New data collected by the U.S. Department of Education shows the number of students defaulting on their student loans has increased during the past year. U.S.
As universities across the nation continue to cope with a tough economy, state officials are looking at ways to cut costs by decreasing energy and infrastructure use and outsourcing some services and programs to private companies. These cost containment and savings strategies are particularly important, said Minnis Ridenour, senior fellow for research and development at Virginia Tech, because of the dramatic change in how much funding public universities receive from the state.
State officials may seek to make dual enrollment, as well as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate testing, available to more high schools students in an effort to allow more students to earn college credit during high school and prepare students for college coursework.
The Honor Committee discussed recruitment and possible changes to its honor offense reporting processes at a meeting last night. Vice Chair of Investigations Page Dunbar reported that twice as many students took the test to become an honor adviser as last year.
[caption id="attachment_35950" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="University Judiciary Committee Chair Will Bane, center, lauded UJC's recent recruitment efforts, which included outreach to many student minority groups.
[caption id="attachment_35948" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson addressed students at Jefferson Hall last Friday night.
The Board of Visitors has approved the final schematic design for additional Newcomb Hall renovations, currently set to begin in June 2011. The renovations will make the plaza in front of Newcomb Hall - which is the first building seen by those visitors who park in the garage on Emmet Street - a more attractive, inviting and efficient space, said Colette Sheehy, University vice president for management and budget. The new design, in keeping with current renovations on the Lawn, more accurately reflects Thomas Jefferson's original style than today's version of the building, which has experienced five additions during its 55-year history, said University architect David Neuman in an address to the Board. The current Newcomb entrance was designed in 1955 by the architectural firm Eggers and Higgins, which also designed the similarly styled entrances of the McCormick Road dormitories.
[caption id="attachment_35902" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The Greenhouse is nine months away from completion and will include state-of-the-art features such as solar panels and water-saving plumbing.
In an effort to save money, the Virginia state government is considering a proposal that would require state employees to work only four days a week.
Responding in part to national health care reform policy, the University has adjusted its own health care programs, making Aetna its sole medical claims administrator, along with other policy changes. The adjustments were made to keep costs as low as possible while providing health insurance benefits that are attractive to current and prospective employees, as well as to retirees.
[caption id="attachment_35833" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Michael Steele, Rupublican National Committee chairman, visited Minor Hall yesterday to rally election support.
[caption id="attachment_35831" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Charlottesville Police Chief Tim Longo and other local police officials were featured speakers at an open forum with community members discussing bias incident protocol.
University President Teresa A. Sullivan introduced the possibility of a three-year bachelor's degree at a Faculty Senate meeting Monday.
[caption id="attachment_35828" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="A plaque will honor Morgan Dana Harrington at Copeley Road bridge, where she was last seen alive Oct.
[caption id="attachment_35747" align="alignleft" width="214" caption="Helen Dragas now fills the position intended for Daniel Abramson, who was not reappointed by Gov.
[caption id="attachment_35735" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Changes to make the Rotunda more weather-tight and similar to the original design may begin next summer.
University undergraduate students planning to continue their education may need to prepare for some changes to their test prep regimen. The Graduate Records Examination - an admissions requirement for many graduate education programs - is about to undergo several changes, as administrators at Educational Testing Services have been working on revising the test to enhance the content and allow students to navigate the exam more easily. The GRE revised General Test's launch is set for August 2011. Once amended, the test will include more questions featuring "real-life scenarios that better reflect the kind of thinking students will do in today's demanding graduate and business school programs," according to a statement from Mark McNutt, manager of public relations for ETS. Test-takers will have access to new navigation features, including the ability to review questions and change answers.
Student Council passed a resolution yesterday night strongly endorsing the Sept. 24 Day of Dialogue. The event, specifically as "Day of Dialogue: Toward a Caring Community," aims to continue the conversation sparked by Yeardley Love's death in May and "provide an opportunity for open, honest discussion about who we are -- our strengths, our shortcomings, and our individual responsibility as members of this and other, larger communities," University President Teresa A.
The use of hand sanitizer might not significantly impact the transmission rate of the cold or flu virus, according to a study conducted by Dr. Ronald Turner of the University's Pediatrics department. After the study was concluded, 51 rhinovirus infections were reported in a pool of 100 volunteers who didn't apply hand sanitizer, as opposed to 42 cases in another pool of 100 volunteers who used hand sanitizer.
Former University student Alan Yuan Chang was found guilty Thursday of voluntary manslaughter and unlawful wounding of his father Jian Zhang. The following Friday evening, after three hours of deliberation, the Henrico Circuit Court jury suggested a four-year sentence for the voluntary manslaughter conviction and a $2,500 fine for the unlawful wounding conviction. Before coming to a conclusion, the jury was deadlocked, almost ending the case in a mistrial.
