Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Wilkes University: Coffee Talk - Wilkes Professors Offer Students Interdisciplinary Study of the Coffee Industry in Costa Rica
WILKES-BARRE, Pennsylvania, March 17 -- Wilkes University issued the following news release:
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Coffee Talk: Wilkes Professors Offer Students Interdisciplinary Study of the Coffee Industry in Costa Rica
Collaboration between academic disciplines often is a matter of finding shared interests. In Andy Miller and Jeff Stratford's case, they found common ground in a cup of coffee.
Miller, a political science professor, and Stratford, a biology professor and chair of biology and earth systems science, have been collaborating since 2017 on interdisciplinary study of the coffee industry in Costa
... Show Full Article
WILKES-BARRE, Pennsylvania, March 17 -- Wilkes University issued the following news release:
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Coffee Talk: Wilkes Professors Offer Students Interdisciplinary Study of the Coffee Industry in Costa Rica
Collaboration between academic disciplines often is a matter of finding shared interests. In Andy Miller and Jeff Stratford's case, they found common ground in a cup of coffee.
Miller, a political science professor, and Stratford, a biology professor and chair of biology and earth systems science, have been collaborating since 2017 on interdisciplinary study of the coffee industry in CostaRica. Their work has included an annual service-learning spring break trip to visit coffee farms, co-teaching two classes on the subject and a book, Sustainable Coffee in Costa Rica: Solutions for People, Economic Development, and Biodiversity (Bloomsbury 2025).
Because coffee has driven Costa Rica's economy since the mid-19th century, its impact is significant, a fact affirmed by the country's 38,000 coffee farmers. The book analyzes the intersection of politics, economic development and environmental sustainability in coffee production in a country.
Teaching Wilkes students is central to their collaboration. It is reflected in the book, which combines information gathered on their annual student trips to Costa Rica and content from the curriculum for the two classes they co-teach in alternating years: Political Economy and Ecology of Coffee and Ecotourism and Ecology in Costa Rica. Students in the classes go on the spring break trip to the Central American country.
The professors' collaboration began nine years ago when Miller invited Stratford to join him leading the Costa Rica trip. It was a natural fit: Miller had long studied Central American countries and Stratford has a long history of working in the tropics, including nearly two years researching in Brazil. Collaborating to develop an interdisciplinary approach benefits students, they note. "It's more real, because things are interconnected," Stratford says. Otherwise, students are seeing topics through a single lens. "As a political scientist, everything is a policy issue," Miller jokes.
The two professors have leveraged the popularity of coffee to pique students' interest. "I always joke with students on the first day that the class is called The Political Economy and Ecology of Coffee to get you to sign up," Miller says. By choosing an accessible approach, it attracts students from many majors. In addition to teaching about topics like the impact of currency exchange rates on coffee growers' profits and how coffee farms get rid of waste ("That's a question on an exam."), the professors serve different kinds of coffee in class each Friday for students to sample. "I tell them to taste it purposefully and think about what you smell and taste," says Miller. More than just a coffee break, the exercise prepares to appreciate different grades of coffee that command different prices in the marketplace. Tasting coffee at coffee farms is part of the spring break trip.
As a biologist, Stratford introduces lessons that explain different farming methods that influence the perceived quality and price of coffee, such as whether coffee is grown in shade, partial shade or full sun. Visiting the farms is eye-opening for students, he says. "Coffee isn't a thing that grows on supermarket shelves: It comes from the land." Talking about coffee as a living organism includes discussing topics like pollination and diseases affecting the plants, while also providing surprising answers to questions like "Why does it have caffeine in it?" The answer: It's an anti-herbivore chemical aiding in pest control, Stratford explains, adding, "If you have a tiny bug eating that caffeine, it's essentially a toxin."
The two case studies of coffee farms featured in their book are stops on the trip to Costa Rica, each illustrating different aspects of the coffee industry. For example, the CoopeTarrazu cooperative collects high quality coffee, selling it above market prices to large companies such as Starbucks and Green Mountain. In contrast, Beneficio La Lia Tarrazu, owned by brothers Luis Alberto and Oscar Monge, sells luxury coffee produced in an exacting production process. Students on the spring break trip get to see the two operations firsthand.
