U-M remains top U.S. public university in QS World Rankings
The University of Michigan maintained its ranking as the top U.S. public university in the QS World University Rankings for 2017-18, and ranked 21st among all institutions on the list, moving up two spots from last year in the ranking released June 8. The QS World University Rankings, launched in 2004, are based on six factors: academic reputation, employer reputation, student-faculty ratio, citations per faculty, proportion of international faculty and proportion of international students. The ranking has been expanded this year to feature 959 universities — 43 more than last year — in 84 countries. U-M was one of 31 U.S universities in the top 100. To view the full rankings, visit topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings.
UM-Flint leaders foster, celebrate connections in Germany
A delegation from UM-Flint, led by Chancellor Susan E. Borrego, traveled to Germany recently to further strengthen international connections. University leaders met with officials from the University of Wuppertal (Bergische Universität Wuppertal) to discuss ways to build on the multiyear partnership that has led to student and faculty exchanges, along with internship opportunities. Borrego also represented the U-M system at an alumni event May 28 in Bonn, Germany. UM-Flint and the University of Wuppertal developed a formal partnership in 2012. The two universities have already exchanged more than 75 students, and 15 faculty have participated in the exchange.
UM-Dearborn Center for Arab American Studies raises $100K
In under four months, UM-Dearborn’s Center for Arab American Studies has raised the $100,000 needed to secure a separate $100,000 National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant. To receive the federal grant, a 100 percent match was needed from external gifts. Center Director Sally Howell said the funds will be used to encourage undergraduate students to consider careers in public cultural work. Howell, associate professor of history, College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, said the NEH grant will be used to create a class that introduces students to a variety of research methodologies and gives them hands-on research experience.
School of Nursing receives grant to increase study abroad opportunities
The School of Nursing has received a 2017 Capacity Building Grant for U.S. Undergraduate Study Abroad from the U.S. Department of State and Partners of the Americas. Each of the 11 winning institutions will be awarded up to $42,000 to increase and diversify participation in study abroad. The grant will be used on the UMSN project “Capacity Building for Faculty-led Undergraduate Nursing Study Abroad.” This grant will support faculty professional development and program implementation costs to increase faculty-led study abroad opportunities for undergraduate nursing students.
Google grant expands robotics for Detroit students
More Detroit-area high school students will have access to expanded hands-on science and engineering after-school programs, thanks to a $250,000 Google grant to the Midtown makerspace known as the Michigan Engineering Zone. The Michigan Engineering Zone is a collaboration between the College of Engineering, Detroit Public Schools and the FIRST Robotics program to encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology fields. The zone provides space, mentorship and tools for hundreds of students from across the metro area who compete in the national FIRST Robotics program each year. The Google grant will allow the program to build the infrastructure to expand by 33 percent to reach a total of 500 students per year.
— Compiled by Safiya Merchant, The University Record, and Kim Broekhuizen, Public Affairs
