Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Phoenix Updates Community College Alliance Benefits Across the Nation to Expand Transfer Pathways and Add Sixth-Course Tuition Waiver
PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 6 -- The University of Phoenix issued the following news release:
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University of Phoenix updates community college alliance benefits across the nation to expand transfer pathways and add sixth-course tuition waiver
Systemwide upgrade strengthens affordability and access for community college students transferring into bachelor's programs at University of Phoenix
By Sharla Hooper
University of Phoenix announces a nationwide upgrade to its community college alliance program that enhances transfer pathways for working adult learners and introduces a sixth-course tuition
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Dec. 6 -- The University of Phoenix issued the following news release:
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University of Phoenix updates community college alliance benefits across the nation to expand transfer pathways and add sixth-course tuition waiver
Systemwide upgrade strengthens affordability and access for community college students transferring into bachelor's programs at University of Phoenix
By Sharla Hooper
University of Phoenix announces a nationwide upgrade to its community college alliance program that enhances transfer pathways for working adult learners and introduces a sixth-course tuitionwaiver for eligible transfer and concurrent-enrollment students who enroll at the University. The update provides community college transfer students with unrestricted access to academic programs, removing limitations based on program selection, and is designed to help students save time and money as they continue from associate degrees to bachelor's and beyond in programs aligned to in-demand careers.
"Community colleges are engines of economic mobility," said Raghu Krishnaiah, Chief Operating Officer, University of Phoenix. "By upgrading our alliances with a sixth-course tuition waiver and clearer transfer pathways, we're reducing friction and cost so students can keep momentum toward their goals."
Alliance community college leadership highlighted the impact for their students.
"Bergen Community College has prioritized creating streamlined transfer opportunities that allow students to further expand their social and economic mobility after graduation from the institution," President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., said. "That's why I am especially proud of this partnership with the University of Phoenix that not only offers a pathway to a bachelor's degree, but a tuition benefit for Bergen graduates."
"Community colleges know their learners best--our job is to show up, listen and help identify solutions," states Kellie Stubblefield, Director or Community College Strategy and Assistant Dean of Specialized Programs in the University of Phoenix Workforce Solutions. "Together with our alliance colleges, we co-designed transfer pathways, aligned catalogs, set up faster transcript reviews and joint advisor trainings--so students spend less time on paperwork and more time making progress. This update reflects that relational work and extends access to the sixth-course tuition waiver across all pathway programs."
University of Phoenix has established articulation agreements across the U.S. and has implemented policies and strategies that allow transfer students to maximize prior college credits by transferring from more than 5,000 accredited institutions toward a bachelor's degree at the University.
What's new for alliance students
* Sixth-Course Tuition Waiver: Eligible students who enroll at University of Phoenix and start and successfully complete five University courses receive a tuition waiver on every sixth course, subject to terms and conditions.
* Who qualifies: Students must identify as current or former students who have completed credits at an alliance community college and enroll in a University program after the effective date. The benefit applies to concurrent-enrollment, bachelor's, master's and credit-bearing certificate programs; it excludes doctoral and competency-based programs. Benefits cannot be combined with other University of Phoenix offers and are subject to University policies.
* Timing & cadence: To receive the waiver, students must enroll and post attendance in the 6th course within 365 days of the start of their first course in the cycle; once the 6th-course waiver is applied, a new 365-day cycle begins. If a student doesn't reach the 6th course within the initial 365 days, a new 365-day period restarts at the next first course.
Transfer pathways and tools that streamline the journey
University of Phoenix maintains transfer-friendly policies and provides Transfer Guides that help students understand how community college coursework may apply to specific University degree programs -- offering clearer, more efficient pathways from an associate degree to a bachelor's degree.
Students and advisors can also reference published 3+1 pathway guides that show how up to three years of community college coursework (87 credits, depending on program and guide) may apply toward a University of Phoenix bachelor's program, helping reduce time and cost for many students.
