higher education

Board of Ed Tackles Guns, Gist and Science

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:29:20 +0000

There’s a meaty agenda on tap this week at the State Board of Education. The group is scheduled to vote Thursday on a controversial proposal to allow police to carry guns on state college campuses. The board is also scheduled to vote on adopting new science standards and consider a contract extension for Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.

Thousands of College Students Graduate Over the Weekend

Flo Jonic — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:25:37 +0000

Rhode Island is teeming with freshly minted college graduates this morning. Over the weekend, commencement ceremonies were held at all three public colleges, as well as Johnson &Wales, Roger Williams University, Bryant University, Salve Regina University and Providence College.

At Rhode Island College a flash mob formed at the end of the ceremony. Graduates from the music, theater and dance departments led the crowd of 1,400 in a special rendition of “I’ve had the Time of My Life.”

Arming Campus Police in Rhode Island

Flo Jonic — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:03:00 +0000

The state Board of Education is scheduled to vote this week on a proposal to arm campus police at the state’s three public colleges. Under the proposed rule, campus presidents would have the authority to decide whether armed security is necessary on their campuses.

Executive Pay at Public Universities: How RI Measures Up

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:02:28 +0000

The Chronicle of Higher Education finds University of Rhode Island President David Dooley is 134^th in the country when it comes to his compensation package.

Brown Announces Honorary Degree Recipients

Elisabeth Harrison — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:31:19 +0000

Actor turned Director Ben Affleck will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts during Brown University’s commencement next month. Affleck’s film Argo won best picture at the Academy Awards in February, but he was famously snubbed by the Oscar committee when it came to a best director nomination.

Brown will also confer honorary degrees on writer and MIT professor Junot Diaz and bacteriologist Stanley Falkow, along with three others. Falkow will host a forum on infectious diseases as part of commencement weekend.

PC Professor Blogs Son’s Encounter with Pope Francis

Elisabeth Harrison — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:17:22 +0000

Providence College Professor Paul Gondreau says he was “moved to tears” as he watched his disabled son hugging the newly inaugurated Pope Francis. The encounter, following an Easter Mass, was recorded by photographers and later picked up by CNN and other news outlets.

Chafee Champions Raises for Cabinet, Not Professors

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:06:58 +0000

Governor Lincoln Chafee is requesting a 6 percent wage hike for members of his cabinet after shooting down a proposal to raise salaries for state university and college professors. According to The Providence Journal, the governor’s plan would provide a 3 percent increase to 14 state employees in June, followed by another 3 percent increase in December.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Lydia Rogers — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:21:59 +0000

A Senate committee is scheduled to hear testimony on two competing bills regarding same-sex marriage. Two lawmakers want to offer in-state tuition rates to all in-state residents, including those which do not have documented status. These stories and more on the RIPR Morning News Podcast.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org

Senate Approves New Education Board Members

Elisabeth Harrison — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 13:47:52 +0000

The State Senate has given final approval to all 11 members of a new State Board of Education, which plans to hold its first meeting on Monday.

According to RIPR Political Reporter Ian Donnis, the closest vote was for Board Chair Eva Marie Mancuso, who cleared the chamber on a 26 to 10 margin.

Full Senate to Vote on Education Nominees

Elisabeth Harrison — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:27:40 +0000

Rhode Island may finally have a confirmed Board of Education following a vote Tuesday at the State House. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the seven remaining appointees for the board, which will oversee public schools, colleges and universities.

The nominees include proposed board chair, Eva Marie Mancuso and former Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members Patrick Guida and Karin Forbes. Four other members of the 11-person board have already received Senate approval.