Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of Washington School of Medicine: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Outcomes Vary Significantly
SEATTLE, Washington, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release:
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Mild traumatic brain injury outcomes vary significantly
Most people with mild traumatic brain injury had a sustained recovery, but for others, symptoms worsened over time, a study found.
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Long-term outcomes for combat veterans and active-duty service members who sustained mild traumatic brain injury vary widely, a 10-year follow-up study has found.
"We found that service members who had mild traumatic brain injury fell into different TBI subtypes, with many showing
... Show Full Article
SEATTLE, Washington, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Washington School of Medicine posted the following news release:
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Mild traumatic brain injury outcomes vary significantly
Most people with mild traumatic brain injury had a sustained recovery, but for others, symptoms worsened over time, a study found.
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Long-term outcomes for combat veterans and active-duty service members who sustained mild traumatic brain injury vary widely, a 10-year follow-up study has found.
"We found that service members who had mild traumatic brain injury fell into different TBI subtypes, with many showingresiliency but important subgroups at risk for later decline," said the lead researcher on the study, Christine Mac Donald, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle.
The findings were published Dec. 10 in JAMA Network Open. They might help identify patients at high risk of developing psychological, neurobehavioral or cognitive problems before they manifest, Mac Donald said.
"We identified evolving clinical outcomes in service members which could allow for stratification into focused intervention strategies years before they start to notably decline, essentially flipping treatment concepts on their head and being proactive instead reactive," she said.
The study followed 288 service members from the time of their deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan until 10 years later, with evaluations at one, five and 10 years. Mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis aligned with the Department of Defense definition: exposure to blast or blunt trauma resulting in loss of consciousness of less than 30 minutes, alteration of consciousness of less than 24 hours, post-traumatic amnesia of less than 24 hours and a normal CT scan at the time of injury.
At each visit, the patient evaluation included an MRI scan and assessments of 34 psychological, cognitive and neurological/neurobehavioral functions to track the trajectory of their clinical course over time.
Two groups with combat-related mild traumatic brain injuries were examined: 137 had a blast exposure and 21 had a blunt trauma. For comparison, the team also evaluated two control groups who did not have a history of traumatic brain injury: 36 with a blast exposure and 94 without.
Using the clinical outcome data, the authors found that service members fell into four clusters or subtypes. One group was designated as resilient because they had no significant cognitive dysfunction or neurobehavioral or psychological symptoms after 10 years. Most people in the resiliency subtype were part of the control groups, but 36% were service members with mild TBI. This observation suggests that mild TBI does not necessarily result in a poor long-term outcome.
This is an important finding, Mac Donald said, because there are concerns that mild TBIs increase the risk of neurodegeneration and dementia later in life.
The other three subtypes included:
Those who did not have cognitive dysfunction but did have mild neurobehavioral and psychological symptoms.
Those who had moderate cognitive dysfunction with substantial neurobehavioral and psychological symptoms.
Those who had severe cognitive dysfunction and moderate neurobehavioral and psychological symptoms.
Interestingly, Mac Donald said, these profile subtypes did not emerge with full clarity until the last of the three clinical evaluations.
The MRI scans also detected differences in the volume of some brain structures, such as the cerebellum and brainstem, involved in learning and emotion. This was particularly the case among those who developed severe cognitive dysfunction.
Unlike clinical outcomes, brain imaging differences by subtype were detected in the earliest MRI scans at enrollment. Whether they were the result of the mild TBI or reflected differences that had existed before injury is unclear, Mac Donald said. She added that brain scans obtained earlier in clinical care might help identify people at higher risk of developing poor outcomes.
"These service men and women were injured fighting for our country," Mac Donald said. "We owe it to them to better understand these differences in mild TBI outcomes to give them the best shot at sustained recovery and long-term quality of life."
The data were collected as part of the ongoing Evaluation of Longitudinal Outcomes in Mild TBI Active-Duty U.S. Military and Veterans (EVOLVE) study. Funding for the study was provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (RO1NS091618).
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Original text here: https://newsroom.uw.edu/news-releases/mild-traumatic-brain-injury-outcomes-vary-significantly
UT Dallas Partners With Tech Mahindra on AI Innovation
RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news:
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UT Dallas Partners with Tech Mahindra on AI Innovation
By Kim Horner
The University of Texas at Dallas has partnered with Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, to collaborate on artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, skill development and research.
