University of Massachusetts Amherst - Office of News & Information

Thursday, August 21, 2008

 An Online Resource for Journalists
Daily News Summary

Each weekday morning, the Office of News and Information compiles a summary of news coverage about UMass Amherst and trends in higher education.
UMass Amherst

Headlines

Incoming Class of 4,100 Students at UMass Amherst Carries Impressive Academic Credentials

August 21, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst will welcome the Class of 2012 during the Labor Day weekend, approximately 4,100 undergraduates with impressive academic credentials drawn from a record number of applicants. This is the third consecutive year applications to UMass Amherst have increased with nearly 29,000 first-year student seeking admission, a 7-percent increase over last year. New students will move onto campus on Sunday, Aug. 31, with classes set to begin Tuesday, Sept. 2. More...



Installation of 60 New Security Cameras at UMass Amherst Broadens Campus Coverage

August 18, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – By summer’s end, an additional 60 security cameras will be installed at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, bringing the total to more than 500 placed in residence halls, dining commons and other buildings as part of a campus safety program. More...



K9s Max and Kaila Retire from the UMass Police Department After Combined Seven Years of Duty

August 15, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – When two veteran members of the UMass Amherst Police Department retired recently, they were given plaques, replica police badges and a warm send-off, but they might have preferred a nice toy or a rawhide flip. More...



UMass Amherst Dining Services Honored by Two Food Service Industry Magazines

August 15, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – Dining Services at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has added two more honors to its plate with awards from Food Management and Produce Business magazines. More...



New Video: Holyoke Chapter of Girls Inc. "Builds IT" at UMass Amherst

August 15, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - More than a dozen girls from the Holyoke chapter of Girls Incorporated visited UMass Amherst for a day in August to tour information technology workplaces and learn about computer-related careers. The girls are participating in a national program called “Build IT,” which is designed to tap into the curiosity of girls between the ages of 9 and 15 about design and communication technology. More...



Video Tour Shows Off New Home of the School of Nursing at UMass Amherst

August 14, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - UMass Amherst is completing a $19 million renovation of Skinner Hall this summer, which will be the new home of the School of Nursing. The refurbished facility, initially constructed in the 1940s, will include classrooms, breakout rooms and a clinical lab that simulates a hospital environment. More...



UMass Press Director Discusses 45 Years of Publishing History in Video Interview

August 13, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - University of Massaschuetts Press Director Bruce Wilcox discusses the press and its 45 years of publishing history in a new video interview. The press is the subject of a special exhibit in the Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst that runs through Aug. 31. More...



UMass Amherst to Host Annual Community Breakfast Aug. 28

August 13, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – The 42nd Annual Community Breakfast will be held on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Franklin Dining Commons at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The event is open to the public. More...



UMass Amherst Takes Steps to Assist Students Still Seeking Housing for the Fall

August 11, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst is taking a number of steps to accommodate a larger-than-usual number of requests from returning students and transfer juniors for on-campus housing this fall. More...



UMass Amherst Hosts Visit from Girls Inc. of Holyoke to Explore Information Technology Careers

August 7, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. – More than a dozen girls from the Holyoke chapter of Girls Incorporated will visit the University of Massachusetts Amherst on Friday, Aug. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to tour information technology (IT) workplaces and learn about computer-related careers. More...

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UMass Research

UMass Amherst Researchers Receive New Federal Funds to Continue Landscape Conservation Efforts

AMHERST, Mass. – Two researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst working on wetlands monitoring and assessment projects around the state have received a new round of funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Boston Hurricane Frequency Over Last Millennium Linked To Ocean Surface Temperatures By UMass Amherst Researchers

AMHERST, Mass. – The frequency of hurricanes striking the Boston area has varied widely over the last millennium, with periods of lowest activity corresponding to cooler surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean, according to newly published research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Commonly Used Pesticides on Golf Courses Do Not Pose a Health Risk to Golfers, Says UMass Amherst Researcher

AMHERST, Mass. – Maintaining golf courses requires the constant application of herbicides and insecticides. While some golfers may wonder if they are being poisoned in their pursuit of pleasure, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that residues of two widely used insecticides picked up by golfers during a typical golf game do not pose a health risk.

Safer Blood Transfusions, Chemotherapy, Being Developed By UMass Amherst Researchers, Health Care Professionals

AMHERST, Mass. – Computer scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are working with Massachusetts healthcare professionals to analyze medical procedures, including blood transfusions and chemotherapy treatments, with the goal of improving patient safety. The team is also analyzing the flow of patients in emergency rooms to reduce waiting time.

UMass Amherst Researcher Sofiya Alhassan to Study Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents

AMHERST, Mass. – A scientist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has received federal funding to help her develop and validate new methods for processing physical activity in children age 8 through 16.

All Sweeteners May Not Be the Same When Managing Type 2 Diabetes and Complications, Say UMass Amherst Researchers

AMHERST, Mass. – Recent research by Kalidas Shetty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Lena Galvez Ranilla of the University of San Paolo, Brazil, shows that when it comes to managing Type 2 diabetes, all sweeteners may not be the same. Some sweeteners, including date sugar and less refined, dark brown sugars, showed potential for managing Type 2 diabetes and related complications − information that could help Type 2 diabetics make better dietary choices.

Boosting Biofuels Production with Microwaves While Slashing Costs to Be Studied At UMass Amherst

AMHERST, Mass. – A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst has received a $440,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for research that will speed up the production of biofuels while slashing production costs. The research will focus on converting natural products, such as vegetable oil, wood and grasses, to liquid fuels.

Climate Change Could Threaten Costa Rican Cloud Forests, Other Mountain Ecosystems, Say UMass Amherst Researchers

AMHERST, Mass. – While melting Arctic sea ice and glaciers have become a symbol of climate change, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst indicates that highland forests in Costa Rica could also be seriously affected by future changes in climate, reducing the number of species in a region famous for its biodiversity.

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