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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Rio Hondo College Provides Free Tutoring Program for Area Public Schools
WHITTIER, California, Dec. 18 -- Rio Hondo College issued the following news release:
Rio Hondo College has launched a free tutoring program for area public schools in its Adopt-A-School program, providing college students who are studying child development and related fields to assist K-12 students during and after school.
The program was piloted in spring at Scott Avenue Elementary in East Whittier City School District and is now offered there and at Dean Shively Middle School in Valle Lindo Elementary School District. It is expanding to encompass others among the Adopt-A-School partners.
"Our
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WHITTIER, California, Dec. 18 -- Rio Hondo College issued the following news release:
Rio Hondo College has launched a free tutoring program for area public schools in its Adopt-A-School program, providing college students who are studying child development and related fields to assist K-12 students during and after school.
The program was piloted in spring at Scott Avenue Elementary in East Whittier City School District and is now offered there and at Dean Shively Middle School in Valle Lindo Elementary School District. It is expanding to encompass others among the Adopt-A-School partners.
"Ourtutoring program builds on the relationships our College has built among our local schools over the last several years as part of our Adopt-A-School program," Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss said.
The Adopt-A-School program started with providing information on College programs during Back-to-School Nights, offering campus tours and connecting students with cultural programs at Rio Hondo. Each year, the College hosts about 250 middle school students for Discover Rio, a day of exploration of higher education opportunities.
Now, Rio Hondo College is taking a leap forward with the tutoring program.
"This effort is all about making a difference in the lives of students in the community - whether that's when they arrive at Rio Hondo College or ensuring that college is an option when the time comes," Dreyfuss said. "Rio Hondo College considers it our mission to make higher education a reality for every member of our community."
On a recent day, Rio Hondo College students Carolina Castillo, Samantha Martinez and Angela Yerena worked with Scott Avenue Elementary students on writing projects and math support.
An in-class session included helping fifth-graders brainstorm arguments for why the school would benefit from longer recess or a vending machine and what arguments they might hear against those plans.
Later, the three college students offered small group tutoring in math and one-on-one assistance in reading during a pull-out session. Some tutors stayed until after school to assist students with their homework.
Yerena, who is studying child development, began volunteering during the pilot effort in spring.
"I'm going to be a preschool teacher, so I thought it would give me experience before I went into the career. I wanted to see if teaching was what I really wanted," she said. "Now, I know I can do it. I really enjoy working with the kids and seeing them learn."
Tutors are paid through the Federal Work-Study program, which allows them to combine financial aid commitments with career training. The students may work up to 20 hours a week; in all, five students are assigned to Scott Avenue.
Teachers at Scott Avenue Elementary say the students are an invaluable resource, enabling them to offer direct aid to a greater number of students during class.
"My students always look forward to working with the tutors and they seem to connect well with them," fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Lee said.
Next, the program is expected to expand to Dexter Middle School in Whittier City School District and Graves Middle School in South Whittier Elementary District.
Kranz Intermediate in Mountain View School District, Columbia School in El Monte City School District, the STEAM Academy at Burke and North Park Academy of the Arts in El Rancho Unified School District, New Temple Elementary in Valle Lindo School District and Los Nietos Middle School in Los Nietos Elementary School District are completing the on-boarding process.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide this service to our community," Rio Hondo College Board of Trustees President Gary Mendez said. "It's important for Rio Hondo to connect with students at every stage of their education, showing them they can achieve their dreams."
Registration Now Open for 15th Annual SATURN Conference
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Dec. 18 -- Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute issued the following news release:
Registration is now open for SATURN 2019, a premier software architecture conference in its 15th year, designed for practitioners who are responsible for producing robust software architectures as well as for those who view software architecture as a critical element in the achievement of their business or organizational missions. SATURN 2019 will take place at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square from May 6 to 9.
