Latest news with #UniversityofTennessee
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
GOP plan could raise credit requirements for Pell Grant recipients
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A Republican-backed proposal could bring major changes to the Pell Grant program, requiring many college students to take on heavier course loads to qualify for federal aid. Under the legislation, full-time students would need to enroll in at least 30 credit hours per year, up from the current 24, to remain eligible. Part-time students would see their requirement increase from 12 to at least 15 credit hours annually. 'It's a goal to get more students to go full time, graduate more quickly, and I think it will help some students get there,' said Robert Kelchen, an Education Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. But Kelchen also cautioned that many students might struggle to meet the new demands. 'About two-thirds of students work, and many of them are working close to full time,' he said. 'Some are balancing full-time school and full-time work. Others are taking one or two classes while working 40 hours a week and caring for their families.' Pell Grants were established by Congress in 1972 to help low-income students access higher education. Today, about 40% of U.S. college students receive the grant, which does not need to be repaid. The federal government spent approximately $31.47 billion on the program during the last academic year. Critics of the proposal, including the NAACP, warn it could disproportionately harm students of color and roll back recent gains in college access. 'What we're seeing is a really aggressive and swift attack,' said Wisdom Cole, the NAACP's National Director of Youth and College. 'About 75% of graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are Pell Grant recipients. Those are the students who will be hit the hardest.' Supporters argue the changes are necessary to ensure accountability. Madison Marino, a Higher Education Policy Expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, cited data showing that only about 53% of Pell Grant recipients complete a degree — significantly lower than the 70% to 73% completion rate for their peers. 'I think it will make students re-evaluate what educational pathways are available to them,' Marino said. 'Does a traditional four-year college fit me?' The proposal, which also redirects more financial aid toward workforce training programs, passed the House last week and is now awaiting action in the Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Great Smoky Mountains National Park to hold monthly ASL-Interpreted programs
GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — Beginning in June, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting programs once a month featuring American Sign Language interpreters. The programs will run through November and include a range of activities, from taking a hike with a ranger, learning about mountain life to meeting some of the creatures that call the Smokies home. Park staff is working with ASL interpreters and students from the University of Tennessee and Maryville College to present the events. Zoo Knoxville welcomes new litter of bat-eared fox kits Saturday, June 28 Portraits from the Past (9 a.m. at John Oliver parking area in Cades Cove) Drop-In History (10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Cable Mill Historic Area) Sunday, July 20 Kuwohi Guided Hike (9 a.m. at Kuwohi parking area) Mingus Mill program (2 p.m. at Mingus Mill) Sunday, August 17 Walker Sisters Hike (11 a.m. at Little Greenbrier School) Stream Splashers (2 p.m. at Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area) Friday, September 12 Bear Aware Drop In (1-3 p.m. at Cades Cove Orientation Shelter) Cove After Dark Walk (8 p.m. at the Cades Cove Orientation Shelter) Tuesday, October 7 History of Daisytown (11 a.m. at Jakes Creek parking area) Hiking 101 (1 p.m. at Little River Trailhead) Friday, November 7 Down on the Farm drop-in (10 a.m.-noon at the Mountain Farm Museum, Oconaluftee) Wild About the Smokies (3 p.m. at Oconaluftee Visitor Center) The programs are open to all visitors and do not require reservations. Funding was provided by the National Park Foundation, the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Inspector finds off temperatures, no sanitizer at Chinese restaurant in Morristown To find more events taking place on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, visit the park's online event calendar. Details about locations, topics, and how prepare will be listed on the calendar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Game times announced for first 3 Tennessee football games of 2025 season
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Kickoff times have been announced for the first three University of Tennessee football games of the 2025 season. Here's when and where to watch. The first game of the season against Syracuse will be taking place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on August 30. The Aflac Kickoff Game is scheduled to begin at noon and will be aired on 6 News. Could the University of Tennessee leave the SEC? Lawyer explains new state law The following weekend, Tennessee will be facing ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville at 3:30 p.m. on September 6. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ Then, on September 13, Tennessee will be taking on Georgia at Neyland Stadium. The game will be aired on 6 News at 3:30 p.m. The Tennessee-Georgia game will kick off the Vols SEC season with the earliest meeting between the two teams since September of 1995. VFL Bru McCoy medically retires from football With the start of the season getting closer, there are still some questions Vol fans are waiting to find answers to. Specifically, it is unclear who Tennessee's go-to quarterback will be, after Nico Iamaleava transferred to UCLA after missing the spring Orange and White game. There are currently two options on the team's roster: redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshmen George MacIntyre. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Leanne Morgan Stars in New Chuck Lorre Show Inspired by Her Life, and He Visited Her Home for Inspo: 'Had to Pinch Myself' (Exclusive)
