U.S. Public and Private Higher Education
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
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UT Trustees Approve Honorary Degree for Librarian of Congress
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, June 22 -- The University of Tennessee issued the following news:
The UT Board of Trustees on Friday approved a proposal to award an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to hold the post.
Hayden was appointed the 14th librarian of Congress in 2016 by President Barack Obama and is responsible for the world's largest library, housing our nation's collection of more than 160 million items. She is the first professional librarian to be named librarian of Congress since 1974.
A native of Tallahassee,
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KNOXVILLE, Tennessee, June 22 -- The University of Tennessee issued the following news:
The UT Board of Trustees on Friday approved a proposal to award an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters to Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, the first woman and first African American to hold the post.
Hayden was appointed the 14th librarian of Congress in 2016 by President Barack Obama and is responsible for the world's largest library, housing our nation's collection of more than 160 million items. She is the first professional librarian to be named librarian of Congress since 1974.
A native of Tallahassee,Florida, who grew up in New York City and Chicago, Hayden fell in love with reading at a young age and began her library career at the Chicago Public Library. After more than a decade, she left Chicago for a four-year stint as a professor at the University of Pittsburgh before returning to serve as chief librarian of the Chicago Public Library.
She then went to Baltimore, where she spent more than 20 years as head of its public library system. She served as president of the American Library Association from 2003 to 2004 and served as a member of the National Museum and Library Services Board.
Son of Unbroken Olympic Athlete and POW Announced as HLGU Booster Banquet Speaker
HANNIBAL, Missouri, June 22 -- Hannibal-LaGrange University issued the following news release:
Hannibal-LaGrange University announced Luke Zamperini as the keynote speaker for the 77th Annual Booster Banquet. The banquet will be held Friday, November 9, at 7 pm. Tickets for the banquet will be available for purchase on September 1.
Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II's most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand's latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience,
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HANNIBAL, Missouri, June 22 -- Hannibal-LaGrange University issued the following news release:
Hannibal-LaGrange University announced Luke Zamperini as the keynote speaker for the 77th Annual Booster Banquet. The banquet will be held Friday, November 9, at 7 pm. Tickets for the banquet will be available for purchase on September 1.
Luke Zamperini is the son of Louis Zamperini, one of World War II's most well-known prisoners of war and hero of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Louis Zamperini is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand's latest book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience,and Redemption, which has repeatedly been in the number one position on The New York Times Bestseller list and was made into the 2014 movie Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie.
Luke Zamperini is also an executive producer to a sequel of Unbroken which is on the way from the film's original producer, Matt Baer and God's Not Dead Franchise Director Harold Cronk. This sequel will look at the life of hero Louis Zamperini post WWII. The faith-based film - distributed by Pure Flix - is based on the second half of Hillenbrand's book, portraying Zamperini's story of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation, and is titled Unbroken: Path to Redemption.
Louis Zamperini passed away on July 2, 2014, but Luke is honored to continue carrying the torch of his father's legacy. For nearly 50 years, Luke accompanied his father to hundreds of speaking engagements and is thoroughly versed in every aspect of Louis' incredible story of bravery and survival. His father's accounts of life as a POW and fighting to survive were Luke's bedtime stories growing up, and now he is grateful to continue sharing those stories and watching them influence the lives of others.
When Luke Zamperini speaks to audiences about his father, he adds a unique perspective, focusing on how the discipline of athletics, scouting, and education prepared Louis to survive his incredible ordeal at sea, and would subsequently help him to endure cruelty and humiliation as a prisoner of war. He stresses that it was Louis' preparedness that would equip him for his countless ordeals.
Luke identifies key incidents and concepts in his father's life that have shaped and molded his own character, compelled him into a life of service, and led him to a career in the field of emergency preparedness.
Luke Zamperini is the chief inspector and public information officer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety where he specializes in employee training and disaster preparedness.
Luke is also a musician, an avid golfer, and a Bible teacher. He resides in southern California with his wife and his son, Louis' only grandchild.
For more information, please contact Lauren Youse '05 M '16, director of alumni services and development, at 573.629.3126, or via email at lauren.youse@hlg.edu.