The SATURN 2019 program includes a full
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PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, Dec. 18 -- Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute issued the following news release:
Registration is now open for SATURN 2019, a premier software architecture conference in its 15th year, designed for practitioners who are responsible for producing robust software architectures as well as for those who view software architecture as a critical element in the achievement of their business or organizational missions. SATURN 2019 will take place at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel at Station Square from May 6 to 9.
The SATURN 2019 program includes a fullday of courses to start the week and three days of conference sessions and networking opportunities.
Early-bird registration is open now through March 22 with additional discounts available to those in government and academic organizations, current full-time students, and groups of three or more within the same organization. Sponsorship packages, most of which include free conference registration, are also available.
If you want to be part of the SATURN 2019 program, submit a proposal by January 11 to the online submission system. For information about tracks, session types, and session lengths, see the SATURN 2019 Call for Submissions. Presenters whose proposals are accepted will receive free or discounted admission to the conference depending on the submission type.
PVCC Announces $1.35 Million Match Gift to Create Support for Network2Work Program
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Dec. 18 -- Piedmont Virginia Community College issued the following news release:
PVCC President Frank Friedman announced on Tuesday a transformative gift from Dorothy Batten in support of the Network2Work program at PVCC. Ms. Batten has made a financial commitment that will result in the Network2Work program receiving $1.35 million over the next three years. Her commitment includes an outright gift of $150,000 per year for the next three years, and a dollar-for-dollar challenge gift of $150,000 per year for the next three years matching additional contributions from
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia, Dec. 18 -- Piedmont Virginia Community College issued the following news release:
PVCC President Frank Friedman announced on Tuesday a transformative gift from Dorothy Batten in support of the Network2Work program at PVCC. Ms. Batten has made a financial commitment that will result in the Network2Work program receiving $1.35 million over the next three years. Her commitment includes an outright gift of $150,000 per year for the next three years, and a dollar-for-dollar challenge gift of $150,000 per year for the next three years matching additional contributions fromcommunity members made to Network2Work.
Holly Hatcher, Philanthropic Advisor to Dorothy Batten, shared, "Ms. Batten has supported hundreds of nonprofits in the community through her Foundation, and through her support of the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. Network2Work is one of the most important initiatives that she is supporting in Charlottesville. Systemic change requires system solutions. The Network2Work program is the answer to end the cycle of poverty in our Community. Through a matching grant, we hope that donors will join Dorothy to support PVCC and Network2Work to scale the program and create a model that can be replicated in other communities."
Network2Work is a community network that connects job seekers to the skills and resources they need to become valued employees and helps employers find the quality employees they need for their companies. For more information about the program, please visit http://www.pvcc.edu/network2work.
"At PVCC we are dedicated to helping all individuals and families in our service region achieve their full potential. Network2Work is an innovative antipoverty program that provides skills training and support that helps individuals qualify for a job paying a self-sufficient wage. On behalf of the entire college community, I want to express my sincere thanks to Ms. Batten for this generous gift. We are grateful for her partnership with the college and her belief in this important program," said President Friedman.
Ridge Schuyler, Dean of PVCC's Community Self Sufficiency Programs, spoke about the program's goals, "With the generous support of donors like Ms. Batten, we are striving to serve 500 job-seekers per year over the next eight years, with the goal of connecting them to quality jobs that allow them to achieve their full potential."
Visit http://www.pvcc.edu/N2W to learn more about how you can make a donation to match this grant. For more information, call 434.961.5226 or email development@pvcc.edu.
Medical Assisting Program Holds Class of 2018 Pinning Ceremony
SOMERSET, Kentucky, Dec. 18 -- Somerset Community College issued the following news release:
The Medical Assisting program at Somerset Community College, Laurel North Campus, recently graduated 11 students and celebrated the conclusion of their studies with a pinning ceremony and reception. The event was held in the Health Sciences Building on the SCC Laurel North Campus with more than 75 family and friends attending.
