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University of Michigan Implements Hidden Grades for First-Semester Freshmen Amidst Mental Health Concerns

University of Michigan Implements Hidden Grades for First-Semester Freshmen Amidst Mental Health Concerns

The University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) will begin a pilot program in fall 2027 to hide first-semester letter grades for incoming freshmen. Under this new policy, official external transcripts will only show 'pass' (P) or 'no credit' (NC) for these courses, and these grades will not factor into overall GPAs. The university states that the initiative aims to address a growing 'mental health crisis' on college campuses and facilitate a smoother transition for students from high school to college. While students will still receive traditional letter grades and feedback directly from their professors, these final marks will not be visible on external transcripts. Internal records of letter grades will be maintained by the university for administrative purposes such as advising, financial aid eligibility, and academic awards. This policy is intended to allow first-year students to acclimate to college demands and explore challenging electives without immediate concern for...
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Texas Governor Abbott Proposes Three-Year Bachelor's Degree Programs Amidst University Concerns

Texas Governor Abbott Proposes Three-Year Bachelor's Degree Programs Amidst University Concerns

Governor Greg Abbott of Texas has advocated for public colleges and universities in the state to implement three-year bachelor's degree programs in high-demand fields. The initiative aims to reduce the time students spend in classes by one year, thereby accelerating their entry into the workforce and making education more affordable. Dr. Jordan Barkley, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University, has expressed concerns regarding the feasibility of this proposal, particularly for programs requiring specialized accreditation or extensive clinical and internship hours. Barkley noted that shortening such programs to 90 hours from the traditional 120 would be challenging without compromising the quality of coursework or the required practical experience. Governor Abbott expects the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to collaborate with lawmakers to draft legislation supporting this initiative. While some coursework changes might occur as early as next ...
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National Science Foundation Grant Expands Summer Research Opportunities at Lander University for South Carolina Students

National Science Foundation Grant Expands Summer Research Opportunities at Lander University for South Carolina Students

Lander University's College of Science and Mathematics has received a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to significantly expand its summer research program. This funding will create additional research opportunities for Lander students and other students across South Carolina. Lander University is one of 11 colleges in the state to receive a portion of a larger $10 million grant, which aims to boost research capacity and STEM workforce pathways at primarily undergraduate institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Lander will specifically receive $157,341 annually for four years. This funding will cover stipends and supplies for 10 student researchers, who will work in up to five faculty research labs each summer. Approximately half of the participating students will be from Lander, with the remaining spots prioritized for students from other South Carolina institutions that may lack similar research opportunities.
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Howard University's Soundtrack Evolves with Hip-Hop, R, and Pop

Howard University's Soundtrack Evolves with Hip-Hop, R, and Pop

Howard University's Soundtrack Evolves with Hip-Hop, R, and Pop
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Desh Bhagat University Offers B. Pharmacy in Ayurveda, Bridging Traditional and Modern Pharmaceutical Sciences

Desh Bhagat University Offers B. Pharmacy in Ayurveda, Bridging Traditional and Modern Pharmaceutical Sciences

Desh Bhagat University Offers B. Pharmacy in Ayurveda, Bridging Traditional and Modern Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Michigan and Alabama Colleges Adopt New Direct Admissions Model to Boost Enrollment

Michigan and Alabama Colleges Adopt New Direct Admissions Model to Boost Enrollment

Colleges in Michigan are implementing a new direct admissions model, MI College Match, similar to a program launched last year in Alabama. This approach allows students to receive college admission offers without a traditional application process. Unlike some direct admissions models that automatically send offers based on state data, the Michigan and Alabama programs require students to create profiles detailing their GPA and intended major. Once a profile is made, students receive admission offers from institutions whose criteria they meet, with offers beginning as early as mid-September. The Michigan College Access Network (MCAN), a college-access nonprofit, collaborated with the enrollment-management firm EAB to develop MI College Match. EAB's Alabama program resulted in over 12,000 students receiving admissions and scholarship offers totaling over $5.1 billion, with about half of those students not previously on the universities' prospect lists. Michigan college leaders hope this platform will connect...
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More Than 1,400 Musicians Compete for About 120 Freshman Spots at Oberlin

More Than 1,400 Musicians Compete for About 120 Freshman Spots at Oberlin

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, an integral part of Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, stands as a distinguished institution with a rich history ...
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Western University Professors Adapt Teaching Methods to Combat AI-Assisted Cheating

