Written by K’Leigh Sims

Texas Tech University was ranked No. 21 among other national four-year universities for its online programs by BestColleges.com for the 2014-2015 academic year. This is the second straight year the university has been ranked.

“I commend Worldwide eLearning and Texas Tech faculty and staff for their strong efforts in providing education to students remotely and locally,” Texas Tech President M. Duane Nellis said. “As we continue to grow our online presence, it is our responsibility to encourage students, both traditional and non-traditional, to pursue their education goals. This ranking is a testament to that.”

The rankings are based on admissions, enrollment, retention and graduation data, and each school must offer at least three fully online degree programs.

Worldwide eLearning offers several degree programs that can be earned entirely online, including:

• Five undergraduate minors
• Four bachelor’s degrees
• 15 master’s degrees
• Four doctoral degrees
• 21 graduate certificates
• Six graduate certification preparation programs.

The online education program also offers programs at Texas Tech’s regional sites in Waco, El Paso, Junction, Fredericksburg and Highland Lakes.

“Texas Tech is committed to meeting the needs of the 21^st century learner by offering high-quality online and distance education programs,” Assistant Vice Provost Justin Louder said. “Our commitment to quality online education shows in our ranking with BestColleges.com.”

Texas Tech jumped in the ranking from No. 45 to No. 21 and is one of only two schools in Texas included in the ranking each of the past two years.

This article was sourced from http://today.ttu.edu/2015/02/texas-tech-honored-two-straight-years-for-online-programs/

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Cheng Yu, associate professor and coordinator of UNTs construction engineering technology program, is leading that research at UNT’s College of Engineering, which recently joined the Cold-Formed Steel Research Consortium. The consortium brings together leading research teams across North America to provide the world’s most comprehensive research on cold-formed steel structures.

“Joining the consortium gives UNT and partner institutions an opportunity to combine our expertise and research facilities to advance research and knowledge on cold-formed steel,” says Yu, a recipient of the 2010 Faculty Early Career Development Award from the National Science Foundation.

Cold-formed steel is an economical and recyclable material used in buildings, bridges, storage racks, car bodies, transmission towers and various other types of equipment and structures.

The consortium’s mission is to provide world-leading research and training capabilities to realize the full potential of cold-formed steel in construction.

Consortium partners and members include UNT, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Tech, McGill University, Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Amherst and others.

Yu’s research focuses on structural behaviors of and mitigation approaches for light framed steel buildings subjected to multi-hazards, design methods for unique cold-formed steel structures, innovative construction materials and systems, and next generation building information modeling.

This article was written by Leslie Minton and sourced from https://news.unt.edu/news-releases/developing-new-building-materials

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Follow Baylor Media Communications on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia

WACO, Texas (Feb. 10, 2015) – For the 11th consecutive year, the student-managed Philip M. Dorr Alumni & Friends Endowed Investment Fund has provided a generous financial contribution for student scholarships.

This year, $150,000 will be distributed by the fund.

The fund, which continues to rank as one of the nation’s largest managed by students, has provided more than $1.5 million in support of scholarships for Baylor’s 19-sport intercollegiate athletics program since its first gift in 2004. Earnings from the fund have also been used to support an intern in the University’s Investment Office and a portion of the operating expenses of the state-of-the-art Southwest Securities Financial Markets Center.

“We are truly grateful for the generous contribution from the investment fund in support of student-athlete scholarships,” said Baylor’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Ian McCaw. “We are especially proud of Baylor’s business student-athletes who are receiving an outstanding education while they compete in the sport that they love, as well as the exceptional faculty in the Hankamer School of Business who have played an important role in the fund’s sustained growth over the last decade.”

Established in 2001 with an endowment gift of $250,000 from alumnus Philip M. Dorr (B.B.A. ’80, M.B.A. ’83), the live equity portfolio is actively managed by select Baylor business students through a course led by professors Brian Bruce and Brandon Troegle. The student analysts learn through first-hand experience the amount of research and analysis that goes into stock selection. They used a combination of Value Line, First Call, Bloomberg and other financial websites to research earnings surprises, forward growth drivers and other pertinent information.

