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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Research Models How Deadly Virus Moves Among Pacific Salmon, Trout
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama, April 19 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
For the first time researchers studying a deadly virus modeled how it spreads to young trout and salmon in the waters of the Columbia River Basin, showing that migrating adult fish are the main source of exposure.
The ecological modeling of the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, or IHNV, shows how it moves across the landscape over time, providing a crucial understanding for managers of hatchery programs attempting to protect juvenile salmon and trout.
"Knowing the relative role of these transmission
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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama, April 19 -- The University of Alabama issued the following news:
For the first time researchers studying a deadly virus modeled how it spreads to young trout and salmon in the waters of the Columbia River Basin, showing that migrating adult fish are the main source of exposure.
The ecological modeling of the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus, or IHNV, shows how it moves across the landscape over time, providing a crucial understanding for managers of hatchery programs attempting to protect juvenile salmon and trout.
"Knowing the relative role of these transmissionpathways and probability of infection associated with the different transmission pathways will help managers evaluate what leads to the spread and transmission of this virus," said Dr. Paige Ferguson, assistant professor of biological sciences at The University of Alabama.
Ferguson is the lead author on a study published in the June edition of Ecological Modelling that includes contributions from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Oregon State University, Cornell University and the United States Geological Survey.
In the Pacific Northwest, wild populations of Pacific salmon and trout are critical to the ecosystems, economy and regional culture. State, federal and tribal agencies have hatchery programs alongside the Columbia River and its tributaries that culture fish for release, with the aim of supporting ecosystem health, recreational fishing and commercial fisheries.
Steelhead trout and Chinook salmon are the most abundant IHNV-susceptible species in the Columbia River Basin and adjacent coastal rivers. When infected with IHNV, blood-producing tissues deteriorate, which can be deadly to young trout and salmon.
Prevention is the current strategy for hatchery managers as there is no treatment for infected fish. An IHNV infection in a hatchery can be devastating with as many as 90 percent of young fish killed.
The research group found juvenile fish are exposed primarily by migrating adult fish returning to the river from the Pacific Ocean to lay eggs, shedding the virus as they swim upstream into the water that flows into hatcheries.
The model showed migrating adult fish were involved in the exposure to IHNV in 75 percent of cases. In 15 percent of cases, exposure involved the previous generation of young fish at the hatchery, and, in 21 percent of cases, exposure involved juvenile fish in the river. Totals exceed 100 percent because exposure can involve just one or any combination of these three transmission routes.
However, the model also showed exposure by the previous generation of young fish at the hatchery is more likely, at 22 percent, to result in infection compared to adult or juvenile fish in the river. Those bring no more than a 17 percent change of infection.
"This new transmission model is highly innovative and its application to the complex virus traffic in Pacific salmon has great potential for enhancing our ability to manage viral disease in the Pacific Northwest," said Dr. Gael Kurath, senior research microbiologist with the U.S. Geological Survey Western Fisheries Research Center in Seattle and a coauthor on the paper.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided financial support as part of the joint Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease program with the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
Ramapo College Dedicates Topken World Language Lab
MAHWAH, New Jersey, April 19 -- Ramapo College issued the following news release:
Ramapo College of New Jersey recently celebrated the opening of the Topken World Language Lab in the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies. The state-of-the-art language lab was made possible by a generous gift from William and Marina Topken '87 to the Ramapo College Foundation. Dozens of students, faculty, staff and friends of the College attended the ceremony, which included a demonstration of the lab's resources.
"Language conveys thought and is indispensable in what we do as a liberal arts college,"
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MAHWAH, New Jersey, April 19 -- Ramapo College issued the following news release:
Ramapo College of New Jersey recently celebrated the opening of the Topken World Language Lab in the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies. The state-of-the-art language lab was made possible by a generous gift from William and Marina Topken '87 to the Ramapo College Foundation. Dozens of students, faculty, staff and friends of the College attended the ceremony, which included a demonstration of the lab's resources.