Leanne Morgan is starring in Netflix's new sitcom, Leanne, and PEOPLE has the exclusive first look Morgan, who plays the eponymous divorcee, says the series isn't "based" on her life, but is rather inspired by it Leanne, co-created by Chuck Lorre, premieres July 31 on Netflix Leanne Morgan is starring in a brand new series inspired by her life — though, there are some key differences. The comedian, 59, is coming to Netflix with her very own eponymous sitcom, Leanne, and PEOPLE has the first look! Per the official logline, the series follows Leanne as her life "takes an unexpected turn when her husband of 33 years leaves her for another woman." "Starting over when you're a grandmother and in menopause isn't exactly what she had in mind, but with the help of her family she will navigate this new chapter with grace, dignity and jello salad," it continues. In addition to Morgan, the series will star Kristen Johnston, Celia Weston, Blake Clark, Ryan Stiles, Graham Rogers and Hannah Pilkes. Chuck Lorre, a co-creator of the series, will also serve as an executive producer alongside fellow co-creators Morgan and Susan McMartin, as well as Judi Marmel. The actress exclusively tells PEOPLE that working with Lorre, the man behind hit shows like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, was "a dream come true." 'When he came to my home in Knoxville to learn more about me and my family for inspiration for the show I had to pinch myself," she recalls. "To make my very first television series with a titan of the industry taught me something new every day and I'm so honored to work with him.' Though her life may have been a blueprint for Leanne, the actress says there's one thing that's completely fictional. 'The show isn't based on my life—I'm still happily married to my Chuck Morgan!—but it is inspired by it," she explains. "I'm excited to share more about myself and where I come from with viewers, and I can't wait for y'all to see the incredible cast they've paired me with.' Morgan met her husband while attending the University of Tennessee. At the time, she was pursuing a degree in child and family studies after getting a divorce from her first husband. During an interview for her Never Before Told series on YouTube, Morgan told her daughter Maggie that she was working at a local restaurant when she met the man who would become her husband. "Your daddy, Chuck Morgan, was in MBA school and came to work there — they had a group of trainees come through — and I'm standing up against the wall waiting for my table to be seated," she said. "He's tall, he's 6'4', he's so thin, he looks like a praying mantis. I mean that in a sweet way. And I said, 'You're as tall as a tree.' ' The couple started dating soon after and married around 1993. They then went on to welcome three children: Charlie, Maggie and Tess. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Leanne premieres July 31 on Netflix. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion - DEI stifled my medical career. Remove this divisive racial ideology from education.
I'm cheering President Trump's rollback of 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' from the other side of the world. In fact, the main reason I am a medical resident in Tokyo — having arrived last month — is that DEI made it harder to pursue my career in the U.S. Qualified people like myself have been pushed away by this race-based ideology, which not only insults me but injures America. I wish I was home in the U.S. I was born in New York City. I attended City College. As an undergraduate, I served as an EMT on an ambulance and as a medic in ROTC. When I took the Medical College Admission Test, I scored in the 90th percentile, with a near-perfect score in each of the three science sections — biology, chemistry and physics, and psychology and sociology. I had every intention of entering medical practice in the U.S., where I hoped to stay my entire career. But DEI got in the way. It first reared its ugly head when, despite my Medical College Admission Test scores and experience, only one medical school accepted me of the 75 I applied to — the University of Tennessee. Only three other schools even offered to interview me, almost certainly reflecting the unfair standard to which Asians are held thanks to DEI. I accepted the slot at Tennessee, figuring it would still be the springboard I needed for my career. But the DEI shenanigans were just getting started. In 2022, I was part of the first class of medical students who took the revised 'Step 1' test under the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination, which plays a big role in determining where students get their residencies. Before, medical students had been given a numerical score, clearly indicating our knowledge level relative to our peers. Activists, however, successfully demanded that this be changed to a pass-fail, all in the name of diversity. To put it bluntly, the activists do not want the most qualified candidates with the best scores to dominate the best residency opportunities if too many of them are Asian or white. So by using pass-fail, they pushed the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination administrators to make it easier for less qualified students to appear just as qualified as better-performing students. Never mind that better scores tend to indicate which students will become the best physicians, providing the best care to patients. This was the beginning of the end of my hopes of staying in the U.S. I took the Step 2 test in 2023. Although I wish my score had been higher, it put me in strong contention for a residency in neurology. Unfortunately, despite applying to 50-plus residencies, I got one rejection after another. I understood when Ivy League schools said no. I did not understand it when schools like Rutgers and Hofstra rejected me. The University of Tennessee gave me two residency offers, but that would have told future employers that I couldn't succeed without a home-field advantage. I spoke with numerous students of different races who had scored lower than me but got better residencies. That's exactly what's supposed to happen under DEI. Spurned by American institutions, I did something I never thought I would do — I looked overseas. I was invited to present a research paper in Germany, winning an award in the process. I was also asked to present at the University of Osaka. I also submitted a research plan to Dr. Masashi Hamada at the University of Tokyo School of Medicine, who offered me a residency. I am now the first foreign trainee and researcher that school has ever had. In Japan, thanks to American DEI. I am grateful that a top-tier university finally accepted me. But it pains me that, while Japan wants me, America does not. The United Kingdom and Australia have also given me a license to practice medicine in their countries. They recognize merit in a way that the U.S. no longer does, to the detriment of our medical system and the 340 million Americans who rely on it. Will I return to the U.S. to continue my career? I certainly want to, but I am coming to love practicing medicine in a country where the focus is treating patients, not checking ideological or racial boxes. I would be more likely to return if President Trump and state leaders continue to get divisive racial ideology out of higher education — especially out of medical school. There's much more to be done when it comes to restoring a system based on merit. DEI has pushed me away. But if Trump keeps rolling it back, it will be much easier to come home someday. Saivikram Madireddy is a neurology trainee and researcher at the University of Tokyo in Japan. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
