Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
UAMS Now Offering Histotripsy, Noninvasive Treatment for Liver Tumors
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, May 6 -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences issued the following news release:
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UAMS Now Offering Histotripsy, a Noninvasive Treatment for Liver Tumors
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is now offering, for the first time in Arkansas, a noninvasive treatment option for some patients with liver tumors.
Called histotripsy, the procedure uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumors without surgery, radiation, or incisions.
"With this technology, our specially trained doctors can target and destroy one or more tumors in a single,
... Show Full Article
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, May 6 -- The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences issued the following news release:
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UAMS Now Offering Histotripsy, a Noninvasive Treatment for Liver Tumors
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is now offering, for the first time in Arkansas, a noninvasive treatment option for some patients with liver tumors.
Called histotripsy, the procedure uses focused ultrasound waves to destroy tumors without surgery, radiation, or incisions.
"With this technology, our specially trained doctors can target and destroy one or more tumors in a single,noninvasive outpatient procedure with little to no pain," said Michelle W. Krause, M.D., MPH, senior vice chancellor of UAMS Health and CEO of UAMS Medical Center.
"This offers hope for patients with liver tumors -- even those who are currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation and those with tumors that are considered unresectable, meaning they cannot be safely removed through surgery," Krause added.
During a histotripsy procedure, which takes about an hour while the patient is under general anesthesia to remain still, a machine directs high-intensity sound pulses toward one or more tumors. The alternating pressure created by the pulses creates a cloud of tiny gas-filled bubbles within the diseased tissue. As the "bubble cloud," which is about the size of a grain of rice, moves through the tissue, it causes the targeted tumors to liquify. The liquid is then eliminated by the body over the following weeks and months.
Three physicians at UAMS have completed training in histotripsy: transplant surgeon Lyle Burdine, M.D., Ph.D.; interventional radiologist James Meek, D.O.; and surgical oncologist Sonia Orcutt, M.D.
Orcutt said the procedure appears to strengthen the patient's immune system. She referred to the "abscopal effect" of cancer treatment, which occurs when radiation or another type of local therapy causes tumors outside the treated area to shrink or disappear as well.
Even if only one lesion is treated, Orcutt said, the enhanced immune response may cause multiple lesions to respond without direct treatment themselves, which "has huge implications for patients with metastatic cancer that other liver-directed treatments do not have."
"I saw this technology at a conference, and I knew right away this was something I wanted to bring to UAMS," Meek said. "We have so many patients in Arkansas who can benefit from this treatment."
UAMS is the first and only healthcare institution in Arkansas offering this technology, which is considered a safe and effective treatment for inoperable liver tumors.
Histotripsy had a 95.5% success rate in clinical trials, with nine out of 10 treated tumors remaining gone one year later. It received FDA approval in October 2023, following more than 20 years of development at the University of Michigan. The technology has also been used to treat patients at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Cleveland Clinic, among other institutions across the United States.
"It's approved for liver cancer now, but the hope is it will soon be approved for other cancers as well," Meek said. In fact, trials are now underway to expand treatment to noninvasive renal and pancreatic tumors.
"Histotripsy is just one example of how UAMS is bringing ground-breaking technology to Arkansas," Krause said.
Histotripsy may be used to treat primary liver tumors, which start in the liver, or secondary liver tumors, which start in a different organ and spread to the liver.
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UAMS is the state's only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and eight institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute, Institute for Digital Health & Innovation and the Institute for Community Health Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS' clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. UAMS has 3,553 students and 1,015 medical residents and fellows. It is the state's largest public employer with about 12,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children's, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube or Instagram.
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Original text here: https://news.uams.edu/2026/05/05/uams-now-offering-histotripsy-a-noninvasive-treatment-for-liver-tumors/
Tuskegee Confers Nearly 145 Graduate Degrees, Including Most Science-based PhD in Recent History
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, May 6 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee confers nearly 145 graduate degrees, including most science-based PhDs in recent history
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine alum, Rear Admiral Kis Robertson Hale, delivered keynote address.
Crystal Drake
Tuskegee University turned the tassel on the largest number of science-based PhDs conferred in one ceremony in recent university history as it continues to move swiftly toward Carnegie R2 and eventually R1 status. Twenty-one PhDs were hooded, 90 master's degrees awarded and 51 new
... Show Full Article
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, May 6 -- The Tuskegee University posted the following news:
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Tuskegee confers nearly 145 graduate degrees, including most science-based PhDs in recent history
Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine alum, Rear Admiral Kis Robertson Hale, delivered keynote address.
