January 2007 - Posts

• U. of California sues the family of Jacques Derrida over the noted philosopher's papers

  The University of California has sued the family of Jacques Derrida, a pioneer in contemporary philosophy and literary theory who died in 2004. The lawsuit is the first public eruption of a bitter, behind-the-scenes battle that involves both the papers... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Department gives rule-making panel proposals for regulations on preferred lenders and inducements

  The U.S. Education Department has drafted a package of proposed regulatory changes that, among other things, would bar colleges from recommending fewer than three lenders to students who are seeking federal loans. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• At selective colleges, more than a quarter of black students are immigrants, study finds

  More than a quarter of the black students enrolled at selective American colleges and universities are immigrants or the children of immigrants, according to a new paper by sociologists at Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania. (for... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Industry support for academic research rebounded in 2005, after 3-year slump, NSF reports

  After three years of declining support from industry, colleges and universities saw a sharp upswing in the amount of money they received from industry for science and engineering research and development in the 2005 fiscal year, according to a report... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• CUNY approves steps for dealing with complaints about professors' conduct

  Trustees of the City University of New York have established a new procedure to handle student complaints alleging faculty misconduct in the classroom and in other university-related settings. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Interdisciplinary group of scholars plans colloquium and new journal on college sports

  Thirteen senior scholars from a variety of disciplines have joined to study a topic that gets plenty of ink but not as much serious attention as some researchers would like: college sports. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• How do you cite Wikipedia on a history paper? At Middlebury College, you don't. A professor explains why

  This spring, students in history courses at Middlebury College will find a new disclaimer on syllabi warning them that, while Wikipedia is fine for some background research, it is not to be used as a primary source. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 31 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Democrats' spending plan preserves agricultural research funds and supports NIH Roadmap project

  Although a spending proposal in Congress would ax all earmarked projects for the remainder of this year, the plan unveiled this week would actually preserve for universities almost all of the $185-million set aside in last year's appropriations for agricultural... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Coalition of exchange, trade, and research groups calls for a more open visa policy

  Despite improvements, U.S. visa-approval procedures are still needlessly slow and unfriendly for foreign scholars, students, and others, and are in urgent need of revision, a coalition of five exchange, trade, and research organizations say in a policy... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Mistake on medical-school admissions exam unsettles test takers

  Nearly a third of the students who took the Medical College Admission Test on Saturday were stumped by a bizarre error in the verbal-reasoning section. The mistake left some test-takers rattled and worried about their scores. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Michigan judge dismisses lawsuit over university's compliance with ban on affirmative action

  A state judge dismissed a lawsuit on Tuesday demanding that the University of Michigan immediately comply with a new voter-passed ban on affirmative-action preferences after lawyers for the plaintiffs decided that the university was falling into line... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Report criticizes Australian system for admitting foreign students who later failed English-competency tests

  The English-language abilities of more than a third of all fee-paying foreign students who obtained permanent-residence visas after completing a degree in Australia is so dismal that they should never have been given visas to study in the country in the... Posted Jan 30 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Duquesne U. ban on politicians at commencement draws protest petition from law students

  Law students at Duquesne University were circulating a petition on Friday protesting a decision to bar two likely presidential candidates and a Pennsylvania congressman from speaking at the law school's commencement this spring. (for subscribers) Read... Posted Jan 28 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Alabama board adopts rules to prevent nepotism in scandal-plagued community-college system

  The Alabama Board of Education adopted an anti-nepotism policy last week that significantly restricts the hiring of relatives of top officials in the state's system of two-year colleges. (for subscribers) Read More... Posted Jan 28 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News

• Dorm rooms of the future, as seen by contest finalists, would be modular, movable, or customizable

  A vision of a factory-made dorm room with modular furniture and interactive media walls won the 21st Century Project Design Showcase award offered by an association of university housing officers. Jonathan Levi Architects, of Boston, submitted the winning... Posted Jan 28 2007, 06:00 PM by Chronicle.com - Today's News