Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Connecticut: CAHNR Hosts Second One Health Conference
STORRS, Connecticut, Nov. 26 -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news:
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CAHNR Hosts Second One Health Conference
Bringing together experts from across the College, CAHNR conference showcases leadership in One Health approaches in research, teaching, and Extension
By Jessica McBride, PhD
In 2025, CAHNR brought together faculty, students, and extension professionals in a dynamic forum focused on One Health, emphasizing the interconnected health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The conference centered on interactive round-table discussions and student poster
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STORRS, Connecticut, Nov. 26 -- The University of Connecticut issued the following news:
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CAHNR Hosts Second One Health Conference
Bringing together experts from across the College, CAHNR conference showcases leadership in One Health approaches in research, teaching, and Extension
By Jessica McBride, PhD
In 2025, CAHNR brought together faculty, students, and extension professionals in a dynamic forum focused on One Health, emphasizing the interconnected health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment. The conference centered on interactive round-table discussions and student postersessions to drive the conversation forward.
From soil microbiology to human physical activity, CAHNR's broad disciplinary reach sets it apart in the One Health arena. CAHNR's One Health initiative aligns with all five of the college's Strategic Vision areas and functions as a sub-committee of the Enhancing Health and Well-Being Strategic Vision Implementation Committee (SVIC).
"The One Health approach reminds us that human, animal, environmental, and plant health are deeply interconnected," says Kumar Venkitanarayanan, CAHNR interim dean. "It also reminds us that the challenges we face from emerging diseases, food security, climate change, and environmental conservation, and so many others can't be solved in isolation. They demand collaboration, innovation, and a shared sense of purpose. That is exactly what this conference embodies."
CAHNR continues to lead UConn's efforts to expand One Health education and collaboration. The One Health minor, housed in the College and launching in the fall of 2026, offers undergraduates an interdisciplinary foundation in human, animal, and environmental health systems. Students will explore how climate and the environment, food production, and disease ecology intersect -- gaining the tools to work across sectors and disciplines. The minor draws on courses from Nutritional Sciences, Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, Kinesiology, and Natural Resources and the Environment, among others, making it one of UConn's most integrative academic programs.
The conference's round-table sessions invited faculty, students, and staff to co-design pathways forward -- addressing themes like ecosystem change, the human-animal-environment interface, and equity from global to local scales. Student poster presentations spanned topics from zoonotic-disease surveillance to human heat-stress adaptation, underscoring how CAHNR prepares the next generation of problem-solvers.
"Working across focus areas and industries, the 2025 One Health Conference brought together nearly 100 faculty, staff, students, and community partners interested in transforming dialogue into collaborative actions and outcomes," says Sara Tomis, assistant extension educator of One Health and one of the event organizers. "CAHNR is uniquely positioned to lead change in this space through the integration of teaching, research, and extension within all four domains of the One Health framework."
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Jessica McBride, Executive Director, Office of Communications, jessica.mcbride@uconn.edu
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Original text here: https://today.uconn.edu/2025/11/cahnr-hosts-second-one-health-conference/
UToledo: Mechanical Engineers Use Capstone Project to Create Lasting Change
TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 26 -- The University of Toledo issued the following news:
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Mechanical Engineers Use Capstone Project to Create Lasting Change
By Natalie Burgess
Six seniors studying mechanical engineering designed their capstone project to make a lasting environmental change at UToledo.
The students -- Michael Awad, Elise Essenmacher, Nico Francis-Emonds, Bethany McCutchan, Lia Sanford and Maria Smith -- worked with several University groups to implement their system of composting food waste from both on-campus dining halls.
"We estimate that 4,050 gallons of pre-consumer food waste
... Show Full Article
TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 26 -- The University of Toledo issued the following news:
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Mechanical Engineers Use Capstone Project to Create Lasting Change
By Natalie Burgess
Six seniors studying mechanical engineering designed their capstone project to make a lasting environmental change at UToledo.
The students -- Michael Awad, Elise Essenmacher, Nico Francis-Emonds, Bethany McCutchan, Lia Sanford and Maria Smith -- worked with several University groups to implement their system of composting food waste from both on-campus dining halls.
"We estimate that 4,050 gallons of pre-consumer food wastefrom the dining halls alone is sent to landfills every year," Sanford said. "After evaluating some options, our group determined that the most practical approach was to collect compostable waste on campus and have it transported to an off-site composting facility. With the help of the Student Green Fund, we purchased two solar-powered BigBelly collection bins which allow us to track fullness and pickups while helping prevent contamination.