Crystal Drake
Tuskegee University turned the tassel on the largest number of science-based PhDs conferred in one ceremony in recent university history as it continues to move swiftly toward Carnegie R2 and eventually R1 status. Twenty-one PhDs were hooded, 90 master's degrees awarded and 51 newdoctors of veterinary medicine crossed the stage at the Daniel "Chappie" James arena on May 2.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Mark A. Brown, president and CEO, greeted the students as "the first graduating class of the Renaissance Era." This is Tuskegee University's renewed commitment to founding principles that are being reimagined through modern tools and technology and that remain an everlasting testament to the wisdom of founding principal Booker T. Washington who insisted that Tuskegee's purpose was to build future generations of economically mobile, community-centered problem-solvers.
"You all look beautiful," he said to the graduates. Noting their new status as alumni, Dr. Brown said, "as an alumnus, let me now welcome you to your forever home."
Dr. Brown put into clear terms the rarity of their accomplishment noting that only about 2% of U.S. adults hold a doctoral degree and that 11-14% hold a master's degree. "What you have accomplished is not typical."
He went on to name just a few of the ways these graduates will move from this "academic summit" to change the world after earning degrees in more than a dozen disciplines including Agricultural and Resource Economics, Animal and Poultry Science, Integrative Biosciences, Integrative Public Policy and Development, and Material Science and Engineering.
"Your work will solve the nation's food security imbalance, provide new paths to sustainable land use, and insist on health equity policy for all of our people - Tuskegee graduates are going to do that," he said. "Tuskegee University does not produce graduates that blend quietly into the background of history. We produce graduates who confront the world's most complex problems and we refuse simple answers."
Dr. Brown encouraged the graduates to see themselves as a continuation of a long line of transformational leaders born from Mother Tuskegee.
"When you call the roll of Tuskegee University, the ancestors still speak if you will listen close enough," said Dr. Brown. "They whisper, and sometimes they shout you can and must do more, just as they did. Washington, Carver, Moton, Johnson, Taylor, James - you now are on that roll. The world does not merely welcome you - it needs you."
In her keynote address, Rear Admiral Hale, a 2003 graduate of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), connected with the uncertainty graduates might be feeling about the expectations now upon them to be leaders, sharing her experience from when she sat in the very same arena a little over two decades ago during her graduation from TUCVM.
Rear Admiral Hale is the Chief Veterinarian Officer of the U.S. Public Health Service. In this role, she advises the Office of the Surgeon General and the Department of Health and Human Services on issues central to the strength of the Veterinary Category and the assignment and deployment of Commissioned Corps veterinary officers. She also provides leadership and career counseling to the approximately 70 nationally dispersed Commissioned Corps veterinarians who are committed to using their highly versatile training in animal health, comparative medicine, and infectious disease to advance the Nation's public health. She also serves on the Assistant Surgeons General Leadership Council.
Prior to coming to FDA, she worked at the Food Safety and Inspection Service as the Chief Public Health Veterinarian and the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Public Health Science. In previous assignments throughout her 20+ years of Commissioned Corps service, she worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and at the Maryland Department of Health as a CDC Preventive Medicine Fellow.
She earned her bachelor's in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, her doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee, and a master's degree in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
"When I was in your position, I did not see myself as an aspiring leader," she said, adding that she was simply looking to find work that was secure, stable, and that wouldn't require a grueling schedule.
"I wasn't wildly ambitious. And if you had told me back then that one day I would be a Rear Admiral in charge of major scientific programs or even if you had told me that one day I would be standing in front of you all, I would have looked at you like you were crazy."
But Rear Admiral Hale reminded the graduates that they can't know now where life might take them.
"You may think you have a complete handle on all of your strengths and weaknesses, that you know backwards and forward all of your professional goals and interest, and that you are an expert on all of your core values in life," she said.
"You have only scratched the surface of self-discovery - and that's a good thing." Rear Admiral Hale then explained how the life and artistry of her favorite music artist, Prince, helped her make sense of her evolution as a quiet but powerful leader.
