U.S. Public and Private Higher Education
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VCU: Class of 2024 - Combining Documentary and Animation, Kiara Brown Inventively Explores Family History and Vietnamese Medicine
RICHMOND, Virginia, May 10 (TNSres) -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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VCUarts student also used undergraduate research grant for artistic oral history project on Richmond locations.
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By Leila Ugincius
For someone who's been on the dean's list every semester since she came to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Kiara Brown considers herself a late bloomer to the art world.
"I've always been interested in creating things, but I considered myself primarily a writer who didn't do visual arts whatsoever," she said. "When I was in high
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RICHMOND, Virginia, May 10 (TNSres) -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news:
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VCUarts student also used undergraduate research grant for artistic oral history project on Richmond locations.
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By Leila Ugincius
For someone who's been on the dean's list every semester since she came to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Kiara Brown considers herself a late bloomer to the art world.
"I've always been interested in creating things, but I considered myself primarily a writer who didn't do visual arts whatsoever," she said. "When I was in highschool, I began drawing in order to create illustrations for a children's book I was writing and got interested in illustration and graphic design through that."
Brown enrolled at George Mason University planning to study environmental science or graphic design, but she wanted to expand her artistic horizons by studying sound art. So she transferred to VCU in fall 2021, and she graduates this month with a degree in kinetic imaging from VCUarts and a certificate in product innovation from VCU's da Vinci Center for Innovation.
Brown's interests evolved further at VCU - "my work is primarily documentary/interview/animation-based recently," she said - and her inventive senior project, "A Cure for Everything," combined all three elements. The experimental, animated documentary focused on a traditional, herbal, homemade Vietnamese medicine called dau phong.
"My family has been using it for generations as a miracle cure -- it can heal scars, bruises and cuts seemingly overnight," Brown said. "The person who made the medicine originally was a great-great-uncle of my grandmother who distributed it for free for the benefit of the community. After his unexpected death, the Vietnam War, the following diaspora and my own family's immigration to the United States, we have lost the recipe."
While the Brown family can still buy the medicine from distant relatives in Vietnam, the recipe is slightly different - and very expensive.
For the documentary, Brown interviewed her family about their experiences and the importance of the medicine and their heritage. She also worked with C. Michele Thompson, Ph.D., a professor of Southeast Asian history at Southern Connecticut State University, to learn more about the medicine's origins, and VCU forensic science professor Michelle R. Peace, Ph.D., to try and identify the mystery ingredients.
"All of this is combined with interviews with my grandma, who is the only one who still remembers any of the recipe - but only remembers through the lens of a 5-year-old child," Brown said.
Her documentary incorporates several styles, including stop motion, family photos, archival videos and 2D animation. An installation in March at The Anderson, the on-campus gallery of VCUarts, complemented the project.
"I took the information I had collected at that point and attempted to re-create the medicine as best I could," Brown said. "I displayed the medicine cooking in a rice cooker, alongside mostly uncut, long-form interviews from my grandmother, the researcher and the forensic scientist, who all offered differing perspectives on the medicine. Behind this, I projected a large-scale shadow dragon representing the spirit of my ancestors guiding me in this project as I continued their work."
During her research, Brown discovered that her family were the village healers, people who practiced traditional medicine in rural areas and passed down the recipes. That tradition continued when her great-great-uncle passed the recipe to her then 5-year-old grandmother before his death.
"As a tribute to that, I distributed small samples of my version of the medicine -- as artwork, not a drug -- at the installation," Brown said.
Last year, she worked on another documentary that was just as meaningful to her for different reasons. She and a group of classmates received an undergraduate research grant from VCUarts for the Richmond Animation Archive, an oral history with a focus on local places that no longer exist, such as buildings that have been torn down or converted.
"It was really cool getting to talk to so many strangers and people we considered influential to our time here in Richmond," said Brown, who directed the film, citing figures associated with entities such as All Saints Theatre and World Music Radio. "After we collected the stories, we storyboarded and created animations to document them."
The project culminated in a free community animation night at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU last summer, where the group screened the animations and hosted related activities. A continuation of the work -- a bit more polished version, with each story expanded -- was screened at the James River Film Festival.
While Brown said her time at VCU was amazing, crediting her professors and classes for helping her grow as a person, she is especially grateful for her friends and classmates, particularly those with whom she worked on the Richmond Animation Archive.
"Getting to be around so many other artists who want to make great work has been the best part of being down here," she said, "and I think we all push each other to grow as people and artists."