"Being part of a student-led initiative to make our campus more sustainable has been an incredibly rewarding experience" she added. "It has taught me to push beyond the status quo and to advocate for the causes I truly believe in."
The students worked with Rocket Dining staff, who were trained to sort and dispose of compostable waste weekly, and Thomas Jackson, a local farmer who will collect the waste to support produce grown in the Toledo area. In the final stages of the project, they will present their data at the College of Engineering's Senior Design Expo on Friday, Dec. 5, at Nitschke Hall.
"As a student in mechanical engineering and sustainability, this project has been an incredible way to apply the technical and project management skills I've gained in my classes to create a positive environmental impact in Toledo," Essenmacher said.
"Making a strong environmental impact on campus while also supporting a local urban farming business has been an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience, and the perfect conclusion to my time at UToledo," Francis-Emonds added.
The composting initiatives will be permanent additions to Rocket Dining.
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Original text here: https://news.utoledo.edu/index.php/11_25_2025/mechanical-engineers-use-capstone-project-to-create-lasting-change
Splash of Confidence: Building Water Safety and Inclusion Beyond Sight
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release:
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Splash of Confidence: Building Water Safety and Inclusion Beyond Sight
As part of her ongoing advocacy for drowning prevention and inclusive aquatic education, Dr. Noor Hamzani Farizan, a Global Drowning Prevention Leadership Institute (GDPLI) alumna and Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Research and Postgraduate Programs, Defense Fitness Academy, National Defense University of Malaysia (UPNM), led a program titled "Splash of Confidence: Beyond Sight." Conducted
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Nov. 26 -- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release:
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Splash of Confidence: Building Water Safety and Inclusion Beyond Sight
As part of her ongoing advocacy for drowning prevention and inclusive aquatic education, Dr. Noor Hamzani Farizan, a Global Drowning Prevention Leadership Institute (GDPLI) alumna and Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Research and Postgraduate Programs, Defense Fitness Academy, National Defense University of Malaysia (UPNM), led a program titled "Splash of Confidence: Beyond Sight." Conductedin January 2025, the nine-day program brought together her sports science students and 30 visually impaired participants from the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB). This intensive program offered structured sessions focused on essential water safety and introductory swimming skills, giving many participants their first experience in a swimming pool environment.
Under guided mentorship, Dr. Noor's students designed and delivered tailored teaching sessions to build participants' competencies in water familiarity, breathing control, floating, and coordinated movement. To deepen empathy, students practiced by closing their eyes during training, an approach that transformed both their teaching and understanding of inclusive safety education.
Over several sessions, participants not only gained confidence but also achieved measurable milestones, with some swimming up to 50 meters on their own. Dr. Noor described watching their transformation from fear to joy in the water as profoundly moving. "This initiative reaffirmed my belief that drowning prevention must be inclusive," she shared.
Through evidence-based strategies and compassionate leadership, she remains committed to advancing water safety awareness, empowering young facilitators, and strengthening community resilience, one splash at a time.
Her experience leading the "Splash of Confidence" program strengthened Dr. Noor's commitment to providing inclusive drowning prevention education and reinforced how small, local actions can inspire broader change. As a GDPLI alumna, she aims to continue bridging evidence-based strategies with community-led initiatives, especially among vulnerable and special needs groups.
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Original text here: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/international-injury-research-unit/splash-of-confidence-building-water-safety-and-inclusion-beyond-sight
OSU-COM Student Awarded AOF Golden Ticket Scholarship for His Service and Dedication
STILLWATER, Oklahoma, Nov. 26 -- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences issued the following news:
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OSU-COM student awarded AOF Golden Ticket Scholarship for his service and dedication
For Eddy Bagaruka, his heart for service is what led him down the path to medical school.
Bagaruka is a third-year medical student at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His mother's volunteer service at a hospital in his hometown of Kigali, Rwanda, instilled in him the value of service.
"I grew up in a small household where my mom would wake up on Saturdays and Sundays
... Show Full Article
STILLWATER, Oklahoma, Nov. 26 -- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences issued the following news:
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OSU-COM student awarded AOF Golden Ticket Scholarship for his service and dedication
For Eddy Bagaruka, his heart for service is what led him down the path to medical school.