Nancy Powell, Dean of Health Sciences, began the event with introductions and greetings. Debra Elam, the Program Coordinator, welcomed guests and explained how the pinning ceremony
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SOMERSET, Kentucky, Dec. 18 -- Somerset Community College issued the following news release:
The Medical Assisting program at Somerset Community College, Laurel North Campus, recently graduated 11 students and celebrated the conclusion of their studies with a pinning ceremony and reception. The event was held in the Health Sciences Building on the SCC Laurel North Campus with more than 75 family and friends attending.
Nancy Powell, Dean of Health Sciences, began the event with introductions and greetings. Debra Elam, the Program Coordinator, welcomed guests and explained how the pinning ceremonysignified months of intense training and studies for the students and congratulated the students on their success. Destinee Keltner, the class spokesperson, gave insight into the group's advice for the next incoming class.
Students were pinned by family members as Faculty, Debra Elam and Tina Meier read words each student had written. Students recited the Medical Assisting Creed pledging their commitment to their profession, followed by the lighting of the candles. Nancy Powell ended the ceremony with closing remarks, and the ceremony was followed by a recessional.
On behalf of the Medical Assisting Faculty, they would like to thank the SCC Student Ambassadors: Sherry Loveless, Madison Chestnut and Joel Brinson for their assistance. Special thanks to Nancy Powell, Dean of Health Sciences, Kathy Howard, Administrative Assistant for the Laurel Health Science Division, John Roberts (Laurel Maintenance), and Bruce Nicely (IT Dept.), for their support.
Acceptance into the Medical Assisting Program at SCC Laurel Campus is through selective admissions each spring. Students in the program complete college-level coursework along with 240 hours at an assigned facility during their last semester. Students completing classes with grade "C" or higher and pass the Registered Medical Assisting exam through the American Medical Technologist (AMT), carry the prestigious title of Registered Medical Assistant, American Medical Technologist - RMA, (AMT).
To find out more about the SCC Medical Assisting program, contact Debra Elam, program coordinator, at (606) 878-4778 or debra.elam@kctcs.edu.
Making a Difference in Medicine
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan, Dec. 18 -- Central Michigan University issued the following news:
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- CMU researchers in 2018 tackled tough challenges in cancer, Alzheimer's, TB and more
Alongside undergrad and graduate students, Central Michigan University faculty in chemistry, biology, psychology and neuroscience spearhead medical research with broad implications.
Gretchen Holtgrefe is one of those students, researching cancer with biochemistry faculty member Ajit Sharma. The research looks to find which antioxidants may be more effective in preventing cancer.
For inquisitive student scientists
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan, Dec. 18 -- Central Michigan University issued the following news:
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- CMU researchers in 2018 tackled tough challenges in cancer, Alzheimer's, TB and more
Alongside undergrad and graduate students, Central Michigan University faculty in chemistry, biology, psychology and neuroscience spearhead medical research with broad implications.
Gretchen Holtgrefe is one of those students, researching cancer with biochemistry faculty member Ajit Sharma. The research looks to find which antioxidants may be more effective in preventing cancer.
For inquisitive student scientistssuch as Holtgrefe, nothing is more thrilling than working to solve medicine's big puzzles. The past year has seen many examples at CMU. Here are a few:
New front in opioid war
Opioid abuse is a rising issue in the medical field, with more than 115 people in the United States dying from an opioid overdose every day.
Juliette Perzhinsky, associate professor of medicine, is training students to fight this rise in opioid addiction by using effective treatment of pain for prevention of addiction. The training involves a collaboration among the College of Medicine, The Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
This partnership will give students exposure to the issue before they get into the field, with hopes that they will be more mindful and be able to work proactively with that patient.
Using a virus to repair damage
A team of neuroscientists and chemists found that a virus can lead to healing rather than hospitalization for patients with stroke damage.
When strokes kill neurons in the brain, glial cells come to the area to ensure the damage doesn't expand, but they also can prevent healing in that area.
Research led by Sarah Peruzzaro, who recently received her doctorate in neuroscience at CMU, found that a virus that carries a gene called Sox2, could reprogram glial cells into neurons. By increasing the total number of neurons in the damaged area, the team hopes brain function will improve.