UT Dallas has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tech Mahindra to facilitate collaboration with the India-based company, which opened its headquarters in the Americas
... Show Full Article
RICHARDSON, Texas, Dec. 11 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news:
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UT Dallas Partners with Tech Mahindra on AI Innovation
By Kim Horner
The University of Texas at Dallas has partnered with Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of technology consulting and digital solutions to enterprises across industries, to collaborate on artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, skill development and research.
UT Dallas has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tech Mahindra to facilitate collaboration with the India-based company, which opened its headquarters in the Americasin March in Plano, Texas.
Tech Mahindra will launch its first Makers Lab in the U.S. in Dallas, providing opportunities for undergraduates, master's and doctoral students, and faculty to advance AI technologies, data science, quantum computing, cybersecurity and cognitive network innovation, which involves self-adapting network infrastructures.
"We are excited to launch this new collaboration between Tech Mahindra and the [Erik] Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, as we continue to bridge academic research with industry needs and expand our students' opportunities for internships and student projects," said Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and dean of the Jonsson School.
In the first phase of the collaboration, Tech Mahindra will offer internships of three to six months for UT Dallas students to gain experience working on real-world research projects and proofs of concept.
Students will gain access to Tech Mahindra's AI tools, platforms and Makers Lab facilities while receiving mentorship from industry experts.
The research themes of the collaboration include AI skill development and capacity building; knowledge-sharing through seminars and hackathons; ethical and inclusive AI design; and applied research and development using generative and agentic AI for real-world use cases.
Dr. Bhavani Thuraisingham, professor of computer science; founding director and senior strategist for the Cyber Security Research and Education Institute; fellow of both the Association for Computing Machinery and the IEEE; and the Founders Chair in Engineering and Computer Science, will serve as principal investigator for UT Dallas.
Tech Mahindra will provide practical AI use cases, data and problem statements for academic exploration. UT Dallas and the company will codevelop intellectual property, AI frameworks and tools for commercialization.
The initial projects will focus on telecom-specific AI solutions, including autonomous network management, predictive maintenance, intelligent customer support, fraud and anomaly detection, automated service provisioning, and personalized customer-experience systems.
The collaboration also will explore ways to embed AI within the software development lifecycle. While telecom will be the initial focus, the collaboration is designed to expand into other industries based on mutual interest and emerging business needs.
Beyond research excellence, the initiative reflects Tech Mahindra's commitment to local job creation, talent development and community enrichment.
"As generative AI continues to transform industries worldwide, the greatest opportunity and challenge lie in translating cutting-edge academic research into practical, ethical and impactful solutions for enterprise," said Manish Mangal, president of the Americas communications business at Tech Mahindra. "Our partnership with The University of Texas at Dallas demonstrates our unwavering commitment to fostering innovative ecosystems that unite academia and industry. Together, our joint initiatives will enable American enterprises to lead the way in the new era of intelligent technologies."
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Original text here: https://news.utdallas.edu/campus-community/tech-mahindra-ai-partnership-2025/
Roadmap for Safer Streets: PSU to Guide National Active Transportation Priorities
PORTLAND, Oregon, Dec. 11 -- Portland State University issued the following news release:
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A New Roadmap for Safer Streets: PSU to Guide National Active Transportation Priorities
As traffic deaths among people walking and biking continue to rise--and as new mobility technologies rapidly reshape how we all move--Portland State University (PSU) has been selected to lead a major national effort to improve roadway safety and accessibility.
The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at PSU has been awarded a contract from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)
... Show Full Article
PORTLAND, Oregon, Dec. 11 -- Portland State University issued the following news release:
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A New Roadmap for Safer Streets: PSU to Guide National Active Transportation Priorities
As traffic deaths among people walking and biking continue to rise--and as new mobility technologies rapidly reshape how we all move--Portland State University (PSU) has been selected to lead a major national effort to improve roadway safety and accessibility.
The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at PSU has been awarded a contract from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP)to develop a new Modern Active Transportation Research Roadmap. This roadmap will help the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) set priorities and guide future investments in active transportation across the country.
The new project builds on previous work by PSU. In 2021, TREC partnered with Toole Design Group to create the existing Council on Active Transportation (CAT) Research Roadmap. The coming update--led by PSU's Jennifer Dill, Nathan McNeil, Sirisha Kothuri, and John MacArthur in collaboration with Toole Design and Safe Streets Research & Consulting--will provide a refreshed plan that reflects a rapidly changing transportation landscape.