Learn more here about transfer credit pathways and opportunities at University of Phoenix (https://www.phoenix.edu/transferpathways).
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About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor's and master's degree programs and a Career Services for Life(R) commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu/blog.html.
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Original text here: https://www.phoenix.edu/press-release/transfer-pathways.html
University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs: Homes That Can Withstand Extremes - Study Reveals Pathways to Housing Resilience
NOTRE DAME, Indiana, Dec. 6 -- The University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs issued the following news release:
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Homes that can withstand extremes: New study reveals pathways to housing resilience
By Renee LaReau
With natural disasters striking communities across the U.S. at an accelerating pace, the question of how to build homes that can endure them has never been more critical.
New research spanning political science and civil engineering shows that the answer could lie at the intersection of smarter regulatory systems and stronger structures. While neither approach
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NOTRE DAME, Indiana, Dec. 6 -- The University of Notre Dame Keough School of Global Affairs issued the following news release:
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Homes that can withstand extremes: New study reveals pathways to housing resilience
By Renee LaReau
With natural disasters striking communities across the U.S. at an accelerating pace, the question of how to build homes that can endure them has never been more critical.
New research spanning political science and civil engineering shows that the answer could lie at the intersection of smarter regulatory systems and stronger structures. While neither approachis sufficient on its own, together they offer a promising path toward safer homes.
University of Notre Dame political scientist Susan Ostermann and civil engineering professors Maria J. Echeverria from California State University, Sacramento and Abbie Liel from the University of Colorado Boulder have identified the building code features that have the biggest impact on hazard resilience and translated those features into tangible, practical building solutions. The findings from their National Science Foundation-funded study were published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
A dual approach to resilience
Ostermann and Liel say that housing resilience is both a governance issue and a technical problem. Building codes, as written, already contain nearly everything one needs to build safe homes -- but in many places, implementation remains a barrier.
"Regulations support the goals of safe, resilient housing, but they can also get in the way," said Ostermann, associate professor of global affairs and political science at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. "We need to understand how culture and local building practices interact with regulatory processes."
A locally informed approach to regulation was especially important given the site of the study: Anchorage, Alaska. Geographically isolated from the continental U.S., its independent-minded population often distrusts governmental rules. Even after more than 750 homes were destroyed or damaged by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2018, many Alaskans have retained their libertarian-leaning views. In other words, simply strengthening building codes does not guarantee safer construction if the codes are not followed in the first place.
"People everywhere share a desire for safe housing, but communities vary in the degree to which they regulate and enforce building codes," Ostermann said.
A pragmatic approach to regulation
To gain local expertise on the key features of hazard-resilient housing, the researchers conducted interviews with nearly 40 experts including structural and geotechnical engineers, builders, regulators, inspectors and others. Underlying this approach is regulatory pragmatism, a concept Ostermann developed to help governments regulate more effectively in places where traditional, top-down models fail.
"It suggests that we need to understand the context in which we regulate, and that we need to design regulation for that context -- which means sometimes doing things that are a little bit weird," Ostermann said.
The sheer complexity of building code poses a challenge in and of itself.
"If you were to print it out, it's multiple volumes," Ostermann said. "It's too big to be comprehended by almost anybody, whether it's the government using it or a contractor trying to meet the code."
Because few people can realistically utilize the entire code, Ostermann and Liel argue that local officials and other stakeholders must prioritize a smaller set of features that matter most for hazard safety in their particular environment.
Engineering insights: Why homes fail and how to fix it
Echeverria and Liel's computational structural engineering analysis showed that many homes in Alaska do not perform well in hazardous conditions because key structural elements are missing due to lack of compliance.
In many two-story homes built over large, open garages -- a common design in Alaska -- the mass of the second floor sits on a first floor with limited lateral support. "You're basically missing one side of that box," Liel said. "That overstrains the other sides and creates a twisting torsion problem, so these homes do not perform as well during an earthquake."