"For those who might not see yourself as a leader and yet you may end up becoming one any way just like me," she told the audience what she learned from Prince.
"What did I learn from Prince?" she began, giving the mostly Gen Z graduates a history lesson on the career trajectory that began when he burst on the music scene in 1979 writing, producing, arranging and playing multiple instruments, creating a new blend of funk, rock, R&B, pop and new wave just as the disco craze was ending. She explained how audiences and industry leaders didn't know what to make of his unapologetic sexual ambiguity but that his fan base continued to grow exponentially from every corner, a phenomenon that continued until he died in 2016.
"From the time that Prince dropped his first album to his last, he spoke to the underdogs of the world who wanted to move through the world fearlessly, unapologetically and playfully," she said. "Prince showed them how to do that."
Of the naysayers that she asserted would surely come, she invited the graduates to use Prince's example.
"You do not conquer darkness by raging against darkness, by fighting it and trying to change it.
You conquer it by pulling yourself, and others, toward the light," she said, pointing up into the rafters at a light as applause swelled from the audience.
"In the light, hope, courage and empowerment are in abundance. And these qualities are what bring out the best in people. It allows people to transcend the darkness and ultimately reach their highest potential. This guiding principle is what Prince instilled in me."
Rear Admiral Hale then recounted Prince's Super Bowl XLI Halftime show, which took place in the rain and is widely regarded as one of the greatest halftime performances of all time.
Whereas other artist might have succumbed to panic or canceled their performance, Hale noted that Prince famously remained calm - an artistically curious about the theatrical opportunities the rain presented. "Can we make it rain harder," he asked envisioning the powerful impact performing his classic hit "Purple Rain" would have on his fans.
Hale urged the graduates to think of themselves as the purveyors of their own powerful impact and to understand that great opportunity lies within every obstacle.
"If there is one thing that you take from my speech today - you are all leaders, all of you. You have led yourself to this moment. So many other people will never achieve what you have just achieved.
"Continue to stay focused on opportunity and you will continue to achieve. So, get out there and play in the rain."
You can see the entire ceremony here: 2026 Graduate & Professional School Commencement Ceremony (https://www.youtube.com/live/lcLMHLBcM10).
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Original text here: https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/2026/05/Tuskegee-confers-nearly-145-graduate-degrees-including-most-science-based-PhDs-in-recenthistory.html
Texas A&M Engineering: Redefining the Starting Line
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 6 -- The Texas A&M University College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Redefining the starting line
Mechanical engineering student Jonathan Kiser '26 proves that grit and persistence can turn any starting point into something extraordinary through Texas A&M's Engineering Academy program.
By Hollie Sowell Brittain, Texas A&M Engineering
One question was all it took for a math adviser at Northwest Vista College -- part of the Alamo Colleges District -- to determine that Jonathan Kiser would begin his engineering journey from square one.
For a homeschooled
... Show Full Article
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 6 -- The Texas A&M University College of Engineering issued the following news:
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Redefining the starting line
Mechanical engineering student Jonathan Kiser '26 proves that grit and persistence can turn any starting point into something extraordinary through Texas A&M's Engineering Academy program.
By Hollie Sowell Brittain, Texas A&M Engineering
One question was all it took for a math adviser at Northwest Vista College -- part of the Alamo Colleges District -- to determine that Jonathan Kiser would begin his engineering journey from square one.
For a homeschooledstudent whose standardized test scores had already shut the door on his dream schools, it seemed like a dead end. But while the adviser saw a student who wasn't ready for college math, Kiser saw something else: a place to start.
"The adviser asked me one quadratic-related question and put me in intermediate algebra," Kiser said. "At the time, I looked up which mechanical engineering program was the best in Texas and made it my goal to attend Texas A&M University. I toured the campus and asked how I could transfer into the program, and was told I would have to maintain primarily A's throughout my community college journey to have a chance. It was definitely an uphill climb that I was willing to take on."
From that moment, Kiser made it his mission to maintain a grade-point average that would allow him to fulfill his dream of becoming an Aggie engineer.
"Going into community college, I wanted to prove to myself that I was smarter than I thought," Kiser said. "Every class, I would try my best. I would do the readings, study and turn in homework on time."
During his fourth semester at Northwest Vista, he was on track to transfer to Texas A&M when his mother came across a program on Facebook -- the Texas A&M Engineering Academy program at Alamo Colleges District.
