STATE UNIVERSITIES
EMU approves new major, minor programs
The Eastern Michigan University regents have approved two new majors. The Special Education Learning Disabilities Endorsement major will offer grounding in the theory of learning disabilities, while the Geospatial Information Science and Technology major is offered through the Department of Geography and Geology. A Simulation, Animation and Gaming program also has been approved as a minor. The programs will offer enrollment beginning fall 2016.
Wayne State School of Social Work receives largest-ever gift
The Wayne State University School of Social work has received a $500,000 donation to create a new scholarship for high-achieving students experiencing financial hardship. The donation is the largest alumni gift in the school’s history. Alumna Betty Appich made the gift with her husband, Horst Appich. The Betty Schmalzle-Appich and Horst G. Appich Endowed Scholarship will be available to any social work student with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher who demonstrates financial need.
Western Michigan receives gift to support future teachers
Western Michigan University received an anonymous $250,000 gift as well as a $25,000 gift from Kalamazoo’s Advia Foundation. These endowments will provide the basis for the new WMU-KPS Future Educators Program. The program will provide annual financial support of $5,000 for 11 Kalamazoo Promise students who hope to become educators and could enhance the diversity of the Kalamazoo Public Schools’ teaching staff.
PEER INSTITUTIONS
Harvard restores Air Force ROTC’s presence on campus
Harvard University recently signed an agreement establishing an Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the university. The signing follows a five-year effort to restore ROTC’s presence on campus. Harvard was among the first colleges to partner with ROTC after the program’s founding 100 years ago. The agreement makes university resources available to the Air Force ROTC program in a campus setting.
UMD to break grown on new computer science center
The University of Maryland will break ground on the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Innovation. Construction of the building is supported by a $31 million gift from Oculus co-founder and CEO Brendan Iribe — the largest gift in university history. Additionally, a $4 million gift from Oculus co-founder Michael Antonov and a $3 million gift from Elizabeth Iribe help make the building possible. The building is designed for future-focused developments in virtual reality, augmented reality, computer vision, robotics, artificial intelligence and computing platforms.