"Language conveys thought and is indispensable in what we do as a liberal arts college,"said Ramapo President Peter P. Mercer. "It is vital to our curriculum; without it, we cannot function efficiently. I am most grateful to Marina and Bill, longtime generous supporters of the College, for helping to bring this capital project to fruition as well as establish an endowment for language tutors."
Susan Hangen, Dean of the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies (SSHGS), related that the new lab will provide students access to state-of-the-art language software, an increased number of language tutor hours, and a specially-designed space for optimum language learning.
"Language learning is the heart of a liberal arts education," said Hangen. "This lab will have a significant impact for all of our students in an increasingly global world."
She added that the new facility's design--with circular work spaces-will emphasize group interaction. In addition, SSHGS will be adding Chinese to its language offerings. She also said the College is looking to relaunch Japanese, German and Arabic language studies into its curriculum.
"The very generous gift from the Topkens is consistent with our mission and demonstrates a commitment to international, intercultural and experiential learning for our students," Hangen added.
"The Topkens' commitment to assist our students who academically achieve and have financial need is most amazing. They have established several endowed scholarships to support students in the teacher education program as well as in both the ungraduated and graduate nursing programs," explained Institutional Advancement Vice President Cathleen Davey. "Marina's and Bill's commitment goes well beyond their personal philanthropy. Both have volunteered for more than 25 years to raise scholarship funds through their leadership with The Friends of Ramapo. During this time, Marina has served as Friends' president and Bill as treasurer, the group has awarded more than 150 scholarships, 25 of which have been full scholarships."
Marina, an American Studies 1987 graduate of the College, taught and translated German at several language institutions in the area and tutored children in under-served schools in Paterson, New Jersey. She frequently returns to Ramapo to participate in the German language "happy hours" offered for students and staff throughout the school year.
"Education has always been of great interest to me. When our children were teenagers, I will never forget the day eagerly I registered to take a course in French Language at Ramapo College. More courses in French language, literature and culture followed, and my respect and enthusiasm grew for inspiring, unforgettable professors as well as for students from all walks of life and from many countries, wanting to get ahead," said Marina, adding that she and Bill wanted to "help and incentivize those wishing to learn and be educated."
"Learning and teaching languages is the conduit to better understanding people and their cultures," she said, explaining their desire to fund the Topken World Language Laboratory. "It is my way of giving back for the great experience Ramapo College gave me."
Ohio State Posts Employee Salary Data Online
COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 19 -- Ohio State University issued the following news release:
The Ohio State University is breaking new ground for transparency among public universities in Ohio by making all non-student employee salaries available to the public in an online, searchable web-based application. The Office of Human Resources is hosting the salary information at https://hr.osu.edu/services/statistics-reports/.
"Ohio State should be the trusted source of salary information for internal users, job applicants, the media and researchers who are interested in payroll data," said Susan Basso, senior
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 19 -- Ohio State University issued the following news release:
The Ohio State University is breaking new ground for transparency among public universities in Ohio by making all non-student employee salaries available to the public in an online, searchable web-based application. The Office of Human Resources is hosting the salary information at https://hr.osu.edu/services/statistics-reports/.
"Ohio State should be the trusted source of salary information for internal users, job applicants, the media and researchers who are interested in payroll data," said Susan Basso, seniorvice president for talent, culture and human resources.
"The university is an attractive workplace, and the demand for jobs is high," Basso said. "As a major Ohio employer and one of the nation's largest universities, it makes good sense for Ohio State to give the public easy access to some of its most sought-after data."
In calendar year 2017, 42,670 faculty and staff received $2.5 billion in total earnings - representing a one-year employee headcount increase of 1,855 (4.5 percent) and a 6.4 percent increase over the 2016 $2.35 billion payroll budget. The 2017 median annual base salary stood at $48,173, compared to $47,661 in 2016 - a 1.1 percent increase.
Two types of data are available on the Human Resources website: Users may enter a name, department, title or salary range to search for base salary information in the web-based application. A second option is available to download Excel spreadsheets of total employee earnings for calendar year 2017, which includes bonuses, overtime, deferred compensation, and vacation and sick leave payouts in addition to base salary. The data will be updated throughout the calendar year.
