University presidents at institutions with major football programs agree that current spending trends on intercollegiate athletics cannot be sustained nationally and collective action is needed to address escalating costs, a study released at a meeting held by the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics revealed today. More than 80% of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly Division 1A) university presidents participated in a survey that examined the presidents’ attitudes and perceptions about the challenges, benefits and costs of supporting intercollegiate athletic programs. (more…)

The Institute for Interactive Journalism at American University has received a $200,000 grant from the McCormick Foundation to fund eight women-led start-ups over the next two years that will generate new ideas in the world of news and information and model a spirit of journalistic entrepreneurship.

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Alina Fernandez, the daughter of Fidel Castro, will speak at Clarkson University in New York on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public.  Fernandez will share her first-person, intimate account of growing up in Cuba.

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Center to Kick Off with Inaugural “Leadership for a Better World” Event in Washington, D.C.

The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced the Center for Social Value Creation will launch Friday, September 25 with an event in Washington, D.C., to explore how leaders create, build and sustain organizations for social impact while meeting business goals. The center’s priority is to engage students in courses and experiential learning programs to enable them to become global leaders who understand how to use business as a vehicle for both economic prosperity and transformative social change, and to support faculty research in related areas. (more…)

The University of San Diego has joined an elite group of universities that are early adopters of mobile applications. With the release of “MySDMobile,” USD students have access to a diverse suite of nine programs using the Apple iPhone and other smart mobile devices such as the RIM BlackBerry. (more…)

The Coca-Cola Company announced today that it will give $6 million to Spelman
College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and the Morehouse School of
Medicine, all part of the Atlanta University Center. This support will assist
students at these Atlanta-based historically black colleges and universities
with scholarship funds where economic hardship is impacting the likelihood of
the completion of their education. Additionally, the Company announced that $1.2
million will be given to the Robert W. Woodruff Library on the campus of the
Atlanta University Center to upgrade the Library`s IT infrastructure and enhance
the ability to manage and provide access to critical archival documents, such as
the Martin Luther King, Jr. papers. (more…)

Media are invited to participate in the science and technology tours being held
in conjunction with the Pittsburgh G-20 Summit Sept. 24-25. Twelve one-hour
tours-hosted by the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and
the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center-are being offered on Monday, Sept.
21. They will highlight the science and technology that is driving the region`s
economy. (more…)

University of Phoenix alumni have the chance to nominate family members, friends, colleagues or community members for the university’s “Paying It Forward” scholarship. The university encourages its 475,000 alumni to participate in the 2009 program that will award 30 full-tuition scholarships for individuals to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree. The application deadline is October 16.
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Ron McDaniel, a 1969 University of Dayton alumnus in Chicago, has committed $1 million to his alma mater to start an endowment for “Flyer Angels.” It will be one of a handful of undergraduate angel investment groups in the country when it launches in 2010.

Under the proposed program, Flyer Angels would partner with a local angel organization to evaluate new venture business plans for possible investment. Entrepreneurship majors would help perform due diligence on these start-up companies as well as deciding whether or not to invest. Angel investors are individuals or groups who provide funding for fledgling companies, usually in exchange for a stake in the company. (more…)

The University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM), Marquette University and Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), in partnership with several regional companies and foundations, have formed the Southeastern Wisconsin Energy Technology Research Center (SWETRC).

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ABC News is coming — to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

The college will open the newest ABC News On Campus bureau this month, offering students the opportunity to work with and learn from professionals at a national broadcast news network. The On Campus program is a partnership between the ABC television network’s news division and seven leading journalism schools.

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If the entering college class of 2013 had been more alert back in 1991 when most of them were born, they would now be experiencing a severe case of déjà vu. The headlines that year railed about government interventions, bailouts, bad loans, unemployment and greater regulation of the finance industry. The Tonight Show changed hosts for the first time in decades, and the nation asked “was Iraq worth a war?”

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Northwestern University President Henry S. Bienen will retire from his position effective August 31, 2009 and will become Vice Chairman of the Rasmussen College, Inc. Board of Directors effective September 1, 2009. Bienen has been a member of the Rasmussen Board of Directors for five years.

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Arizona State University (ASU) will enrich its engineering education and provide students more advanced preparation to enter the workforce through an in-kind software grant from Siemens PLM Software to ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering announced today. Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division, is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services. With a commercial value of nearly $245 million, it is the largest in-kind grant in the university’s history.
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The Nevada Board of Regents today approved the appointment of Dr. Neal J. Smatresk as the ninth president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Smatresk received a two-year contract (August 1, 2009-June 30, 2011) with an annual base salary of $289,120 in the first fiscal year and $246,426.84 in the second fiscal year. He will also receive the following annual perquisites: $8,000 automobile allowance, $18,000 housing allowance, and a $5,000 host account. In addition, the UNLV Foundation will supplement the president’s compensation by $58,880 in the first fiscal year and $101,573.16 in the second fiscal year.

