Michigan State University Gets $2M to Boost Bridge Research

Michigan State University is getting $2 million to enhance research on the nation's transportation infrastructure, specifically its bridges. The East Lansing school says a Lansing-area couple designated money from their estate to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to fund an endowed faculty chair with an emphasis on bridge research.

Mosquito Traps to Be Deployed by New Mexico State University to Study Possible Zika Impact

New Mexico State University researchers plan to place mosquito traps across roughly two-thirds of the state to map the range of two species known to transmit Zika virus. Biologist Kathryn Hanley says researchers asked to do this project four years ago but funding agencies had little interest. The Albuquerque Journal (http://goo.gl/3iAygn ) reports that changed when Zika was linked to severe birth defects in Brazil and other nations in the Americas.

UC Davis Receives Unique, $1.5 Million Gift from Aggie Couple

The University of California, Davis, today announced a $1.5 million commitment from alumni Michael Hurlston ’88, M.B.A. ’90, M.S. ’91, and Joelle Hurlston ’89 to establish a first-of-its-kind endowed chair position benefiting three colleges and schools. The UC Office of the President will also provide a $500,000 matching fund through the Endowed Faculty Leadership Initiative, bringing total funding for the Presidential Chair to $2 million.

Students Might Need to Add a Class to Get Scholarship Aid

Some Mississippi college students will need to add an extra class in order to receive state scholarship money this fall. The change comes after the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board modified the definition of a full-time student for the purposes of receiving state financial aid from 12 credit hours to 15 credit hours. The board approved the change June 1. It came as a result of the state expecting a $10.4 million projected shortfall this year.

New Report: Mines Placement at 98 Percent, Salaries Top $63,000

New placement figures for the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology show 98 percent of 2014-15 graduates have secured employment with an average starting salary of $63,503 or are pursuing graduate degrees. Ten of the 16 majors had 100 percent placement rates, with the vast majority of students electing to go directly into industry, working at Google, Microsoft, Medtronic, NASA, SpaceX, Keurig and more.

Coastal Carolina University Raises Tuition 3.29 Percent

Coastal Carolina University's board of trustees has approved a 3.29 percent increase in tuition and fees for the 2016-2017 academic year. University President David A. DeCenzo said in a news release Thursday that the new costs are largely brought about by a state-mandated 3.25 percent pay raise for all state employees, including the roughly 1,200 full-time employees at CCU.

University of Oklahoma Increasing Tuition and Fees 7 Percent

The University of Oklahoma plans to increase tuition and fees by 7 percent to help offset state budget cuts. OU said Tuesday that the increase will offset about one-third of the estimated $35 million decrease in state funding to campuses in Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. OU said voluntary retirements, salary cuts of 3 percent for top leaders, a reduction of faculty and staff by attrition and changes in retirement programs are also reducing costs.

Bronx Community College Awarded $125,000 Grant to Train Preschool Professionals

The CareerPath Teacher Assistant Training Program, an initiative by Bronx Community College of The City University of New York to give low-income students the workplace credentials required of teacher aides, assistants and paraprofessionals in New York City preschools, has been awarded a $125,000 one-year grant from The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation.

12 Northern California Schools to Split $50 Million Donation

The Koret Foundation has donated $50 million to split between 12 Northern California colleges and universities for scholarships and to fund improved technology and research. The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1Yttc0J ) that the foundation has not specified where the money should be used and instead asked schools where they needed the most help. Koret President Michael Boskin says the campuses are free to spend the money as needed in hopes of helping underserved populations at each individual institution.

Maryland University System to Invest in Startup Companies

The University System of Maryland plans to establish a $25 million fund to invest in startup companies created by students, faculty and graduates. Multiple news organizations report that the Board of Regents committee approved the fund on Thursday. The fund would require the system to invest $10 million over the next four years, and the remainder would be raised from venture funds, state funds and other sources. That fund is intended to offer investments between $50,000 and $500,000.

International Expansion of University of Missouri High School Could Enhance Mizzou’s Enrollment and Diversity Efforts

This Saturday, the University of Missouri High School celebrates the graduation of 151 students from around the world, with 2 students traveling from as far away as Saudi Arabia and Thailand. The high school program, which is part of Mizzou K-12 Schools, is housed in the Mizzou College of Education and provides accredited online and blended schooling for people across the U.S. and globally, serving students in over 65 countries. In recent months, the program has nearly doubled in size to more than 6,000 students with the addition of more than 2,500 high school students from Brazil.

Celebrate Summer at Liberty Hall Museum this June