"I ultimately joined the Engineering Academies because they offered a better experience for students. I was an Aggie from day one and got to start engineering classes earlier with the same cohort," Kiser said. "This program was my ticket to getting into Texas A&M Engineering."
Kiser's early excitement and commitment to the program were soon challenged when his father's service in the U.S. Air Force led his family to an unexpected relocation. This forced him to make a pivotal decision: follow his family or stay the course.
"While I was attending Northwest Vista, my family received station orders to move to Florida," Kiser said. "Instead of pivoting universities, I decided to move back to Texas and rent an apartment while finishing my last two semesters of engineering courses."
Without his family nearby, Kiser began to question his ability to keep up with the rigor of the coursework.
"Going into the Engineering Academy and taking university-level courses was worrisome," he said. "However, while the classes were challenging, I was well-prepared. Everything I needed to know to pass, I was taught."
After two semesters in the program, Kiser had built the confidence, foundation and grade-point average needed to transition to his dream university.
"When I started community college, I heard that I would have to ace every class up to Calculus II and Physics II to get into mechanical engineering. At that time, it sounded like a near-impossible task," Kiser said. "In my first semester at College Station, I looked back at my community college transcripts that showed 78 credit hours with a 4.0 GPA. I was even able to auto-admit into mechanical engineering -- that was a moment I will never forget."
Eager to expand his understanding of mechanical engineering, Kiser pursued and earned two internships with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
"The first rotation I did with USACE covered air conditioning, plumbing and waterworks in mechanical design. The second summer, I worked in operations, conducting lock and dam inspections," he said. "It was a very insightful experience and the first time I worked as a hands-on mechanical engineer."
Building on that foundation, Kiser has approached his time at Texas A&M's main campus with the same drive and curiosity, making it his mission to maximize every aspect of college life. He has served as the safety manager and merchandise officer for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) go-kart team and represented the Engineering Academies as a student ambassador.
"Because of the Academies, I fulfilled my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer at Texas A&M," Kiser said. "I wanted to give back to the program that helped me get here and inspire other students to do the same."
After two years as an Engineering Academies student ambassador, he was formally elected as president for the 2025-26 academic year.
"It has been such a growth opportunity to lead the ambassadors and give back to the Academies," Kiser said. "I remember arriving in College Station for the first time for a campus engagement, sitting in the front row and watching the student panel. I never imagined I would become the one to help organize them."
In this role, Kiser has mentored hundreds of students, using his own journey to champion a singular message: the danger of measuring your potential against someone else's progress.
"The most helpful advice that got me through college is not to compare your journey with others," he said. "But if you do, use it as a motivation to spend more time in the class to improve, rather than beating yourself up. There will be periods of low grades, but you are worth more than your grades or major."
Upon graduation in May 2026, Kiser plans to continue his education by earning a master's degree in mechanical engineering, passing the fundamentals of engineering exam, and ultimately securing a professional engineering license.
"The plans I have for the future would be annulled if I gave up continual learning," he said. "One of the driving factors in my pursuit of engineering was the opportunity to learn for the rest of my days."
Kiser credits much of his success to the Texas A&M Engineering Academies for providing an alternative pathway to earn his engineering degree.
"I received a second chance at my dream of becoming an Aggie," he said. "I would not be pursuing mechanical engineering at Texas A&M if it were not for the Engineering Academies. I am grateful for that."
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Original text here: https://news.engineering.tamu.edu/news/2026/05/05/redefining-the-starting-line/
SHSU Center for Assessment, Research and Educational Safety Announces Inaugural CARES Fellowship Recipients
HUNTSVILLE, Texas, May 6 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news:
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SHSU Center for Assessment, Research and Educational Safety Announces Inaugural CARES Fellowship Recipients
By Lidia Brown
The Sam Houston State University Center for Assessment, Research and Educational Safety (CARES), a research center within the College of Education, has announced the inaugural class of CARES Fellows. This milestone marks the first year of a program designed to cultivate high-quality, practitioner-relevant research dedicated to keeping schools and universities safe.
The CARES Fellowship
... Show Full Article
HUNTSVILLE, Texas, May 6 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news:
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SHSU Center for Assessment, Research and Educational Safety Announces Inaugural CARES Fellowship Recipients
By Lidia Brown
The Sam Houston State University Center for Assessment, Research and Educational Safety (CARES), a research center within the College of Education, has announced the inaugural class of CARES Fellows. This milestone marks the first year of a program designed to cultivate high-quality, practitioner-relevant research dedicated to keeping schools and universities safe.