Through additional gifts and investments raised by Terry Maness, dean of Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business, from alumni and friends, the fund opened with a total of $400,000 and has grown to a market value of $7.09 million, as of Dec. 31, 2014. Distributions from the fund are directed toward athletic scholarships for Baylor student-athletes who are business majors in good academic standing and to M.B.A. students with an interest in investment management.

The fund’s objective remains two-fold: 1) to provide an investment fund by which business students can learn investment management principles and techniques by managing real money and 2) to provide scholarships out of the fund’s growth in the market value.

The investment policy of the Fund dictates that a long term return should be as high as possible, within prudent limits, but at least as high as the S&P 500 (with dividends reinvested). Due to the structure of the classroom setting surrounding the Fund, an infinite time horizon is assumed with a tolerance for risk. The fund’s normal or strategic asset allocation is 100 percent stocks.

This article was written by Eric M. Eckert and sourced from http://www.baylor.edu/mediacommunications/news.php?action=story&story=151927

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Released this month, the NSF’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey ranks Texas A&M at 19th with research and development expenditures of slightly more than $820 million during fiscal year 2013.

a student looks into a microscope while another looks into a test tube

This represents an 18.25 percent increase from fiscal 2012, when Texas A&M recorded $693.4 million in expenditures and ranked 24th in the NSF survey for that fiscal year.

“In terms of research capabilities, our competition is no longer in Texas,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “Texas A&M research is now ranked among the top 20 research universities in America and it has just begun to grow.”

While the improved ranking is a sign of progress, Texas A&M’s long-term goal remains to become one of the top-10 research universities on the NSF’s list, Vice President for Research Glen A. Laine said. “Our move into the top 20 is a result of the outstanding efforts of our stellar faculty-researchers. We are developing programs to compete even more effectively for the limited funding available at the top levels of research,” he said. “We expect these programs to generate millions in additional funding dollars in the coming fiscal years.”

Laine pointed out that Chancellor Sharp’s decision to move the Health Science Center from the System to the university, and his decision to move the Center for Innovation and Advanced Development Manufacturing from the System to the Health Science Center, greatly increased research collaboration and research activities.

The NSF survey provides an annual census of 891 degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States, with a minimum budget of at least $150,000 in research and development expenditures. The latest survey found that U.S. universities recorded $67.2 billion in research and development expenditures in fiscal 2013. When adjusted for inflation, the NSF said, that total reflects an increase of less than a half percent from fiscal 2012’s total of $65.7 billion.

Johns Hopkins University led the survey with $2.1 billion in expenditures, followed by University of Michigan at Ann Arbor ($1.3 billion), and the University of Washington at Seattle ($1.1 billion).

Texas A&M is the only university in the state to make the NSF’s top 20. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center ranked 26th with $718 million; The University of Texas at Austin ranked 31st with $634 million; the Baylor College of Medicine ranked 37th with $508.7 million; and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center ranked 45th with $440.6 million.

the NSF survey can be viewed here.

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About Research at Texas A&M University: As one of the world’s leading research institutions, Texas A&M is in the vanguard in making significant contributions to the storehouse of knowledge, including that of science and technology. Research conducted at Texas A&M represents annual expenditures of more than $820 million. That research creates new knowledge that provides basic, fundamental and applied contributions resulting in many cases in economic benefits to the state, nation and world. To learn more, visit http://research.tamu.edu.

This article was written by Lane Stephenson and sourced from http://today.tamu.edu/2015/02/09/texas-am-rejoins-nations-top-20-research-universities/

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The event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 4) in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building Room 210.

During the event, Ar’Niqua Coleman, from financial aid, will give a brief presentation about login and completion procedures, and students can receive assistance in completing the ScholarX application.

