Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
UCCS Receives Open Educational Resources Funding for Books and Course Materials
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, Jan. 21 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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UCCS receives Open Educational Resources funding for books and course materials
Through the Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative, UCCS is receiving funds to ease the cost of classroom materials and books for students in two programs.
As part of the 2026-2027 Collaborative OER Grants, UCCS is receiving almost $75,000 in funds towards nursing materials for the expansion of the Colorado OER Anatomy Hub, a project that provides free digital anatomical models that can be affordably
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, Jan. 21 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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UCCS receives Open Educational Resources funding for books and course materials
Through the Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative, UCCS is receiving funds to ease the cost of classroom materials and books for students in two programs.
As part of the 2026-2027 Collaborative OER Grants, UCCS is receiving almost $75,000 in funds towards nursing materials for the expansion of the Colorado OER Anatomy Hub, a project that provides free digital anatomical models that can be affordablyprinted in 3D for use in science and healthcare classrooms. UCCS will also receive $20,000 for developing an Open Educational Resource for an Introductory Aerospace Engineering Course.
Open Educational Resources are freely available online teaching and learning materials accessible to students, instructors and self-learners. OER textbooks and other learning resources are openly licensed, typically under a Creative Commons License(opens in new window), with the ability for instructors and students to freely retain copies, re-use, revise, remix and share. OER are free, no-cost materials. OER offers provides materials the first day of class, access into the future after the course ends, and the most affordable cost for students of $0.
About the OER Grant Program
The Colorado OER Grant Program funds the adoption and development of open educational resources at institutions across the state. The OER grant program launched in 2018 with three years of funding from H.B. 18-1331, and then the program was expanded an additional five years through S.B. 21-215. The OER adopted, adapted, or created in the first six cycles of the grant program has saved Colorado students over $59.7 million in textbook costs to date. The cumulative cost savings for the first six years of the grant program are projected to surpass $75 million in spring 2026. Learn more about the impact of the Colorado OER Grant Program in the 2025 Open Educational Resources Report.
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REPORT: https://highered.colorado.gov/publications/Reports/Legislative/OER/OER_Report_2025_Final.pdf
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Original text here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/01/20/uccs-receives-open-educational-resources-funding-for-books-and-course-materials/
PolyU achieves impressive results in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with six subjects ranking in global top 100; Business and Economics placed in global top 25 and first in Hong Kong
HONG KONG, Jan. 21 -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University issued the following news release:
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PolyU achieves impressive results in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with six subjects ranking in global top 100; Business and Economics placed in global top 25 and first in Hong Kong
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has excelled in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with six subjects ranked among the world's top 100, including Business and Economics (25th), Engineering (43rd), Social Sciences (52nd), Computer
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HONG KONG, Jan. 21 -- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University issued the following news release:
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PolyU achieves impressive results in THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with six subjects ranking in global top 100; Business and Economics placed in global top 25 and first in Hong Kong
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has excelled in the newly released Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026, with six subjects ranked among the world's top 100, including Business and Economics (25th), Engineering (43rd), Social Sciences (52nd), ComputerScience (70th), Arts and Humanities (77th) and Physical Sciences (99th). These results reflect the international recognition PolyU has earned for its academic and research strengths across disciplines.
Multiple PolyU subjects achieved encouraging results in local rankings. Notably, Business and Economics was ranked first in Hong Kong, Social Sciences was joint second, while Engineering, Arts and Humanities, and Medical and Health were ranked third respectively.
As an innovative world-class university, PolyU is committed to pursuing excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer for the benefit of society. Moving forward, the University will continue to expand its global collaborative network, aiming to play a pivotal role in the global higher education landscape and contribute to developing Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education.
THE World University Rankings by Subject evaluate the performance of universities worldwide across 11 subject areas using five core pillar criteria: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook and Industry.
For more information on THE World University Rankings by Subject 2026, please visit:
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject.