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Original text here: https://news.vcu.edu/article/2024/05/documentary-animation-kiara-brown-explores-family-history-and-vietnamese-medicine
University of Wolverhampton: Research Academic Boxes Clever on Exciting New BBC Documentary
WOLVERHAMPTON, England, May 10 (TNSres) -- The University of Wolverhampton issued the following news release:
A University of Wolverhampton academic, Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar MBE, has provided expert knowledge as a Consultant for a BBC Documentary 'Sikh Boxing Warriors' aired on BBC One on 1 May 2024.
This is the fifth BBC One Documentary that Opinderjit's expertise in Sikh Studies has been called upon. She is also consultant to the long running BBC drama 'EastEnders' for the Sikh Panesar family scenes.
Opinderjit, based in the University's Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, also
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WOLVERHAMPTON, England, May 10 (TNSres) -- The University of Wolverhampton issued the following news release:
A University of Wolverhampton academic, Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar MBE, has provided expert knowledge as a Consultant for a BBC Documentary 'Sikh Boxing Warriors' aired on BBC One on 1 May 2024.
This is the fifth BBC One Documentary that Opinderjit's expertise in Sikh Studies has been called upon. She is also consultant to the long running BBC drama 'EastEnders' for the Sikh Panesar family scenes.
Opinderjit, based in the University's Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing, alsoleads the University's Centre for Sikh and Panjabi Studies, the only academic centre of its kind in the UK.
The Centre is multi-award winning for both its research and community outreach with its emphasis upon impactful research. In August 2023, Opinderjit was recognised as one of 75 women of Indian heritage to make a global impact through their work to mark 75 years of India's Independence by the Deputy British High Commissioner to India in the 75@75 global celebrations.
Professor Prashant Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University, said: "The Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) is a key metric by which the University's public and community engagement is measured. Opinderjit's consultancy work with the BBC on a number of documentaries is an example of her strong external profile as an expert in Sikh Studies and outreach with the British Sikh community helping to strengthen the University's reputation in impactful research at a public level."
Professor Sharon Arkell, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing at the University, said: "I am delighted that Opinderjit has consulted on this documentary for the BBC. Engaging with the communities in and around Walsall and Wolverhampton is key to the outreach work we undertake as a Faculty and we look forward to working with the Boxing coaches in the documentary to strengthen the public engagement activities we undertake as part of our emphasis on impactful research."
A link to the documentary can be found at: BBC iPlayer - Sikh Boxing Warriors
Links to previous BBC Documentaries that Opinderjit has contributed to are as follows:
BBC One - Love, Faith and Me, Series 1, Married, Sikh and Wanting a Baby
BBC One - A Believer's Guide to..., Series 1, Looking for Love
BBC iPlayer - Being... - Series 1: 2. Sikh
BBC One - Young, Sikh and Proud
Anyone looking to study a degree in the Faculty of Education, Health and Wellbeing should check out the range of courses on the website (https://www.wlv.ac.uk/schools-and-institutes/faculty-of-science-and-engineering/school-of-engineering-computing-and-mathematical-sciences/) or visit one of our forthcoming Open Days.
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Original text here: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/2024/may-2024/research-academic-boxes-clever-on-exciting-new-bbc-documentary-.php
University of Surrey: New Air-Breathing Spacecraft to Provide Better Earth Observation and Quicker Communications
GUILFORD, England, May 10 (TNSres) -- The University of Surrey issued the following news release:
Scientists at the University of Surrey are developing a new way to power low-orbit spacecraft using - literally - thin air.
Surrey Space Centre aims to enable extremely low-altitude spacecraft orbits in the upper atmosphere, thanks to funding from the UK Space Agency.
This new spacecraft concept could offer new capabilities in Earth observation, climate monitoring and satellite communications.
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"There are benefits to flying in very low altitude orbits, like being able to operate Earth observation
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GUILFORD, England, May 10 (TNSres) -- The University of Surrey issued the following news release:
Scientists at the University of Surrey are developing a new way to power low-orbit spacecraft using - literally - thin air.
Surrey Space Centre aims to enable extremely low-altitude spacecraft orbits in the upper atmosphere, thanks to funding from the UK Space Agency.
This new spacecraft concept could offer new capabilities in Earth observation, climate monitoring and satellite communications.
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"There are benefits to flying in very low altitude orbits, like being able to operate Earth observationat much higher resolutions than offered at present.