PennDOT Updates Atherton Street Project
STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania, June 22 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:
With construction and utility work continuing, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is issuing an update for its North Atherton Street project in State College. The entire project will take place through 2019, with phased work zones stretching from Aaron Drive to Park Avenue. Work will include relocation of numerous utility lines, relocation of sewer and water lines, drainage improvements, curbing, sidewalks, ADA ramps, traffic signal upgrades, new concrete median, and paving.
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STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania, June 22 -- Pennsylvania State University issued the following news release:
With construction and utility work continuing, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is issuing an update for its North Atherton Street project in State College. The entire project will take place through 2019, with phased work zones stretching from Aaron Drive to Park Avenue. Work will include relocation of numerous utility lines, relocation of sewer and water lines, drainage improvements, curbing, sidewalks, ADA ramps, traffic signal upgrades, new concrete median, and paving.
Flaggers may be present in the roadway directing traffic and traffic may be stopped for short periods of time. Drivers are reminded to use caution when traveling through the work zone. Please use both lanes up to merge points throughout the project. Use of both lanes can minimize delays and travel times. Please be patient and courteous to other drivers. Do not follow construction equipment into the closed lane.
Through early July motorists can expect the following:
FROM WEST AARON DRIVE TO WEST NORTH HILLS PLACE:
* A long-term traffic pattern that closes the right lane heading toward Penn State University remains in place.
* While the contractor is not working, 2 lanes will remain open for inbound and outbound traffic.
* Left turns will always be restricted through the length of this work zone. Signage indicating "No left turn" is in place.
* Work will consist of upgrading the existing drainage system and installing new curbing and sidewalk.
FROM NORTH HILLS PLACE TO PARK AVENUE:
* Utility contractors will continue performing relocation work. Utility work will continue through June. Traffic control will feature daylight lane closures and at least one travel lane available in each direction.
* The contractor will be installing new waterline.
Travel delays could occur because of the lane closures -- especially during high traffic volume times. Drivers should allow for extra travel time. During the 4th of July holiday (July 3 and 4) only the turning lane will remain closed. Each direction of traffic will have two lanes available during these days.
All work is weather and schedule dependent. Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. of State College is the contractor on this $12.8 million job. Drivers are reminded to move through work zones with caution, obey posted speed limits, and always buckle up.
PennDOT has numerous projects taking place in the State College area and is aware of the frustration road work can create. Please be patient and courteous while driving walking, or biking. Practicing safe driving habits keeps road workers and road users safe.
Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting http://www.511PA.com. 511PA is free, available 24 hours a day, and provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 860 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
For regional updates on Twitter, follow http://www.twitter.com/511PAStateColl.
MSU Board Approves First-Ever Two-Year Budget With Tuition Rate and Pay Freezes; Clears Way for $500M Litigation Settlement; Increases Financial Aid; Addresses Tenure Changes
EAST LANSING, Michigan, June 22 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release:
Anticipating one of the largest and most diverse incoming freshman classes, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees adopted student-focused budget guidelines for the next two academic years that call for tuition freezes, tuition restraint and financial aid increases. The budget freezes tuition rates in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 for in-state freshmen, and in 2019-2020 for all undergraduate students as part of a new block tuition structure.
"The competition for new students in the future will be
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EAST LANSING, Michigan, June 22 -- Michigan State University issued the following news release:
Anticipating one of the largest and most diverse incoming freshman classes, the Michigan State University Board of Trustees adopted student-focused budget guidelines for the next two academic years that call for tuition freezes, tuition restraint and financial aid increases. The budget freezes tuition rates in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 for in-state freshmen, and in 2019-2020 for all undergraduate students as part of a new block tuition structure.
"The competition for new students in the future will beintense as the number of high school graduates declines in Michigan and across the Midwest," said Interim President John Engler. "This budget recognizes that tuition costs can't keep rising--we need to put students first by controlling tuition and increasing student aid."
Under the new budget guidelines, tuition for undergraduate students with sophomore standing and above, as well as out-of-state freshmen, will increase by less than a dollar a day for the school year beginning in August 2018. Junior and senior engineering and business students, who command higher post-graduation starting salaries, would see average increases of about $542.