Fresno State President Castro Issues Statement on Academic Freedom
FRESNO, California, April 19 -- California State University issued the following statement by President Joseph I. Castro regarding tweets on Tuesday, April 17, by a Fresno State faculty member:
"Academic freedom is at the core of our University, something we promote and practice every day in our teaching, research and public service. I am a fervent supporter of academic freedom and its underlying principles, as defined by the First Amendment. This is the essence of our democracy.
"I recognize that in the exercise of free speech rights, individuals may present personal opinions in a provocative
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FRESNO, California, April 19 -- California State University issued the following statement by President Joseph I. Castro regarding tweets on Tuesday, April 17, by a Fresno State faculty member:
"Academic freedom is at the core of our University, something we promote and practice every day in our teaching, research and public service. I am a fervent supporter of academic freedom and its underlying principles, as defined by the First Amendment. This is the essence of our democracy.
"I recognize that in the exercise of free speech rights, individuals may present personal opinions in a provocativemanner, and I also value the First Amendment rights of individuals, even when others may find the speech unpleasant and inappropriate.
I also recognize that people will have different opinions on the proper balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility to exercise it in a way that promotes constructive dialogue. We are constantly striving to get that balance right. That is where an academic institution such as Fresno State can be a leader in the Central Valley and beyond."
Explore Interactive, a Purdue-Affiliated Startup, Wins Edupitch Competition for Innovative Education Solutions
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, April 19 -- Purdue University issued the following news release:
A Purdue University-affiliated startup that created a platform that allows children to have fun while learning by using augmented reality via mobile devices won first prize in a competition looking for innovative education solutions.
Explore Interactive won the edupitch competition sponsored by SDI Innovations, the Purdue Foundry and Discovery Park at Purdue, beating out nine other finalists in a competition held at the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. A total of 57 teams submitted one-page
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, April 19 -- Purdue University issued the following news release:
A Purdue University-affiliated startup that created a platform that allows children to have fun while learning by using augmented reality via mobile devices won first prize in a competition looking for innovative education solutions.
Explore Interactive won the edupitch competition sponsored by SDI Innovations, the Purdue Foundry and Discovery Park at Purdue, beating out nine other finalists in a competition held at the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. A total of 57 teams submitted one-pagesummaries of their products or business ideas to the competition.
Explore Interactive won $4,500 and a startup package from Gutwein Law, based in Lafeyette, as well as services from Heath CPA and Associates of Lafayette. Explore Interactive's first product, due out in June, uses augmented reality technology to help children learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
"We were thrilled to win the edupitch competition and to have the opportunity to build a relationship with SDI Innovations. The funding will be used to produce and package our first STEM augmented reality game set, "What is Energy" to meet pre-order demand and targeted summer sales," Explore Interactive CEO Amanda Thompson said.
Codelicious, which seeks to help children how to think about and speak the language of technology, placed second and won $3,000, a technical review session from DelMar Software Development and an annual subscription to LOOK.
Deaf Kids Outreach, which offers educational tutorials in American Sign Language to the deaf community, took third place, earning $1,500 and annual memberships to the Purdue Railyard and MatchBOX, co-working spaces.
HaptImage, a startup created by Purdue graduate students that assists people who are visually impaired by providing instantaneous tactile responses, won $1,000 and an annual membership to the Purdue Railyard for being voted as giving the best presentation by those attending the event.
The competition featured five teams from Lafayette or West Lafayette: Classmate, Deaf Kids Outreach, HaptImage, NursePass and Explore Interactive. Kepler, Codelicious, Scribfolio, and PropelUp are from the Indianapolis area. Mindtech is based in South Bend.
Nearly $20,000 in cash and gift-in-kind prizes were awarded during Saturday's competition.
The event also was sponsored by Mimir, The National Group, Paradigm Health and Wellness, DelMar Software Development, MatchBOX, the Purdue Railyard, Heath CPA and Associates, and LOOK.
About SDI Innovations
SDI Innovations is the parent company of School Datebooks, Ag Printers, Eventlink and other brands. In the 33 years since its founding, SDI Innovations has grown into a leading company across several markets, with products in 12,000 schools across the United States and 21 other countries.
