All posts tagged: University

Trump administration cancels 0 million in funding for Columbia University : NPR

Trump administration cancels $400 million in funding for Columbia University : NPR

Published by Sam

Columbia students organize dueling memorials and rallies both for Israel and Palestinians in Gaza on the one-year anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack, on Oct. 7, 2024 in New York City. Alex Kent/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Alex Kent/Getty Images The Trump administration says it has canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University over what it described as the school’s failure to police antisemitism on campus. The cancellation was announced Friday in a joint statement from the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and the U.S. General Services Administration. The decision was carried out, the statement said, “due to the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” It’s unclear what programs at the school may be affected by the cancellation. The statement said the funding pullback was “the first round of action” and that “additional cancellations are expected to follow.” The government also said Columbia holds more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments. In a statement to …

Reflecting on 50 Years of the APA at the University of Delaware

Reflecting on 50 Years of the APA at the University of Delaware

Published by skeptic

Among the several milestone anniversaries the APA is celebrating between 2024 and 2027, the one perhaps least known but, in my view, among the most important is this year’s 50th anniversary of the APA’s headquarters being founded at the University of Delaware. Looking back on the APA’s five decades on campus here in Newark, Delaware, it strikes me just how far the association has come and how much it has grown and changed in that time. All of us who participate in and benefit from the APA today owe a debt of gratitude to the APA leaders who, in the early 1970s, recognized the need for the APA to have a permanent headquarters and acted to fulfill that need. So, I think it’s only right to take a moment to reflect on the history of how the APA came to be headquartered at UD and how the APA has transformed during these 50 years. First, the APA/UD origin story. To understand this history, which was well before my time with the APA, I have relied …

University of Gloucestershire hosts inaugural Apprenticeship Awards

University of Gloucestershire hosts inaugural Apprenticeship Awards

Published by skeptic

The University of Gloucestershire celebrated the achievements of its apprentices at an inaugural awards ceremony last week as part of this year’s National Apprenticeships Week. Awards were handed out in front of an audience including dozens of employers and the friends and families of the 35 nominees, with guests travelling from as far afield as Hull and London to attend. The event, which took place in the university’s business school at its Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester, honoured winners and finalists across different subject categories in recognition of their academic achievements – all of which accomplished while working full-time.   Ianthe Reich, who works for Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust and triumphed in the nursing associate apprenticeship category, said:“I’m so honoured and privileged to win this award. “I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and skills through my apprenticeship. “It’s helped boost my confidence, and I’ll be continuing my learning by returning to undertake the full nursing degree apprenticeship.   “I want to say thank you so much to everyone who believed in me and supported me. “It’s been an …

Hargreaves Lansdown works with University of Bristol to launch financial wellbeing

Hargreaves Lansdown works with University of Bristol to launch financial wellbeing

Published by skeptic

Hargreaves Lansdown is working with University of Bristol to provide financial wellbeing courses for students. The pilot launched on 15 April 2024 and consisted of five custom-built modules delivered to over 70 University of Bristol students through blended learning, webinar and face-to-face mentoring sessions. The students who choose to enrol on the HL Financial Wellbeing course will get the blueprint for good financial health: how to create a smart spending plan and shop savvy – the tools to make their money work harder and build good money habits that they can take into life after university, setting them on the right financial path. And with increased knowledge typically comes heightened confidence – providing students with the tools to combat financial anxieties. The content is structured on HL’s 5 to Thrive framework, the five key building blocks for financial resilience. There are five modules which will be delivered as a blended learning experience. The course will also cover what core employee benefits to look out for when entering the world of work, as well as the role of investments …

Catholics argue university anti-union efforts go against religious teachings

Catholics argue university anti-union efforts go against religious teachings

Published by skeptic

(RNS) — Non-tenure-track faculty at Marquette University, a Jesuit school in Milwaukee, had been working for months to unionize and were preparing for a National Labor Relations Board-sanctioned election to join the United Campus Workers of Wisconsin when, in October, their employer invoked a religious exemption to quash their efforts.   Giordana Poggioli-Kaftan, a non-tenured faculty member who directs the Italian program, and a Catholic, was bewildered. “ I don’t understand how that is possible,” she told RNS. Not only had other Catholic institutions already unionized, but papal teachings stretching over a century promote unions. A September 2024 report by the Catholic Labor Network listed more than 20 Catholic universities in the United States that have some type of faculty union, representing less than 10% of U.S. Catholic higher education. In the last 15 years, at least eight Catholic universities have invoked religious exemptions to avoid recognizing unions that include faculty or graduate students. The move has become easier in recent years, since the requirements to receive an exemption from the NLRB only stipulate that the …

