Student Union
- By Amanda Scott
Twelve Top US Universities Reaffirm Commitment to Climate Change Pact
The presidents of Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and nine other universities said in a joint statement Monday that universities play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing the understanding as to the causes and effects of climate change on the environment, and developing solutions.
Climate change, caused primarily by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, has led to changing weather patterns, rising sea level, and more extreme weather events around the world.
“The scientific consensus is clear that the climate is changing largely due to human activity, that the consequences of climate change are accelerating, and that the imperative of a low carbon future is increasingly urgent.”
Other schools signing the agreement include Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2015, the schools were among some 318 educational institutions to sign the American Campuses Act on Climate Pledge, which committed them to increased energy efficiency; conservation of resources; and continued support of research in the fields of climate change, public health, energy, and sustainability.
On June 1, President Trump announced plans to pull the United States out of the Paris agreement. Trump argues the climate agreement has disadvantaged the U.S. and benefited other countries, leaving American businesses and taxpayers to absorb the costs.
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Proposed settlement offered over financial aid allegations
A group of U.S. colleges and universities have agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging deceptive financial aid tactics, according to a report published in The Hill.
The schools would pay $284 million to plaintiffs who were enrolled full-time and received financial aid between 2003 and 2024.
The schools have denied the allegations. (April 2024)
Universities in Middle East building research relationships with China
As China bolsters research relationships with universities in the Middle East, the United States has taken notice – especially when that research involves artificial intelligence.
Reporting for University World News, Yojana Sharma has the story. (March 2024)
Tips for staying safe while studying in the US
Recent news events have raised safety concerns among some international students studying in the United States.
Adarsh Khandelwal, writing in the India Times, has tips for staying safe from the moment you arrive until the day you complete your studies. (March 2024)
Some colleges are making digital literacy classes mandatory
A 2019 study by Stanford found that most college students can’t tell the difference between real and fake news articles. Amid rampant online disinformation, and the threat of AI-generated images, some schools are making students learn “digital literacy” to graduate.
Lauren Coffeey reports for Inside Higher Ed. (March 2024)
With federal student aid delays, students aren’t sure what college will cost
The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student aid form (FAFSA) experienced serious glitches and delays this year.
Now, many students have been admitted to college, but don’t know how much money they’ll need to attend.
Read the story from Susan Svrluga and Danielle Douglas-Gabriel for The Washington Post. (March 2024)