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Original text here: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/media/media-releases/2026/0121_polyu-achieves-impressive-results-in-the-world-university-rankings-by-subject-2026/
North Dakota State University: Northern Plains Ethics Institute to Host Historian
FARGO, North Dakota, Jan. 21 -- North Dakota State University issued the following news:
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Northern Plains Ethics Institute to host historian
Ted Davis will present "Why Christianity is Good for Science" on Thursday, Feb. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Prairie Rose room of the NDSU Memorial Union.
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The Northern Plains Ethics Institute at NDSU will host a noon luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 19, featuring historian of science Edward B. Davis, whose presentation will examine the relationship between Christianity and scientific inquiry.
Davis will present "Why Christianity is Good for Science"
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FARGO, North Dakota, Jan. 21 -- North Dakota State University issued the following news:
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Northern Plains Ethics Institute to host historian
Ted Davis will present "Why Christianity is Good for Science" on Thursday, Feb. 19 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Prairie Rose room of the NDSU Memorial Union.
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The Northern Plains Ethics Institute at NDSU will host a noon luncheon on Thursday, Feb. 19, featuring historian of science Edward B. Davis, whose presentation will examine the relationship between Christianity and scientific inquiry.
Davis will present "Why Christianity is Good for Science"from noon to 1 p.m. in the Prairie Rose room of the NDSU Memorial Union, with a Zoom option available for virtual attendees. The talk is free and open to the public.
In his presentation, Davis will address claims by some contemporary scientists and commentators that science and Christianity are fundamentally opposed. Drawing on the history and philosophy of science, he will argue that Christian theological ideas, particularly the doctrine of creation, historically encouraged scientific curiosity and provided motivation for studying the natural world.
Davis is professor emeritus of the history of science at Messiah University and an affiliate fellow in the Department of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine at the University of Oklahoma. He is also a fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion. He earned his undergraduate degree in physics from Drexel University and completed his doctorate in the history and philosophy of science at Indiana University.
During his academic career, Davis taught courses covering topics such as the Scientific Revolution, Galileo, Darwin and evolution, and the history of science from classical antiquity through the modern era. His research and commentary have appeared on BBC Radio, and he has served as an adviser for exhibits at the National Museum of American History and the Museum of the Bible. His most recent book, Protestant Modernist Pamphlets: Science and Religion in the Scopes Era, was published in 2024 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Davis has lectured at nearly 100 institutions across five continents.
The Northern Plains Ethics Institute promotes democratic engagement and public dialogue on ethical issues affecting the Northern Plains and beyond. Through lectures, public programs and community partnerships, the institute encourages thoughtful discussion across disciplines and perspectives.
As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.
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Original text here: https://www.ndsu.edu/news/northern-plains-ethics-institute-host-historian
NJIT Reflects on the Smithsonian Recognition of Martin Tuchman's Legacy in Innovation, Entrepreneurship
NEWARK, New Jersey, Jan. 21 -- The New Jersey Institute of Technology issued the following news:
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NJIT Reflects on the Smithsonian Recognition of Martin Tuchman's Legacy in Innovation, Entrepreneurship
As the nation gears up for its 250th birthday, New Jersey Institute of Technology recalls that Martin Tuchman '62 -- the namesake of NJIT's Martin Tuchman School of Management -- is among the select Americans whose success stories have been preserved at the Smithsonian Institution, America's keeper of history.
Tuchman received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Newark College of Engineering
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NEWARK, New Jersey, Jan. 21 -- The New Jersey Institute of Technology issued the following news:
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NJIT Reflects on the Smithsonian Recognition of Martin Tuchman's Legacy in Innovation, Entrepreneurship
As the nation gears up for its 250th birthday, New Jersey Institute of Technology recalls that Martin Tuchman '62 -- the namesake of NJIT's Martin Tuchman School of Management -- is among the select Americans whose success stories have been preserved at the Smithsonian Institution, America's keeper of history.