The CARES Fellowshippairs exceptional graduate students with experienced faculty mentors to produce scholarship that directly addresses the safety challenges facing K-12 schools, colleges and universities. The program reflects CARES's commitment to bridging rigorous academic inquiry and real-world practice in school safety.
The three inaugural CARES Fellows include Amy Gandara, Catherine Filipovich and Jacqueline Moreno.
Gandara is a doctoral student in Higher Education Leadership and currently serves as a Coordinator of Academic Planning and Assessment at SHSU. Gandara joins the inaugural CARES Fellowship class under the supervision of Matthew Fuller, professor of educational leadership and director of CARES.
"As a CARES Doctoral Fellow, I will bring a focused research agenda, strong analytical skills and a commitment to translating research into actionable strategies that support prevention. I am motivated to contribute meaningful scholarship to help institutions better understand crisis risk factors, strengthen safety practices and protect the well-being of students, faculty and staff. It is a true honor to be awarded this fellowship, and I look forward to making my contribution to supporting safety in higher education," Gandara said.
Gandara's fellowship project centers on a wholistic examination of the ways in which higher education institutions implement threat assessment and general safety provisions. Her work addresses a recognized gap in the field, with implications for emergency managers, law enforcement and university leaders.
Filipovich is a doctoral student in Curriculum and Instruction and currently serves as a virtual tutor in the private sector. Filipovich joins the inaugural CARES Fellowship class under the supervision of Jamie Coyne, bringing a background in K-8 education and instructional leadership to research focused on staff and stakeholder preparedness to detect, deter and respond to crisis situations.
"As an educator and parent, the issue of school safety affects everyone. Improving school safety strengthens institutions, contributes to student and staff well-being, and benefits the overall climate of K-12 schools," Filipovich said
Filipovich's fellowship project centers on examining protocols that contribute to K-12 school preparedness in potential or real crisis situations. The study seeks to analyze empirical evidence and understand how institutional safety measures deter school violence. The study seeks to examine how school safety protocols are perceived and implemented by school personnel in K-12 institutions. The topic is relevant in that first responders, teachers, and administrators will be better equipped to prevent or respond to crisis situations with information gleaned from the study. The work addresses a recognized gap in the field that may inform policies that make schools and universities safer.
Moreno is a doctoral student in Counselor Education and currently serves as a school counselor for Klein ISD. Moreno joins the inaugural CARES Fellowship class under the co-supervision of Tershundrea Branch and Felicia Mirghassemi, bringing a background in school counseling and community engaged research to this study focused on educator perceptions of school safety.
"School safety isn't just about locks and drills; it's about whether students feel seen, supported and connected. My research exposes critical gaps in how educators view that reality and use data to drive smarter, stronger counseling programs. This fellowship gives me the platform to push that conversation and change forward," Moreno said.
Moreno's fellowship project examines how educators' perceptions of school safety, particularly around student mental health and connectedness, differ across professional roles and influence the design of data-driven school counseling programs. This work is highly relevant as it positions mental health as a core component of school safety. The project addresses a key gap in understanding how stakeholder misalignments impact practice, with implications for school counselors, educators, administrators and policymakers in improving targeted interventions and program design.
As a leading research center within the College of Education, CARES remains committed to producing rigorous, applied research that informs policy and practice across educational settings. Through initiatives like the CARES Fellowship, the center continues to foster meaningful collaboration, support emerging scholars and drive solutions that create safer learning environments throughout Texas and beyond.
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Original text here: https://www.shsu.edu/news/2026-news-stories/cares-fellowship-recipients
RIT Partners With Army to Strengthen Nation's Future Workforce
ROCHESTER, New York, May 6 -- Rochester Institute of Technology issued the following news release:
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RIT partners with Army to strengthen nation's future workforce
RIT to lead national effort to expand STEM pathways and support Army readiness
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The U.S. Department of the Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Army STEM) has awarded the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) a premier cooperative agreement to establish and lead the Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC).