Echeverria and Liel identified a list of critical structural features that should be prioritized to maximize compliance and hazard resilience:
* Shear walls -- walls that are designed to withstand lateral forces such as wind
* Proper framing around garage openings
* Hold-downs -- steel connectors that anchor a wall to the foundation and keep it anchored amid shaking
Liel emphasized that these solutions are neither exotic nor expensive, but homeowners and builders often do not recognize their significance. Echeverria and Liel's findings provided the very list of "critical features" needed to inform Ostermann's pragmatic regulation.
Ostermann and Liel are studying housing not only in Alaska, but also in Puerto Rico, which is still rebuilding eight years after Hurricane Maria, and Lahaina, Maui, which suffered widespread damage during a 2023 wildfire.
"When communities, engineers, builders and policymakers work together, resilience stops being an abstract ideal and becomes a place people can safely make their home in," Ostermann said. "If we keep listening, learning and adapting, we can build homes that not only endure the next disaster, but also give families the security and stability they need to plan for the future."
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Renee LaReau, Senior Writer and Editorial Program Manager, (574) 631-5098, lareau.3@nd.edu
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Original text here: https://keough.nd.edu/news-and-events/news/homes-that-can-withstand-extremes-new-study-reveals-pathways-to-housing-resilience/
Study Finds UVA Wise Contributes to Region's Economy and Community in Several Impactful Ways
WISE, Virginia, Dec. 6 -- The University of Virginia College at Wise issued the following news:
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Study Finds UVA Wise Contributes to Region's Economy and Community in Several Impactful Ways
A new report from the University of Virginia released today shares the robust impact of the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise). According to the Economic Impact Study, which studied the University's 2024 fiscal year, UVA Wise supports 1,014 jobs and generates $91.4 million in output within Southwest Virginia. The impact increases to $94.4 million when considering the statewide impact.
The
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WISE, Virginia, Dec. 6 -- The University of Virginia College at Wise issued the following news:
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Study Finds UVA Wise Contributes to Region's Economy and Community in Several Impactful Ways
A new report from the University of Virginia released today shares the robust impact of the University of Virginia's College at Wise (UVA Wise). According to the Economic Impact Study, which studied the University's 2024 fiscal year, UVA Wise supports 1,014 jobs and generates $91.4 million in output within Southwest Virginia. The impact increases to $94.4 million when considering the statewide impact.
TheCollege attracted an estimated 205,480 visitors for events ranging from athletics and community activities to educational programs and performances. While most visitors were local, an estimated 20,548 were from outside the region. These out-of-region visits produced an estimated $4.7 million in economic activity in Southwest Virginia.
In the time period studied, student spending totaled $19.2 million, much of it flowing into the local economy through off-campus housing, dining, transportation and retail.
Overall, UVA Wise's combined operational, capital, student and visitor expenditures reached $72 million in FY2024.
The report also highlighted the College's role in the economy as a major employer. In 2024, the College directly employed 670 individuals, providing $33.7 million in compensation.
Operational spending--including local procurement and contracted services--totaled $10.8 million and included supporting construction jobs and generating additional economic activity through the use of regional suppliers.
In addition to providing an excellent education to undergraduate and graduate students, the report also found that the College contributes to regional development through entrepreneurship programs, grant administration, regional outreach centers and partnerships with employers and economic development agencies.
"UVA Wise is proud to be a key community supporter in Southwest Virginia and beyond," said Chancellor Donna P. Henry. "Our educational vision is to not only provide students with the knowledge and skills to be successful in a career but to give back through meaningful work and service to the community. We model that by doing so ourselves, as facilitators and partners in the economies and communities of which we are proud to be a part."
The College's noted outreach centers include the Center for Appalachian Studies, Healthy Appalachia Institute, Center for Teaching Excellence, The Oxbow Center and StreamWISE
The College also serves as the GO Virginia Region One facilitator, and partners with local, state and federal organizations such as the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership on initiatives that advance the region.
