A recent investigation by The Washington Post found that members of Congress have earmarked over $60 million to colleges and universities that employ their family members, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported Tuesday. Among those helping allocate earmarked money grants offered by Congress to preferred constituents were Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who helped secure $5.25 million for the University of Houston. At the time, Lee's husband served as vice president for student affairs and vice chancellor for student affairs of the university system, according to The Chronicle. Rep. Robert E. Andrews, D-N.J., directed $3.3 million in scholarship money to Rutgers University's Camden School of Law, where his wife is associate dean of scholarships. An analysis of public records of the 535 members of Congress found 33 examples of members sending money to public projects within the vicinity of their own properties and another 16 examples of lawmakers directing funds to organizations on which their family members served as board members, according to The Chronicle.
Stanford University announced the completion of The Stanford Challenge, its five-year fundraising effort, on Wednesday, The Stanford Daily Reported. The campaign successfully raised $6.2 billion in pledges for the university, which will be used to improve the Stanford educational experience and better prepare future leaders, according to The Daily. After the initial goal of $4.3 billion was easily met, organizers of The Stanford Challenge continued to raise funds, mainly through alumni donations. The fundraiser has enabled the university to build or improve 38 buildings, including those associated with various institutes such as the Precourt Institue for Energy Efficiency and the Woods Institute for the Environment, according to The Daily.
The Obama administration is aiming to increase the number of science and engineering students by working to target students already in colleges, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported Tuesday. The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology established a goal of increasing the number of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, currently below 40 percent, to 50 percent, The Chronicle reported. The council's chief emphasized increasing hands-on research for undergraduate students and expanding access to science degrees at two-year and four-year institutions, according to The Chronicle. President Barack Obama has allocated $100 million from the National Science Foundation to improve science teaching at the undergraduate level and committed millions more to training teachers in elementary and secondary schools, The Chronicle reported.