ScholarX is a program that simplifies the scholarship application process by matching students who applied online through the program with any of the campus scholarships he or she may be qualified for.

“Scholarships are an added income stream to students’ budgets. Many students need additional funding for college but are a little intimidated by the application process,” said SMMC director Patsy Collins. “The SMMC and FASO want to help students apply so that their application can be reviewed for scholarships within the university.”

Students are encouraged to bring their own laptop, and pizza and cookies will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, contact the Student Money Management Center at 936.294.2600 orsmmc@shsu.edu.

This article was sourced from http://www.shsu.edu/~pin_www/T%40S/2014/nov3014up.html#scholarx

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For some University of North Texas economics students, their latest research project is not just a way to develop business-world skills and gain experience to put on their resumes. It’s a project that will help feed the hungry.

UNT economics students and faculty members are using their expertise to help Denton soup kitchen Our Daily Bread design a statistical model that can better forecast how many lunches the community soup kitchen will need to prepare each weekday. The model will take into consideration historical data and varying factors such as weather conditions, unemployment numbers and more. UNT students working on the research volunteered to help during a noon mealtime at Our Daily Bread, where they learned how the operation works.

“I was surprised by the number of people that come through there that are hungry. My eyes were really opened,” says student Keith Henderson, who is working toward a master’s degree in economics research at UNT. “We have people in the community who are in need, and we have the time and resources to help.”

Lending a hand

Michael McPherson, professor of economics, and Margie Tieslau, associate professor of economics, received a community engagement grant from UNT to pursue the project, which began in the spring semester.

“If you are preparing that much food for that many people with donated money, you have to be really careful,” McPherson says. “You want to get as much bang for your buck as you can. If you prepare too many meals, you waste food. If you don’t prepare enough, you don’t feed people. So our goal is to have a simple program in the end that the folks at Our Daily Bread can use every morning.”

Since the project began in the spring, four graduate students in economics have worked on it. Henderson joined the project in the fall.

“This is a good skill to have,” says Henderson, who is combing through the data on the project. “Being able to find out statistically why something is true will translate into a lot of fields.”

The forecasting model is expected to be finished by the end of the fall semester, and it may be ready for implementation in early 2015.

When completed, the forecasting system will consider the last 14 years of historical data from the organization, as well as the day-to-day factors that may affect how many people visit.

“Some people might be very good at projecting how many meals will be needed based on their gut feeling, but I hope that the statistical model that we build will provide a reliable and more accurate projection based on various predictable external factors,” Tieslau says.

Filling a need

When Our Daily Bread opened in 2000, the organization served about 12 to 15 people a day, says Millie Bell, executive director of Our Daily Bread. After about a year, about 75 to 100 people a day came by for meals. And now, Our Daily Bread professional chef Liz Whitaker prepares an average of 205 meals a day.

“But it does fluctuate,” Bell says. “If we have an accurate forecast based on historical data, and they can come up with an accurate forecast that takes into account unemployment, recession and population growth, then we can prepare more accurate meals. It’s going to be great, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Growing experience

Beyond getting hands-on experience on an economics research project, students learn how their work and education can help others, McPherson said.

“We teach them how to do this, but usually we don’t see the human face behind it,” McPherson says. “Here’s a chance. They can go back to the computer and build this model, knowing they’re helping these people, and that’s a rare opportunity for a graduate student.”

Even after the forecasting system is built, Tieslau expects to use the project as an example in her forecasting class each spring semester.

“As much as possible, I try to expose these students to hands-on applied projects that teach them practical real-world skills,” she says. “And it also might bring additional awareness to Our Daily Bread and, hopefully, inspire some of them to consider volunteering at Our Daily Bread or for some other community project. In addition, as often happens when bright minds brainstorm about a given topic, the students might come up with new and useful ideas about how to use this data to better serve Our Daily Bread.”