"One of the things I like about taking students to meet Luis Alberto and his brother is to show them, in a way that they never have experienced, what excellence looks like," Miller says. With their commitment to a farming process that Miller describes as "exacting," their farm has earned their coffee the Cup of Excellence, the top coffee prize in Costa Rica.
Miller and Stratford say that their collaboration has enriched both their teaching and their published book. "We may have incomplete knowledge of each other's fields, so it was a great thing to have all the pieces come together in the book," Stratford says.
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Original text here: https://news.wilkes.edu/2026/03/16/coffee-talk-wilkes-professors-offer-students-interdisciplinary-study-of-the-coffee-industry-in-costa-rica/
Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center Study Reveals Value of Patient-Physician Bonds in China
WASHINGTON, March 17 (TNSxrep) -- Research from the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, a part of Stanford University Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, determined that patients in China strongly value continuity with their physicians despite having the freedom to switch providers easily. Yuli Xu, an Asia Health Policy postdoctoral fellow, examined how institutional structures shape individual behavior in a system where high-quality medical resources are scarce.
Unlike the U.S. healthcare system, which often requires referrals or specific insurance networks, China
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WASHINGTON, March 17 (TNSxrep) -- Research from the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, a part of Stanford University Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, determined that patients in China strongly value continuity with their physicians despite having the freedom to switch providers easily. Yuli Xu, an Asia Health Policy postdoctoral fellow, examined how institutional structures shape individual behavior in a system where high-quality medical resources are scarce.
Unlike the U.S. healthcare system, which often requires referrals or specific insurance networks, Chinaallows patients to select doctors directly through hospital appointment systems. The study analyzed administrative medical claims data and found that patients with chronic conditions frequently return to the same physician. This behavior suggests that prior interactions heavily influence medical decisions, with patients significantly more likely to visit a doctor they have seen in the previous six months.
The study measured the impact of unexpected interruptions in these relationships, such as a physician absence. Findings show that patients reduce visits to the entire hospital and spend less on medical care rather than substituting their regular doctor with an unfamiliar one. Most patients choose to postpone care until their regular physician returns, highlighting a deep trust in established bonds.
APARC findings indicate that stable patient-physician relationships improve efficiency and reduce costs, particularly for individuals with severe conditions. While the study focused on China, Xu notes that comparing institutions across countries can help identify mechanisms for improving healthcare access in the U.S. and other global markets.
-- Kripaa Chhughani, Targeted News Service
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Original text posted on March 16, 2026, here: https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/what-chinas-healthcare-system-reveals-about-value-patient-physician-bonds
University of Melbourne: Statement in Response to Ambitious Australia: Strategic Examination of Research and Development Final Report
MELBOURNE, Australia, March 17 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Melbourne issued the following statement:
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Statement in response to Ambitious Australia: Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) final report
University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy AM has issued this statement following the release of Ambitious Australia: SERD final report.
The University of Melbourne welcomes the SERD final report and calls on the Australian Government to adopt its recommendations.
The University thanks the SERD Review Panel - Chair Robyn Denholm, Emeritus
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MELBOURNE, Australia, March 17 (TNSrpt) -- The University of Melbourne issued the following statement:
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Statement in response to Ambitious Australia: Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) final report
University of Melbourne Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Mark Cassidy AM has issued this statement following the release of Ambitious Australia: SERD final report.
The University of Melbourne welcomes the SERD final report and calls on the Australian Government to adopt its recommendations.
The University thanks the SERD Review Panel - Chair Robyn Denholm, EmeritusProfessor Ian Chubb AC, Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood AO and Dr Kate Cornick - for its comprehensive consultation across the sector and substantial final report.
Adopting the SERD recommendations will allow the Australian Government to harness scale for impact and maintain a long-term approach to supporting Australia's research, development and innovation (RD&I) ecosystem through sustained investment.
The Panel has correctly identified the critical role universities play in our nation's innovation and discovery effort and our relationship to other essential partners including industry, start-ups, small-to-medium enterprises, large businesses and government.
