The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, focusing on the NCAA's five-year limit on athletic scholarships and requirement that they be renewed annually based on "merit" qualifications, Inside Higher Ed reported on Friday. The NCAA will fully cooperate with the Justice Department's inquiry, according to a statement from the NCAA. NCAA officials justify the five-year limit on scholarships because it coincides with the number of years a student-athlete is eligible to participate in NCAA sports, according to the press release. Advocates for athletes have suggested that these rules put college athletes in a position of insufficient financial security and recommended multi-year scholarships, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced a study of transfer credit policies among institutions of higher education will be conducted, Inside Higher Ed reported on Friday. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni addressed a letter to Duncan in April, expressing concern that academic credit transfer policies are overly restrictive, particularly because transferring from community colleges and other institutions has become an increasingly popular and viable option for students. The study should be completed within one year, according to Inside Higher Ed.
The University of Oxford has raised $100 million since 2009 for its James Martin 21st Century School after the school's namesake said he would match up to $50 million in donations, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported May 2. Despite initial skepticism that the current economic climate would deter donors, the school received more than its $50-million target goal and had to begin asking donors to give without having their donation matched, Ian Goldin, the school's director, told The Chronicle. The newly acquired donations will be used to support 19 different research projects, investigating topics such as global migration and stem cells. The James Martin 21st Century School was founded by Martin in 2005 to implement an interdisciplinary approach for investigating modern problems, such as infectious disease and climate change.