About Purdue Foundry
The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry was co-named a top recipient at the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Designation and Awards Program by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.
CYstarters Accelerator Supports Students' Big Ideas
AMES, Iowa, April 19 -- Iowa State University issued the following news release:
With as much as $13,000 at stake, expectations were high. Judges were looking for viable, well-conceived concepts worthy of the investment. Those vying for the funding had 10 minutes to make their case.
"The pitch is everything. I want to know how invested they are in the idea," said Dave Sly, senior lecturer in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering and one of six judges who helped select the 2018 CYstarters cohort.
CYstarters, a 10-week accelerator coordinated through Iowa State University's Pappajohn
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AMES, Iowa, April 19 -- Iowa State University issued the following news release:
With as much as $13,000 at stake, expectations were high. Judges were looking for viable, well-conceived concepts worthy of the investment. Those vying for the funding had 10 minutes to make their case.
"The pitch is everything. I want to know how invested they are in the idea," said Dave Sly, senior lecturer in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering and one of six judges who helped select the 2018 CYstarters cohort.
CYstarters, a 10-week accelerator coordinated through Iowa State University's PappajohnCenter for Entrepreneurship, is open to ISU students and recent graduates. Of the nearly three dozen applicants this spring, judges invited 26 individuals and teams to pitch their business concepts. Some pitches focused on business plans and market analyses; others demonstrated prototypes or offered product samples.
The 15 startups selected for this year's cohort are working on everything from a pet safety restraint system to human nutritional supplements. As the CYstarters name suggests, many of the startups are in the early stages of development and have different needs. Diana Wright, program coordinator for the Pappajohn Center, says ideally, each startup in the cohort will meet the following requirements:
* The concept identifies and addresses a problem or opportunity
* The product or service is viable and has a competitive advantage
* The student or team is coachable and a good fit for the cohort
This is the third CYstarters cohort, and Wright says the selection process gets harder each year. She says more students are taking advantage of pitch competitions, entrepreneurship courses in the classroom, entrepreneurial speaker series and the entrepreneur club, and it is paying off in their pitches.
"They are learning so much through these opportunities that when we see them pitch, we see some really solid ideas," Wright said. "You can tell they really have their heart in their business."
More than money
The infusion of cash - $6,500 for individuals and $13,000 for teams - allows students to focus solely on their business, without having to juggle a part-time job for the summer. The financial incentive is what makes CYstarters different from the ISU Startup Factory and other entrepreneurial initiatives. However, it is the accountability and networking, as much as the money, that students value, Wright said.
Students are required to attend weekly accountability sessions to review their accomplishments, goals and failures and often have "homework" assigned for the following week. They also attend educational workshops on customer discovery, product development, legal, finance and marketing. Wright says throughout the 10 weeks, students interact with as many as 60 to 70 mentors.
"It's an intense 10 weeks," Wright said. "What started with imagining the ultimate program for student entrepreneurs at Iowa State has grown to become a successful pathway that provides the CYstarters a safety net to start something now."
Helping students identify as entrepreneurs
Applicants for this summer's cohort came from all seven ISU colleges, which is a credit to efforts by Wright and Judi Eyles, director of the Pappajohn Center, to get more students involved by hosting pitch competitions in each college. Wright says most students do not initially see themselves as entrepreneurs, and often "stumble into" entrepreneurship after listening to a lecture on the topic or watching a pitch.
Sly agrees. He launched his software company as a student at Iowa State, but never considered himself an entrepreneur. In fact, Sly says he went to career fairs thinking he needed to get a "real job" after graduation. He changed his thinking after a recruiter pointed out that the job Sly was applying for paid less than what he was making from his business.
The landscape for entrepreneurs has changed dramatically since Sly graduated. Still, he feels there is untapped potential on campus that could benefit from CYstarters. He works to instill "a mindset of entrepreneurship" in class to encourage students to pursue ideas for a startup.
"I do wonder how many students are doing great entrepreneurial things, but don't see themselves as entrepreneurs or are unaware of the opportunities," Sly said. "We need to somehow reach a wider body of students and get them thinking about these entrepreneurial opportunities."
