Latest news with #WorcesterPolytechnicInstitute
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Clark U. was booming 3 years ago. How they got to laying off 30% of faculty
Three years ago Clark University in Worcester had its largest incoming class ever — 705 students. Since then, enrollment has been down 'more than expected,' according to John Magee, Clark's provost and vice president of academic affairs. 'It's certainly hard to say if it's a trend, but ... it's something we want to make sure that we're in front of and not just sitting around in two years saying: 'Oh, we should have done something,'' Magee said. The incoming class is underenrolled by around 100 students — leading to lay offs of up 30% of faculty and 5% of staff, according to a Tuesday announcement. Most of the layoffs Magee hopes will come from retirement and attrition over the next two to three years, he said. Read more: How a college closing disaster led to new student protections in Mass. The enrollment gain in 2022 was likely due to a bounce back from the pandemic, Magee said. However, like many other small institutions across the United States and in the state, Clark is facing difficulties with enrollment because of a 'demographic cliff,' where there are fewer traditionally college-aged students in the United States. He also pointed to declining trust in higher education and the questioning of its value as reasons for declining enrollment, Magee said. While Clark is keeping a close eye on Trump administration actions, it isn't the reason for the layoffs, Magee said. The layoffs at Clark come after Worcester Polytechnic Institute laid off 24 employees due to pressures from rising costs and uncertainty regarding the Trump administration's policies on higher education. In Massachusetts, over two dozen colleges and universities have closed or merged over the past decade due to financial and enrollment difficulties. Most recently, Eastern Nazarene College, a private Christian liberal arts college in Quincy, announced in June that it would close due to financial issues. Bard College at Simon's Rock said in November it would close its campus due to declining enrollment. As Clark confronts a difficult enrollment reality, the institution is aiming to be 'proactive,' in part by reconfiguring its academic programs. 'Clark is reasonably well resourced. We have the time and the opportunities to make some large strategic changes over the next, frankly, four or five years,' Magee said. 'So this isn't a one-year knee jerk reaction. This isn't that we're in danger of closing or needing to merge, we really have the opportunity to start doing some things different here,' he said. It will be divided into Climate, Environment & Society; Media Arts, Computing & Design; and Health & Human Behavior. It is part of a strategic planning process that began in 2022 called Clark Inspired, Magee said. In January, the institution announced it would be launching a new School of Climate, Environment, and Society in fall 2025 and hired a new dean for it. Read more: Why transforming vacant college campuses into housing isn't easy 'Part of the strategy is both addressing that value proposition — having areas that we have historic strength and newfound strength on — leaning into those as what Clark should really be well known for as a way of addressing kind of the overall enrollment trends, the demographic cliff, the public perceptions,' Magee said. The planning process also includes eliminating lower-enrolled majors, including French and Francophone studies, Comparative Literature, Ancient Civilization and Studio Art. Studio Art will be maintained as a minor and a visual arts program will likely take its place, Magee said. 'Our reorganization gives us the foundation for having Clark thrive in the future for a long period of time, really meet the market, be more agile, ensure that we have outstanding student outcomes, both on the curricular side and the student life side so that students really want to be here. They're getting value out of what we have,' Magee said. 'That's both the challenge and the opportunity,' he said. As Harvard fights Trump admin in court, professors are quietly dropping courses Clark University to lay off up to 30% of faculty amid enrollment woes 'Incredibly ironic': Trump antisemitism effort may force out Harvard's Israeli Jews MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech from commencement Why the fight over foreign students at Harvard has some US students leaving, too Read the original article on MassLive.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Canadian wildfire smoke spreads into New England late Tuesday and Wednesday
The hazy skies could hinder the Advertisement More than 200 wildfires burn across Central and Western Canada. FIRMS Why are we seeing Canadian wildfire smoke here? Our weather pattern is essentially working as a gear system between air masses. An upper-level trough over the Central United States is steering wildfire smoke south from Canada and across the Midwest and Great Lakes, and as far south as the Gulf Coast on Tuesday. You can see thick gray smoke just east of the bright white clouds across the Great Lakes and into the interior Northeast. You can see the dull gray smoke stretch across the Great Lakes and Interior Northeast. CIRA Meanwhile, a strong pocket of high pressure over the East Coast will flip our flow to a southwesterly direction, tapping into that upper-level flow and wildfire smoke pool, redirecting the smoke through much of New England late Tuesday and Wednesday. Most of the smoke will linger across Central and Northern New England, but Boston will still see some hazy skies. Most of New England will be able to see a fiery red sunrise and sunset. Take a look at the near-surface smoke forecast late Tuesday throughout Wednesday. Advertisement A look at near-surface smoke Tuesday night through all of Wednesday. Pivotal Weather Will air quality deteriorate? The smoke that is coming into our region is not forecast to reach the surface, which is good news for folks who have respiratory challenges, like asthma. The National Weather Service in Norton does not currently have plans to issue any air quality alerts for Wednesday given that our weather pattern should keep most smoke suspended. The higher elevations across Northern New England, which will be much closer to the thicker smoke, may not be as fortunate. There is a 50/50 chance for parts of Northern New England to see air quality reach an unhealthy level, including cities like Burlington, Vt., Plymouth, N.H., and Augusta, Maine. It'll be worth watching how the smoke behaves early Wednesday, but sensitive groups may consider staying indoors, especially if you experience respiratory symptoms during the day Wednesday. As wildfire season ramps up across Canada and the United States, sensitive groups can still be at risk even when inside. 