"The expected outcomes are super exciting," said College of Medicine faculty member Julien Rossignol.
Egg cells, ALS and more
As a sophomore, Alexandria Couch joined biology faculty member Jennifer Schisa in her research on how women's unfertilized eggs are maintained under stress.
"One of the best decisions I've made was to be in this lab, hands down," she said.
The work they're doing could help find answers for women's fertilization issues and neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Global team tackles tuberculosis
An international team of students from India, Ghana and Michigan worked with chemistry and biochemistry faculty member Ben Swarts researching TB, a bacterium that infects about 2 billion people worldwide.
"It's great to be on a team that is working on such a large goal, knowing that everything you are doing makes a difference," said biochemistry major Dan Gepford.
The research focuses on designing chemical compounds that will shut down the cell envelope and stop the bacterium from spreading. Swarts expects to continue this research next semester when they open a biosafety level-three facility.
Battling Alzheimer's with mice
Psychology faculty member Kevin Park received a grant to research a breed of mice he engineered to reflect the gene mutations and pathologies in humans who have Alzheimer's disease.
The project involves breeding and testing the mice to find the right combination of genes, then generating the pathologies that mimic those of humans with Alzheimer's disease. Once this is complete, they will look for ways to address the disease.
Receiving funding for the project validated the team and added excitement.
"To know that people who are supposed to be skeptics have backed the research, it's exciting and it keeps you going," Tomas Barrett, doctoral student on the project, said.
Going straight to the source
Faculty member Linlin Zhao and student lab workers are targeting disease at the power source: the mitochondria of the cell.
The research looks at how damaged mitochondrial DNA breaks down and seeks ways to attack the mitochondria of the diseased cells to cut off the energy source.
This research will give the team a better understanding of the effects the "power house of the cell" has on diseases such as Parkinson's and cancer.
Gut Microbiome Regulates the Intestinal Immune System, Researchers Find
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Dec. 18 -- Brown University issued the following news release:
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- A new study in mice unveils the role of vitamin A in immune system regulation, a finding that could assist in developing treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as vitamin A deficiency.
Scientists have long known that bacteria in the intestines, also known as the microbiome, perform a variety of useful functions for their hosts, such as breaking down dietary fiber in the digestive process and making vitamins K and B7.
Yet a new study unveils another useful role the microbiome
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PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Dec. 18 -- Brown University issued the following news release:
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- A new study in mice unveils the role of vitamin A in immune system regulation, a finding that could assist in developing treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases as well as vitamin A deficiency.
Scientists have long known that bacteria in the intestines, also known as the microbiome, perform a variety of useful functions for their hosts, such as breaking down dietary fiber in the digestive process and making vitamins K and B7.
Yet a new study unveils another useful role the microbiomeplays. A team of researchers from Brown University found that in mice, the gut microbiome regulates the host's immune system -- so that rather than the host's defense system attacking these helpful bacteria, the bacteria can coexist peacefully with the immune system.
What's the trick to the microbiome's work with the immune system? Vitamin A -- the bacteria moderate active vitamin A levels in the intestine, protecting the microbiome from an overactive immune response.
That insight may prove important for understanding and treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, said Shipra Vaishnava, an assistant professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at Brown.
"A lot of these diseases are attributed to increased immune response or immune activation, but we've found a new way that bacteria in our gut can dampen the immune response," Vaishnava said. "This research could be critical in determining therapies in the case of autoimmune diseases such as Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as vitamin A deficiency."
The study was published on Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the journal Immunity.
Microbiomes of mice and men
The gut microbiome is an ecosystem made of 100 trillion bacteria that have evolved to live in the special conditions of the intestines, Vaishnava said. The vast majority of these bacteria are helpful rather than harmful. A healthy microbiome, just like a healthy forest, has many species coexisting together and can fend off hostile intruders -- such as disease-causing bacteria or invasive species.
