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CA: UC regents approve 32% student fee hike

By Larry Gordon and Amina Khan

With the chants of protesters wafting into their meeting room and armed police standing guard, the University of California's Board of Regents approved a 32%, or $2,500, increase in undergraduate fees Thursday, but promised more financial aid to keep needy students from dropping out. (Also see: CA: California lawmakers, officials face 18% pay cut )

NE: University weighs tighter limits on stem cell research

By Monica Davey

LINCOLN, Neb. — In an unusual pushback against President Obama's expansion of federal financing of human embryonic stem cell research, the University of Nebraska is considering restricting its stem cell experiments to cell lines approved by President George W. Bush.

AL: Higher education leaders estimate costs for 2011 budget year

By Markeshia Ricks

State higher education officials estimate that they will need between $40.4 million and $501.2 million more in state funding to keep the state's two-year colleges and four-year universities afloat during fiscal 2011.

AL: Alabama A&M will cut jobs this academic year, president tells faculty and staff

By Lee Roop

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- An estimated 800 Alabama A&M University faculty and staff jammed a campus meeting hall today seeking any clear word on how many of their jobs will survive the current academic year.

AZ: UA's Shelton committed to excellence in spite of cuts

By Becky Pallack

The University of Arizona faces "a perilous cliff" in funding, UA President Robert Shelton said.

AZ: FACTS fees to remain the same

By Staff Reports

Fees for a locally run low-cost child care program -- with art, drumming, snacks and homework help -- are not proposed to increase after all, following a decision from the state not to implement a large licensing fee hike.

AZ: Special-needs scholarship struggles for donations

By Emily Gersema

A new scholarship fund for Arizona special-needs and foster children to attend private schools is falling flat, forcing some parents to send their children to other schools or to home-school, and prompting some small private schools to close their doors.

CA: UC regents approve partnership with L.A. County to reopen King medical facility

By Molly Hennessy-Fiske

In a unanimous vote that sparked cheers of "thank you" from the audience, University of California regents on Thursday approved a partnership with Los Angeles County that clears the way to reopen the Martin Luther King Jr. medical facility in Willowbrook, possibly by 2013.

CA: Regents raise college tuition in California by 32 percent

By Tamar Lewin and Rebecca Cathcart

As the University of California's Board of Regents met Thursday at U.C.L.A. and approved a plan to raise undergraduate fees — the equivalent of tuition — 32 percent next fall, hundreds of students from campuses across the state demonstrated outside, beating drums and chanting slogans against the increase.

CA: A crown jewel of education struggles with cuts

By Tamar Lewin

BERKELEY, Calif. — As the University of California struggles to absorb its sharpest drop in state financing since the Great Depression, every professor, administrator and clerical worker has been put on furlough amounting to an average pay cut of 8 percent.

CT: Schools shift strategy on swine flu, staying open more

By Grace E. Merritt

Despite a handful of school closings last month when a second wave of swine flu hit the state — including one decision to close schools in a district where only 6 percent of the students were out sick — superintendents overall now seem to be showing more restraint when deciding whether to close.

DE: Delaware Dept. of Education seeks leaner budget for 2011

By Jennifer Price

Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery asked state budget makers Thursday for $3.68 million less than she received in this year's budget to run the state's public education system in the next fiscal year.

FL: State rates teacher prep programs

By Ron Matus

Out of the blue, the FCAT has a new job: measuring the programs across the state that produce teachers. And it is already waving a red flag at the University of South Florida.

FL: Miami Dade College faculty member named top Florida professor

By Luisa Yanez

MIAMI -- Sandra L. Schultz, a 30-year Miami Dade College North Campus professor, has been named the 2009 Florida Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

HI: Senate Dems endorse Lingle plan to use rainy day fund to reduce furloughs

By Staff Reports

State Senate Democrats have endorsed Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to use $50 million from the rainy day fund to help reduce teacher furlough days.

HI: School board approves bus fare increase

By Loren Moreno

Public school parents will pay more for their kids to ride the school bus come next year after the state Board of Education voted 8-2 tonight to raise one-way fares from 35 cents to 75 cents.

IA: Culver delivers sober message on school money

By Charlotte Eby

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver delivered a somber budget lesson to school board members from across the state Thursday, but argued financial constraints offer a historic opportunity for reforms.

IA: Culver -- It's time for school reform

By Staci Hupp

Gov. Chet Culver said today that Iowa will go after up to $175 million in federal money for schools, but there are strings attached: Schools in Iowa must change.

IL: Ill. governor candidate wants more charter schools

By Staff Reports

The Bloomington state senator says that would help improve education in the state.