It could also mean faster telecommunications, and it opens the door to new scientific discoveries about conditions in the ionosphere, which could help develop more accurate atmospheric models. "
- Dr Andrea Lucca Fabris, Senior Lecturer in Electric Propulsion
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The thin air at extremely low altitude orbits means a different type of spacecraft design and propulsion is needed compared with those used by conventional spacecraft operating in the vacuum of traditional low Earth orbits.
Air-breathing electric propulsion harnesses upper atmospheric air as propellant for an electric thruster.
This allows spacecraft to maintain their orbital altitude via drag-compensation, removing the need to store propellant on board. It means mission lifetimes do not have to be limited by propellant capacity.
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"We've been developing a cathode, or neutraliser, to work in electrostatic thrusters operating in the thin air found in ultra-low Earth orbit.
By collecting and compressing the gases at that altitude, we can create a propellant flow that is ionised (i.e., transformed into a mix of charged particles) and accelerated using combinations of electric and magnetic fields, harnessing electrical power from solar panels."
- Mansur Tisaev, Postgraduate Research Student
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The UK Space Agency have awarded the team pound sterling250k for a one year project to develop their concept. This will fund conceptual design, propulsion testing, orbital mechanics analyses and aerodynamic simulations.
The activities will be a joint effort between the propulsion (Dr Andrea Lucca Fabris), astrodynamics (Dr Nicola Baresi), spacecraft engineering (Prof Craig Underwood) groups of the Surrey Space Centre and Surrey's Centre for Aerodynamics and Environmental Flow (Dr Olaf Marxen).
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Original text here: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/new-air-breathing-spacecraft-provide-better-earth-observation-and-quicker-communications
University of Otago: Academic Wins Esteemed Critic and Conscience Award
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, May 10 -- The University of Otago issued the following news release:
University of Otago Professor of Politics Robert Patman has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to educating the public and decision-makers about issues relating to international relations.
Professor Patman has been named the winner of the 2024 Critic and Conscience of Society Award.
The award, sponsored by the philanthropic trust The Gama Foundation and administered by Universities New Zealand - Te Pokai Tara, recognises an academic's role under the Education and Training Act 2020 to act as
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DUNEDIN, New Zealand, May 10 -- The University of Otago issued the following news release:
University of Otago Professor of Politics Robert Patman has been recognised for his outstanding commitment to educating the public and decision-makers about issues relating to international relations.
Professor Patman has been named the winner of the 2024 Critic and Conscience of Society Award.
The award, sponsored by the philanthropic trust The Gama Foundation and administered by Universities New Zealand - Te Pokai Tara, recognises an academic's role under the Education and Training Act 2020 to act asthe critic and conscience of society. It encourages academics to provide expert commentary on important issues affecting the New Zealand community and future generations.
For years Professor Patman has been at the forefront of discussions about international relations, particularly in the past two years when he has made more than 1000 media appearances.
He has also challenged the actions of powerful actors on the global stage and the actions - or lack of actions - of the country's decision-makers on issues such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States of America's invitation for New Zealand to join AUKUS, and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Recently, his consistent advocacy of an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza has played a part in shaping the terms of debate in New Zealand.
The Gama Foundation spokesman Grant Nelson says Professor Patman "has had a prodigious output of articles and interviews on issues that will, over time, impact on the New Zealand community and future generations".
"His media commentary has undoubtedly played a significant role in educating the public and decision-makers on international and humanitarian issues," Mr Nelson says.
Professor Patman says he is deeply honoured to receive the award.
"As an international relations academic with a strong commitment to public education, this award means everything to me," he says.
"I would like to thank the Universities New Zealand selection panel for recognising my efforts to contribute to a better understanding of this country's relationship with a disrupted but increasingly interconnected world.
"I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous support and encouragement of my family, friends and work colleagues that helped make this outcome possible."
Professor Patman plans to use part of the $50,000 funding to secure research assistance to progress two literature projects, a book titled Rethinking the Global Impact of 9/11 and a co-authored volume called Why Political Leaders are Poor at Learning from History.
Pro-Vice Chancellor, Te Kete Aronui Division of Humanities, Professor Jessica Palmer says this is a much-deserved recognition for Professor Patman, who is fearless in his role as an academic.
"He understands the importance of, and is generous in, his service as critic and conscience of society.
"As well as producing a wealth of proactive commentary, he is readily available to media to give valuable insight on breaking news. He provides a vital, Aotearoa-based perspective on international relations."
Professor Patman is an inaugural Sesquicentennial Distinguished Chair, a Fulbright Senior Scholar and an Honorary Professor of the New Zealand Defence Command and Staff College.
He received the award at a ceremony in Christchurch today.