Why a New Roadmap Is Needed
A lot has changed since 2021. New federal legislation and funding programs, updated national guidelines--such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)--and new design guides have reshaped agency priorities. Emerging technologies, from e-bikes and shared micromobility to AI-powered mapping tools, are creating both opportunities and new questions for planners and engineers.
At the same time, safety trends are deeply concerning. While fatalities among vehicle occupants decreased in 2022, deaths increased 0.7% for pedestrians and a staggering 13% for bicyclists.
"The need for a new roadmap is driven by two factors," the PSU team notes. "The practice of active transportation has changed significantly in just a few years--and a large volume of new research is emerging that needs to be synthesized and put into action."
What the Research Team Will Deliver
The PSU-led team will engage with the AASHTO CAT and a wide range of other organizations to help prioritize research needs. The previous roadmap included six research problem statements that were all funded through the NCHRP program. Those projects, along with other new research over the past four years, have helped fill some of the gaps identified in the previous roadmap. There are some areas however, such as technology, micromobility, and designing for all ages and abilities, where new high priority research needs will likely be identified.
"Our priority is to contribute effectively to change on the ground, not research that sits behind paywalls," the research team stated in their proposal.
The team will also conduct workshops with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) as well as broad outreach with researchers, state DOTs, local governments, and groups representing people of all ages and abilities, in order to translate the research into practice. The result will be a practical, forward-looking roadmap that helps agencies make informed decisions, strengthen mobility networks, and save lives.
The updated Research Roadmap will help ensure that active transportation remains a central part of creating safer, more accessible communities nationwide.
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Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research. To get updates about what's happening at TREC, sign up for our monthly newsletter or follow us on social media.
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Original text here: https://www.pdx.edu/research/news/new-roadmap-safer-streets-psu-guide-national-active-transportation-priorities
Research From Montana State Economist Shows How Wetland Restoration Can Benefit Local Economies
BOZEMAN, Montana, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- Montana State University issued the following news:
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New research from Montana State economist shows how wetland restoration can benefit local economies
By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service
In new research published last month in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, a Montana State University economist makes the case for "nature's kidneys," aiming to quantify the economic impact of wetland restoration for their surrounding communities.
Ecological research has shown that wetlands play a crucial role in filtering chemicals
... Show Full Article
BOZEMAN, Montana, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- Montana State University issued the following news:
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New research from Montana State economist shows how wetland restoration can benefit local economies
By Reagan Cotton, MSU News Service
In new research published last month in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, a Montana State University economist makes the case for "nature's kidneys," aiming to quantify the economic impact of wetland restoration for their surrounding communities.
Ecological research has shown that wetlands play a crucial role in filtering chemicalsout of their watersheds, said Nicole Karwowski, an assistant professor in MSU's Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics. They help to maintain water quality and ensure that ecosystem nutrient levels remain in healthy balance.
But as wetland areas have been impacted by development and agricultural production, many of those benefits have been hampered. Now, Karwowski is researching the economic impact of restoring those ecosystems through a program from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service called the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Through its Wetland Reserve Easement component, the program provides incentives to landowners to remove acreage from agricultural production and restore it to its previous natural state in perpetuity.
The paper, titled "Nature's Kidneys: the Role of Wetland Reserve Easements in Restoring Water Quality," was a collaboration between Karwowski and co-author Marin Skidmore of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In the research, the authors found that wetland easements reduce ammonia and nitrogen concentrations in local waterways, with those impacts extending downstream from the wetlands themselves. In turn, those water quality impacts mean decreased costs for communities through reduced water purification needs.
Karwowski's interest was piqued during her graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin when she first discovered the WRE program.
"There were not a lot of studies done on this program, especially in the economic space, and there were so many interesting policy questions," she said. "The scientific literature has for a long time known about how magical these wetlands are, and economists haven't taken as big of a role in quantifying some of those ecosystem services. That's where I saw myself contributing to the literature."