The University of Melbourne is committed to working in partnership with the Australian and Victorian governments and industry partners to continue delivering transformational research for the benefit of our communities, economy, environment and society.
National coordination of Australia's innovation system
We support the recommendation to establish a National Innovation Council (NIC). The NIC reporting to the Prime Minister would ensure the urgent need for reform is placed at the centre of government decision making. We strongly support consolidation of funding programs and streamlining processes and timelines to align policy, programs and funding for a coordinated national RD&I effort.
We support the consolidation of Australia's RD&I efforts through the National Innovation Pillars - Health & Medical, Agriculture & Food, Defence, Energy & Environment, Resources and Technology. These strongly align with the University's Impact Accelerators, a key initiative in Advancing Research 2030.
We strongly support the Panel recognising the essential need for foundational research to provide the pipeline of ideas that underpins applied research, translation and innovation. It is critical for national programs, including block grant funding, to be properly resourced if they are to be aligned with National Innovation Pillars to ensure an adequate pipeline of foundational research.
We strongly endorse the critical role of First Nations knowledge, leadership and Indigenous-led research in shaping Australia's research and innovation system.
Investment in all stages of research translation
We strongly support unlocking investment into all stages of the research translation pipeline.
The University has established funding programs to support research translation across the various stages including our Proof of Concept (POC) fund, to test commercial viability, the Genesis Pre-Seed Fund and Tin Alley Fund, which move discoveries closer to being investable. The Australian Government has an important role in contributing investment in the early stages of translation.
We have advocated for a national private venture capital 'fund-of-funds' which could grow and strengthen university-linked investment vehicles. We thank the Panel for supporting this concept, embedded in the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF), and other government initiatives, to source private capital and accelerate innovation to support NRF priority sectors.
We commend the Panel for noting the role government can play as an exemplar, and the imperative of properly funding research infrastructure and determining the full costs of research. We support the development of research training programs with a strong industry focus, adapting procurement practice of domestic RD&I, raising PhD stipends, and making part-time PhD scholarships tax-free to boost the RD&I workforce pipeline.
Fully funding national critical research infrastructure long-term, including operational costs, would enable cutting-edge facilities to advance research capabilities, drive engagement with industry and support national sovereignty.
Increased connection between universities, government and key sectors
We support increased collaboration between universities, industry, government, business and start-ups to accelerate research translation and innovation. The University of Melbourne is committed to collaboration and has more than 2000 research contracts with partners.
Increased mobility between sectors - including by growing the number of secondments, internships and significantly scaling the Industry PhD program - could strengthen shared capability.
The Panel recommends reforms to Australia's Research and Development Tax Incentive (RDTI) scheme to incentivise collaborations with Australian research for businesses currently not eligible for the RDTI. The RDTI should also be reformed so RD&I undertaken collaboratively with university researchers is additionally incentivised.
National precinct/place-based activity strategy
The University strongly supports the development of a national precinct/placed-based activity strategy, and we have more than 150 organisations in our precincts. Every major innovation ecosystem has a world-class research institution at its heart, and governments play a role in growing these ecosystems through strategic investments and helping to attract overseas investment and RD&I partners.
Melbourne Biomedical Precinct is a successful example of this strategy. The University of Melbourne has worked with the Australian and Victorian governments over decades to grow the precinct. It is now home to more than 30 major research centres, including the Florey Institute, Doherty Institute, Bio21, WEHI, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Aikenhead Centre for Medical Discovery, Jumar Bioincubator and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
We support the Australian Government in creating a national narrative that demonstrates the benefits and value of RD&I, both domestically and internationally, to drive investment and opportunity for Australian innovators.
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REPORT: https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-03/ambitious-australia-strategic-examination-of-research-and-development-final-report.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/march/statement-in-response-to-ambitious-australia-strategic-examination-of-research-and-development-serd-final-report
UNLV: Interview With Associate VP for Retention & Outreach Aronov
LAS VEGAS, Nevada, March 17 -- The University of Nevada Las Vegas campus issued the following Q&A by Coleen Haines with Zhanna Aronov, associate vice president for retention and outreach at the Dr. William W. Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach:
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The Interview: Zhanna Aronov
The AVP for retention and outreach at UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach reflects on how her immigrant experience shaped a career supporting student success.