UVA Wise hosts the Southwest Virginia Economic Forum, supports Opportunity Appalachia, hosts CreatorCon, the GAUNTLET, CO.STARTERS, and The Nest, which support the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
As the only four-year public liberal arts college in far Southwest Virginia, UVA Wise plays an important role in building the region's talent pipeline, providing cultural amenities and supporting regional economic development.
UVA Wise offers undergraduate degrees in a variety of fields, including programs aligned with regional employment needs, such as nursing, teacher education, information technology, business, and software engineering. The College has been growing the past few years, introducing new majors such as hospitality and tourism and a Master of Education, which now has three concentrations including Curriculum and Instruction, Library Media and Special Education.
"UVA Wise plays a key role in preparing the workforce for Southwestern Virginia in the areas of education, health care, public service, and emerging sectors," the study reads. "The College contributes to the region's ability to participate in a high-tech and diversified economy."
The College's spending resulted in construction jobs and additional economic activity through the use of regional suppliers, according to the report, which called out one notable example: the recent renovation and adaptive reuse of the former library Don R. Pippin & John C. Wyllie Hall, now a 28,500 square-foot state-of-the-art nursing education center, which was completed in April 2024 at a cost of $16.6 million.
"This facility includes modern classrooms, three skill labs, two simulation labs, exam rooms, group study areas, and faculty offices. It doubles the College's capacity to train nurses--meeting regional healthcare workforce needs and expanding professional training opportunities," the study reads.
In addition to supporting job growth and contributing tens of millions of dollars in direct, indirect, and induced state economic activity, the study says that UVA Wise also contributed an estimated $2.1 million in local government tax revenue. $3.4 million in state tax revenue in FY2024 and $3.1 million in research.
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Original text here: https://www.uvawise.edu/news/2025/12/study-finds-uva-wise-contributes-regions-economy-and-community-several-impactful-ways
Loma Linda University Health: Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon Raises More Than $202,000
LOMA LINDA, California, Dec. 6 -- Loma Linda University Health issued the following news on Dec. 5, 2025:
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Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon raises more than $202,000
By Linda Ha
The 24th annual Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon raised more than $202,000 on Thursday, December 4, to support pediatric patients battling various forms of cancer at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.
The event was broadcast live on K-FROG 95.1 FM from Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga with hosts Kelli, Anthony, Heather, Dana, and Pepper. Volunteers from local organizations
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LOMA LINDA, California, Dec. 6 -- Loma Linda University Health issued the following news on Dec. 5, 2025:
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Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon raises more than $202,000
By Linda Ha
The 24th annual Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon raised more than $202,000 on Thursday, December 4, to support pediatric patients battling various forms of cancer at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.
The event was broadcast live on K-FROG 95.1 FM from Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga with hosts Kelli, Anthony, Heather, Dana, and Pepper. Volunteers from local organizationsanswered phones from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day was filled with inspiring patient stories, families calling in to donate, and community organizations showing their support.
Stater Bros. Charities, the event's presenting sponsor, donated $100,000 during the radiothon. They have been a dedicated partner and advocate for Loma Linda University Health since 1994, and they have been the presenting sponsor of this event for 17 years.
"Stater Bros. Charities' mission is to uplift Southern California communities by fundraising and investing in local nonprofits that provide hands-on support, and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital does exactly that," said Nancy Negrette, chairman and president of Stater Bros. Charities.
"The beauty of this event is that this is the community helping the community," said Anthony Hilliard, MD, FACC, CEO of Loma Linda University Health Hospitals. "Loma Linda University Children's Hospital is the only children's hospital in the Inland Empire, and these dollars are going to be directed for patient care, specifically for cancer care, children suffering from sickle cell disease, and other very complex disorders."
The K-Froggers 4 Kids Radiothon has raised more than $7.2 million for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital since its inception in 2002.
Pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases don't pause for the holidays. You can make a difference during the holiday season and throughout the year for these special patients at lluch.org/radiothon
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Original text here: https://news.llu.edu/community/stater-bros-charities-k-froggers-4-kids-radiothon-raises-more-202000
Lander Professor Awarded Grant in Decision-Making Research
GREENWOOD, South Carolina, Dec. 6 -- Lander University issued the following news:
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Lander Professor Awarded Grant in Decision-Making Research
By Lindsey Hodges
Empowering students to learn and understand decision-making skills is the goal of a project by Lander University Associate Professor of Education Dr. Rachel Schiera.
Schiera was recently awarded a grant that will support her research into decision education and help her and a colleague develop a high school English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum.
The grant was awarded by the Alliance for Decision Education to Schiera and Dr. Mike
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GREENWOOD, South Carolina, Dec. 6 -- Lander University issued the following news:
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Lander Professor Awarded Grant in Decision-Making Research
By Lindsey Hodges
Empowering students to learn and understand decision-making skills is the goal of a project by Lander University Associate Professor of Education Dr. Rachel Schiera.
Schiera was recently awarded a grant that will support her research into decision education and help her and a colleague develop a high school English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum.
The grant was awarded by the Alliance for Decision Education to Schiera and Dr. MikeSell, a professor at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Schiera defined decision education as teaching and learning skillful decision-making.
"I am always careful to state that this field is not about teaching people what to decide--this is about teaching people how to decide," she said.
"This area of education is especially important in today's world, where we are all bombarded with stimuli that attempt to influence our decision-making processes for both good and bad. If we can take the time to educate ourselves and our children on how and why we make the decisions that we do, we may be looking at a future where people are equipped to achieve the outcomes they would like."
Schiera said the world of books and literature house "the most amazing bank of decision making, stretching back millennia."
"What if teachers tweaked what they do with those books, taking on discussions and supporting analyses through what we call a 'decision lens'?" Schiera asked.
The project Schiera and her colleagues are working on aims to develop a curriculum that will pair with ELA classrooms and support students as they learn about decision-making, as well as include writing activities that center on decision-making situations.
Schiera provided a few examples of works that can be studied through a decision-based lens.
She pointed to Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and suggested examining Brutus's choices and decisions by considering his cognitive biases.
"The novel (and film adaptation) The Martian studied through the decision domain of probabilistic thinking and structuring decisions allows us to see that the main character Mark Watney interprets the world as a place where he can predict the likelihood of certain outcomes and craft survival based on those outcomes," Schiera said.
The news that Schiera had received the grant received high marks from the University community.
"It is exciting that Dr. Schiera's work on decision education has been recognized by the Alliance for Decision Education through this award," said Dr. Stephen Bismarck, dean of the College of Education. This grant will help to further her research and, in turn, benefit the faculty and students at Lander University by having firsthand exposure to the curriculum that is developed. At Lander, we support innovative educational practices that impact South Carolina's PK-12 classrooms, and this funding elevates both the visibility of her important research, as well as Lander's commitment to scholarship that has direct, positive impacts on learning outcomes for the communities we serve."
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Original text here: https://www.lander.edu/news/2025/12/lander-professor-awarded-grant-in-decision-making-research.html
IUP Receives $1.3 Million for Crimson Hawk Bridge Program to Serve Students With Intellectual Disabilities
INDIANA, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6 -- Indiana University of Pennsylvania issued the following news:
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IUP Receives $1.3 Million for Crimson Hawk Bridge Program to Serve Students With Intellectual Disabilities
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has received $1.34 million from the US Department of Education to develop the Crimson Hawks Bridge, a multi-year program to help individuals with intellectual disabilities gain skills, experience, and credentials to live independently and successfully transition to the workforce.