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Original text here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/academic-wins-esteemed-critic-and-conscience-award
Queen Mary Project to Tackle Risks of ChatGPT-Like Systems for Healthcare and Law
LONDON, England, May 10 -- Queen Mary University of London issued the following news:
Professor Maria Liakata awarded RAI UK Keystone grant to address sociotechnical limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs).
The Queen Mary University of London professor has been awarded a pound sterling4.38 million grant to tackle a pressing challenge in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Professor Maria Liakata, a leading expert in Natural Language Processing (NLP), Turing AI Fellow, will spearhead a highly competitive RAI UK Keystone project to address the critical issue of sociotechnical limitations
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LONDON, England, May 10 -- Queen Mary University of London issued the following news:
Professor Maria Liakata awarded RAI UK Keystone grant to address sociotechnical limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs).
The Queen Mary University of London professor has been awarded a pound sterling4.38 million grant to tackle a pressing challenge in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Professor Maria Liakata, a leading expert in Natural Language Processing (NLP), Turing AI Fellow, will spearhead a highly competitive RAI UK Keystone project to address the critical issue of sociotechnical limitationsin Large Language Models (LLMs). Funded by a pound sterling31 million strategic investment from the UK Government, the RAI UK Keystone programme is recognised as a hallmark of excellence in responsible AI research.
Large Language Models (LLMs), like those used in ChatGPT and virtual assistants, are cutting-edge artificial intelligence algorithms trained on massive amounts of text data. They can generate human-like text as well as creative content, translate across languages, and answer questions in an informative way. However, their rapid adoption, particularly in safety-critical domains like healthcare and law, raises serious concerns.
"Through this project," says Professor Liakata, "we have a real opportunity to harness the potential of LLMs for better services and efficiencies in healthcare and law, while mitigating the risks stemming from deploying poorly understood systems."
Despite known limitations such as biases, privacy leaks, and lack of explainability, LLMs are finding their way into sensitive areas. In the legal system, for instance, judges are already using ChatGPT to summarise court cases. However, what happens if an LLM gets the chronology wrong or reinforces existing racial biases in parole decisions? Similarly, public medical question-answering services powered by LLMs could provide inaccurate or biased information due to limitations in the underlying technology.
Professor Liakata emphasises, "The potential for harm is significant. This project aims to ensure that society reaps the benefits of LLMs while ensuring the prevention of negative consequences."
The project prioritises healthcare and law due to their critical role in the UK economy and the potential for both significant risks and groundbreaking advancements, and will focus on two key objectives:
Evaluation benchmark: A comprehensive set of criteria, metrics, and tasks will be developed to evaluate LLMs across many real-world settings and applications. This will involve collaboration with partners such as diversified companies like Accenture, Bloomberg, Canon Medical and Microsoft as well as the NHS and service users to ensure the benchmark reflects real-world needs.
Mitigating solutions: Researchers will develop innovative machine learning methods informed by legal, ethical, and healthcare expertise. These solutions will address LLM limitations identified by the evaluation benchmark, with the aim of being readily incorporated into existing and future LLM-powered systems.
"Professor Liakata's project is a timely and crucial endeavour. Responsible development and deployment of AI like LLMs are essential to ensure public trust and maximise their potential benefits across various sectors. Queen Mary is proud to support this research that aligns perfectly with our commitment to responsible AI innovation," says Professor Wen Wang, Vice-Principal and Executive Dean for Science and Engineering, Queen Mary University of London.
"These projects are the keystones of the Responsible AI UK programme. They have been chosen by the community because they address the most pressing challenges that society faces with the rapid advances in AI. We are excited to be announcing these projects at CogX in Los Angeles where some of the most influential AI representatives from industry and government are present," said Professor Gopal Ramchurn, CEO of Responsible AI UK (RAI UK).
He added: "The concerns around AI are not just for governments and industry to deal with. It is important that AI experts engage with researchers from other disciplines and policy makers to ensure that we can better anticipate the issues that will be caused by AI. Our keystone projects will do exactly that and work with the rest of the AI ecosystem to bring others to our cause and amplify the impact of the research to maximise the benefit of AI to everyone in society".
Professor Liakata concludes, "By focusing on these crucial areas, we can ensure that LLMs are developed and deployed responsibly, ultimately transforming healthcare and legal services while safeguarding the public."