In addition to the tuition rate freeze for the 2019-20 academic year, at the same time MSU will establish a block tuition structure for undergraduate students taking between 12 and 18 credits. The tuition rate will be based on 15 credits per semester. MSU is currently one of only two schools in the Big Ten without a block tuition structure, which can help address student debt as students are more likely to get through college on time with a fixed rate.
As in past years with tuition increases, financial aid also will increase by $6.4 million, or approximately 4.5 percent.
The budget also includes a freeze on pay for all top administrators and deans, a reduction from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent in average faculty pay increases and no reductions in staff compensation and no university-wide layoffs.
"Balancing the needs of students and their families with the expectation of our university community requires all parties to give some," Engler said. "I think a two-year budget outlines a path forward that can be a win-win outcome."
Also during the meeting, board members were informed of the university's plan to use bonding to pay for the $500 million mediated settlement with the survivors of Larry Nassar. Bonding is the quickest process to establish the settlement fund with least amount of immediate impact on MSU programs and services. The university is still in negotiations with applicable insurance providers to be reimbursed based on those policies.
A separate bond resolution, for $381 million, also was approved for construction financing to support university construction projects, such as the new STEM building, campus water system improvements, music building addition, modernization at the T.B. Simon Power Plant and renovations at Wonders Hall.
The board also addressed changes to the university tenure policies including provisions that impact the ability of tenured faculty to take paid leaves of absences during dismissal cause proceedings, and whether or not faculty members can obtain retiree status from the university during the pendency of dismissal for cause proceedings. The changes addressed by the board will be reviewed by the Faculty Senate at an upcoming meeting.
Other board items included:
* A presentation by MSU physiologist Eran Andrechek about new research that could expand lung cancer therapies.
* MSU's mobility efforts to improve traffic patterns on campus in order to reduce walking distances for students and make campus safer.
The next board meeting will be Friday, Aug. 31.
Health Insurance Plans May Be Fueling Opioid Epidemic
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 22 -- Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release:
Health care insurers including Medicare, Medicaid and major private insurers have not done enough to combat the opioid epidemic, suggests a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The Bloomberg School researchers examined major insurers' 2017 coverage policies for drugs to treat chronic lower-back pain, and concluded that these policies missed important opportunities to steer patients towards safer and more effective treatments than
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 22 -- Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health issued the following news release:
Health care insurers including Medicare, Medicaid and major private insurers have not done enough to combat the opioid epidemic, suggests a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The Bloomberg School researchers examined major insurers' 2017 coverage policies for drugs to treat chronic lower-back pain, and concluded that these policies missed important opportunities to steer patients towards safer and more effective treatments thanprescription opioids.
"Our findings suggest that both public and private insurers, at least unwittingly, have contributed importantly to the epidemic," says study senior author G. Caleb Alexander, MD, MS, associate professor in the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness.
The study, which will be published online on Friday, June 22, in the journal JAMA Network Open, provides one of the most comprehensive looks ever at insurers' pain coverage policies, and comes as the opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has estimated that in 2016, the most recent year for which complete data are available, over 42,249 Americans died from opioid overdoses, the most of any year on record. More than 2.1 million Americans had an opioid use disorder (addiction) in 2016, with economic costs from the epidemic estimated to be as high as $504 billion dollars.
Alexander and colleagues, with funding and technical assistance from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) (DHHS), the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), analyzed the coverage policies of 15 Medicaid plans, 15 Medicare Advantage plans and 20 commercial insurers in 2017. The team focused on common plan types within 16 states that together comprise about one-half of the U.S. population. Many of the states examined have been hit especially hard by the epidemic.
In addition to analyzing plan details, the researchers also conducted in-depth interviews with over 43 senior health care executives that administered representative plans. The investigators focused on 62 prescription drugs used to treat chronic lower back pain, one of the most common types of chronic, non-cancer pain for which prescription opioids have been overused. Their analysis included 30 prescription opioids and 32 other drugs including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants and topical analgesics.
The analysis revealed that many insurers failed to apply evidence-based "utilization management" rules to discourage opioid overuse and encourage safer and more effective alternatives. What's more, many of the utilization management rules in place were applied as often to non-opioids as opioids.