Ali Kappel, associate professor in IUP's Department of School Psychology,
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INDIANA, Pennsylvania, Dec. 6 -- Indiana University of Pennsylvania issued the following news:
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IUP Receives $1.3 Million for Crimson Hawk Bridge Program to Serve Students With Intellectual Disabilities
Indiana University of Pennsylvania has received $1.34 million from the US Department of Education to develop the Crimson Hawks Bridge, a multi-year program to help individuals with intellectual disabilities gain skills, experience, and credentials to live independently and successfully transition to the workforce.
Ali Kappel, associate professor in IUP's Department of School Psychology,Special Education, and Sociology, authored the grant application and will direct IUP's program, which will begin in the spring semester.
Over the next five years, the grant, funded through the Department of Education's Transition Program for Students with Intellectual Disabilities, will support 80 students.
Kappel will work closely with co-principal grant investigators Tamara Miller-Leeper, faculty member in IUP's Speech-Language Pathology program, and Indiana High School teacher Tara Pangonis. Miller-Leeper is director of IUP's Labyrinth program, a multidimensional program based on best practices in college programs for students with autism spectrum diagnosis, plus students with related disabilities.
Pangonis will be responsible for teaching specialized courses at Indiana High School for the Crimson Hawks Bridge students while the students are still in high school. She will also develop additional courses for the program to be taught at Indiana High School and will work closely with the students as they transition to IUP. The coursework completed at the high school will count towards the credits required for the certificate.
A portion of the grant funds will support Slippery Rock University's Rock Life program, a four-year, non-degree experience for students with intellectual disabilities. This program has been offered since 2016. SRU's program will continue to work with students at Slippery Rock Area High School.
"IUP's program builds on the Rock Life program, but it is significantly different because the goal of the IUP program is to offer a credential for the students completing the program, in this case, a certificate," Kappel said. The program is designed for completion in two years, with the students completing 18 credits, six credits per semester.
"There are a number of community programs that provide meaningful opportunities for social interaction and help individuals with intellectual disabilities to build important social skills and to find community, but there is a real need in both Indiana and Armstrong counties for a post-K-12 educational program," she said.
"When students graduate from high school and age out of programs, there are not a lot of opportunities for academic support to help these individuals gain meaningful employment," she said.
"The Crimson Hawks Bridge program is meant to be that literal bridge, focusing on work-based and life-based skills, helping individuals to gain a different set of skills and be recognized with a credential documenting those accomplishments," she said.
"Part of the idea for this program also comes from [IUP] President Driscoll's charge to look at how IUP could serve new populations," she said. "This program targets both a new population and a new approach to meeting the needs of that population. Several of our faculty were thinking about this idea, and how to provide a unique opportunity for new types of students," she said. "We also continue to have great support from Dean of the College of Education and Human Services Edel Reilly," Kappel said.
Starting January, 10 students from Indiana High School identified for the Crimson Hawks Bridge program will take a Pathways to Independent class (College in High School class) at Indiana High School, taught by Pangonis.
In addition to in-classroom work, the Pathways to Independent class includes numerous visits to community organizations, focused on helping students to develop skills in areas related to post-secondary employment and independent living, including career research, job skills, money management, housing, transportation, taxes, insurance, family life, household maintenance, developing and following a budget, self-advocacy, and development of recreation and leisure skills within the community.
Students will also have the opportunity to apply knowledge gained through classroom instruction to real-life experience activities, including job shadowing, use of a learning lab, obtaining ID cards, and simulation projects.
Students will visit the IUP campus four times during the semester, including a day focused on student affairs, a social event with the Best Buddies program, a life skills program with IUP's catering service, and a visit to the IUP makerspace site.
IUP's Best Buddies program, which Kappel directs, matches IUP student volunteers with members of the community with intellectual disabilities for social interactions and friendship. About 60 students, many of whom are in Kappel's classes, are volunteers for the 30 community buddies currently in the program.
The IUP team will work during the spring semester to finalize the certificate programs for the Crimson Hawks Bridge program students, including courses to be taken and required activities.