In both humans and mice, the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes comprise the majority of the gut microbial community. To play their part in regulating their hosts' immune systems, the bacteria in the microbiome fine-tune the levels of a protein responsible for the conversion of vitamin A to its active form in their hosts' gastrointestinal tract, the researchers found.
Vaishnava's team found that Firmicutes bacteria, particularly members of the class Clostridia, reduce the expression of a protein within the cells that line the intestines. The protein, retinol dehydrogenase 7 (Rdh7) converts dietary vitamin A to its active form, retinoic acid, Vaishnava said. The Clostridia bacteria, common to both mice and men, also promote increased vitamin A storage in the liver, the team found.
Vaishnava expects the findings are generalizable to the interactions between the human microbiome and their hosts as well.
Mice genetically engineered to not have Rdh7 in their intestinal cells have less retinoic acid in the intestinal tissue, as the researchers expected. Specifically, the guts of the engineered mice had fewer immune cells that make IL-22, an important cellular signal that coordinates the antimicrobial response against gut bacteria. Other components of the immune system such as cells with immunoglobulin A and two types of T-cells were the same as in standard mice, suggesting Rdh7 is only essential for the regulating antimicrobial response, Vaishnava said.
The researchers do not know exactly how Rdh7 is suppressed, but Clostridia bacteria are known to produce short chain fatty acids that change host gene expression. As a next step in their research, the team will study how bacteria regulate Rdh7 expression, including examining various short chain fatty acids, Vaishnava said.
In addition, the team will conduct research to understand why Rdh7 suppression is critical. They are working to genetically engineer mice to always express Rdh7 in their intestinal cells. Vaishnava wants to see how this affects the mouse microbiome and if it leads to any inflammation or autoimmune disease-like conditions for the mice. They will also explore the impacts of increased vitamin A storage in the liver due to bacteria Rdh7 regulation, Vaishnava said.
Helping human health
The researchers say that understanding how bacteria regulate the immune system's responses could be important in unlocking the keys to disorders like Crohn's disease.
Data from clinical studies has shown that inflammation in the bowel is a result of disrupted interactions between a host and their gut microbiome, Vaishnava said.
"The role of vitamin A in inflammation is context-dependent and is very hard to tease apart," Vaishnava said. "A change in vitamin A status and vitamin A metabolic genes coincides with inflammatory bowel diseases, but we don't know if this promotes inflammation or not. We hope that adding our finding -- that bacteria can regulate how vitamin A is being metabolized in the intestine or stored -- could help clarify why the field is seeing what it is seeing."
These findings could also provide clues about the importance of the microbiome in addressing vitamin A deficiency, a problem that is particularly prevalent in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Vitamin A deficiency affects approximately one third of children under the age of five, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Vitamin A deficiency weakens the immune system and increases the risk of infectious diseases. The WHO has been providing at-risk children with vitamin A supplements for the past 25 years, but it hasn't been as successful as hoped for, according to Vaishnava. This study shows bacteria are a big part of vitamin A absorption and storage and perhaps children need to have the right combination of bacteria in the gut in order for the vitamin A supplements to be most effective, she added.
"Both our diet and the bacteria in our gut are critically linked in regulating how our immune cells behave," Vaishnava said. "Finding what those links are at a molecular level is important to figuring out how we could use either diet or bacteria, or both of them together, to have a therapeutic effect in inflammatory or infectious diseases."
In addition to Vaishnava, other authors from Brown include Mayara Grizotte-Lake, Kellyanne Duncan, Namrata Iyer and Irina Smolenski. Authors also include Nina Isoherranen, Guo Zhong and Jay Kirkwood from the University of Washington, Seattle.
The National Institutes of Health (grants R01-DK113265 and P20-GM10903) and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America supported the research.
Gifts of $1 Million to UW-Stevens Point Create First Waterfowl Graduate Position
STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin, Dec. 18 -- The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point campus issued the following news release:
Generous gifts to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will establish an endowed graduate assistantship in waterfowl research, enhancing one of the nation's largest wildlife management programs.