IL: UIC names new head of economics department

By The Associated Press

Professor David Merriman has also been named a professor of economics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and will continue to work as a professor of public administration in the school's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

IL: Missing juniors -- Illinois officials to crack down on testing loophole

By Tara Malone and Stephanie Banchero

Taking aim at a loophole used to exclude academically weak 11th-graders from state testing, Illinois education officials said this week they want to create a single standard to determine when students are counted as juniors and therefore must take the exam.

IN: Indiana wants stimulus cash for schools

By Deanna Martin, Associated Press Writer

Indiana hopes to win $250 million or more in competitive federal stimulus grants for schools — money the state superintendent says it deserves because of recent changes lawmakers made to education policies.

KS: Kansas audit -- Teachers' hall of fame lost $251K in 3 years

By The Associated Press

An audit in Kansas shows that the National Teachers Hall of Fame lost nearly $251,000 from 2006 through 2008.

KS: Statehouse Live -- More higher education cuts expected, regents say

By Scott Rothschild

The Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday retreated from its request for a funding increase, said it would not appeal a flat budget recommendation, but indicated it expected further and significant cuts.

KS: 'Tough, hard' cuts on way for higher ed

By Scott Rothschild

Preparing for another round of budget cuts, the Kansas Board of Regents on Wednesday started to tamp down expectations.

LA: Roemer -- Trim DOE, excess staff

By Will Sentell

The state Department of Education is so bureaucratic and unresponsive to children that it needs to be overhauled from top to bottom, a member of the state's top school board said Thursday.

LA: Lombardi pitches higher ed bailout

By Jordan Blum

LSU System President John Lombardi is satirically proposing a federal bailout for higher education nationwide.

MA: Gov. Deval Patrick to Legislature -- Get back to work

By Hillary Chabot

A steamed Gov. Deval Patrick slammed lawmakers yesterday for abruptly clocking out and taking an early holiday break as pending education and crime reforms along with budget cuts hang in the balance.

MD: State slashes budget by $362M

By Liam Farrell

The latest round of state budget cuts imposed yesterday will limit student financial aid, slice Medicaid payments to hospitals and even reduce commuter bus trips for state employees when the legislature is not in session.

MI: Governor Jennifer Granholm suggests GVSU students 'fire' lawmakers who don't back Michigan Promise scholarships

By Dave Murray

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- Rallying to restore funding to the Michigan Promise scholarships, Gov. Jennifer Granholm told Grand Valley State University students that lawmakers work for them -- and they can be fired for not doing what the boss says.

MI: College students stung by Promise Scholarship cuts

By Karen Bouffard

With just weeks before the end of the fall semester many college students are unsure if Promise Scholarship money will be available for next term or how they might replace the funding.

MO: Mo. gov. to detail community college funding plan

By The Associated Press

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is to announce plans for funding the state's community colleges.

MS: Universities worry about effects of merger talk

By Elizabeth Crisp

University leaders say they worry that talk of mergers will impact their ability to recruit students and raise money during a time when both are needed.

MS: USM tragedy list continues to grow

By Ed Kemp, Hattiesburg American

University of Southern Mississippi senior McKenzie C. Beilmann, 24, known as "Cole," planned on traveling internationally through a career in construction. He had his eye on South America. But his death in a two-vehicle accident Wednesday evening on U.S. 98 deprived him of that chance. Instead, it places him on a tragic list with six other Southern Miss students to die this semester.

NC: UNC tuition hike too small, some say

By Eric Ferreri

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Students at UNC-Chapel Hill will continue to pay far less for their educations than peers at most of the campus's competitors under a tuition plan approved Thursday. And that, some say, is a problem.

ND: AG -- State will seek dismissal of suit over Sioux nickname

By Tu-Uyen Tran

MINOT, N.D. -- Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said Thursday that he will ask the court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against the State Board of Higher Education over UND's Fighting Sioux nickname.

ND: State of the University set for Dec. 1

By Staff Reports

UND President Robert Kelley will give the annual State of the University address at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1, as part of the University Council meeting in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl.

NE: As pressure mounts, McClurg mum on stem cell vote

By Melissa Lee

The man who holds the pivotal vote in today's embryonic stem cell research showdown is prepared to make a difficult decision.

NE: UNL and witch settle lawsuit

By The Associated Press

A woman who sued the University of Nebraska last year, saying the school fired her because she is a witch, has agreed to settle the case for $40,000.

NJ: Colleges spot chance to fight sexual assault

By Staff Reports

On college campuses across the state, students mix in dormitories and mingle at parties, but experts say they remain dangerously shy about confronting the warning signs of sexual assault.

