The Board of Visitors listened to concerns about the underrepresentation of Asian-American faculty members at the University and also discussed statistics about Asian-American students during the Board?s Educational Policy session yesterday.Overall, Asian-Americans are overrepresented within the University?s student population.
The Medical School?s Foundation for the National Institutes of Health recently received a $30 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to participate in a five-year study about the causes of malnutrition in developing countries and its effects on children.Mortality rates in developing countries have subsided in recent years, but the problem of malnutrition still has not been resolved, said Richard Guerrant, director of the University?s Center for Global Health and the study?s lead researcher.?Good water and sanitation is actually worth twice as much as we had ever calculated before,? Guerrant said.Guerrant said though oral rehydration work has reduced the number of deaths from diarrhea in developing countries, many children still are experiencing repeated episodes of diarrhea.
The unemployment rate in Charlottesville has doubled since last year, but it remains the second lowest in the state, the Virginia Employment Commission announced Wednesday in a press release.
Local officials are working to inform University students that they will be considered Charlottesville residents for the 2010 census, Albemarle County spokesperson Lee Catlin said.?We have kicked off an effort with the [City of Charlottesville] and University to encourage participation and ensure that accurate information about the census gets out to the whole community,? she said, noting that, for the purposes of the once per decade survey, students will not be considered residents of their hometowns.City and County officials are emphasizing the education of students and other residents about the census because every locality in the nation receives federal funds based on the number of its residents, including students ? though they may only be in the area for nine months of the year.
Student Council announced a new off-Grounds housing scholarship Tuesday as the first of several intended initiatives aimed at ?expanding opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds,? Student Council President John Nelson said.Council will award $500 scholarships to six applicants based on academic performance, essay quality, financial need, extracurricular activities and reasons for choosing off-Grounds housing, Nelson said.Off-Grounds Housing Manager Vicki Hawes said the scholarships will be funded by advertisements from Charlottesville landlords on the Off-Grounds Housing Web site, which Council sponsors.
Radford University went on lockdown yesterday as police pursued a suspect involved in a 9 p.m.
The University Law School saw a significant increase in admission applications this year, as the school received 20 percent more applications this year compared to last year, said Jason Wu Trujillo, senior assistant dean for admissions and financial aid.Trujillo said the school received 7,870 applications this year, compared to 6,548 applications last year.The increase in applications came almost entirely from out-of-state students, Trujillo said.
Students and faculty members gathered yesterday afternoon to take photos of the newly installed Calder sculpture in front of Peabody Hall to protest a ban against photographing the statue.
Student Council recently finalized an agreement with the Department of Parking and Transportation to offer discounted late night parking at the Central Grounds Parking Garage outside Newcomb Hall, Council President John Nelson said.?As of June 1, there will be a $1 fee for any portion of the time between 10 p.m.
The timing of the summer Democratic gubernatorial primary election may result in decreased voter turnout among college students, said Bruce Vlk, deputy director of programs for the University Center for Politics.
Vice President for Research Tom Skalak?s office is planning ? with the strong endorsement of the University?s provost and Board of Visitors ? to hold what Skalak described as a ?research conversation.? The focus of the initiative will be to improve interdisciplinary research across the University?s various departments.The plan will not only focus on improving research and interdisciplinary efforts in the sciences and engineering fields but also in the humanities and social sciences, Skalak said.
Virginia driver?s licenses now have a new look. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Department of Motor Vehicles has enhanced license security features, completely changing the cards? design.The licenses will be custom-made by a vendor in Danville, DMV spokesperson Melanie Stokes said, and have added security features compared to current cards, including two laser-engraved pictures, raised micro-lettering and hidden state symbols like a dogwood tree.The new license program will become fully operational by the end of July, Stokes said.
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors will vote next week on a revised budget proposal almost 10 percent less than last year?s, Albemarle County spokesperson Lee Catlin said.
Thomson Reuters recently ranked the University Medical Center as one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the United States and one of the top 15 major teaching hospitals.This is the eighth time the hospital has been named one of the 100 Top Hospitals, University Health System spokesperson Sally Jones said.?The hospital?s very proud to have received this honor yet again,? she said.
University Law School alumnus and former Sen. John Warner, R-Va., recently auctioned off items accumulated throughout his political career to benefit his alma mater.The proceeds ? which are expected to range from $10,000 to $12,000 ? will provide money for law students working on ?pro bono challenges for the legal representation of the indigent and the poor,? Warner said.
After deliberating for more than four hours at an open honor trial, a random student jury found fourth-year College student Jason Smith guilty of lying yesterday.The charges were brought forth by third-year College student Mary Siegel, incoming vice chair for investigations, and second-year College student Michelle Fox.
An alleged incident of racial discrimination last week led a student group to demand an apology from a local restaurant and also led that student group to question the fairness of the business? dress policy.At about 1:30 a.m.
Four Chi Phi brothers charged with abduction last September were sentenced Thursday to four days in jail after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct.
The University Judiciary Committee elected the voting members of its new Executive Committee Thursday.
The University offered admission to 6,331 students from across the U.S.