As a teenager in the winter of 1992, Zhanna Aronov immigrated to the United States from Moscow with her family, stepping into
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada, March 17 -- The University of Nevada Las Vegas campus issued the following Q&A by Coleen Haines with Zhanna Aronov, associate vice president for retention and outreach at the Dr. William W. Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach:
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The Interview: Zhanna Aronov
The AVP for retention and outreach at UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach reflects on how her immigrant experience shaped a career supporting student success.
As a teenager in the winter of 1992, Zhanna Aronov immigrated to the United States from Moscow with her family, stepping intoa place that felt both full of promise and uncertainty. The language, the culture, the school system, and the challenge of "starting over" were all new. Like many immigrants, Aronov faced moments of doubt and hardship while learning to navigate unfamiliar surroundings. Yet those challenges also became the foundation of her strength.
Now she's the associate vice president for retention and outreach at UNLV's Dr. William W. Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO), where she has made a career of helping others through the same programs that helped her.
In high school, Aronov found the guidance and support she needed through the UNLV Upward Bound program. With determination and long hours of work, she quickly learned English and soon joined regular classes at Chaparral High School in East Las Vegas. Within months, she was not only keeping up with her peers but excelling, earning the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and winning a gold medal in mathematics at the Upward Bound Olympics.
What began as a difficult transition became a defining chapter in Zhanna's life.
The experience of starting over in a new country taught her persistence, resilience and gratitude for opportunity. Those lessons about uncertainty, limited resources and the courage to keep moving forward continued to shape her ambitions long after her high school and college years.
You have been at UNLV for many years -- what keeps you here?
As a first-generation college student who came to the United States as a teenager, I have encountered many challenges and even more opportunities that have allowed me to call UNLV my home for more than three decades. I have earned both of my degrees from UNLV, formed long-lasting friendships and valuable work relationships, and contributed to the successes of many students, staff and programs on this campus. My amazing peers, the mission of our work and a sense of community keep me at UNLV.
Who has influenced your perspective and who inspires you?
My family, from grandparents to children, have influenced my perspective and inspired me to continuously learn and remain objective. All of the personal experiences my grandparents shared with me detailing their lives during World War II and their subsequent struggles are engraved in my mind as life's lessons and make me appreciate peace and stability that much more.
My parents' decision to immigrate and leave everything they knew behind in hopes of a brighter future for their children is immeasurable. And, of course, my children amaze me with their accomplishments and push me to keep up with innovation.
How do your degrees shape your work and influence the way you support students today?
My undergraduate degree in business administration and a minor in mathematics as well as my Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance allow me to apply an analytical approach to my work. Operating mostly within federal grants, I can appreciate the communication, structure, and logic that serve as a common denominator for these disciplines. Ensuring compliance, accuracy and timely responses keeps us funded and able to provide critical services to our students.
CAEO encompasses so many different programs. Tell us more about the work of your team.
The mission of CAEO is to provide traditional and innovative educational opportunities to a diverse community through targeted services and research that promote personal success. CAEO helps middle and high school students, college students and adults from low-income families -- and from families where neither parent nor guardian has graduated from a four-year institution -- access and graduate from institutions of higher learning.
Currently, we operate a number of federal TRIO, GEAR UP, AANAPISI and FIPSE grants, as well as donor funds, to support more than 15,000 participants. Our overall objective is to increase the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of individuals who come from underserved and under-resourced backgrounds.
CAEO offers a variety of services that include academic advising, tutoring, instruction in developmental courses, assistance with college admissions and financial aid or scholarship applications, counseling on college-adjustment issues, school decisions and admissions, personal counseling, referrals to other campus and community resources, undergraduate research opportunities, basic needs support, Fostering Hope Scholars support, scholarships and more.