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Texas Tech Head Football Coach Kliff Kingsbury has announced the hiring of David Gibbs as defensive coordinator. Mike Smith, who had served as interim defensive coordinator following the resignation of Matt Wallerstedt on Sept. 18, will return to his role as co-defensive coordinator.

Along with the appointment of Gibbs, Kingsbury announced that Zac Spavital will join the staff as a defensive assistant coach while current running backs coach Mike Jinks has been elevated to associate head coach.

“I am extremely excited to have Coach Gibbs and Coach Spavital join our staff,” Kingsbury said. “What they were able to accomplish in their short time at the University of Houston is incredible. Coach Gibbs developed UH into a Top-20 defense that lead the country in turnovers over a two-year span. With stops in both College Football and the NFL, Coach Gibbs will bring experience and ingenuity to our defensive unit.”

Gibbs comes to Texas Tech after spending the last two seasons as defensive coordinator at the University of Houston. He also served as interim head coach of the Cougars in Friday’s 35-34 win over Pittsburgh in the Armed Forces Bowl. Trailing 24-6 at the end of the third, Houston scored 29 points in the fourth to set the NCAA record for the largest fourth quarter comeback in a bowl game.

The 22-year coaching veteran will bring both experience and stability to a Texas Tech defensive unit that has been led by six different coaches since 2009. Gibbs has seven years experience as a defensive coordinator at the FBS level and nine years of NFL coaching experience.

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Coach Kingsbury and the rest of our coaching staff,” Gibbs said. “I have followed Kliff’s career and believe special things are happening in Lubbock. There are several talented, young defensive players that will contribute for years to come. I am grateful for this opportunity and look forward to getting started soon.”

In his first season at Houston in 2013, Gibbs led a Cougar defense that was the third-most improved scoring defense in the FBS. The Cougars ranked 20th nationally in allowing 21.8 points-per-game in 2013 after allowing 36 points-per-game in 2012. The 2013 Houston defense led the nation with 43 turnovers-forced to help lead the Cougars to a nation’s best +25 turnover margin. Trevon Stewart led the nation and set a UH record with six fumble recoveries while Adrian McDonald led The American Athletic Conference with six interceptions.

The improvement continued in 2014 as the Cougars finished the regular-season ranked 19th nationally in total defense (334.6 yards-per-game), 11th in scoring defense (19.5 points-per-game) and ninth in turnovers gained (30). The Cougars also had success stopping the run as his unit ranked 31st nationally in rush defense, allowing just 136.3 yards-per-game.

Prior to Houston, Gibbs’ last collegiate coaching stop was 2005 when he served as defensive coordinator at Auburn. The Tiger defense ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.5 points per game, while ranking 11th in sacks with 39 and 16th in third-down defense.

On the professional level, Gibbs spent a combined nine seasons in Denver, Kansas City and Houston as a defensive backs coach. Teams sporting Gibbs on staff finished in the top 12 of total defense five times and advanced to the NFL Playoffs on three occasions. Three players under Gibbs earned NFL Pro Bowl selections in Champ Bailey, John Lynch and Deltha O’Neal.

Zac Spavital, who just completed his seventh season at Houston, will join Gibbs’ defensive staff at Texas Tech. His coaching assignments have not yet been determined.

Spavital spent seven seasons working with the Houston defensive backs and added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2011. Last season, the Cougars led the nation with 43 turnovers forced while Spavital’s defensive backs accounted for 29 of those turnovers.

In 2014, Houston defensive backs accounted for 19 of the team’s 30 turnovers forced. The 19 interceptions ranked tied for 8th nationally.

Mike Jinks, Texas Tech’s running backs coach since 2013, has been promoted to associate head coach following another strong season in which Tech running backs enjoyed success. Under his guidance, junior running back DeAndre Washington became the first Red Raider to run for 1,000-plus yards since Ricky Williams did so in 1998.