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Original text here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2024/se/queen-mary-project-to-tackle-risks-of-chatgpt-like-systems-for-healthcare-and-law.html
Millikin University to Honor Class of 2024 at Spring Commencement May 19
DECATUR, Illinois, May 10 -- Millikin University issued the following news:
More than 270 Millikin University graduates from the Class of 2024 will be honored at Spring Commencement on Sunday, May 19, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Millikin's campus. Two Commencement ceremonies will be held to recognize graduates from undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Graduating students will be allowed up to six guests at the ceremony. Millikin community members unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to watch the ceremony through a public live stream on the Commencement site.
Millikin
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DECATUR, Illinois, May 10 -- Millikin University issued the following news:
More than 270 Millikin University graduates from the Class of 2024 will be honored at Spring Commencement on Sunday, May 19, at Kirkland Fine Arts Center on Millikin's campus. Two Commencement ceremonies will be held to recognize graduates from undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Graduating students will be allowed up to six guests at the ceremony. Millikin community members unable to attend the ceremony in person will be able to watch the ceremony through a public live stream on the Commencement site.
Millikingraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Tabor School of Business will participate in the first ceremony on May 19 at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9 a.m.
The morning ceremony will feature student speaker Jake Shumaker, of Mount Zion, Ill., who is graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts & Sciences with a major in Computer Science. Shumaker's speech is titled "Authenticity & Appreciation."
During his four years at Millikin, Shumaker has been very involved as a student leader. He is a Scovill Award winner, the highest recognition at the annual Honors Convocation, selected on the basis of high academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, service, and scholarship. Shumaker has served as a Senior Consultant for the student-run venture Millikin University Performance Consulting (MUPC). Shumaker has also received the Podeschi-Landacre Management Information Systems Award, given to a student(s) who have shown excellence and leadership in Performance Learning experiences, and the Mathematics & Computer Science Award, given to outstanding junior or senior majoring in Mathematics or Computer Science. In Athletics, he is an NCAA Division III Track and Field All-American in the 800 meters, finishing fifth nationally during the 2023 Indoor Track season.
The morning ceremony keynote speaker is Amber Kaylor, a Millikin Class of 2006 graduate and MBA graduate in 2016. Kaylor's speech is titled "Do it Scared, Do it Anyway."
As the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois, Kaylor is a seasoned professional in the not-for-profit industry. A double alumna, Kaylor is driven by a commitment to serving others and has aided multiple organizations in reaching significant financial milestones. Previously, Kaylor served as the President and CEO of the Children's Museum of Illinois, where she successfully executed a notable expansion focusing on first responders.
Graduates from the College of Fine Arts and the College of Professional Studies will participate in the second ceremony at 3 p.m. Doors will open at 2 p.m.
The afternoon ceremony will feature student speaker Alela L. Kinyua, of Hinesville, Georgia, who is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of Fine Arts with a major in Art Therapy. Kinyua's speech is titled "Time to Shine."
Kinyua has been artistic and creative her entire life and picked up the paintbrush in 2018 and found it was something she wanted to study. She has been the recipient of the Dr. J. Roger Miller Leadership Award, given to seniors who exemplify superior qualities of academic excellence and leadership, and the Dorothy Sellers Art Award, for outstanding achievement and potential, and setting a standard of excellence for the School of Art & Creative Media. Kinyua has served as the President of the Black Student Union, is active in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and assisted Big Blue students as a Resident Assistant in Dolson Hall.
The afternoon ceremony keynote speaker is LaVon Fisher-Wilson, a Class of 1995 Millikin graduate. Fisher-Wilson's speech is titled "What Is Meant for You."
As an actress and singer, Fisher-Wilson has spent close to 20 years performing on the Broadway stage, with major roles in "The Color Purple," "Chicago," "Lysistrata Jones," and "Newsies." Her credits also include television and film roles, appearing in "Quantico," HBO's "Divorce," Disney's "Teen Beach Movie," and many others. With the love of her husband, Darrell Wilson, she names her three best productions as Darrell Jr., Darrien, and DaVonna Wilson.
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Original text here: https://millikin.edu/news-events/newsroom/millikin-university-honor-class-2024-spring-commencement-may-19
Eastern Arizona College Engages in Vital Discussion With Arizona Governor and Town of Thatcher Leadership
THATCHER, Arizona, May 10 -- Eastern Arizona College issued the following news release:
On April 25, 2024, Eastern Arizona College (EAC) and the Town of Thatcher engaged in a meeting with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to address several critical issues affecting this region.
The gathering, hosted by EAC, presented pressing matters ranging from the College's expenditure limit set by a 1980 constitutional amendment to the urgent need for increased student housing due to the scarcity in Graham County.