"Opioids are just one tool in the pain management tool box, and unfortunately, many of the plans that we examined didn't have well-developed policies in place to limit their overuse," Alexander says.
There are three types of common "utilization management"--quantity limits, step therapy and prior authorization.
While "quantity limits"--which restrict the number of pills that can be dispensed--were commonly used for opioids, they were generally for a 30-day supply, rather than a shorter supply as is recommended in the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. This is important since the duration of early prescriptions for opioids is associated with the likelihood that a patient will convert to chronic use. Since the study was initiated, several major insurers have begun implementing more stringent quantity limits on first prescriptions.
"Step therapy"--which requires that treatment start with a less risky drug such as an NSAID, an over-the counter, anti-inflammatory and pain medication, and allows a riskier opioid only if the first drug fails to work--is another strategy to reduce inappropriate opioid use. But the researchers found that the plans they studied rarely required step therapy for opioids. Among the Medicaid plans, for example, a median of only 9 percent of covered opioids required step therapy. For commercial plans, the median figure was just 4 percent. Among the Medicare plans there were virtually no step therapy requirements for opioids.
Similarly, the practice of "prior authorization," in which the prescriber must contact the insurer for pre-approval before writing a prescription the insurer will cover, was applied to only a minority of covered opioids. Although, here too, some insurers have begun implementing policies such as requiring prior authorization for individuals with chronic, non-cancer pain, initiating treatment with extended release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioids.
The researchers found too that both public and commercial plans tended to make covered opioids available relatively cheaply to patients. The median commercial plan, for example, placed 74 percent of opioid painkillers in Tier 1, the lowest cost category, and the median commercial co-pay for Tier 1 opioids was just $10 for a month's supply.
"To their credit, while every health plan we examined was actively trying to combat the epidemic, their focus was generally on utilization management and identifying high-volume prescribers and patients, rather than on comprehensive strategies to improve the treatment of chronic pain," Alexander says. On the whole, these coverage policies "help explain why the opioid epidemic has taken root," he adds.
In 2016, the CDC issued recommendations for stricter limits on opioid prescribing, noting among other things that "Non-opioid therapy is preferred for chronic pain outside of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care." These guidelines, as well as soaring rates of injuries and deaths from opioids, continue to shape changes in clinical practice.
"Insurers can either be part of the problem, or part of the solution," says Alexander. "The good news is that an increasing number of health plans are recognizing their contribution to the epidemic and developing new policies to address it. The bad news is that we have a very long way to go."
"Prescription drug coverage for treatment of low back pain among U.S. Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Commercial Insurers" was written by Dora Lin, Christopher Jones, Wilson Compton, James Heyward, Jan L. Losby, Irene B. Murimi, Grant Baldwin, Jeromie M. Ballreich, David A. Thomas, Mark Bicket, Linda Porter, Jonothan C. Tierce, and G. Caleb Alexander.
The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, with technical and financial assistance from the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Boot Camp Encourages Girls to Explore Technology
RENTON, Washington, June 22 -- Renton Technical College issued the following news:
As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage women and women of color to explore careers in technology, Renton Technical College invited 30 high school girls to a weeklong boot camp called Girls Exploring Tech!
RTC's Bachelor of Applied Science Programs and the Renton School District partnered to launch the inaugural GET! boot camp June 25-29. It will offer hands-on computer science, coding, computer networking activities and the chance to hear from successful women in tech about their career paths.
RTC Instructors
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RENTON, Washington, June 22 -- Renton Technical College issued the following news:
As part of its ongoing efforts to encourage women and women of color to explore careers in technology, Renton Technical College invited 30 high school girls to a weeklong boot camp called Girls Exploring Tech!
RTC's Bachelor of Applied Science Programs and the Renton School District partnered to launch the inaugural GET! boot camp June 25-29. It will offer hands-on computer science, coding, computer networking activities and the chance to hear from successful women in tech about their career paths.
RTC InstructorsChristy Hernandez and Dr. Zachary Rubin developed the curriculum for the camp. Among the activities, students will use a small computer called Raspberry Pi to build a website, control their favorite streaming service and chat program, and even build a robot.