When you mentor students and staff who are unsure of their next steps, how do you support them in those moments?
I firmly believe that a person who is happy in their career is a more productive and fulfilled individual. Oftentimes, we may focus on immediate rewards, such as a paycheck or prestige, versus things that bring us joy. So, I ask my mentees what they love to do or what makes them happy. Based on their response, I help them focus more on exploring that path.
What does being a Rebel mean to you today?
Being a Rebel means being myself, feeling a family vibe, having a voice, and fitting in without being judged.
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Original text here: https://www.unlv.edu/news/article/interview-zhanna-aronov
Tuskegee Leaders Showcase Student Readiness for Engineering and Management Roles at New Manufacturing Facility
TUSKEGEE, Alabama, March 17 -- The Tuskegee University issued the following news:
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Tuskegee Leaders Showcase Student Readiness for Engineering and Management Roles at New Manufacturing Facility
One of the key signifiers of Tuskegee's Renaissance Era is how the university is preparing students earlier than graduation to be career-ready, leaning into the same founding principles Booker T. Washington led with more than 100 years ago. Now, students are mastering emerging technology and developing the skills needed to solve industry needs -- like those of American Samkwang.
Samkwang leadership,
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TUSKEGEE, Alabama, March 17 -- The Tuskegee University issued the following news:
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Tuskegee Leaders Showcase Student Readiness for Engineering and Management Roles at New Manufacturing Facility
One of the key signifiers of Tuskegee's Renaissance Era is how the university is preparing students earlier than graduation to be career-ready, leaning into the same founding principles Booker T. Washington led with more than 100 years ago. Now, students are mastering emerging technology and developing the skills needed to solve industry needs -- like those of American Samkwang.
Samkwang leadership,led by Jinwoo Kim, president and CEO of Samkwang - American Samkwang, Inc., recently visited Tuskegee leaders to discuss opportunities to strengthen collaboration and to outline next steps for a more formal partnership.
"This is my third visit to Tuskegee," said Kim. "Each time I grow more attached. I look forward to finding ways for our relationship to grow and to recruit capable students in the future."
Samkwang operates manufacturing facilities in South Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, and the U.S., supplying a wide range of plastic-injection products for global customers including Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group, Stanley Black & Decker, and Johnson Controls.
Kim stressed the need for students with not only a firm skillset in mechanical and electrical engineering and operational and management know-how for assembly lines, but also the business and financial backgrounds to manage procurement and supply-chain issues.
"The students you are looking for, we have them right here," said Dr. Van Sapp, Vice President for External Affairs, noting that both our College of Engineering and our College of Business and Information Science are cultivating the best and the brightest to be workforce-ready long before they graduate.
The discussion included the possibility of co-op opportunities during the academic year.
"Co-ops provide an opportunity for faculty, all seasoned professionals, to support the students in real time, to quickly problem-solve with students, and to support their success on the job," said Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences.
The group visited the 170,000-square-foot Samkwang facility recently opened on Wire Road in Macon County.
"As we move forward in the Tuskegee Renaissance era, we are embracing a culture that says our curriculum must be aligned with market trends," said Dr. Thierno Thiam, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Dr. Thiam added, "Samkwang, because of its proximity to Tuskegee University, offers our students a hands on experience that increases their marketability."
Dr. Thiam and Kim signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the discussion as they look ahead to next steps.
"Our talented students, and the faculty here to support them, are ready to make a measurable impact on the productivity at the Samkwang facility in Macon County and to support their operations around the world -- we are creating global citizens at Tuskegee."
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Original text here: https://www.tuskegee.edu/news/2026/03/Tuskegee-Leaders-Showcase-Student-Readiness-for-Engineering-and-Management-Roles-at-New-Manufacturing-Facility.html
Reimagining the UCCS Engineering Building for a High tech Future
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 17 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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Reimagining the UCCS engineering building for a high tech future
March 16, 2026 Abigail Beckman
Walk into the original Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) Building at UCCS, and you'll find a surprising artifact of early computing history: a key piece of equipment that still runs on an 8-inch floppy disk. Most students have never seen one in use, and even many faculty members have only encountered it in museum displays.