Gifts totaling more than $1 million to the UWSP Foundation will create the Douglas and Carol Federighi Waterfowl Graduate Assistantship in the College of Natural Resources, representing the first fully endowed graduate assistantship in the university's history. Earnings from the
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STEVENS POINT, Wisconsin, Dec. 18 -- The University of Wisconsin Stevens Point campus issued the following news release:
Generous gifts to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will establish an endowed graduate assistantship in waterfowl research, enhancing one of the nation's largest wildlife management programs.
Gifts totaling more than $1 million to the UWSP Foundation will create the Douglas and Carol Federighi Waterfowl Graduate Assistantship in the College of Natural Resources, representing the first fully endowed graduate assistantship in the university's history. Earnings from theendowment will support tuition and student stipends.
The assistantship honors the memory of Douglas Federighi (right) of Lafayette, Calif., an avid outdoorsman, duck hunter and advocate for wetlands preservation and restoration, who died in April 2018. Federighi was a life member of the California Waterfowl Association and an active member and supporter of Ducks Unlimited (DU). He was a board member for Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (U.S.), and chaired the group's Conservation Programs Committee. He also served on the boards of Ducks Unlimited Canada and Ducks Unlimited de Mexico.
Donors from eight states across the country are supporting the endowment, most of whom have strong ties to Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited. They include the following from California: Paul and Sandi Bonderson, Brent Federighi, Al and Gail Montna Family, Tashia and John Morgridge, Pepper Snyder and David and Kathleen Grieve; plus Bill and Sarah D'Alonzo, Florida; Livia and George Dunklin, Arkansas; Jim Kennedy, Georgia; Sue and Jim Konkel, Maine; Mike and Gigi McShane, South Carolina; Bob and Kim Spoerl, Wisconsin; John and Judy Tomke, Indiana; and the Jack and Marion Wilson Fund at UW-Stevens Point.
"For almost 82 years, Ducks Unlimited has insisted that waterfowl and wetland science drive its conservation programs," said John Tomke, past president of DU and current board chair of Ducks Unlimited de Mexico, who orchestrated support for the endowment. "As chair of the DU Conservation Programs Committee, Doug diligently sought to increase the body of science related to waterfowl and their habitats. His friends and all who knew him felt it was fitting that this UWSP endowment be named in Doug's and Carol's honor."
The new endowment will support and enhance the work of the Kennedy-Grohne Chair in Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation, established in 2015 at UW-Stevens Point. The aim is to attract top students and nurture their development as emerging leaders in the field of waterfowl and wetlands conservation, said Christine Thomas, College of Natural Resources dean.
"The people who have generously donated to this endowment are committed conservationists from coast to coast, many of whom have national leadership roles in Ducks Unlimited," Thomas said. "We are honored by the trust they have placed in our institution, our faculty and our students. We are also excited for this enhanced opportunity to work with Ducks Unlimited and other partners to expand Wisconsin's role in training the next generation of managers who will care for our nation's precious waterfowl and wetlands resources."
Earnings from the endowment will support tuition and student stipends for Federighi graduate assistants and undergraduate fellows, stipends for their faculty mentors, and other expenses relating to the research they conduct.
"We are grateful for these generous gifts, which will allow UW-Stevens Point to build on strengths in our College of Natural Resources and expand mentored research opportunities for students at the graduate and undergraduate levels," Chancellor Bernie Patterson said.
The new endowment for the Douglas and Carol Federighi Waterfowl Graduate Assistantship is being made possible by donors supportive of the work of Ducks Unlimited. DU's mission is to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl, which also yields benefits to other wildlife and to people. The organization hopes to reverse the degradation and loss of wetlands habitat through diverse public and private partnerships that include key university programs such as UW-Stevens Point's.
The Federighi Assistantship is the second major commitment to UW-Stevens Point's waterfowl program, exceeding $3 million in three years. The gifts are part of the 'Then, Now & Forever - We Are Point' capital campaign.