“Coach Jinks has done a phenomenal job developing our running backs, including our first 1,000 yard rusher since 1998,” Kingsbury said. “He is a tremendous asset to our program on and off the field, and his experience as a head coach has been invaluable to me during our two years here together.”

This article was sourced from http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/010515aaa.html

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“Dr. Trevathan brings outstanding credentials and genuine enthusiasm for Baylor’s unique mission and the community vision of Pro Futuris,” Starr said in a press release. “As chief academic officer, he will be charged with advancing the University’s academic programs and providing oversight on vitally important matters of academic affairs. In his own collaborative way, Dr. Trevathan will provide leadership to the academic enterprise while vigorously supporting the bedrock principles of shared governance and academic freedom. We know he will make a powerful impact on our future progress, and we are delighted to welcome him to the Baylor family.”

Trevathan earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Lipscomb University and went on to obtain his master’s degree in public health and his medical degree from Emory University. Trevathan completed post-doctoral fellowships and residencies at Yale University, Harvard University, Yale-New Haven Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

“I am deeply impressed with Professor Trevathan’s robust scholarly profile, his successful record as an academic leader and his enthusiasm for Baylor’s Christian mission,” said Dr. Thomas S. Kidd, appointed provost search committee member and associate director of Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion. “I’m delighted to have him join us.”

He has served as Dean of the college for Public Health and Social Justice at Saint Louis University, as well as professor of epidemiology within the school. In addition, Trevathan served as professor of Neurology and pediatrics at SLU’s school of Medicine. He held faculty positions at Emory University, University of Kentucky and Washington University in St. Louis.

Working at the Center of disease Control, Trevathan served as the leader on the pediatric response to the H1N1 flu epidemic in 2009. Furthermore, he has participated in public health projects within China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras and Uganda.

Trevathan served as director of the Pediatric Epilepsy Center and the Division of Pediatric and Developmental Neurology at Washington University in St. Louis and was named Neurologist-in-Chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

Trevathan will succeed Dr. David E. Garland, interim provost, who has served since July 1.

This article was written by Rider Farris and sourced from http://baylorlariat.com/2014/12/22/new-executive-vice-president-provost-to-join-baylor-in-june/

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The Military Advanced Education (MAE) recognized UTSA as a top university in its 2015 MAE Guide to Colleges and Universities. MAE assesses universities based on their military culture, financial aid, flexibility, on-campus support and online services.

“We believe the guide serves as an invaluable tool for both education services officers and transition officers when advising service members about their educational opportunities,” said MAE editor Kelly Fodel.

The annual MAE Guide helps prospective students identify institutions consistent with their military, educational and career preferences.

Recognized by Military Times last month, UTSA will be included in their Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 rankings. Selecting top universities, Best for Vets considers variables such as veteran-students’ graduation, retention, persistence and course completion rates.

“Recognizing only the schools that do the most, we believe we’re helping to raise the bar in veteran student services,” said Amanda Miller, the editor of Best for Vets.

Currently, nearly 3,000 students — 10 percent — at UTSA are military veterans.

UTSA student and Iraq war veteran Tyler Wynne serves as the president of the UTSA Student Veteran Association, a community of veterans that fosters an environment conducive to veteran’s college success.

“SVA is what brought me closer to campus,” said Wynne. “It helps (veterans) make the transition to civilian life.”

Wynne agrees that UTSA is invested in veteran success. UTSA has the VetsSuccess program with two VA counselors, an on-campus military liaison and the SVA.

“The staff here definitely cares,” said Wynne.

The UTSA SVA, said Wynne, “gives veterans the tools to civilianize: focus, transitions and even clothing. The tools to get away from the military mentality — in a healthy sense — and move forward.”

The United States Department of Education identifies keys for a veteran’s college success. Keys include creating a campus culture; offering career, academic and financial advice; and creating a designated space for veterans to gather.