'People can be at risk of exposure to wildfire smoke even when they are indoors. Up to 80 percent of wildfire smoke particles can infiltrate buildings through leaks and gaps,' said Shichao Liu, wildfire expert and professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 'With that in mind, people should consider taking steps to protect themselves not only when they are outdoors, but when they are inside too.' Ken Mahan can be reached at
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Massachusetts University First to Pilot NALCAM, a New Technology Advancing Naloxone Carriage and Overdose Prevention
BOSTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Q2i, a leader in digital health innovation, has launched NALCAM, a pioneering technology designed to increase the carriage of Naloxone—a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. This initiative aims to improve access and consistent carrying of Naloxone, helping individuals respond more effectively in critical overdose situations. Developed by Q2i's contingency management division, NALCAM uses motivational incentives to encourage individuals to carry Naloxone regularly. The program helps bridge the gap between Naloxone distribution and real-world usage, supporting rapid intervention when it matters most. Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) was the first institution to participate in the NALCAM pilot, providing an opportunity to explore how higher education settings can support community-focused public health strategies. Q2i CEO Steve Jenkins stated, "We designed NALCAM to support people in making potentially life-saving choices. By combining behavioral science with public health tools, this technology empowers individuals and organizations to prioritize safety through regular Naloxone carriage." Dr. Matilde Castiel, Commissioner of Health and Human Services for Worcester, emphasized the broader significance of the program: "Worcester is home to many colleges and universities, and initiatives like NALCAM show how higher education can proactively address public health challenges. This program encourages immediate responses to overdose emergencies and has the potential to save lives, setting a new standard for public health interventions." Key Benefits of NALCAM Include: Harm Reduction: Empowers bystanders to respond effectively to overdoses. Stigma Reduction: Supports open, informed conversations around addiction and recovery. Community Impact: Builds awareness and preparedness at the individual and institutional levels. As the opioid crisis continues to affect communities nationwide, NALCAM represents a forward-thinking approach to harm reduction. Q2i welcomes collaboration with campuses, health systems, and community partners seeking to enhance overdose prevention efforts. For more information or partnership inquiries, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Q2i Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawsuit against Trump balloons in size as foreign students face rising risks
A lawsuit against the Trump administration has nearly tripled in plaintiffs — going from 133 originally to 351 — as foreign students across the country feel the risk of staying in the United States. The lawsuit, filed in Georgia but covering students nationwide, comes as a result of thousands of students across the country being notified that their student visas and/or their legal status through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System database (SEVIS) had been revoked, including many in Massachusetts. An order on the lawsuit on Friday granted those plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and stated that their lawsuit is likely to succeed in proving that the Trump administration was 'acting arbitrary, capriciously, and not in accordance with the law' when it revoked students' legal status. The status of international students' visas is tracked through the SEVIS database. A SEVIS legal status allows a foreign student to remain in the United States, while a student visa allows a person to study in the country. In response, over 100 lawsuits were filed, with more than 50 of the cases ordering the Trump administration to temporarily undo the actions, according to Politico. Five international students — including two from Worcester Polytechnic Institute — filed a separate federal class action lawsuit in New Hampshire federal court that aims to represent more than 100 students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island who had their F-1 student immigration status revoked by the Republican administration. Last week, it looked like the Trump administration would reverse course as federal officials said it would reinstate the legal status of international students. However, they also said they were working on a new policy for international students studying in the U.S. to provide a framework for SEVIS legal status terminations. The new guidance, which was released a few days later, allows foreign students to have their legal status revoked for a variety of reasons, including 'exceeded unemployment time.' Read more: 'Games of chicken': Trump reversing foreign student legal status raises concerns 'ICE tried to 'fix' the problem it created, and made it worse,' said Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney who is leading the lawsuit that now represents 351 foreign students who lost their legal status. 