Following completion of the Pathways to Independent course, students in the program will enroll in selected dual enrollment classes at IUP, according to the students' interests. Currently, the IUP team has identified courses in retail, hospitality, childcare, and animal grooming for the certificate programs. Both program-specific courses for credit and general university courses (students in the program will audit these courses) will be offered, planning around the student's established educational plan, used to help arrange a series of courses that can lead to employment in an area of the student's choice.
At least 50 percent of the classes required for the program will be inclusive university classes. Weekly meetings with program staff will be required, supervised study hours will provide students with support in their academic work, and students will be able to participate in all university-wide academic supports as well as social and extracurricular activities.
In addition to developing additional College in High School classes for students in the program, Pangonis will work closely with the students as they transition to on-campus coursework. She will also be responsible for implementing the Crimson Hawk Bridge's fourth-semester practicum, focused on work skills development and supported employment. She and the students will work with IUP's Career and Professional Development Center to find placements and supervise students in these jobs.
In addition to the coursework taken toward a certificate, students in the Crimson Hawks Bridge program will be invited and expected to join in social activities and programs, including with IUP graduate students who will be mentors and volunteers from IUP's Best Buddies program. They will also be supported by a specially trained IUP Navigator, part of IUP's student success infrastructure.
Beginning in the student's second year, they will have the opportunity to live with other Crimson Hawk Bridge students in a university residence hall living-learning community. Additional programming for social events and independent living skills will take place in the living-learning communities, led by specially trained students who will serve as mentors as well as being responsible for traditional resident assistant duties.
"This program can't operate alone; it will take collaboration and cooperation with many university departments and programs," Kappel said.
Miller-Leeper will serve in this coordinator role, working with the Division of Academic Affairs, departments of Counseling, Disability Support Services, Speech-Language Hearing Clinic, Labyrinth, and others to ensure appropriate accommodations and support are in place for students. She will also build on current Labyrinth activities that integrate students into campus life. She will be the primary point of contact for faculty teaching the Crimson Hawks Bridge students in their classes and with the Office of Housing and Residence Life to coordinate the Crimson Hawks Bridge living-learning community.
"While IUP's Labyrinth program focuses on students with autism spectrum diagnosis (who would not be part of the Crimson Hawks Bridge program), the Crimson Hawks Bridge program builds on its expertise in serving students with disabilities through its Labyrinth program for students on the autism spectrum," Kappel said.
"The kinds of programming Labyrinth provides--academic and life coaching, supervised study sessions, peer and faculty mentoring, on- and off-campus social activities--is like that which will be provided under the Crimson Hawks Bridge program," Kappel said. Since 2022, Labyrinth has graduated 15 students who identify as being on the autism spectrum.
"We have learned a great deal from 10 years of project Labyrinth that will have, and will continue to impact, the development of the Crimson Hawks Bridge," she said.
"Individuals with intellectual disabilities have skills and the ability to complete an educational program; we know that from first-hand experience--I see it in my Best Buddies, they have so much potential. We also looked at the numbers and needs in the community--this program addresses a national call for career-based learning and the real need for trained and enthusiastic workers in our community. Our program is designed to help build a skilled and credentialed workforce," Kappel said.
"We are also looking to address the stigma that individuals with intellectual disabilities face in the community. We want potential employers to see the value of these individuals and give these students confidence in their value and identity; a real, earned credential is a very positive step towards earning that respect from employers, coworkers, and the community.
"It also will change perspectives of IUP students who interact with the Crimson Hawks Bridge, students who may never have met an individual with intellectual disabilities," she said. "This program also provides support for families and caregivers, who will be important partners to help us ensure student success," Kappel said.
While the IUP and SRU programs are different, key personnel from both programs will meet in consortium meetings at least monthly to discuss ways to overcome challenges, review program developments, share best practices in serving students with intellectual disabilities, and participate jointly in program evaluation.