Arch of Healing and Reconciliation Installation Ceremony April 21 Will Honor Immigrants in the Pacific Northwest and Unity Among Whatcom County Residents
BELLINGHAM, Washington, April 19 -- Western Washington University issued the following news release:
The installation ceremony for the Arch of Healing and Reconciliation, a granite monument honoring Whatcom County's immigrant communities, will be Saturday, April 21, 2018, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Bellingham's City Hall, 210 Lottie St.
Sabah Randhawa, president of Western Washington University, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will mark the installation of the arch monument honoring immigrants to the Pacific Northwest from China, India, and Japan. It is a public event and everyone
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BELLINGHAM, Washington, April 19 -- Western Washington University issued the following news release:
The installation ceremony for the Arch of Healing and Reconciliation, a granite monument honoring Whatcom County's immigrant communities, will be Saturday, April 21, 2018, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Bellingham's City Hall, 210 Lottie St.
Sabah Randhawa, president of Western Washington University, will be the keynote speaker at the ceremony, which will mark the installation of the arch monument honoring immigrants to the Pacific Northwest from China, India, and Japan. It is a public event and everyoneis encouraged to come and be a part of the celebration which will include short dance and choral performances and some light refreshments.
The arch will also recognize all immigrants who have come to America since the 1800's seeking better opportunities for themselves and their families through hard work and determination. "There are millions of first-generation immigrants in United States from all over the world today, who are serving this nation at all levels and contributing to our nation's wellbeing. We recognize their contributions and welcome them in our community," said Satpal Sidhu, a Whatcom County Councilmember and Chair of the Arch of Healing organization.
The arch, 12 feet high and made of 10 tons of solid red granite from India, is the first part of a multifaceted project to honor and remember the contributions, sacrifices and bravery of the community's immigrants.
Bellingham has a long history of immigrants traveling through on their way up and down the West Coast. Many have settled here and have made significant contributions to the community, but the community hasn't always been a welcoming place for immigrants. Chinese, Indian and Japanese immigrants, in particular, were targeted and forcibly removed from the community.
The goal of all facets of the project: to create teaching and learning opportunities for future generations in the hope of avoiding additional anti-immigrant sentiment and violence.
Located on the corner of Lottie and North Commercial streets next to the lawn behind the Bellingham Public Library, the arch includes bronze plaques with dates and short descriptions of three episodes in Whatcom County in which immigrants were targeted for removal: Chinese Americans in 1885, Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus from India in 1907, and Japanese Americans in 1942.
The base of the arch will have 18-inch-square black granite tiles with "Welcome" in seven languages, with special recognition being made to Lummi, Nooksack and other local Indian tribes.
The group of Whatcom County residents who make up the Arch Committee continues to raise funds for two more elements of this initiative: a scholarship fund to help children of first-generation immigrants go to college, and an annual Ethnic Food Festival in Bellingham on Labor Day.
The committee plans to raise about $2 million, with the bulk of the funds going toward the scholarship fund, which will provide significant educational opportunities in higher education for new immigrant families and their children. Sidhu explained, "We believe the best way to honor our ancestors is to educate our future generations. While the granite memorial will be a symbolic reminder about our history, we consider this a learning moment for us all Americans to be vigilant so that such events never happen in the future."
The work to build the arch has been led by a group of Whatcom County residents, including the Lynden Sikh Temple, an initial funder of the project with $50,000 in matching funds. The Whatcom Community Foundation, which also pledged $25,000 in matching funds, is the fiscal sponsor for the program and all donations are tax-deductible. As an in-kind donation Ram Construction is preparing the site and foundation and is installing the arch.
Plans for the arch began in 2007 when members of the Lynden Sikh Temple began thinking of ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1907 forced removal of Sikh timber mill workers from Bellingham. Over time, plans expanded to include commemorating the expulsions of Chinese and Japanese Americans as well. And plans grew even further to establish a lasting monument to honor the community's history of immigrants with a higher education scholarship and an annual food festival.
Learn more at http://www.archofhealing.org or http://www.facebook.com/archofhealingandreconciliation.