'They have not walked them back. They left all these students with status gaps, did not restore all the students, and are, again, revoking SEVIS again for some of those who had been reinstated,' Kuck said. In Massachusetts, foreign students have been especially targeted at Harvard University. Harvard was issued an ultimatum by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in an April 16 letter: it could refuse to respond to its demands and lose its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification allowing international students to study there — 27% of its undergraduate and graduate population — or give up information about its foreign student population. Harvard said it provided DHS 'information required by law' about foreign students' illegal activity and records, but didn't state what information was given. Given ongoing pressures, admitted international students will be allowed to accept admission at Harvard University and at a foreign institution as a 'backup plan.' The lawsuit representing 351 students was originally filed April 14, according to Kuck. To become a class action, it still needs a judge's approval, he said. The lawsuit aims to have the court state that students' legal status and student visas be reinstated to the 'exact immigration and legal position they were in as of March 25, 2025,' according to the filing. It also aims to have the court declare that the termination of students' SEVIS records were 'arbitrary, capricious and unlawful,' declare the revocation of valid visas to be unlawful and order the federal government to remove any inaccurate or defamatory information about the students from 'systems of record.' The lawsuit is unique because it 'attacks the legality of the 'fix' and also addresses the visa revocation,' according to Kuck. The lawsuit claims that ICE had 'no authority' to terminate students' SEVIS records and that the revocations have caused 'imminent concrete and preventable harm,' according to the lawsuit. It further claims that the new policies by the federal government created a slew of legal issues. 'A visa revocation should not, legally, impact a student's immigration status in the United States, yet such a revocation will be treated by ICE in a manner that constructively terminates that student's status by cutting off the ability to work, to study, and to change immigration statuses within the United States," the lawsuit reads. 'My face was on the ... truck': Harvard report details climate of fear for pro-Palestine students 'Willing to capitulate': Cracks emerge in Harvard's resistance to Trump over DEI Harvard hands over foreign student info to feds amid threat from Trump admin An ultimatum for Harvard: Provide info on foreign students or lose them An alum bought a closing Eastern Mass. college. Here's what he plans to do with it
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2 WPI students part of lawsuit against federal government over visa terminations
Two students from Worcester Polytechnic Institute are part of a group suing the federal government for revoking their student visas earlier this month. Five international students — represented by four American Civil Liberties Union affiliates in New England and law firm Shaheen & Gordon — filed a federal class action lawsuit last week in New Hampshire federal court that aims to represent more than 100 students in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico who had their F-1 student immigration status revoked by President Donald Trump's administration. Of the four students who are plaintiffs, two of them — Hangrui Zhang and Haoyang An, both of China — are students at WPI in Worcester, according to the lawsuit. Read more: Visas revoked for 13 UMass Amherst, 4 Worcester Polytechnic Institute students The revocations at WPI took place on April 9, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that both students' goals to complete their Ph.D programs are now in jeopardy. The other students are Linkhith Babu Gorrela, Thanuj Kumar Gummadavelli and Manikanta Pasula, all of India and students at Rivier University in New Hampshire. The defendants in the case are the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Boston Field Office; the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Manchester Sub-Field Office; DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit asks the court to reinstate their F-1 student status, which would allow them to continue their studies, according to a press release issued Friday from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire. According to the lawsuit, the visa terminations disrupted the students' education in the middle of a semester as they worked to achieve degrees and followed all rules required of them, according to the ACLU. Gorrela's graduation date for his master's program, for example, is May 20. With terminated F-1 statuses, the students are also now at risk of detention and deportation, the ACLU wrote. The terminations conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have been occurring since at least March 1, according to the ACLU. 'We continue to be alarmed by the Trump administration's sudden termination of student statuses at universities across the country without any notice or stated explanation,' said Gilles Bissonnette, legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. 'International students are a vital community in our state's universities, and no administration should be allowed to circumvent the law to unilaterally strip students of status, disrupt their studies, and put them at risk of deportation.' Korean fried chicken chain opening in Worcester this summer Patient safety concerns at 4 Mass. hospitals, Leapfrog survey shows Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty to run for reelection