This award recognizes RIT's ability to drive educational innovation and excellence. RIT and its consortium
... Show Full Article
ROCHESTER, New York, May 6 -- Rochester Institute of Technology issued the following news release:
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RIT partners with Army to strengthen nation's future workforce
RIT to lead national effort to expand STEM pathways and support Army readiness
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The U.S. Department of the Army Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (Army STEM) has awarded the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) a premier cooperative agreement to establish and lead the Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC).
This award recognizes RIT's ability to drive educational innovation and excellence. RIT and its consortiumof partners will spearhead critical efforts to advance Army STEM strategic goals and take a central role in developing and expanding the nation's STEM talent pipeline to meet vital national security priorities well into the future.
As the lead organization, RIT will coordinate a collaborative network of partners to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of STEM education and workforce development programs serving students and educators from elementary school through postdoctoral study.
"The future of STEM education and workforce development is rapidly evolving," said Donna Burnette, executive director of RIT's K-12 University Center and ASEC chair and principal investigator. "To remain effective and impactful, Army STEM must be flexible, adaptive, and innovative and anticipate the needs of the future workforce and the mission it supports."
The consortium was formed to leverage STEM education expertise from academia, for profit, nonprofit, and government organizations. The goal is to create STEM enrichment experiences, competitions, internships, and teacher professional development and long-term pathways into STEM education and careers.
Establishing a STEM ecosystem is a consortium priority, Burnette said. Students who engage early in Army STEM programs will have opportunities to continue their involvement as they advance, contributing as mentors, educators, researchers, and professionals within a growing national community.
The scope and ambition of ASEC make the initiative especially powerful, said RIT President Bill Sanders.
"Through this consortium, RIT will coordinate a nationwide network of partners to deliver STEM education and workforce development programs that reach students and educators from elementary school through postdoctoral study," Sanders said. "This is not about steering students toward a single career, but about opening doors to exploration, preparation, and possibility."
RIT is partnering with Blake Learning Solutions, the Griffiss Institute, ICF Incorporated, the National Science Teaching Association, and Tennessee Technological University to provide program delivery, educator engagement, data analytics, workforce development, and strategic communications.
The strength of the consortium lies in its partners, Burnette said. "Together, we have assembled a remarkable group of organizations, each bringing deep expertise, unique capabilities, and a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators who will contribute to the Army's mission."
The ASEC cooperative agreement is administered by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) on behalf of the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA ALT).
"The Army STEM Education Consortium (ASEC) is a vital investment in our nation's scientific and innovative future," said Brian Leftridge, STEM program manager and ASEC cooperative agreement manager for U.S. Army DEVCOM. "By cultivating a diverse STEM talent pipeline from early education through postgraduate research, ASEC builds the expert workforce required for tomorrow's research and development. This sustainable talent pool equips the Army and the nation to master emerging technologies and solve the world's most complex technical challenges."
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Original text here: https://www.rit.edu/news/rit-partners-army-strengthen-nations-future-workforce
Michigan Medicine: Michigan's a Great Place to Grow Older, Say Those Doing It
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 6 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Michigan's a great place to grow older, say those doing it
But poll of Michiganders over 50 shows differences on key measures depending on region, mental and physical health, disability, caregiver status, race and income
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More than a third of Michigan's 10 million people are over 50, and a new poll shows that 82% of them see the state as a good to excellent place to live as they grow older.
Most also gave favorable ratings to the quality of
... Show Full Article
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, May 6 -- Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan, issued the following news release:
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Michigan's a great place to grow older, say those doing it
But poll of Michiganders over 50 shows differences on key measures depending on region, mental and physical health, disability, caregiver status, race and income
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More than a third of Michigan's 10 million people are over 50, and a new poll shows that 82% of them see the state as a good to excellent place to live as they grow older.
Most also gave favorable ratings to the quality ofhealth care available in their region for people their age (84%), as well as the aging services and programs available to older people in their area (77%).
But the poll also finds wide variation in feelings about specific aspects of aging in Michigan, depending on what region of the state older adults live in, their health and disability status, their race, their income, and whether they serve as a family caregiver to another adult.
From health care and housing to transportation and senior services, the new data from the Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, could help inform Michigan policymakers and organizations as they work to serve the needs of older Michiganders now and in the future.
Anyone can explore the full poll findings through an interactive dashboard available and a map of the regions used for the analysis.
The only aspect of aging in Michigan that wasn't viewed favorably by a majority of those polled?