To ensure that students can afford the program, program personnel will work with students to help them access educational support funds available from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and from state and federal financial aid agencies. With the funds from participant enrollment, it is anticipated that IUP's program, once established, will be largely self-sustaining. The majority of the grant funds for the Crimson Hawks Bridge will be used for personnel, including funding the work of graduate students.
"It's been a bit of a whirlwind--we completed the grant proposal in August and were notified in October that we had secured the funding," Kappel said. "It's also been a true team effort, receiving great support from every division in the university, including from the President and the Provost. We can't wait to welcome our first cohort and help them cross the Crimson Hawk Bridge to their futures," she said.
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Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.
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Original text here: https://www.iup.edu/news-events/news/2025/12/iup-receives-1-3-million-for-crimson-hawk-bridge-program-to-serve-students-with-intellectual-disabilities.html
Grand Valley State University: 'Thrilling and Terrifying' - Experts Discuss AI's Rapid Rise in Health Sciences
ALLENDALE, Michigan, Dec. 6 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news:
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"Thrilling and terrifying": Experts discuss AI's rapid rise in health sciences
College of Computing, Van Andel Institute co-host college's Innovation Day
By Brian Vernellis
The College of Computing and the Van Andel Institute co-hosted the college's recent Innovation Day, highlighting the convergence of artificial intelligence with life sciences and biomedical research, on December 5 at the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
Marouane Kessentini, dean of the College of Computing, and Eric
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ALLENDALE, Michigan, Dec. 6 -- Grand Valley State University issued the following news:
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"Thrilling and terrifying": Experts discuss AI's rapid rise in health sciences
College of Computing, Van Andel Institute co-host college's Innovation Day
By Brian Vernellis
The College of Computing and the Van Andel Institute co-hosted the college's recent Innovation Day, highlighting the convergence of artificial intelligence with life sciences and biomedical research, on December 5 at the DeVos Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus.
Marouane Kessentini, dean of the College of Computing, and EricSwindell, dean and chief academic officer at the Van Andel Institute, welcomed guests to the event.
"Grand Valley is very intentional in expanding success in research and innovation at the intersection of AI and life sciences," Kessentini said. "We are here to look to the future and bring together scientists and those working on innovation.
"We know that AI is changing everything, every discipline, and, of course, life sciences is one of the areas that basically continue to evolve."
The rapid application of artificial intelligence in health and life sciences has been transformative and jarring, said Dr. Caleb Bupp, division chief of medical genetics and genomics at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
"In many ways it's been like riding a wild mustang after jolting it with a stun gun," Bupp said. "It is thrilling at times, but also terrifying."
Bupp, who participated in a five-person panel discussion on health AI, said the technology is accelerating change in his research and the field.
"We are at a fascinating inflection point in medicine, where from a genetics and genomic medicine standpoint, we used to be slow and reactive," said Bupp.
"Now, we are fast and proactive, and it has been heavily driven by technology, allowing more diagnoses to be made through data."
Peter Laird, professor and the Peter and Emajean Cook endowed chair in epigenetics at the Van Andel Institute, has also seen AI's power firsthand. Laird and postdoctoral fellow Nathan Spix presented their research and how AI can manage the staggering amount of DNA data across the human body's 40 trillion cells.
"You can understand now with 40 trillion cells that the amount of data that we'll be able to generate with AI going forward is just mind-boggling," Laird said.
The event also featured the Grand Rapids Deep Tech Pitch Competition, giving entrepreneurs along with GVSU students and faculty to pitch their startup projects.
Matt Larson, affiliate faculty of instruction at the DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, won the top prize of $10,000 for his startup, Vanly, which helps recreational vehicle owners find and book safe overnight parking near amenities.
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Brian Vernellis, Senior Writer, (616) 331-8138, vernellb@gvsu.edu
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Original text here: https://www.gvsu.edu/gvnext/2025/thrilling-and-terrifying-experts-discuss-ais-rapid-rise-in-health-sciences.htm