Bagaruka is a third-year medical student at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His mother's volunteer service at a hospital in his hometown of Kigali, Rwanda, instilled in him the value of service.
"I grew up in a small household where my mom would wake up on Saturdays and Sundaysand visit the hospital to help patients who didn't have anybody to look after them. In Rwanda, when you go to the hospital, you don't have a caregiver, and sometimes the hospital doesn't provide you with food. Patients have to rely on outside help," Bagaruka said.
Although these experiences shaped his decision to attend medical school, life led him down a different path first.
He moved to the United States before returning to Rwanda to pursue his degree. A mix-up on his application led him to study medical imaging at the University of Rwanda, and he worked as a sonographer following his graduation.
In hindsight, Bagaruka realized that some things happen in life for a reason. Seeing firsthand the difficulties rural patients face in accessing health care drove him to make a difference.
One moment in particular stuck with him.
He was called in the middle of the night to perform an X-ray on a child struggling to breathe. Unfortunately, the hospital had only one ambulance, which was already en route to assist a pregnant woman in labor. With no way to transport the child to the hospital, the child tragically did not survive.
"Witnessing the gap in access to health care for these patients in rural areas, and having these experiences, made me wish I could do more," Bagaruka said.
Ultimately, this journey is what led him to OSU-COM.
Bagaruka moved to Oklahoma because he had a friend who went to college there, and he hoped to find the same success she had.
He attended Oklahoma Christian University to obtain his degree in nursing, but with the support of his professors, he decided to pursue his original goal of medical school.
He chose OSU-COM specifically because it is an osteopathic medical school, which is not available abroad.
"I had never heard of a DO program before. I learned from the student ambassadors about the philosophy behind OSU-COM of training doctors who go back and practice in their community. That has always been my goal and my passion, so I knew this was where I belonged," Bagaruka said.
Now in his third year and on rotations, Bagaruka's hard work has paid off. The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) named him the winner of the AOF 2025 Golden Ticket Scholarship.
The scholarship recognizes those who, despite financial obstacles, have achieved academic excellence, display exemplary leadership, give of themselves through volunteer activities and embody osteopathic tenets and philosophies. The AOF selects six finalists to receive a $5,000 scholarship, with one finalist awarded the Golden Ticket for an additional $15,000.
Bagaruka was announced the Golden Ticket winner at the 2025 AOF Honors Gala in September. He said winning the scholarship was a shock because every finalist felt just as deserving.
"This scholarship is more than financial. They're acknowledging my hard work, dedication and supporting me in achieving my goal. It feels like this is another way of telling me to keep pushing and not forget the 'why' of all this," Bagaruka said.
As an immigrant and self-funded student, Bagaruka faces significant financial barriers. These include out-of-state tuition and costs associated with his rotations.
The funds from the Golden Ticket scholarship will make a tremendous difference as he finishes medical school.
"This support will ease those burdens, allowing me to focus more fully on my training, complete rotations that align with my specialty interests and continue contributing to research and community outreach," he said.
As a future physician, Bagaruka hopes to give back to others in the same way he has been supported.
He aims to build a career combining clinical practice, research and patient advocacy by serving rural communities, while returning to Africa a couple of times each year to serve patients back home.
"All the sacrifices and struggles you go through are worth it when you discharge a smiling patient who will go back and help their community. At the end of the day, that is one of the best rewards," Bagaruka said.
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Original text here: https://news.okstate.edu/articles/health-sciences/2025/osu-com_student_awarded_aof_golden_ticket_scholarship.html
Nontraditional Benefits Play Key Role in Retaining the Under-35 Government Health Worker
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (TNSjou) -- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health issued the following news:
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Nontraditional Benefits Play Key Role in Retaining the Under-35 Government Health Worker
Younger workers in governmental public health place significantly higher value on nontraditional benefits than their older counterparts, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Flexible scheduling and remote-work policies were among the top motivators for younger employees choosing and remaining in public service.
The findings are published in the
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 26 (TNSjou) -- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health issued the following news:
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Nontraditional Benefits Play Key Role in Retaining the Under-35 Government Health Worker
Younger workers in governmental public health place significantly higher value on nontraditional benefits than their older counterparts, according to a new study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Flexible scheduling and remote-work policies were among the top motivators for younger employees choosing and remaining in public service.