EAC emphasized the severe implications if the November 2024 ballot measure to increase the expenditure
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THATCHER, Arizona, May 10 -- Eastern Arizona College issued the following news release:
On April 25, 2024, Eastern Arizona College (EAC) and the Town of Thatcher engaged in a meeting with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to address several critical issues affecting this region.
The gathering, hosted by EAC, presented pressing matters ranging from the College's expenditure limit set by a 1980 constitutional amendment to the urgent need for increased student housing due to the scarcity in Graham County.
EAC emphasized the severe implications if the November 2024 ballot measure to increase the expenditurelimit does not pass. The College advised that without adjusting the expenditure baseline, substantial reductions in educational programs would be inevitable, critically hindering its ability to draw both students and staff vital for ongoing operations. This outcome would likely close EAC's campus.
With student housing at full capacity and the community grappling with a housing crisis, EAC emphasized the necessity for additional funding. The College proposed the construction of new on-campus housing dedicated to students, specifically targeting support for disadvantaged and rural students.
"Eastern Arizona College is facing a housing crunch, with our residence halls filled to capacity," said EAC President Todd Haynie. "The thriving copper mine nearby has led to a scarcity in local housing. We need to expand our on-campus housing to accommodate 200 more students and earnestly seek support for this project."
In efforts to respond to workforce demands, EAC underlined the importance of constructing a skills center to flexibly initiate programs for high-demand jobs, especially for those seeking to work in rural communities. Despite the legislative appropriations, EAC's limited resources have restricted its ability to compete for grants, prompting a request for direct funding and an adjustment in the grant allocation process favoring smaller entities.
"Due to our size, Eastern Arizona College is at a competitive disadvantage in securing workforce development funds set up as grants through the ACA," stated Haynie. "With a single grant writer tasked with extensive responsibilities, we're advocating for a funding model that better accommodates small institutions, ensuring essential resources don't go unutilized simply because we lack the capacity to apply."
EAC's initiative to align Arizona's full-time student equivalent (FTSE) definition with the national standard was another crucial point of discussion, urging the state to recognize 12 credit hours as full-time, which would positively influence funding formulas and simplify administrative processes.
To further advance programmatic offerings, EAC is partnering with Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center to create a new medical clinic for services. The College appealed for support to facilitate agreements with state agencies to provide state services and for funding to expand educational and provider programs within the new facility.
The Town of Thatcher, represented by Mayor Randy Bryce and Vice Mayor Jenny Howard, shared its challenges, and aligned with EAC on various issues. A significant concern is the stagnant Highway User Revenue Fund, with a plea for a revision to reflect the growing population of electric vehicles and more efficient cars. The dangerous condition of Highway 70 demands prioritization for development funding to enhance safety.
"Highway 70 is our primary route to Maricopa County and it poses significant dangers," expressed Mayor Randy Bryce. "Frequent fatalities underscore the urgency for prioritizing its funding and development."
Housing scarcity echoed as a central theme, with the Town of Thatcher seeking aid for low-income and rural housing to alleviate the strain on the local market. Education financing, particularly for K-12, was also a critical issue, calling for sustained and accessible funding rather than one-time grants.
Community priorities include addressing the Town of Thatcher's expenditure limitations, water rights, and facility deficits, with an emphasis on equitable distribution of state resources, given the substantial contribution Graham County provides through mining and industrial activities.
"Graham County has long been a powerhouse for Arizona's economy through our mining and industrial activities, yet the benefits of our contributions don't proportionately flow back into our community," Thatcher Mayor Randy Bryce commented. "We generate significant revenue for the state but receive less than one percent back in taxes for resources extracted from our own backyard. It's crucial that state leaders acknowledge this disparity and consider our substantial economic input when reviewing future facility requests from our area."
The issues of border security, healthcare accessibility, insurance practices, and remote operation of the Department of Economic Security offices were also brought to the fore, underscoring the multifaceted challenges faced by the community.
"The shift to remote services has left our seniors and underserved citizens vulnerable," said Town of Thatcher Vice Mayor Jenny Howard. "Without access to technology, many are at risk of losing utility services. We need a straightforward, reliable system to aid these residents and restore the personal connection they depend on."
Governor Hobbs's engagement with the local leaders of Eastern Arizona College and the Town of Thatcher signifies a pivotal step toward addressing and resolving the region's pressing issues, with a commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
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Original text here: https://eac.edu/article/eastern-arizona-college-engages-in-vital-discussion-with-arizona-governor-and-town-of-thatcher-leadership/