Through WRE, the federal government pays producers between $1,000 and $3,000 per acre to retire land from agricultural production and support its restoration into wetland. In so doing, the land no longer requires the application of nitrogen fertilizer and other agricultural supplements. Those reductions, coupled by the renewed filtration power of the restored wetlands, create less demand on local water filtration systems. Those changes, according to Karwowski's research, meant tangible savings for communities across the country that, in some instances, reached up to $17,000 per year in larger communities through reduced water purification costs.
"That can be meaningful, especially for smaller rural towns," Karwowski said. "The cool thing is, we're seeing that federal dollars are going toward this program, and it's local municipalities that are benefiting."
Karwowski said there are roughly 30,000 acres of wetland easements in Montana. That investment, coupled with the intersection of the state's extensive agricultural and recreational economies, makes MSU an ideal place to be exploring the impacts of programs like WRE, she added.
Karwowski has worked with hydrologists, geologists and water quality specialists, in addition to local organizations like the Bozeman office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and recreational groups like Ducks Unlimited, to better understand the agricultural, ecological, economic and community benefits of restored wetlands.
"Agricultural producers are known as stewards of the land, so how can we support them in the best ways to keep doing that, benefiting from these ecosystem services that their agricultural best management practices are providing?" she said.
"Protecting these unique ecosystems is something that is very valued in Montana given the love of outdoors and the abundant recreational opportunities. My hope would be that in the future, we continue funding programs like this, because we realize that there are valuable effects going toward our communities, especially our rural communities."
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Original text here: https://www.montana.edu/news/24992/new-research-from-montana-state-economist-shows-how-wetland-restoration-can-benefit-local-economies
Columbia Theological Seminary Issues Commentary: Three Challenges to Growth for Churches
DECATUR, Georgia, Dec. 11 -- The Columbia Theological Seminary issued the following commentary on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Three challenges to growth for churches
By Israel Galindo
As churches seek to expand their reach and impact, several obstacles must be overcome. Here are three common challenges that churches face when it comes to growth:
1. Limited Resources
One of the biggest challenges facing churches is a lack of resources. Most churches operate on limited budgets and rely on volunteer labor to carry out their mission. This can make it difficult to expand their programs and services to
... Show Full Article
DECATUR, Georgia, Dec. 11 -- The Columbia Theological Seminary issued the following commentary on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Three challenges to growth for churches
By Israel Galindo
As churches seek to expand their reach and impact, several obstacles must be overcome. Here are three common challenges that churches face when it comes to growth:
1. Limited Resources
One of the biggest challenges facing churches is a lack of resources. Most churches operate on limited budgets and rely on volunteer labor to carry out their mission. This can make it difficult to expand their programs and services tomeet the needs of their community. Additionally, many churches struggle to keep up with the latest technology and marketing trends, which can make it harder to attract new members.
2. Resistance to Change
Another obstacle to growth for churches is resistance to change. Many churches have established traditions and ways of doing things that can be hard to change. This can make it difficult to adapt to new trends and reach out to new audiences. In some cases, churches may need to make significant changes to their worship services or outreach programs in order to attract new members, which can be met with resistance from long-time members.
3. Lack of Diversity
Finally, many churches struggle with a lack of diversity. This can be both a cause and a symptom of the other challenges churches face. Churches that are not diverse may struggle to attract new members from different backgrounds or cultures. Additionally, a lack of diversity can make it harder for churches to adapt to changing demographics and cultural trends.
In order to overcome these challenges, churches need to be proactive and strategic in their approach to growth. This may involve investing in new technology and marketing strategies, being open to change, and actively seeking out opportunities to reach out to new audiences. By doing so, churches can expand their reach and impact, and continue to fulfill their mission for years to come.
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Israel Galindo is Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary.
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Original text here: https://www.ctsnet.edu/three-challenges-to-growth-for-churches/
Call for Submissions: University of Kentucky's Open-access, Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Journal
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Kentucky issued the following news:
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Call for submissions: UK's open-access, interdisciplinary undergraduate research journal
By Cassandra Stinger, Office of Undergraduate Research
The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is accepting submissions for the 2025-26 issue of Aperture, an open-access, interdisciplinary student journal.
The journal showcases the rich and diverse scholarship conducted by UK undergraduates and promotes the advancement of knowledge by publishing reports of their unique experiential
... Show Full Article
LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Dec. 11 (TNSjou) -- The University of Kentucky issued the following news:
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Call for submissions: UK's open-access, interdisciplinary undergraduate research journal
By Cassandra Stinger, Office of Undergraduate Research
The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) is accepting submissions for the 2025-26 issue of Aperture, an open-access, interdisciplinary student journal.
