News from other Michigan public universities and U-M peer institutions across the nation.

STATE UNIVERSITIES

Nursing opportunities to increase at SVSU

The Michigan Board of Nursing recently approved Saginaw Valley State University’s application to increase nursing student admissions. Starting with the 2014-15 academic year, SVSU will be able to admit up to 96 students into its nursing program each semester, up from the current limit of 64. The program expansion will mean more opportunities for current SVSU students, and students who transfer from community colleges.

WMU recognized for helping student veterans

Western Michigan University has been singled out by the Obama Administration as one of the nation’s colleges and universities that are leading the way to foster postsecondary educational opportunities and dramatically improve employment outcomes for returning service members. The announcement singled out WMU as an institution that is embracing those strategies designed to lead to success for student veterans.

MSU study: Catholic schools on par with public schools

A national study led by a Michigan State University economist suggests Catholic schools are not superior to public schools. Math scores for Catholic students dropped between kindergarten and eighth grade, while math scores for public school students increased slightly. In addition, Catholic students saw no significant increase in reading scores or better behavioral outcomes between kindergarten and eighth grade, the study found.

PEER INSTITUTIONS

UC Berkeley partners with Univision

Spanish-language media giant Univision and its cable news venture Fusion are partnering with the University of California, Berkeley, to bring campus experts, research news and events of interest to the channel’s targeted audience of young, English-speaking Hispanic viewers. UC Berkeley’s Center for Latin American Studies is providing the channel with access to ITS events and promoting interviews with its affiliated faculty.

UT gift supports students, teaching and faculty

The O’Donnell Foundation has committed $9.3 million to the Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin to support student fellowships, faculty teaching and faculty recruiting. ICES, an international leader in computer modeling and simulation development, will apply the funds during the next five years.