Secretary Duncan to Step Down
BU IN DC
Nancy Kopell of the College of Arts & Sciences gave a presentation to staff at the Division of Mathematical Sciences at the National Science Foundation on September 29.
Farouk El-Baz of the Center for Remote Sensing spoke on a panel about Grand Challenges for Engineering at the National Academy of Engineering annual meeting on October 5.
SECRETARY DUNCAN TO STEP DOWN
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Friday that he will leave the Obama Administration in December, after leading the U.S. Department of Education for seven years. A close confidant of President Barack Obama, his announcement surprised many who expected him to remain through the end of Obama’s term in 2016. While much of Duncan’s tenure focused on elementary and secondary education, he was a driving force behind Obama higher education initiatives such as reforming the student loan system and increasing oversight of for-profit colleges. Deputy Secretary John King Jr., a former New York state education commissioner, will succeed Duncan.
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SUBCOMMITTEE EXAMINES ENDOWMENTS
On Wednesday, a subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing to discuss whether tax policy might have an impact on the cost of college. Witnesses and some Republican members of the Subcommittee were critical of universities and suggested altering the tax treatment of charitable contributions to colleges. They also posited that increases in federal financial aid lead colleges to raise tuition. Two witnesses representing higher education described how colleges rely on tax-exempt donations to fund student financial aid, endowment funds are structured, and compensation levels for presidents are determined. Subcommittee Chairman Peter Roskam (R-IL) indicated the committee may look further into the topic.
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GRANT NEWS YOU CAN USE
The National Science Foundation announced a cross-cutting optics and photonics program on Monday. The leaders of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Engineering, Biological Sciences, and Computer & Information Science & Engineering Directorates sent a joint Dear Colleague letter encouraging investigators to submit interdisciplinary optics and photonics proposals that are relevant to multiple divisions within the directorates. Proposers are urged to discuss their ideas with the appropriate program director prior to submission.