Alexander Kemos has resigned as senior vice president of Texas A&M University after a reporter for The Bryan-College Station Eagle started asking questions about apparently false claims he made about his background, the Eagle reported. Among those claims: that he had been a Navy SEAL and that he had a doctorate from Tufts University. Kemos, who came to the university last year, did not respond to requests for comment.
Harvard Med School Gets Bailout From Hospitals
Harvard University's medical school, suffering from its endowment decline, has negotiated a deal in which hospitals with which it works will provide $36 million for operations over the next three years, The Boston Globe reported. Harvard's medical school has been unusual in being able to rely largely on endowment income and research grants, but that is no longer viable. As part of the negotiations for the funds, the hospitals asked for speedier decisions on matters involving their doctors and for detailed information about the medical school's finances.
Georgia Chancellor Left BP Board Just Before Disaster
Errol Davis, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, left the board of BP just days before the disaster that has created chaos for the Gulf region and the company. The Atlanta Business Chroniclereported that he has been named in four current lawsuits by company shareholders.
Student Won't Be Deported
Eric Balderas, a Harvard University biology student who last week became the latest example of a student in danger over lack of legal residency status in the United States, won't be deported to Mexico, The Boston Globe reported. Balderas came to the U.S. with his family as a young child, and excelled academically. His situation was publicized after he was questioned following an attempt to fly without appropriate identification. U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, intervened on Balderas's behalf with immigration authorities, winning a pledge that he would not be deported.
New Buildings Without Funds to Operate Them
Campuses in the University of North Carolina System are scheduled to have 17 buildings completed in the next year, some of them sophisticated science facilities, but they may not open as the state can't provide any money to operate them, The Raleigh News & Observer reported. Lacking funds, the universities would have to pay for maintenance and utilities by cutting from academic funds, which are already due to receive major cuts.
Key Title IX Case Goes to Court This Week
A federal trial begins this week on what could be a key legal case for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The case involves a suit against Quinnipiac University over a move to eliminate its women's volleyball team. The university has denied wrongdoing. The suit charges that the university counts its men's and women's rosters in ways to create a false impression of relative gender equity. One of the issues in contention, as the Associated Press reported, is whether the university can count its "competitive cheer squad" as an athletic team.
A Student Journalist Takes on a Legislator
If you are worried that state legislators are making huge cuts to education programs without recognizing the consequences or taking responsibility, this video on The Huffington Post of an interview with an Arizona state senator won't comfort you. But if you are worried about the state of student journalism, you might be encouraged by the tough, informed questions about cuts in vocational and technical education.
Press Will be Allowed to Cover Controversial Palin Event
After months of refusing to answer questions about access to a talk by Sarah Palin, California State University at Stanislaus has announced that reporters will be allowed to cover the event, the Associated Press reported. The appearance -- a fund raiser for the university foundation -- has been criticized for the selection of a divisive speaker, her high speaking fees, and secrecy over plans.
Academic Freedom Dispute Over New Canadian Institute
A new international affairs institute in Canada is the focus of a debate over academic freedom. The Globe and Mail reported that concerns have grown since the ouster of Ramesh Thakur, formerly vice rector of United Nations University, as the first director of the Balsillie School of International Affairs. The school is affiliated with the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and a private think tank founded by Jim Balsillie, an entrepreneur. The concerns focus on the control that the think tank has over appointments at the university-affiliated international affairs center. Thakur, in an e-mail to the Globe and Mail, said: "Academic freedom is the bedrock of the university, and autonomy from outside interests (however well-meaning) is important in protecting that academic freedom.”
World Cup Riots Force Closure of University in Bangladesh
Bangladesh's University of Engineering and Technology closed indefinitely Sunday following student riots calling for time off to watch World Cup games, AFP reported. Five people were injured in the riots; many more were injured in similar riots during the last World Cup
Movers and Shakers: Gustavus Adolphus College, Loyola U. Maryland, National Student Clearinghouse, North Idaho College, Nova Southeastern U., Sewanee-U. of the South, U. of Houston-Victoria, Wagner College
Ron Dorn, vice president for administration and finance at Minot State University, in North Dakota, has been chosen as vice president for resource management at North Idaho College.
Wendy deProphetis Driscoll, assistant professor of chemistry at Wagner College, in New York, has been promoted to associate professor of chemistry there.
Jett M. (Jay) Fisher, executive director of Associated Alumni at Sewanee -- University of the South, has been promoted to vice president for university relations there.
Megan Gillick, senior director of development for intercollegiate athletics and associate campaign director at Oregon State University, has been appointed vice president for advancement at Loyola University Maryland.
Kent Kalm, visiting professor in the department of health and exercise science at Gustavus Adolphus College, in Minnesota, has been named assistant professor in the department of health and exercise science there.
David Lynch, vice president of external relations at Graduate Leverage, in Massachusetts, has been chosen as regional director of the northeast United States at the National Student Clearinghouse.
F. Charles Mace, professor of school psychology at the University of Southern Maine, has been appointed Unicorn Children's Foundation Endowed Chair and executive director of the Autism Institute at Nova Southeastern University.
Mark Zafereo, assistant director of external relations at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, has been appointed senior director of university advancement at the University of Houston Victoria.
The appointments above are drawn from The Lists on Inside Higher Ed, which also includes a comprehensive catalog of upcoming events in higher education. To submit job changes or calendar items, please click here.