The weather.
Just over half (52%) called it fair or poor, with no major differences by region or other factors. However, it's important to note that the poll was taken in January of this year, which was colder than normal.
Poll findings could inform policy
The poll is funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center.
"We hope these findings will be useful across the state, especially our data showing higher need for certain types of services in Northern Michigan, and for those with lower incomes as well as those with disabilities and other significant health concerns," said poll director Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. "We also found many significant differences in the experiences of older Michiganders who are Black, compared with others, which warrants further attention."
Kullgren is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at the U-M Medical School who provides primary care to veterans at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Scott Roberts, Ph.D., the poll's associate director and a Professor in the U-M School of Public Health, adds that the findings could inform policymakers and those who run programs for older adults.
"In this and related polls, we've found that a lot of older adults aren't aware of Area Agencies on Aging, or of senior-specific services in their community," he said.
"Increasing access and awareness, and working to reduce any stigma that older adults may have about reaching out and seeking help, is an immediate opportunity."
"This poll gives us a deeper and richer understanding of how older adults experience aging in our state, along with great information about the areas where we need to be doing more and doing better to support people as they age," said Phil Lewis, Director for Healthy Aging at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
"It's clear Michigan has a lot of assets that make life better for older adults, including strong networks of health care and aging service providers -- we need to build on these strengths to provide equitable opportunities for all in our state to age well."
Key findings about growing older in Michigan
The poll team asked Michiganders over 50 about a wide range of topics. Some of the main takeaways include:
* Overall rating: People 65 and older were more likely than those age 50 to 64 to rate Michigan as an excellent, very good or good place to age, at 87% vs. 77%. Black Michiganders age 50 and older were less likely than white Michiganders 50 and older to rate the state as an excellent, very good or good place to age, at 69% vs. 84%. There were similar gaps in overall rating of Michigan as a place to age between those who say their mental health or physical health is fair or poor and those who say it's good to excellent, and between those who say they have a disability that limits their daily activities and those who do not.
* Health care: People 50 and older living in Northern Michigan (the Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula) were much less likely to say it's very easy or somewhat easy to find high-quality health care than those living in other parts of the state. Of Northern Michigan residents, 58% said so, compared with 86% of those in Southeast Michigan and 75% in other parts of the state.
* Aging-related services: Older adults who say their physical or mental health is fair or poor were much less likely to rate the aging services and programs in their area favorably than those who rated their own health more highly. So were older adults with household incomes below $60,000, Black adults over 50 and those with disabilities.
* Awareness of services: 39% of people 50 and over said they aren't familiar with services for older adults in their area. Caregivers (those who provide unpaid care regularly for another adult) were more likely to be familiar with such services, but even so, 25% of them were not familiar with what's available in their area.
* Cost of living: While just over half (55%) of Michiganders 50 and older rated the cost of living in their area as excellent, very good or good, the percentage was much lower among those who rated their physical or mental health as fair or poor, those who have an activity-limiting disability, and those who are Black.
* Housing: 29% of Michiganders age 50 and older said it's very difficult or somewhat difficult to find housing that meets their needs, but the percentage was higher (39%) in the Northern and Southwest regions, compared with the Central (29%) and Southeast (24%). People in their 50s and early 60s, those with incomes under $60,000, and those with health challenges and disabilities were also more likely to say that finding housing was very difficult or somewhat difficult.
* Transportation: Overall, 26% of Michiganders age 50 and up said it's somewhat or very difficult to find safe and reliable transportation in their part of their state, regardless of their household income. Concerns about finding safe and reliable transportation were more common among some groups of older Michiganders, with 31% of caregivers and 32% of people with disabilities, as well as 33% of those living in Northern Michigan, saying they have difficulty finding it. That's compared with percentages in the low to mid-20s for those who aren't caregivers, don't have disabilities, or live in other areas of the state.
* Public safety: While the vast majority (82%) of Michiganders over 50 rated public safety in their area as excellent, very good or good, 37% of Black Michiganders over 50 said public safety in their area is fair or poor, compared with 15% of their white counterparts. Those with disabilities also were more likely to rate their local public safety as fair or poor.
* Social and recreational activity: Overall, 84% of Michiganders age 50 and older feel that social and recreational opportunities for people their age are excellent, very good, or good, but those with incomes below $60,000, disabilities, lower physical or mental health ratings, and those living in Northern Michigan were less likely to say so. Eighteen percent of Michiganders over 65 said they had attended or participated in an event or activity organized by a senior center in the past year.