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A report released today by Forbes ranked West Point, The U.S. Military Academy, the top college in the country in their America’s Best College report.

“Marked by an intense work ethic and drive to succeed on all fronts, the West Point undergraduate experience also allows graduates to leave without a penny of tuition loans to repay,” Forbes stated in their release.

The Center for College Affordability and Productivity staff gathered data from a variety of sources basing 25 percent of the rankings on seven million student evaluations of courses and instructors, as recorded on the Web site RateMyProfessors.com. Another 25 percent depends on how many of the school’s alumni, adjusted for enrollment, were listed among the notable people in Who’s Who in America.

The other half of the ranking were based equally on three factors; the average amount of student debt at graduation held by those who borrowed; the percentage of students graduating in four years; and the number of students or faculty, adjusted for enrollment, who have won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes Scholarships or Nobel Prizes.

To see the complete rankings go to www.forbes.com.

University of Iowa researchers recently received a four-year, $380,000 NASA grant through the Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) to study the link between greenhouse gas production and agricultural land.

Charles Stanier, assistant professor of chemical and biochemical engineering in the UI College of Engineering and assistant research engineer at IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering, said that the grant will enable him and his colleagues to establish a UI program linking NASA satellites to Iowa’s carbon budget, including focused studies on links to soil erosion and cropping practices. 

In addition to the project’s research focus, there is an emphasis on education and training opportunities for undergraduate students in NASA earth sciences research. 

“Increased demands on the state of Iowa for biofuels production coupled with anticipated reduction programs for greenhouse gas emissions create a challenging set of questions and choices for scientists, policymakers, farmers and businesses,” Stanier said. “The goal of the Iowa Multiscale Carbon and Nitrogen Studies (IMCANS) project is to quantify these links while building a program of national stature in the study of greenhouse gas fluxes in intense agricultural systems.”

He added that if the program is successful, it will further NASA earth science priorities and likely attract additional external funding. The project will make use of several existing observatories including the National Science Foundation-supported Clear Creek Amana Hydrologic Observatory, UI atmospheric carbon transport models, and the new tall tower observatory located about 10 miles from Iowa City.

Serving as co-director of the grant is Thanos Papanicolaou, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, associate faculty research engineer at IIHR, and researcher at the UI Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER). Also assisting with the research activities are Gregory Carmichael, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering and CGRER co director, and Tom Moorman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Soil Tilth Laboratory.

The project funding includes some $190,000 in matching funds from the UI general education fund. Also, IIHR is providing $24,625 in equipment funds.

Composed of academic members that include the UI, Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University, the ISGC is a nonprofit organization sponsored by NASA with support from Iowa academic affiliates, industry and aerospace associations. The ISGC works to coordinate and improve Iowa’s future in aerospace science, design and technology and to stimulate aerospace research, education and outreach activities throughout the state.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services

Eastern Michigan University has named Walter Kraft as its new vice president for communications, his appointment effective August 10, 2009.

“I’m pleased that Walter will be joining Eastern Michigan,” said Susan Martin, president of EMU.  “His knowledge of the media landscape locally and nationally, and his background as a leading communications executive in the region will help us tell the stories of Eastern’s impact in Michigan.  He brings energy and passion to the position and will help us to effectively communicate the excellent education, accessibility and programs Eastern Michigan University provides.”

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The Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business today announced Craig Dye has joined the center as director of investments. In his new position, Dye will be leading the continued growth of the Dingman Center’s Capital Access Network, a successful angel investment group focused on funding early-stage deals up to $1.5 million. He will lead the network’s growth and support the Dingman Center’s continued efforts to fuel economic development and job creation throughout state and region.

“Craig will help us continue the center’s role in supporting economic development and innovation throughout Maryland,” said Asher Epstein, managing director of the Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. “His investment and entrepreneurial experience brings a valued set of skills to lead the Capital Access Network’s growth.”

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Piccolo Educational Systems, Inc. (PEDU.OB) dba Piccolo International University (“PIU”) announced today that Travis Allen will join the University as its Director of Enrollment and Marketing. Mr. Allen previously served as the Director of Marketing and Enrollment for Endeavour Learning Group and as both a Campus Director and Director of Enrollment for the University of Phoenix (APOL).     