Tuchman received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Newark College of Engineeringand in 1968 formed a logistics company, Interpool, now called TRAC Intermodal. The company's container-and-trailer system was based on twist-lock technology, an outside invention that Tuchman helped turn into an industry standard through his volunteer work with the American National Standards Institute.
The standardization effort earned Tuchman a place among Computerworld Smithsonian Laureates in 2000, for its transformative impact on global commerce and technology. His work was selected as an exemplar of how technology-driven entrepreneurship can reshape industries and enable worldwide economic connectivity.
"Milestone moments, such as the Smithsonian's 250th anniversary, invite us to reflect upon individuals whose contributions continue to shape our institutions and our society," said NJIT President Teik C. Lim. "Martin Tuchman's career embodies the spirit of innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact that defines NJIT. His legacy is defined not only through his professional accomplishments but also by the school that proudly bears his name."
The Martin Tuchman School of Management at NJIT focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation and technology-driven business education reflects the principles that guided Tuchman's career. Today, MTSM's entrepreneurship programs are ranked No. 1 in New Jersey and among the Top 50 nationally by The Princeton Review for the sixth consecutive year -- an outcome that underscores the enduring relevance of Tuchman's vision.
Tuchman's influence remains present in NJIT's mission, its students and its approach to preparing future entrepreneurs to lead in technology-intensive industries. He funds many scholarships and continues to educate and mentor students on entrepreneurship.
With his deep experience in shipping and logistics, Tuchman enabled the development of mobile testing stations during the COVID pandemic, including one that was repurposed into a testing facility on NJIT's campus. That in turn yielded a second recognition by the federal government, this time in the Congressional record.
As NJIT looks ahead, it does so while honoring the individuals whose innovation, leadership and generosity helped shape its trajectory. Martin Tuchman's Smithsonian recognition remains a powerful reminder of how one alumnus's ideas can leave a lasting imprint on an institution and on the world.
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Original text here: https://news.njit.edu/njit-reflects-smithsonian-recognition-martin-tuchman
How Banking Offered African Americans a Path to Freedom and Citizenship After Enslavement
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Jan. 21 -- The University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy issued the following Q&A on Jan. 20, 2026, by Natalie Ermann Russell with historian Justene Hill Edwards:
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How Banking Offered African Americans a Path to Freedom and Citizenship After Enslavement
An award-winning book by UVA historian Justene Hill Edwards, with support from UVA's Karsh Institute of Democracy, chronicles African Americans' economic aspirations and a bank's tragic collapse during Reconstruction.
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Freedom, many formerly enslaved people believed, required more than emancipation;
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Jan. 21 -- The University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy issued the following Q&A on Jan. 20, 2026, by Natalie Ermann Russell with historian Justene Hill Edwards:
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How Banking Offered African Americans a Path to Freedom and Citizenship After Enslavement
An award-winning book by UVA historian Justene Hill Edwards, with support from UVA's Karsh Institute of Democracy, chronicles African Americans' economic aspirations and a bank's tragic collapse during Reconstruction.
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Freedom, many formerly enslaved people believed, required more than emancipation;it required financial security. That idea sits at the heart of Savings and Trust: The Rise and Betrayal of the Freedman's Bank, UVA historian Justene Hill Edwards' award-winning account of a Reconstruction-era bank created by Congress in 1865 to help newly freed Black Americans build wealth after the Civil War.
Last month, the Frederick Douglass Book Prize committee announced that Savings and Trust had won the award for 2025, recognizing its powerful documentation of the interplay of economic freedom, slavery, and democracy.
Drawing on archival research and vivid storytelling--and with Karsh Institute support through a summer stipend and book manuscript workshop--Hill Edwards writes about how African Americans used banking to further establish their new citizenship, and how the Freedman's Bank failure helped shape long-standing wealth inequality.