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About the poll
The Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging findings come from a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for IHPI. The survey was administered online and by phone in January 2026 to 1,293 Michigan adults age 50 to 93 from the AmeriSpeak panel, including a non-probability oversample. Results are weighted to reflect the 50+ population in Michigan.
Read past Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging reports and national findings, explore previous interactive data dashboards, and learn about the poll methodology.
The poll is affiliated with the National Poll on Healthy Aging, also based at IHPI and supported by Michigan Medicine.
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Original text here: https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-lab/michigans-great-place-grow-older-say-those-doing-it
Grambling State Students Repeat as National Champions at 2026 AUC-Mastercard Data Challenge
GRAMBLING, Louisiana, May 6 -- Grambling State University issued the following news:
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Grambling State Students Repeat as National Champions at 2026 AUC-Mastercard Data Challenge
Grambling State University students once again proved themselves among the nation's best in applied data science, capturing the top prize and multiple top finishes at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth x Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative 2026 Data Challenge.
In a field of more than 100 student teams representing 25 colleges and universities, Grambling State stood apart with five teams advancing
... Show Full Article
GRAMBLING, Louisiana, May 6 -- Grambling State University issued the following news:
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Grambling State Students Repeat as National Champions at 2026 AUC-Mastercard Data Challenge
Grambling State University students once again proved themselves among the nation's best in applied data science, capturing the top prize and multiple top finishes at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth x Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative 2026 Data Challenge.
In a field of more than 100 student teams representing 25 colleges and universities, Grambling State stood apart with five teams advancingto the finals--more than any other institution--and three teams finishing among the competition's top six. The finals were held April 30-May 2, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
This year's challenge, themed "Healthy Economies, Healthy Communities," asked students to explore how inclusive economic conditions shape healthcare access and how small businesses can help improve outcomes in under-resourced communities. Grambling State's students rose to the occasion with data-driven, solutions-focused work that earned national recognition.
Leading the way was Team Data4Access--Aaron Paddy, Michael Adofo, and Enoch Owusu Ansah--which earned 1st Place and $15,000 in prize money.
Two additional Grambling State teams also secured top honors:
* Team Data Drive -- David Nintang, Holy Agyei, and Iminabo Roberts -- 3rd Place ($5,800)
* Team Access Terrain -- Christotes Nartey-Tetteh and Richmond Azadze -- 3rd Place ($5,800)
Other Grambling State finalist teams included:
* DataRX -- Nonso Duaka, Joshua Udo, Favour Aina, and Samuel Torto
* The JEM Lab -- Jason Chimdinma Jason, Eniola Farinde, and Mofetoluwa Akinkoye
In total, more than $50,000 in prize money was awarded across six winning teams in the competition, including one first-place team, two second-place teams, and three third-place teams.
"This achievement reflects the talent, preparation, and determination of our students, who represented disciplines across the arts, engineering, science, and business," said Dr. Derrick V. Warren, Dean of the Thomas & Joyce Moorehead College of Business and Entrepreneurship. "To repeat as champions on a national stage, and to have more teams in the finals than any other university, speaks volumes about the culture of excellence we are building at Grambling State. Our students are not just competing--they are developing solutions that matter."
Grambling State's finalist teams were coached by Entrepreneur-in-Residence Kimberly Penn, Dr. Basidi Dembele, Dr. Mir Ali, Dr. Olatunde Ogunyemi, and Dean Derrick Warren.
The 2026 championship builds on Grambling State's strong performance in 2025, when the university also earned first- and third-place honors in the competition. Together, those back-to-back wins underscore the university's growing leadership in applied data science and its commitment to preparing students to solve real-world problems through innovation, collaboration, and analytical rigor.
All finalist teams received an all-expenses-paid trip to Atlanta, where they presented their work before industry leaders and national stakeholders.
For Grambling State, the results represent more than a competition victory. They reflect the continued emergence of student talent prepared to lead in data, business, technology, and community-centered innovation--on campus, across the region, and on a national stage.
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Original text here: https://news.gram.edu/index.php/2026/05/05/grambling-state-students-repeat-as-national-champions-at-2026-auc-mastercard-data-challenge/