But this isn't a sign that UCCS is behind the times. In fact, it
... Show Full Article
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, March 17 -- The University of Colorado issued the following news release:
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Reimagining the UCCS engineering building for a high tech future
March 16, 2026 Abigail Beckman
Walk into the original Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) Building at UCCS, and you'll find a surprising artifact of early computing history: a key piece of equipment that still runs on an 8-inch floppy disk. Most students have never seen one in use, and even many faculty members have only encountered it in museum displays.
But this isn't a sign that UCCS is behind the times. In fact, ithighlights just how far the university has progressed. UCCS was largely established at the behest of Hewlett Packard and the recognized need to expand workforce pipelines for engineers in Colorado Springs. Engineering classes were initially offered in the Cragmor Sanitorium (Main Hall) and later moved into Cragmor Hall. The College of Engineering and Applied Science was operated under the oversight of the Boulder campus for accreditation purposes until 1982. The existing engineering building was dedicated in 1985 exclusively for use by the College of EAS.
The presence of such a relic as an 8-inch floppy disk underscores how far the university has come. It also shows how urgently the physical environment needs to catch up with the innovation happening inside it.
The College of Engineering and Applied Science is growing rapidly, making up close to one-sixth of total enrollment. Its programs now include 24 bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees across seven engineering disciplines. Partnerships with engineering, aerospace and cybersecurity employers are stronger than ever, offering students scholarships, internships and opportunities for real-world, hands-on research.
A building ready for its next chapter
Designed in 1982, the EAS Building has served generations of engineering students for more than 40 years. While the college has evolved dramatically in expertise, innovation and academic offerings, the building itself has seen almost no improvements.
The result is a space that limits the student experience, providing few study areas and no inviting places for collaboration. The maze-like layout makes some labs difficult to access, and much of the second floor is consumed by outdated infrastructure, including the original clean room whose ventilation system consumes more than 4,000 square feet. The building also faces serious energy inefficiencies and is the most expensive building per square foot to heat and cool in the entire CU system.
In recognizing these limitations, UCCS isn't standing still. The needs of engineering and cybersecurity employers are growing fast, and student interest is growing with them. Now the building must evolve to support that momentum.
The EAS renovation & expansion project
In March 2026, UCCS will begin a major renovation and expansion of the main Engineering and Applied Science Building. The College of Engineering and Applied Science is preparing to grow from 1,700 to more than 3,100 students annually, and the refreshed EAS Building will ensure they have the space, tools and environment to succeed.
"The renovation expands our space, modernizes learning environments and creates innovative labs and collaborative areas to create a cutting-edge learning experience for students," said Ying Shang, Ph.D., Dean of EAS.
The project adds 10,000 square feet, bringing the building's total size to 85,000 square feet, and introducing spaces designed around how modern engineering students learn, collaborate and innovate.
"Together with the 2024 additions of the Anschutz Engineering Center and the Design and Prototyping Center, the college's footprint now encompasses five buildings on campus and positions the college for future growth," Dean Shang said.
This renovation isn't just about updating a building. It's about supporting the workforce needs of more than 400 regional engineering, aerospace and cybersecurity firms relying on UCCS graduates.
Project highlights
A new grand lobby & collaboration hub
For the first time, the EAS Building will have welcoming "collision spaces" where students can meet, brainstorm and work between classes. The lobby will serve as both a social and academic anchor for the building.
Two story educational wing
The outdated clean room will be removed and relocated to the UCCS Cybersecurity Center. In its place, a modern instructional wing will rise--complete with a new second floor dedicated to graduate student offices and workspace.
Expanded classrooms and labs
State of the art labs will increase course capacity and mirror the tools and technologies used in today's engineering industries.
A larger Excel Center
The tutoring and academic support center, currently filled to capacity and regularly forced to turn students away, will double in size to meet student demand.
Energy efficiency upgrades
Every part of the building envelope and mechanical system will be modernized to include high efficiency windows and skylights, new airlock entries, updated insulation and HVAC systems and new roofing. Together, these upgrades aim for LEED Gold standards--turning the former "energy hog" into a model of sustainability.