We recently caught up with Hill Edwards to congratulate her on the Douglass prize and to find out why the story of the bank remains relevant today.
Q: What drew you to the history of the Freedman's Bank?
Hill Edwards: It first came on my radar when I was living in Washington, D.C. One day, my now-husband came home and asked me about it. He had seen a plaque commemorating the Freedman's Bank next to the Department of the Treasury and adjacent to the White House. Despite being a trained historian of slavery and African American history, I didn't know much about it.
So, I started looking at what other historians and scholars had written. I was surprised by how little there was. And there was nothing updated to connect the history of the bank to newer scholarship on democracy and capitalism.
Q: How did the rise and collapse of the bank reveal both the promises and limitations of American democracy?
Hill Edwards: That question is central to the history of the Freedman's Bank and to the book. It's also an enduring question for American democracy. There have always been groups who struggle to gain recognition from the federal government for their rights.
During Reconstruction, formerly enslaved people were trying to exercise their new rights. They saw economic prosperity as essential to living as free Americans. African Americans used their investment in the Freedman's Bank to determine the strength of American democracy at a critical moment. Access to secure banking signaled whether the nation would protect Black citizens' property, honor their citizenship, and uphold equal participation in public life, all of which are core measures of a functioning democracy.It was a testing ground for what it meant to be included in the body politic.
Q: Do you think the bank's failure fueled the economic inequality that exists today?
Hill Edwards: This was a question I thought about a lot while writing. It's even more urgent now, given our current moment of austerity. The story of the Freedman's Bank shows how fragile financial inclusion really is.
African Americans, recently emancipated from slavery, invested millions into their financial futures, but the federal government was not as committed to protecting their interests as it was its own. That distrust grew out of repeated betrayals, most notably thecollapse of the Freedman's Bank, which wiped out Black savings and demonstrated that federal promises of protection were fragile and conditional.
That failure had generational consequences. Today, African Americans are more likely to be unbanked or underbanked because of this distrust of the system. That directly affects access to home ownership, which has provided the primary ladder to middle-class wealth over the past century.
If we look at the major tools used to build wealth, African Americans have been strategically excluded. This exclusion was not accidental but the result of policies and practices that denied Black Americans safe financial institutions, fair credit, and legal protections, systematically limiting their ability to accumulate and pass on wealth. That trajectory began with the Freedman's Bank.
Q: Savings and Trust has been met with critical acclaim. What does winning the 2025 Frederick Douglass Book Prize mean to you?
Hill Edwards: It means a lot, especially because the Douglass prize first came on my radar when I decided I wanted to be a historian of slavery. It's an amazing feeling. I'm very appreciative and still in shock.
It's even more special because Douglass plays a big role in the book. There's been so much great scholarship about him, but not much on him as an economic thinker or a man of finance. I like that I was able to talk about him in that way.
Also, the Karsh Institute's support was instrumental: from the summer stipend that allowed me to write full-time to the book-manuscript workshop that was one of the most transformative experiences I've had as a scholar.
Q: As a scholar of history, how were you able to immerse yourself in this story of finance and banking?
Hill Edwards: History is the major lens. It helps us understand the world we live in today. Many of our political successes and failures aren't new; they have historical parallels. The history of this period, and the bank specifically, offers important lessons for our present moment. In a democracy, it's important to protect those who historically have not been protected by the federal government.
The history of the Freedman's Bank offers a stark lens through which we can have modern conversations about racial wealth inequality. With emerging technologies like AI, many fear these gaps will widen. These problems aren't new. But history gives us a critical perspective so we can better understand and address them.
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Original text here: https://karshinstitute.virginia.edu/news/how-banking-offered-african-americans-path-freedom-and-citizenship-after-enslavement
Black History Month at Vanderbilt Law to Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the First Black Students Admitted to the Law School
NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 21 -- Vanderbilt Law School issued the following news:
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Black History Month at Vanderbilt Law to Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the First Black Students Admitted to the Law School
By Nate Luce
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Vanderbilt Law School has announced a series of events to celebrate Black History Month in February. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the admission of the first Black students to the Law School.
