U-M creates webpage with information on new federal actions
The university has launched a new webpage with information regarding new federal orders, memos and agency guidance. It also contains links to supportive measures and resources from relevant campus offices, information for international students and undocumented individuals, and links to campus email messages related to these actions and their impact. The page will be updated as additional information becomes available, and students, faculty and staff are encouraged to check back often. “We recognize the uncertainty and questions that these possible changes have brought, and we assure you that we will remain steadfast in our support of our community and the work each one of you do to advance the research and educational efforts that are so vital to our state and nation,” Chris Kolb, vice president for government relations, said in a Jan. 27 campus email message.
Slope stabilization project begins along Nichols Drive
Roadway repairs and the installation of a new retaining wall are scheduled to begin on Nichols Drive alongside the Huron River just north of the Nichols Arboretum. Beginning with tree removal and temporary lighting installations in March, the project will run through the fall and will involve closing Nichols Drive starting in April. Sidewalk, curb, fencing and lighting enhancements will be included in the work.
Poverty Solutions shares innovations, lessons learned in annual report
Poverty Solutions at U-M has made significant strides in its action-based research to prevent and alleviate poverty in 2024, according to its annual report that was released Jan. 31. The report underscores takeaways from Poverty Solutions’ efforts over the past year in the following key research areas: innovations in cash transfers, promoting economic opportunity, addressing the costs of housing instability, laying the foundation for reparations by quantifying historical harms to Detroit’s Black residents, and supporting participatory democracy. The universitywide presidential initiative also supported faculty and students in 2024 and elevated the university’s profile as a leading poverty research institution.
Donia Center creates Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Practitioner Fellowship
The Donia Human Rights Center has established the Raoul Wallenberg Human Rights Practitioner Fellowship, which will be awarded to one outstanding individual who has dedicated their career to the practice and cause of international human rights. The selected fellow will spend one semester during the 2025-26 academic year in residence at the Donia Human Rights Center and become part of the intellectual community of U-M. This fellowship is intended as a sabbatical from the recipient’s current work environment. Applications are due March 15. More information and application details are available.
U-M study shows newspapers’ use of paywalls influences coverage
As newspapers navigate the shifting tides of digital journalism, paywalls have emerged as both saviors of the industry and controversial gatekeepers. A new U-M study found that paywalls influence content coverage, as newspapers, on average, reduced their local news coverage by 5.1% post-paywall. The study’s researchers interpreted this as a strategic shift toward more widely appealing content. The research appears in the current issue of PNAS Nexus. The lead author is Paramveer Dhillon, assistant professor of information in the School of Information. As more online news sources turn to subscription models rather than relying solely on advertising revenue, concerns have arisen that newspapers might focus more on soft news — such as entertainment, lifestyle, sports and human interest — to attract subscribers. Dhillon and colleagues analyzed coverage changes in 17 major regional U.S. newspapers that implemented paywalls between 2006 and 2022. Perhaps surprisingly, many papers published less soft news after adopting paywalls, though the average decline — 2.2% — was modest. Read more about this research.
Unpaid caregivers find moments of joy in daily life, study shows
Debunking the myth that unpaid caregivers are sacrificing most of their time and joy, a U-M study found that caregivers spend most of the day engaged in other pleasant activities. Whether through religious practices, physical activity or other fulfilling pursuits, the study shows that these activities offer meaningful moments of joy that can offset the potential challenges of caregiving. On average, caregivers in the United States spend 17 minutes a day on organized events and 29 minutes on active leisure — the two categories considered the most enjoyable. Research has highlighted the many challenges that may be faced by caregivers in America: They may have to deal with significant time demands, may report higher levels of stress and depression compared to those who aren’t caregivers, and may rate their overall well-being lower. Some 20 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers to older adults — a third of them providing support to adults with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Read more about this study.
— Compiled by James Iseler, The University Record