Full ADA accessibility
The building will become fully ADA compliant, including hallways, elevators, restrooms and a gently sloped accessible main entrance.
Seamless connectivity across engineering facilities
Students will be able to move between the EAS Building, the new Anschutz Engineering Center and the Design & Prototyping Center without stepping into inclement weather.
The 8 inch floppy disk in the old clean room reminds us of where the UCCS engineering program began, but it's the students, faculty and industry partnerships driving it forward that define where it's going.
The EAS Renovation & Expansion Project honors the building's legacy while creating a vibrant, sustainable and collaborative space worthy of the next generation of engineers. Remarkable things are already happening inside these walls. Soon, the building will match the excellence and ambition of the people who bring it to life every day.
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Original text here: https://news.uccs.edu/2026/03/16/reimagining-the-uccs-engineering-building-for-a-high-tech-future/
JCU Re-designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Disease Control
TOWNSVILLE, Australia, March 17 -- James Cook University issued the following news release:
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JCU re-designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for tropical disease control
James Cook University has again been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its work tackling diseases across the Tropics.
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JCU has been re-designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases for another four years, from November 2025 to November 2029.
The designation recognises the University's long-standing partnership with the WHO and strengthens collaboration on
... Show Full Article
TOWNSVILLE, Australia, March 17 -- James Cook University issued the following news release:
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JCU re-designated as WHO Collaborating Centre for tropical disease control
James Cook University has again been recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its work tackling diseases across the Tropics.
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JCU has been re-designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases for another four years, from November 2025 to November 2029.
The designation recognises the University's long-standing partnership with the WHO and strengthens collaboration onresearch, training and technical support to help countries prevent and control tropical diseases.
JCU has supported the control of vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases through WHO Collaborating Centre activities since its first designation in 1996, and this redesignation allows the University to continue the fight against tropical diseases for the health of Australia and our Pacific neighbours.
Centre co-director and JCU Emeritus Professor Maxine Whittaker said the recognition would strengthen the organisation's ability to draw on JCU expertise.
"Malaria, Lymphatic filariasis, dengue fever, strongyloidiasis, hookworm and whipworm disease, as well as several other vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases, remain a challenge across the Pacific islands," Prof Whittaker said.
"Tropical climates, remoteness, limited access to healthcare, and periodic disasters hinder timely diagnosis, treatment, and disease control.
"The re-designation strengthens WHO's ability to draw on JCU expertise to support member states, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region."
Head of JCU Public Health and Tropical Medicine Professor Richard Franklin said the issue was also a hugely important one for Australians as vector-borne and neglected tropical diseases remain a major health challenge.
"For Australia, the Pacific burden matters directly," Prof Franklin said.
"Our proximity and frequent travel and trade increase the likelihood of imported infections and occasional local transmission where disease-carrying mosquitoes exist.
"This makes strong Pacific partnerships in surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, health workforce training and coordinated responses a shared health and biosecurity priority."
Centre co-director and JCU Associate Professor of Public Health and Tropical Medicine Richard Bradbury said the Centre would continue working closely with the WHO to support practical disease control efforts.
"The Centre's work focuses on practical support to WHO and countries, including training, operational research and technical support that aligns with their strategies," Assoc Prof Bradbury said.
"These priority areas include strengthening clinical and laboratory capacity, improving disease surveillance, supporting elimination programs and helping countries respond to outbreaks."
Capacity development stream lead Dr Maru Castellanos-Reynosa said the collaboration came at a critical time.
"Countries are facing increasing challenges, including constrained resources, the need for sustainable surveillance after elimination milestones, and the growing impacts of climate-sensitive disease vectors," Dr Castellanos-Reynosa said.
JCU's Dean of the College of Medicine and Dentistry Professor Sarah Larkins said the re-designation recognised the University's long-standing leadership in tropical health.
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Original text here: https://www.jcu.edu.au/news/releases/2026/march/jcu-re-designated-as-who-collaborating-centre-for-tropical-disease-control