"The opportunities for women in technology are endless," said Stefanie McIrvin, director of the College's BAS programs. "We hope this boot camp shows them what they can achieve and motivates them to pursue education and careers in this field."
GET! opens with a Women in Tech panel that includes representatives from IGNITE and Tableau. IGNITE (Inspiring Girls Now in Technology Evolution) introduces girls in grades 6-12 to technology and engineering careers through field trips, workshops, job shadows, and other activities. Tableau provides visual analytics software to help people see and understand data, This session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 25, in C-111.
Other activities include a presentation and games by College Access Now, whose mission is to empower students from low-income families to graduate from college, and recreational time at the Henry Moses Aquatic Center in Renton.
There is no charge for the students attending the boot camp. Funding is provided through a Perkins Non-Traditional Education Grant.
RTC offers associates and bachelor's degrees in Information Technology.
For more information or to schedule press coverage or interviews, contact Katherine Hedland Hansen at khansen@rtc.edu or 425-235-2356.
BSE Global and LIU Break Ground on Reimagined LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre
BROOKLYN, New York, June 22 -- Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus issued the following news release:
Executives from BSE Global and Long Island University were joined by Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams in a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, located at the intersection of Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn.
The renovation and operation of LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre will be overseen by BSE Global, the same team behind Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. H3 is the architect of
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BROOKLYN, New York, June 22 -- Long Island University-Brooklyn Campus issued the following news release:
Executives from BSE Global and Long Island University were joined by Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams in a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of the LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, located at the intersection of Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues in Downtown Brooklyn.
The renovation and operation of LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre will be overseen by BSE Global, the same team behind Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. H3 is the architect ofrecord, and Shawmut will be managing the construction.
The renovation will revive the 90-year old venue by retaining and restoring many of its existing features, while modernizing the space to meet today's standards. The entrance will be moved back to the theatre's original corner location at Flatbush and Dekalb Avenues; a loge level balcony and box office will be reestablished; and updates will be made to the lighting, restrooms, and sound systems, among many other aesthetic upgrades.
The renovation is expected to create 200 construction jobs, and nearly 100 additional positions at the completed venue. The theatre is planned to reopen in mid-2019.
BSE Global will be responsible for programming the venue, which will be home to a wide range of events. While the theatre's main focus will be revitalizing its legendary music roots, it will also host a mix of family entertainment, comedy, sporting events, special events, and private programs for LIU students. The 3,000-person capacity venue will house a flexible seating configuration that will accommodate primarily general admission-style setups, with the opportunity also to do seated floor events.
In addition, the revamped venue will provide a variety of opportunities for LIU Brooklyn students to gain hands-on industry experience, including internships, work-study programs, part-time jobs, and more. Below is an architectural rendering of what the refurbished facility may look like once its transformation is completed.
"I am excited to take the next step with the renovation of this historic venue," said Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global. "The addition of Paramount to BSE Global's venue pipeline, which includes Barclays Center, NYCB LIVE, and Webster Hall, enables us to connect with artists at all points in their career. Paramount will also offer a greater array of entertainment options for Brooklyn and provide employment opportunities for students and those in the surrounding area."
"The refurbishment of the LIU Paramount Theater is a major milestone in the history of Long Island University," Long Island University President Dr. Kimberly Cline said. "It brings our commitment to the arts-and our role in the arts community-to an entirely new level for our students, faculty, and alumni, and solidifies our role as a major cultural driver in Brooklyn. There is no better place in the world to learn about the arts than Brooklyn, and there is no University that is more committed to combining great academics taught by world-class faculty, with experiential learning and hands-on opportunities for students."
Brooklyn Paramount operated from 1928-1962 as a live performance venue and was the first theatre in the world designed to show talking movies. The Rococo-style ceiling and wall trimmings that still remain once served as a grand accompaniment to many celebrated performances by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Bing Crosby, Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. After closing its doors, the theatre became part of LIU Brooklyn's campus and served as a multi-purpose space for students, staff and guests. For many years it was the home court of the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds basketball team. To mark the new beginning, the scoreboard was ceremonially lowered to the floor as the guests watched approvingly. Soon a magnificently renovated Paramount will rise again.
