News

Students gear up for new MCAT test

Since The Association of American Medical Colleges announced its decision to change the Medical College Admissions Test from a paper exam to a computer-based one, many students have expressed concerns about the new method of assessment. The move from a paper test to a computer-exclusive exam, which was decided over the summer, is projected to take place in the spring of 2007 and will bring many changes. Students taking the MCAT will have a shorter test with one-third the number of questions in the original test.

Study finds enrollment to increase to 17 percent by 2014

Student enrollment at public colleges and universities is expected to increase 17 percent by the year 2014, according to a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics. The report, which was made available online Sept.

Survey suggests lack of student-teacher interaction

According to recent survey information released by the Office of the Dean of Students, University students trail their peers at comparable universities in several markers of student-faculty interaction, but administrators and professors questioned the seriousness of the survey's implications. Of the 13 index markers used to survey faculty-student interaction, University students outscored students at other doctoral, research-extensive universities in four indexes and lagged behind their peers in the other nine indexes, according to the survey. "Even though there were a lot of differences between U.Va.

City, County, U.Va. emergency teams hold disaster drill

Emergency response representatives from the University worked with Charlottesville City and Albemarle County officials this weekend in a disaster-preparedness drill, which included a mock plane crash at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. "We have an annual requirement from [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] to do a community disaster drill, just to test our readiness for an emergency situation," Albemarle County spokesperson Lee Catlin said. Over 300 people from fire and rescue teams, social services, law enforcement and transportation groups participated in the four-hour drill.

City arrests resident for rape

Charlottesville resident John Henry Agee, 37, is being held without bond in connection with the Sept.

Study raises concerns over preparedness

A nationwide survey conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, found that professors raised concerns regarding the level of academic preparedness of undergraduate students. The study, The American College Teacher: National Norms for the 2004-2005 Higher Education Research Institute Faculty Survey, found that, of the professors polled, overall only 36 percent think most students are sufficiently prepared for collegiate work. The report, which was originally administered in 1989, has been reissued every three years.

Rainey to spearhead Capital Campaign

As part of an approach to make the University one of America's best educational institutions, former University Rector Gordon F.

Remembering 9-11

Last night approximately 150 University students came together in the amphitheater to hold a memorial for those who lost their lives in the Sept.

Honor approves funding for faculty survey after debate

The Honor Committee voted unanimously last night to move forward with a faculty survey regarding the honor system and appropriate up to $23,000 to complete it. The survey will poll faculty members and teaching assistants on their knowledge, practice and opinion of the honor system as well as their thoughts on the effectiveness of the system. At the advice of the Faculty Senate, the survey will be conducted by Center for Survey Research Director Tom Guterbock. The vote also created an ad hoc committee to aid Guterbock in the creation of the survey.

Beta Bridge vandals issue apology letter

Three University students responsible for the graffiti on Beta Bridge, reported to Charlottesville and University Police Aug.

Mathematics scores have reached a record high, the College Board announced in late August in the release of their annual report, 2005 College Bound Seniors. This year's 1.5 million test takers scored an average of 520 on the mathematics section of the test, up two points from last year and 14 in the past 10 years. The average verbal scores have risen much more slowly, with an increase of four points over the past 10 years.

Hundreds seek Madison House opportunity

Strong interest in the Medical Services Program at Madison House left prospective volunteers in lines lasting longer then two hours and stretching from the doors of Madison House to the Mad Bowl yesterday. While the doors to sign up officially opened at noon, students arrived as early as 9 a.m.

Poppin' the question

City man cleared in sexual assault investigation

Christopher Lynn Matthew, charged on Saturday with sexually assaulting a University graduate student, was released from jail Wednesday evening after forensic evidence found him innocent, Commonwealth Attorney David Chapman said. According to a press release issued by the Charlottesville Police Department, DNA test results, which came late Wednesday afternoon, cleared Matthew of all charges and proved that he was not involved in the incident. "Mr. Matthew thankfully has been excluded as a suspect," Chapman said.

War of the worlds

The vernacular of the medical doctor is rife with words of conflict. Diseases are incursions by alien forces which must be fought off and destroyed by the benevolent immune system.

University expands January Term offerings

Promotion for a significantly expanded January Term began this week with a flurry of e-mails and advertisements after last January's successful pilot program. January Term 2006 will offer more than 400 students the opportunity to study on Grounds and provide study abroad student spots to another 110.

U.Va. outlines concert parking plan

On top of ticketing, lodging and travel, visitors for the Rolling Stones concert have one more logistic to figure out: parking. With 52,000 total tickets, the number of ticket holders from out-of-town may surpass that of a regular home football game. "It's a different crowd from football games because there's not going to be as many students," said Rebecca White, director of the University Department of Parking and Transportation. White said the department is offering different parking options, ranging from free to $15-20. In a recent release, the department reported that 1,500 "premium" parking spaces directly next to the stadium are available for $15 apiece through a lottery which began yesterday.

Study reports job growth in Charlottesville

The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce released a study Aug. 31 showing overall job growth in the Charlottesville region over the past 10 years.

Football ticket demand high

The line stretched from Bryant Hall, through the parking lot and toward the Engineering School. Students pitched tents the night before in order to get the best tickets.

Beta Bridge investigation

A University press release yesterday announced that FBI investigators have determined the graffiti on Beta Bridge reported to Charlottesville and University Police Aug.