The findings are published in theJournal of Public Health Management and Practice(https://journals.lww.com/jphmp/fulltext/2026/01001/the_role_of_nontraditional_benefits_in_recruitment.16.aspx).
"Public health workers age 35 or younger consistently show lower retention rates than older workers," said Heather Krasna PhD, EdM, MS, associate dean of Career and Professional Development and adjunct assistant professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia Mailman School, and senior author. "Salaries matter, but because health departments often face limits on salary increases, offering nontraditional benefits may be an effective strategy to attract and retain younger staff."
The research team analyzed data from the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS), developed by the Beaumont Foundation and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. Responses from permanent, full-time health department employees were divided into two groups--those 35 and younger and those over 35--to compare how each valued nontraditional benefits, reasons for staying and, for younger workers, motivators for initially entering governmental public health. The two groups were similar in gender composition.
Younger workers were significantly more likely to cite nontraditional benefits as important reasons for staying with their organization:
* Flexibility: 38 percent of workers 35 and under vs. 31.5 percent of older workers
* Remote-work policies: 25 percent vs. 20 percent
* Training opportunities: 23 percent vs. 17 percent
Despite modest gains in younger representation in earlier years--26 percent of staff were younger than 40 in 2014 compared with 29 percent in 2017--retention has remained a persistent challenge. For example, workers under age 30 accounted for just 6 percent of the workforce between 2014 and 2017 but 13 percent of all departures. Turnover is costly, especially among skilled staff.
"The state and local governmental health department workforce has undergone dramatic shifts in recent years," said Krasna. "The COVID-19 pandemic and long-standing recruitment and retention challenges--especially among younger staff--have further strained the system."
Key drivers of retention for younger professionals include job satisfaction, meaningful work, recognition, supervisor support, workplace culture, work-life balance, remote-work options, and access to childcare.
"Because salary increases and broader workplace-culture reforms can be slow, innovative benefits may offer a more immediate tool for improving retention," Krasna added. "Our study reinforces a growing body of evidence that nontraditional benefits--such as schedule flexibility, remote work, and professional development opportunities--play a substantial role in job satisfaction and are especially influential for younger public health workers."
"For health departments unable to rapidly boost salaries, options like flex time, professional-development funding, or childcare support could meaningfully encourage younger staff to stay."
Sarika Karra of Columbia Public Health is a co-author.
The study was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration, grants U81HP47167 and UR2HP4737.1.
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Original text here: https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/news/nontraditional-benefits-play-key-role-retaining-under-35-government-health-worker
New Study Links Immediate Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries to Lower Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Nov. 26 (TNSjou) -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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New study links immediate treatment for traumatic brain injuries to lower risk for Alzheimer's disease
Getting treatment within one week of a serious head injury can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 41%, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University.
The researchers suggest the findings could change how emergency rooms and hospitals treat traumatic brain injuries. The Brain Injury Association of America estimates 2.8 million Americans suffer these
... Show Full Article
CLEVELAND, Ohio, Nov. 26 (TNSjou) -- Case Western Reserve University issued the following news:
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New study links immediate treatment for traumatic brain injuries to lower risk for Alzheimer's disease
Getting treatment within one week of a serious head injury can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 41%, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University.
The researchers suggest the findings could change how emergency rooms and hospitals treat traumatic brain injuries. The Brain Injury Association of America estimates 2.8 million Americans suffer theseinjuries each year.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered a "silent epidemic"--a critical public health concern that affects 69 million people worldwide each year, as reported in the Journal of Neurosurgery (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29701556/).
TBI happens when your brain gets hurt by some kind of physical force like in a car accident or sports injury. Military personnel often experience TBI in combat. It's been shown that people who suffer brain injuries are more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease later in life because of prolonged brain inflammation that damages brain cells over time.
But researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine found that treatment within a week of a brain injury significantly reduced the risk of Alzheimer's and other cognitive disorders, as noted in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers analyzed health records from over 100 million U.S. patients across multiple healthcare systems and identified 37,000 people aged 50-90 who had suffered moderate or severe brain injuries. Those who received treatment within one week had a 41% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's at three years and a 30% lower risk at five years compared to those who received delayed treatment.
"Our analysis shows that acting quickly matters in the long term," said Austin Kennemer, lead author and third-year medical student at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.