University of Oxford’s Herculaneum Scroll is Being Deciphered with AI

University of Oxford’s Herculaneum Scroll is Being Deciphered with AI

Published by skeptic

Another Herculaneum scroll is being deciphered using X-ray imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms by a team competing in the Vesuvius Challenge. Among the ancient Greek words identified so far are ἀδιάληπτος (foolish), διατροπή (disgust), φοβ (fear), and βίου (life). The ancient Roman town Herculaneum was encased in volcanic ash following the 79 CE eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Of particular interest is a massive library, known as the Villa of the Papyri, belonging to Julius Caesar’s father-in-law Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus. The 1,785 papyrus scrolls from the library are thought to contain significant philosophical and literary texts by preeminent ancient Greek and Roman scholars. Related Articles The Vesuvius Challenge is a competition with monetary prizes offered to those who can help decipher the scrolls using AI technology, as the charred scrolls cannot be unfurled. The scroll currently being deciphered, known as PHerc. 172, is housed at the Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. “The scroll offers hints pointing to its likely author being our favorite philosopher in residence: [the Epicurean poet] Philodemus. There’s a bit of early …

Bristol University ranked 12th most sustainable in the world

Bristol University ranked 12th most sustainable in the world

Published by skeptic

The University of Bristol has been named the 12th most sustainable university in the world and the fifth most sustainable in the UK. That’s according to the 2025 QS world sustainability rankings, which judged 1,744 universities on more than 50 criteria, ranging from institutions’ environmental teaching and research to the gender balance of staff. READ MORE: Bristol student housing scheme gets £31.3m of development finance The rankings included 341 more institutions than last year’s, making Bristol’s rise of five places to 12th even more impressive. Bristol university has seen several recent successes in its efforts, including more solar panels being installed, creating 500kW of solar capacity, which at its peak is enough to charge 70 EVs at once. Half of the university’s vehicle fleet is now fully electric. Mapping across its cafes has also reduced the carbon footprint of its homemade food by 27%, while a new climate education programme has trained dozens of facilitators to run sustainability workshops. “This is an exciting moment for the University, and although we still have a long way to …

Planning permission granted for new facility at University of Southampton Science Park

Planning permission granted for new facility at University of Southampton Science Park

Published by skeptic

Planning permission has been granted for a landmark new research and development facility at the University of Southampton Science Park. This multi-million pound project will provide the South Central region with much-needed laboratory space, strengthening its role in delivering against the government’s ambitions for the UK to become a global life science powerhouse. Dr Robin Chave, CEO of Southampton Science Park, said, “We are thrilled to have been given the green light to start bringing this visionary project to life. Impressive research conducted by our local universities and entrepreneurial innovators has led to life science expertise becoming a real regional asset. This is ripe for commercialisation but, for this to happen, dedicated laboratory facilities are required. “Our latest project caters for these needs and we are grateful for the support of all involved in bringing this opportunity to fruition. We have assembled a formidable project team to deliver the highest quality outcome for all stakeholders.” Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, commented, “I welcome the news that Southampton Science Park is again investing in …

Maths and English GCSEs are required for A-levels, college and university – so what happens to teenagers who don’t pass?

Maths and English GCSEs are required for A-levels, college and university – so what happens to teenagers who don’t pass?

Published by skeptic

Each year, around 200,000 pupils in state-funded schools in England do not achieve a grade four or above in both English and Maths GCSE at age 16: about one-third of all students. The Department for Education considers grade four a “standard pass” and grade five a “strong pass”. Grades below this are not considered a fail, but young people who do not achieve these grades often feel like failures. Most sixth forms and sixth form colleges require grade four or above in maths and English to study A-levels or new vocational qualifications such as T-levels. These GCSE grades are also required for entry into most UK universities. These 200,000 young people include those who achieve a pass in maths but not in English and vice versa, so it can include those who, for instance, have a four in English but two in maths. The key thing is that, getting below a four in one of these subjects, even if they pass the other, reduces students’ options after their GCSEs. Among these students are those who …

University of Sydney pioneers approach to quantum error correction

University of Sydney pioneers approach to quantum error correction

Published by skeptic

Researchers at the University of Sydney, Dominic Williamson and Nouédyn Baspin, have developed an innovative new framework for managing quantum errors that could reshape the field of quantum computing. Their theoretical model not only enhances the reliability of storing quantum information but also dramatically reduces the physical resources needed for generating ‘logical qubits,’ the computational units that drive quantum systems. This advancement opens doors to a more compact and efficient form of quantum memory, or ‘quantum hard drive,’ with potential applications across various computing domains. Overcoming quantum error correction barriers In quantum computing, error correction is a major challenge due to the extreme sensitivity of quantum systems to external disturbances, which causes errors that can disrupt calculations. Conventional quantum error correction methods require a large number of qubits (quantum bits) solely for error management, using up much of a quantum computer’s processing power to maintain stability and reduce the chances of data loss or corruption. This excessive use of qubits limits the resources available for actual computing tasks. Dr Dominic Williamson, the lead researcher on …