The journal showcases the rich and diverse scholarship conducted by UK undergraduates and promotes the advancement of knowledge by publishing reports of their unique experientialendeavors. Aperture is edited and produced by an undergraduate student editorial board of peer editors, ensuring a platform that reflects the perspectives and contributions of their fellow peers in academia.
"Aperture presents a distinct avenue for undergraduate researchers and their mentors to share the outcomes of the research endeavors with the UK community and, given the digital format, across the globe," said Chad Risko, Ph.D., OUR faculty director and professor of chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.
As a journal dedicated to undergraduate scholarship, Aperture only accepts submissions of original work conducted and written by current or recent undergraduate students. For recent graduates, submissions must be received within 12 months of the conferral of their first undergraduate degree.
Students can submit full-length manuscripts, abstracts and brief reports online. The journal will focus on research culture at UK with spotlight articles on student researchers and current topics in research. Manuscripts that have been published or have been accepted for publication elsewhere, or are under review with another publication, are not eligible.
Submissions are accepted from all disciplines and categories, including:
* Agriculture
* Artistic and musical creations
* Biological and life sciences
* Business and economics
* Creative writing and poetry
* Cultural and language studies
* Design (architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, product design)
* Environmental studies
* Honors thesis (expedited review process)
* Humanities
* Mathematics and quantitative studies
* Medical and health sciences
* Physical and engineering sciences
* Social and behavioral sciences
Each submission goes through four stages of review. The student's adviser or principal investigator reviews and approves the paper. Then Aperture's editorial team assesses the submission to ensure adherence to the journal's submission guidelines, checking for errors or inconsistencies. The third stage involves a thorough review by graduate students or faculty advisers specializing in the specific research field under discussion. In the final phase of review the editorial team revisits the revised paper to confirm that all necessary changes have been incorporated and to ensure the article is polished and ready for publication.
Current deadlines
The submission deadline is Jan. 23, 2026. To assist students interested in submitting their research or scholarly work to Aperture, the team is hosting a Publisher's Panel from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, via Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend and ask questions regarding submission requirements, formatting, research disciplines and more.
* Additional information on the call for entries and the submission form (https://our.uky.edu/Aperture) is online.
* Additional information on eligibility and formatting requirements is online (https://our.uky.edu/aperture-review).
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About Aperture
Founded in June 2023 and supported by the UK Office of Undergraduate Research, Aperture is an entirely student-led organization dedicated to promoting a culture of curiosity. The inaugural edition of Aperture Journal of Undergraduate Research (AJUR) launched June 1, 2024.
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Original text here: https://research.uky.edu/news/call-submissions-uks-open-access-interdisciplinary-undergraduate-research-journal-0
Bennett College: Presidential Leadership Series - Centennial Book Talk
GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Dec. 11 -- Bennett College issued the following statement:
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Presidential Leadership Series: Centennial Book Talk
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bennett College as a women's college, Interim President Dr. Teresa Hardee is proud to launch The Presidential Leadership Series: Centennial Book Talk, a community reading initiative that explores leadership, legacy, and the power of visionary change.
Our inaugural selection, Lead Boldly by Robert F. Smith, examines Dr. King's seven timeless principles for transformative leadership--principles that continue
... Show Full Article
GREENSBORO, North Carolina, Dec. 11 -- Bennett College issued the following statement:
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Presidential Leadership Series: Centennial Book Talk
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bennett College as a women's college, Interim President Dr. Teresa Hardee is proud to launch The Presidential Leadership Series: Centennial Book Talk, a community reading initiative that explores leadership, legacy, and the power of visionary change.
Our inaugural selection, Lead Boldly by Robert F. Smith, examines Dr. King's seven timeless principles for transformative leadership--principles that continueto guide how we learn, lead, and impact the world.
Read the book now and join our discussion on January 21st, from 7 pm - 8 pm EST as we talk about bold leadership and what it means to build a future worthy of our Centennial.
As we enter this historic year, the Centennial reminds us not only of Bennett's remarkable legacy but also of the collective strength, purpose, and leadership that will define our next century.
We look forward to reading and reflecting with you.
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Original text here: https://www.bennett.edu/news/the-presidential-leadership-series-centennial-book-talk/
