16
December
2019
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10:12 AM
America/Chicago

Higher Education Headlines: Dec. 16

Summary

By Sheryl E. Taylor

Get your daily dose of higher ed headlines. Just a click away.

Opinion: First-Generation College Students Face a Steep Climb—Houston Chronicle
There are a few key milestones in the first semester of a college freshman's life. [Subscription Required.]

University of North Texas is Opening a Cafeteria Without Milk, Eggs, Wheat and More. It’s free of most Food Allergens.—The Texas Tribune UNT says its university cafeteria is the first in the state to offer food without the eight most common food allergens.

UT Plans Geothermal Hub for Startups, Expertise—Houston Chronicle
The Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin will use a $1 million grant from the Department of Energy to become a hub for geothermal energy expertise and startups. [Subscription Required.]

Confusion Still Reigns Over Financial Aid. Here’s Why.—The Chronicle of Higher Education
Congress has just approved some changes to simplify how students apply for federal student aid. OK, great. But hold the applause.

The Free College Fantasy—The Chronicle of Higher Education
The proposals floated by presidential candidates are nonsensical. There’s a better way.

UH Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship Receives $13 Million Gift—Houston Chronicle
The Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Family Foundation has given $13 million to the University of Houston's entrepreneurship program, which had already been named after the couple. [Subscription Required.]

Student Loans a Lot Like the Subprime Mortgage Debacle, Watchdog Says –Houston Public Media
Mike Calhoun rang the alarm bell early on about the subprime mortgage debacle — before reckless lending drove the economy into recession. These days, he's sounding the alarm about student loans.

Rice University Launches Bold Climate Change Initiative With Shell—Rice News
Rice University has launched Carbon Hub, a major research initiative to create a zero-emissions future in which oil and natural gas provide both clean energy and advanced materials that help house, move, clothe and feed people.

About the University of Houston-Downtown

The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.