Neurorehabilitation consists of physical therapy, occupational therapy, cognitive rehabilitation and speech-language therapy. This treatment leverages the brain's ability to form new connections and reorganize itself throughout life, whether you're 5 or 95 years old.
Studies by the National Institutes of Health indicate patients who receive neurorehabilitation during hospitalization from a head injury have been found to have significantly higher cognitive levels when discharged, compared to those who did not receive neurorehabilitation treatment.
The research was co-led by Kennemer and Zhenxiang Gao, a research assistant professor and supervised by Rong Xu, biomedical informatics professor and director of the medical school's Center for AI in Drug Discovery. Xu has established a multidisciplinary research group of medical students, data scientists and clinicians for real-world health outcomes research, drug discovery and health policy. She and her team are now investigating how timing of neurorehabilitation following TBI impacts the risk of other neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease.
"For the millions of people who suffer head injuries each year," Xu said, "the message is clear: Getting treatment immediately could protect their minds for decades to come."
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Original text here: https://case.edu/news/new-study-links-immediate-treatment-traumatic-brain-injuries-lower-risk-alzheimers-disease
How This CU Denver Professor Is Pioneering a Deeper Understanding of AI-Based Cybersecurity Threats to IOT Devices
DENVER, Colorado, Nov. 26 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news:
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How This CU Denver Professor Is Pioneering a Deeper Understanding of AI-Based Cybersecurity Threats to IOT Devices
A Three-Year National Science Foundation Grant is Enabling Cutting-Edge Research and New Hands-On Learning Methods.
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How many devices in your home can respond to voice commands? Your phone likely does. But you might have other technologies that are a part of what's called the internet of things (IOT). These are things like an Amazon Echo Dot, voice-activated lights, or a smart refrigerator--and
... Show Full Article
DENVER, Colorado, Nov. 26 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news:
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How This CU Denver Professor Is Pioneering a Deeper Understanding of AI-Based Cybersecurity Threats to IOT Devices
A Three-Year National Science Foundation Grant is Enabling Cutting-Edge Research and New Hands-On Learning Methods.
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How many devices in your home can respond to voice commands? Your phone likely does. But you might have other technologies that are a part of what's called the internet of things (IOT). These are things like an Amazon Echo Dot, voice-activated lights, or a smart refrigerator--andthey are raising a new kind of cybersecurity concern thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).
College of Engineering, Design and Computing (CEDC) Assistant Professor Zhengxiong Li is researching the latest trends in these attacks and creating hands-on modules that give students practical experience in defending against them. The project is funded by a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that began in August. It includes collaborators at the University of Southern California and California State University, Long Beach.
How Do AI-Based IOT Attacks Work?
Imagine you're playing something on your smart speaker at home. "[If you] say, 'Please close the window,' the attacker can conduct an adversary attack," Li said. "This very secret attack makes the smart speaker believe your command is, 'do not close the window.'" Li hasn't heard of this specific attack occurring, but his research demonstrates that it's possible. His work also shows that AI can be used nefariously to manipulate how IOT devices interpret voice commands. That could spell danger in many settings, including autonomous vehicles, occupancy detection systems used in settlings like elderly care or health alert systems, or AI robotics applications.
These attacks would involve a complex interplay of different facets of code. "There are many different details you need to pay attention to," said Xinmin Fang, a CU Denver PhD student who is studying IOT cybersecurity and working with Li on aspects of the grant. For students, it can be extremely challenging to learn. "So, if you have actual code for practice, you can have a more comprehensive understanding of what you have learned in the course," Fang said.
A Hands-On Approach
To train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals who understand the complexity of AI attacks in the IOT space, Li, Fang, and other collaborators are creating hands-on learning modules that take students through plausible cybersecurity scenarios. "It's not just like, 'Teach students about the concept,'" Li said, "It gives a very detailed, hands-on project lesson to understand what knowledge will be applied in real practice and what the attack defense looks like."
As part of the grant, Li is uploading the modules he and Fang are creating to the NSF's learning and research platform, Sphere. He's also already begun deploying them in his classes. "I hope we can bring some new teaching material in this area and let students know what is happening currently at the frontier," Li said.
- Haley Gray, University Communications
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Original text here: https://news.ucdenver.edu/how-this-cu-denver-professor-is-pioneering-a-deeper-understanding-of-ai-based-cybersecurity-threats-to-iot-devices/