UTSA does not currently have an area on campus for student-veterans. “A designated space at UTSA falls under the eight keys to success,” said Paul Benevides, the UTSA Downtown Campus Representative.

This semester, however, the SVA proposed converting the University Center Tejas Lounge into a location for student-veterans.

“We’re not trying to kick (students) out and take over the space,” explained Wynne. “Our job is to be the representative voice of all veterans, whether or not they are members.”

During the final meeting of the fall semester, the Student Government Association (SGA) — responding to the SVA’s proposal for a student space — submitted a resolution that, if passed, would call designated of a room for student veterans .

“Furthering vets’ success is that (common) room,” emphasizes Wynne. “It’s incredibly critical because it would be a healing point. They could share stories knowing the people in there are veterans (too), and it’s safe to talk to them there — that’s just key.”

SGA will continue voting on the resolution until the association reconvenes in January to consider the resolution.

This article was written by Mia Cabello and Anthony Mendoza and sourced from http://www.paisano-online.com/utsa-best-for-veteran-success/

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Gov. Rick Perry, Class of 1972, was the convocation speaker for Texas A&M’s December graduating class. He spoke on what makes Texas A&M unique, both before and after graduation. Perry said students should be prepared to be recognized as an Aggie wherever they go, whether it be a restaurant, a job interview or just walking down the street.

“For the rest of your life, you will bear the seal of our great university when you wear your Aggie Ring,” Perry said. “That ring means something to people. It means loyalty and reliability, excellence and devotion to causes greater than yourself. The Aggie brand is unique amongst all universities.”

Phil Adams, chairman of the Board of Regents, introduced Perry. He said in Perry’s 14 years, 168,354 students have graduated from Texas A&M. Adams said Perry has been instrumental in the development of Texas A&M facilities, including the Texas Institute of Preclinical Study, the Texas Institute for Genomic Medicine and the National Center for Therapeutics Manufacturing.

Perry also addressed his decision to urge Texas A&M’s Board of Regents to not name the Academic Building after him. The possible renaming sparked two days of opposition by A&M students and alumni before Perry released his statement declining the honor.

“I do so because there are places on this campus, like our most cherished traditions, that transcend any one individual,” Perry said. “They are bigger than any one of us, and they represent our shared heritage. I want to keep it that way. I want the Academic Building to be called the Academic Building in 2114.”

Nathan Surprise, photo science senior, said he thought Perry was an ideal speaker for convocation.

“Out of everyone in Texas, I think he’s one of the best people to invite to speak on behalf of the convocation because he is a graduate himself,” Surprise said. “Having him here shows that an Aggie can achieve the highest office in Texas, which is significant and inspires people to achieve success themselves.”

Elise Kowald, interdisciplinary studies senior with an emphasis in special education, said she thought Perry’s speech demonstrated the Aggie spirit.

“I was welling with pride just to be an Aggie,” Kowald said. “He made so many points about Aggies and our network, and he touched on the different traditions and the meaningful places on campus, and I was just welling with pride by the end of his speech.”

Surprise said he took away two messages from the evening.

“One, to achieve the most you can in your life, and two, to adhere to the values of Texas A&M and to maintain the brand that the previous generations of graduates have created,” Surprise said.

Perry said students should remember the Aggies who have come before them, especially those who have fought overseas for freedom. He referenced this year’s 70th anniversary of the Battle of Bulge, a turning point in WWII that involved Aggies such as Sul Ross.

Perry also encouraged students and faculty to keep A&M unique in its traditions.

“The value proposition of Texas A&M remains in its culture, in our traditions, in our values, in the unique Aggie experience that you get here,” Perry said.

Interim President Mark Hussey said graduates are encouraged to stay in touch and remain connected with the university for years after their graduation day, calling the act of being an Aggie a lifetime commitment.

This article was written by Jennifer Reiley and sourced from  http://www.thebatt.com/news/view.php/858118/Governor-Perry-welcomes-graduating-class

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