"Our theme, From Pioneers to Progress: 70 Years of Black Legal Advancement in the Face of Resistance, reflects both where
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NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Jan. 21 -- Vanderbilt Law School issued the following news:
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Black History Month at Vanderbilt Law to Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the First Black Students Admitted to the Law School
By Nate Luce
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) at Vanderbilt Law School has announced a series of events to celebrate Black History Month in February. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the admission of the first Black students to the Law School.
"Our theme, From Pioneers to Progress: 70 Years of Black Legal Advancement in the Face of Resistance, reflects both wherewe began and the work that remains," said Alexis Shaw '26, Black History Month Chair for BLSA. "Through this month of programming, we hope to honor our pioneers while inspiring continued progress grounded in justice, accountability, and collective action. This anniversary calls us to examine how resistance to equity persists and how each generation of Black law students carries forward the responsibility to transform the legal profession."
The BLSA will host a Pioneers to Progress Panel featuring Vanderbilt Law alumni on Wednesday, February 18, sponsored by the Dean's Lecture Series. Kristen Clarke, who served as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2025, will deliver the keynote address on Thursday, February 26, presented by the Hyatt Student Activities Fund. Historical photos and archival materials will be on display throughout the building, and BLSA members will host takeovers of the Vanderbilt Law Instagram account during the month.
"We are excited to honor trailblazers like Frederick Taylor Work '59, Edwin Melvin Porter '59, and Janie Greenwood Harris '64, who were the first Black students admitted to Vanderbilt Law School," said BLSA President Kyle Smith '26. "Their decision to desegregate the law school paved the way for generations of Black law students who have gone on to become some of our nation's premier attorneys. We seek to uplift their legacy and underscore the enduring responsibility to confront our history--so that the injustices of the past are neither forgotten nor repeated."
Details for the Keynote Address and Pioneers to Progress Lecture will be made available later in January. Stay connected with Vanderbilt Law on social media for updates.
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Original text here: https://law.vanderbilt.edu/black-history-month-celebrating-first-black-students-admitted-to-vls/
Altoona English Professor Publishes Essay on Catalog Poems, Collaboration
ALTOONA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 21 -- Pennsylvania State University at Altoona issued the following news:
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Altoona English professor publishes essay on catalog poems, collaboration
Erin Murphy, professor of English at Penn State Altoona, has published a new craft essay in "Cleaver Magazine." "All the Things: Writing Catalog Poems" focuses on catalog -- or "list" -- poetry. The form, which can be observed as far back as Homer's "The Iliad," involves exploring an idea through a list of related images.
In the essay, Murphy discusses her prize-winning list poem "The Internet of Things," along
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ALTOONA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 21 -- Pennsylvania State University at Altoona issued the following news:
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Altoona English professor publishes essay on catalog poems, collaboration
Erin Murphy, professor of English at Penn State Altoona, has published a new craft essay in "Cleaver Magazine." "All the Things: Writing Catalog Poems" focuses on catalog -- or "list" -- poetry. The form, which can be observed as far back as Homer's "The Iliad," involves exploring an idea through a list of related images.
In the essay, Murphy discusses her prize-winning list poem "The Internet of Things," alongwith works by such contemporary poets as Ellen Bass, Chen Chen, Morgan Parker, and Kelli Russell Agodon. She argues that the form is ideal for collaborative poetry projects, such as "In My America," her 2021 college-wide initiative featuring lines by Penn State Altoona students, faculty, and staff.
Murphy is the author or editor of more than a dozen books, most recently "Human Resources," published in June. She is the poet laureate of Blair County and poetry editor of "The Summerset Review."
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Original text here: https://altoona.psu.edu/story/80211/2026/01/20/altoona-english-professor-publishes-essay-catalog-poems-collaboration
