Higher Education Quick Takes

Quick Takes

Report Faults Yeshiva U. on Sex Abuse Charges
August 27, 2013

A report by an outside law firm -- commissioned by Yeshiva University -- has confirmed reports of numerous incidents of sexual abuse of students at the university's high school for boys. "The investigative team has concluded that multiple incidents of varying types of sexual and physical abuse took place at [the high school] during the relevant time period. This conduct was carried out by a number of individuals in positions of authority ... including, in certain instances, after members of the administration had been made aware of such conduct. In addition, the investigative team found that, during the relevant time period, sexual and physical abuse took place at other schools comprising the university as well.... The
investigative team found that, up until 2001, there were multiple instances in which the university either failed to appropriately act to protect the safety of its students or did not respond to the allegations at all." The report noted improvements after 2001 and since the scandal over the sex abuse charges became public.

Originally, the university said that the entire report would be released, but it provided only a summary, citing issues raised by suits filed against Yeshiva.

A statement from Richard M. Joel, the president (who was not president at the time of the abuse allegations), said: "There are findings set forth in this report that serve as a source of profound shame and sadness for our institution. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University community, I express my deepest and most heartfelt remorse, and truly hope that our recognition of these issues provides some level of comfort and closure to the victims."

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Obamas' Own Student Debt Topped $40,000 Each
August 27, 2013

In unveiling his ambitious higher education plan last week, President Obama once again framed his desire to make college more affordable as a personal mission, reminding the audience at the State University of New York at Buffalo of his own experience with a hefty load of student loan debt.  

Obama took out $42,753 in loans to pay his tuition at Harvard Law School, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. First Lady Michelle Obama went $40,762 in debt to finance her Harvard Law education. It was not until after Obama signed a $1.9 million book deal in 2004 -- the year he was elected to the U.S. Senate -- that the couple paid off all of their student loans, according to the Sun-Times. The Obamas’ law school debt came on top of their existing undergraduate loans (he from Occidental College and Columbia University and she from Princeton University) add of undergrad institutions ok? dl ** yes, thanks -ms and pushed their combined outstanding balance at graduation above $120,000, Obama has previously said.

Both the president and first lady also attended law school for three years -- an amount of time that Obama last week urged law schools to consider shortening to two years to reduce the cost for students. nice. dl

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Citing 'High Risk Drinking,' Temple U. Ends 'Spring Fling'
August 27, 2013

Temple University announced Monday that it will no longer sponsor the annual "Spring Fling," a festival of games and special events that has been held on campus each spring and that has also been a date for off-campus parties -- including one at which a student died last year. "A dangerous culture of high-risk drinking has infiltrated the event, undermining our academic mission and our duty to safeguard student health and wellness," said a statement from Stephanie Ives, dean of students. The university statement noted that the event started at a time that the university was largely a commuter institution, and that the university has changed considerably since then.

In April, during the last Spring Fling, Ali Fausnaught, 19, a freshman at West Chester University, fell three stories to her death at an off-campus house party, The Philadelphia Daily News reported. She had been visiting her boyfriend, a Temple student, and rooftop parties have become part of the off-campus tradition.

 

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Lynn U. Goes Test-Optional on Admissions
August 27, 2013

Lynn University has announced that it will no longer require the SAT or ACT from undergraduate applicants. Via e-mail, Gareth P. Fowles, vice president for enrollment management, said that while the university "recognizes that standardized tests are able to accurately measure the aptitude for a certain group of students ...  we believe that standardized tests do not always reflect the true potential of all students." Applicants who are home schooled or who plan to participate in intercollegiate athletics will continue to be required to submit test scores.

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All Applicants Failed U. of Liberia's Admissions Test
August 27, 2013

All 25,000 people who took the entrance exam for the University of Liberia failed this year, BBC reported. A university official said that most students "lacked enthusiasm and did not have a basic grasp of English," the BBC report said.

 

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Another Half-Court Tuition Winner
August 27, 2013

For the second time this month, a new student has won free tuition with a half-court basketball shot. The first success was at Ball State University. Now Colorado State University -- where four coaches will foot the bill for a year of in-state tuition -- is celebrating the success of Andrew Schneeweis.

 

 

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U. System of Maryland to Test Open-Source Textbooks
August 27, 2013

The University System of Maryland will this fall launch a pilot project to gauge the efficiency of open educational resources (OER), James Jalandoni, president of the system's student council, said on Monday. 

"We have made it a priority to start tackling the issue of textbook costs and the impact they have on college affordability," Jalandoni said. "We have gotten a lot of enthusiastic support throughout our system and the state, from faculty to administrators. Obviously our students are really passionate about this." Though he did not mention specifics, Jalandoni said the student council has spoken to organizations and universities that have experimented with OER "to create a model that is best suited for Maryland."

"Within the new couple of weeks, we hope to be finalizing when everything’s going to be happening," Jalandoni said.

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Academic Minute: Birth Weight and Autism
August 27, 2013

In today’s Academic Minute, Molly Losh of Northwestern University examines what studies of identical twins have to say about the causes of autism. Learn more about the Academic Minute here.

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George Washington Removes Business School Dean
August 27, 2013

George Washington University last week removed Doug Guthrie as dean of its business school, after determining that the school had spent $10 million more than authorized, The Wall Street Journal reported. “It had become increasingly clear that the financial management and operational differences between the dean and the administration were too great to surmount,” said a university spokeswoman.

 

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President of Norfolk State U. Is Fired
August 26, 2013

The board of Norfolk State University has fired President Tony Atwater, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported. Atwater has served for two years, and the board praised his efforts. But the historically black university is facing criticism from its accreditor and from state legislators on a range of issues, including the inability to complete an audit in the last two years. Previously, Atwater was president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a position he left amid disputes with the faculty over his management style.

 

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