“We are delighted to welcome Travis Allen to PIU. He not only brings a wealth of experience in the area of marketing and student enrollment, but also an enthusiasm for helping students to improve their lives,” said Dr. Laura Palmer Noone, CEO.  “He is a wonderful addition to our team.” (more…)

The Kansas Board of Regents announced at a special meeting at the board’s office in Topeka that Dr. Bernadette Gray-Little will be the 17th chancellor at The University of Kansas. Gray-Little, who will be the first woman and first African American to lead KU, will begin her chancellorship on August 15.

“The Board is proud to announce that Dr. Gray-Little will be the next chancellor of the University of Kansas,” said Regent Donna Shank of Liberal, Chair of the Board of Regents. “She rose to the top of an exceptionally talented and competitive pool of applicants. Dr. Gray-Little’s outstanding record of academic excellence and impressive administrative leadership throughout her notable career, along with her inspiring enthusiasm and character, make it clear that she is ideally-suited to propel KU to even loftier heights.”

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R. Alexander Acosta, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has been selected as dean of the FIU College of Law. Acosta, 40, will become the second dean to lead the College of Law.

“I am confident that Alex Acosta’s energy and his passion for the law and commitment to FIU and our community will take our law school to the next level,” said FIU President Modesto A. Maidique. “His connections at the national and local level and his proven leadership here at home will inspire the next generation of law students at FIU.” (more…)

Economist Garth Saloner, a scholar of entrepreneurship and business strategy, will be the next dean of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, President John Hennessy and Provost John Etchemendy announced today. Saloner, who joined the Stanford faculty in 1990, is the Jeffrey S. Skoll Professor of Electronic Commerce, Strategic Management, and Economics, and a director of the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Graduate School of Business. He will succeed Robert Joss, who is stepping down after 10 years as dean. Saloner’s appointment is effective Sept. 1, 2009. (more…)

Northwest Missouri State’s Board of Regents has selected Dr. John Jasinski, executive vice president and chief academic and operating officer of Northwood University in Midland, Mich., to be the University’s next president. Jasinski succeeds Dr. Dean L. Hubbard, who will retire at the end of June after 25 years as Northwest’s top administrator. When he assumes the presidency July 1, Jasinski will become the tenth president in the University’s 104-year history.

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One of most uncertain admission environments in memory is proving to be a blessing to the University of Dayton, a national Catholic university and Ohio’s largest private university, with an incoming class that is shaping up as one of the most academically prepared and diverse in the school’s history. (more…)

Despite the tough economic environment and recession-starved budgets, many employers and individuals are investing in executive development programs. As a result, many Executive Education programs are competing for applicants in an increasingly complex environment, and are offering quality programs for Executive MBA and Executive Education. By pairing leading faculty with PhD’s and real world experience George Mason University’s School of Management Executive Program provides an important alternative for people who must maintain their jobs, but also want to get ahead and be better positioned with enhanced management skills for the economic upturn. (more…)

Dr. Lesley M. Hallick was named the 17th president of Pacific University in a morning ceremony today at Old College Hall on the University’s Forest Grove campus. Pacific University alumna and Trustee Mindy Cameron ’65 chaired the Presidential Search Committee and made the announcement before a crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. Hallick will begin serving as Pacific President on August 1, 2009, succeeding Dr. Phillip Creighton, who has served as Pacific President since 2003. Creighton joined Cameron today in welcoming Dr. Hallick to Pacific.

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James Gimzewski, UCLA Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, was today elected a 2009 fellow of Britain’s prestigious Royal Society in recognition of his scientific excellence.
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Online Channel Will Feature Campus Events, Faculty Expertis

Looking to catch the secretary of state’s next visit to the Georgetown campus? Or hear the latest thoughts of a Nobel Prize winner? Viewers near and far now have another means to catch a glimpse of what’s happening on the Hilltop – without even setting foot in the nation’s capital.

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Barack Obama’s commencement address Sunday at the University of Notre Dame, as released by the White House. Fr. John Jenkins is President of Notre Dame. Fr. Theodore Hesburgh is the previous president.

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Thank you, Father Jenkins, for that generous introduction. You are doing an outstanding job as president of this fine institution, and your continued and courageous commitment to honest, thoughtful dialogue is an inspiration to us all.

Good afternoon, Father Hesburgh, Notre Dame trustees, faculty, family, friends and the class of 2009. I am honored to be here today and grateful to all of you for allowing me to be part of your graduation.

I want to thank you for this honorary degree. I know it has not been without controversy. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but these honorary degrees are apparently pretty hard to come by. So far I’m only 1 for 2 as president. Father Hesburgh is 150 for 150. I guess that’s better. Father Ted, after the ceremony, maybe you can give me some pointers on how to boost my average. (more…)