Western University Professors Adapt Teaching Methods to Combat AI-Assisted Cheating

Professors at Western University are implementing new strategies to address the rise of AI-assisted cheating in academic settings. Philosophy professor David Bourget is piloting a project where 130 students will research and write essays in an on-campus computer lab under supervision. This lab utilizes MATCHA, a software program designed by Bourget, which provides access to word processors and research materials but blocks AI tools. The program also records the essay production process, including notes and drafts. Similarly, Selma Purac, undergraduate program chair at the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, has redesigned essay assignments. After noticing a significant number of AI-generated essays in her classes, she now requires students to complete research and outlines outside of class, then write their essays in-class with pen and paper under supervision. These measures aim to restore the integrity of academic writing and critical thinking skills that professors believe are being undermined by l...
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Porterville College Offers Engineering Associate of Science Degree for UC/CSU Transfer

Porterville College Offers Engineering Associate of Science Degree for UC/CSU Transfer

Porterville College is offering an Associate of Science (AS) degree in Engineering designed to prepare students for transfer to Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree programs within the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. This program aims to provide foundational knowledge for various engineering fields, including Aerospace, Biomedical, Civil, Computer/Software, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, Nuclear, and Petroleum Engineering. The curriculum is structured to align with the requirements of four-year engineering programs, ensuring a smooth transition for students pursuing higher education in engineering disciplines. The college emphasizes career opportunities available to engineering graduates, highlighting the diverse specializations within the field. The program's intent is to equip students with the necessary academic background to succeed in advanced engineering studies and subsequent professional careers.
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Columbia Journalism School to Reintroduce Undergraduate Program in 2027, Reversing Decades-Old Policy

Columbia Journalism School to Reintroduce Undergraduate Program in 2027, Reversing Decades-Old Policy

Columbia University's Journalism School is set to launch an undergraduate special program in journalism in 2027. This decision marks a significant reversal of the school's policy, which eliminated its undergraduate major over 90 years ago in 1935, shifting to graduate-only instruction. Journalism School Dean Jelani Cobb confirmed this development, stating that the program received approval from the committee on instruction in fall 2025. Duy Linh Tu, the Journalism School’s dean of academic affairs, had previously indicated a spring 2027 rollout. The new program aims to address undergraduate student interest in journalism and is part of a roughly two-year effort by the school's leadership. It will join three other undergraduate special programs offered at Columbia's professional schools, including business management, public health, and urban education. Dean Cobb noted that the school's long-standing focus on graduate instruction led to a collective forgetting of its undergraduate roots, prompting the initi...
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Ohio State University Settles for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed Researcher Ties to China

Ohio State University Settles for $2.1 Million Over Undisclosed Researcher Ties to China

The Ohio State University has agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve federal allegations that it failed to disclose a former researcher's affiliations with Chinese entities while receiving taxpayer-funded research grants. The Justice Department alleged that from 2012 to 2023, Ohio State did not properly report affiliations and financial support involving Chinese universities and state-run research organizations in applications and reports submitted to NASA and the National Science Foundation. These allegations included a principal investigator's participation in China’s Thousand Talents Program. Ohio State stated that it uncovered and investigated former earth science professor C.K. Shum’s foreign affiliations itself and subsequently reported them to federal authorities. Shum is no longer employed by the university. The university suspended Shum’s principal investigator privileges, halted spending on relevant federal awards, initiated disciplinary proceedings, and repaid the federal grant funds in question.
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Representative Pramila Jayapal Co-Sponsors College for All Act to Subsidize Tuition and Lower Rates

Representative Pramila Jayapal Co-Sponsors College for All Act to Subsidize Tuition and Lower Rates

Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington, is a co-sponsor of the College for All Act, alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. This proposed legislation aims to significantly reduce the cost of higher education in the United States. The act seeks to eliminate community college costs entirely and substantially lower tuition rates for other institutions. The funding mechanism for these changes would involve state contributions and a federal tax on Wall Street transactions. The initiative also emphasizes the importance of expanding these benefits to include immigrant students, aiming to create a more equitable higher education system. The current system often presents significant financial barriers for immigrant students, many of whom are ineligible for federal student aid due to their residency status, even after living in the U.S. for extended periods.