NM: Audit -- Suspect spending in school districts

By Steve Terrell

Three sport utility vehicles purchased for school administrators from an out-of-state dealer.

OH: School-based H1N1 vaccination clinics expected to soon begin across Ohio

By Harlan Spector

School-based clinics for H1N1 flu vaccinations are expected to begin statewide in the coming weeks, Ohio Health Director Dr. Alvin Jackson said Thursday.

OK: Horse Sensitivity

By Amanda O'Toole

STILLWATER, Okla. — The wild mustangs Freedom, El Compadre and Felio were featured during the halftime show at Oklahoma State University's football game Thursday in an effort to raise awareness of the plight of wild horses.

OK: University President David Boren praises women's gifts to OU

By James S. Tyree

NORMAN, Okla. — Of the $1.6 billion in private donations made to the University of Oklahoma in the past 15 years, OU President David Boren said, "I can count with one hand the number of major gift donations that were all male.

OR: Tax measures represent next economic crossroads

By Peter Wong

With Oregon's economy and tax collections apparently stabilizing, the next development affecting state services and aid to public schools will hinge on how Oregon voters decide the Legislature's budget-balancing tax measures Jan. 26.

OR: OSU faculty face mandatory furloughs

By Cheryl Hatch

Under the proposal, faculty members will have to take a minimum of three unpaid days and a maximum of 12, depending on their salaries and whether they're on nine-month or 12-month contracts.

OR: Oregon OKs $20 million settlement in college savings plan suit

By Brent Hunsberger

Thousands of investors in Oregon's hard-hit college savings plan will recoup some of their losses under the terms of a $20 million legal settlement approved Thursday.

OR: regon OKs $20 million settlement in college savings plan suit

By Brent Hunsberger

Thousands of investors in Oregon's hard-hit college savings plan will recoup some of their losses under the terms of a $20 million legal settlement approved Thursday.

SC: Role of black colleges in higher education touted

By Wayne Washington

The presidents of six colleges and universities in South Carolina met Thursday morning with the chief executive officer of a private foundation that has given at least $2 million to a pair of historically black colleges and universities in this state.

TN: TN colleges brace for cuts, tuition hike

By Jennifer Brooks

Higher education institutions in Tennessee are bracing for another round of budget cuts and tuition increases next year.

TX: State (board) of agitation

By Abby Rapoport

Legislative frustration and national efforts to standardize state curricula threaten to diminish the State Board of Education's authority. For now, members are just trying to get along — but the rifts are still as big as ever.

TX: Investment firm stands by reports on gifts to State Board of Education official

By Jeff Horwitz

State Board of Education member Rick Agosto has accused an investment company of incorrectly reporting that it gave him more than $1,000 in gifts before it sought a lucrative contract with the board. But the company has insisted that its disclosures are generally correct and said in letters to the Texas Education Agency that the disagreement may partially result from differences in accounting.

TX: Settlement delay costs HISD $82 million

By Ericka Mellon

Houston ISD schools have gone without at least $82 million for technology upgrades while the district is under federal investigation for questionable deals with computer equipment vendors.

TX: Heritage Society opposes addition to Governor's Mansion

By Chuck Lindell

The Heritage Society of Austin, a leading proponent for rebuilding the fire-gutted Governor's Mansion, will not support recently revealed plans for a two-story addition to the 153-year-old building.

US: Gateses give $290 million for education

By Sam Dillon

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday announced its biggest education donation in a decade, $290 million, in support of three school districts and five charter groups working to transform how teachers are evaluated and how they get tenure.

UT: Legislators intent on fixing bonus situation at trust lands agency

By Robert Gehrke

A series of bonuses given to Utah's school trust lands top officials are still in the crosshairs of legislative leaders, who are convinced the $150,000 in payments were an end-run around state budget cuts.

WA: Governor opposes delay in WASL math and science

By Randy Dorn

Gov. Chris Gregoire says she opposes state schools chief Randy Dorn's proposal to delay the requirement for students to pass state math and science tests to graduate.

WA: Governor opposes delay in WASL math and science testing

By The Associated Press

SEATTLE -- Gov. Chris Gregoire said Thursday she opposes state schools chief Randy Dorn's proposal to delay the requirement for students to pass math and science tests to graduate, because the state's economy depends on Washington students leaving high school well trained in both subjects.

WV: WVU Tech athletic department losing money, audit shows

By Phil Kabler

West Virginia University Institute of Technology's athletic department has a losing record when it comes to finances, running budget deficits of more than $1 million for each of the past two academic years, a legislative audit released Thursday concludes.

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