AUSTIN, TexasUniversity of Texas at Austin researchers are available to discuss education issues from a variety of perspectives. The following is a summary of education news and resources from the university.
Gone to Texas Welcomes Students to the University
Each August on the evening before fall classes begin, new students at The University of Texas at Austin are invited to celebrate their fresh start at the Tower with live music and broad spectrum of presentations from across the campus. Media are invited to this Texas-sized welcome.
Contact: Office of Relationship Management and University Events, 512-471-7753.
Obese Girls Less Likely to Attend College, Research Shows
Obese girls are half as likely to attend college as non-obese girls, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin. The study also reveals obese girls are even less likely to enter college if they attend a high school where obesity is relatively uncommon. The findings appear in the July issue of the journal Sociology of Education.
Contact: Robert Crosnoe, associate professor of sociology, 512-232-6340.
Education Policy Center Informs Dropout Prevention Legislation
The College of Education’s Texas Center for Education Policy marked the conclusion of its first year with the completion of its first major project for the Texas legislature. Led by Angela Valenzuela, the center wrote a micro-grant that is part of HB 2237. The $140 million, 50-page bill aims to sharply curb high school dropout rates and expand at-risk students’ support networks.
Contact: Kay Randall, College of Education, 512-232-3910.
Fitness Institute Helps Central Texans Achieve Health Goals
The Fitness Institute of Texas, part of the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, offers accurate, detailed body composition analysis and fitness testing by top researchers. The assessments are available not only to the university community but also to the public. They benefit out-of-shape beginners, as well as endurance athletes who need detailed feedback to benchmark their progress.
Contact: Kay Randall, College of Education, 512-232-3910.
UT Elementary School Rated “Exemplary”
The Texas Education Agency awarded an exemplary rating to UT Elementary School, a public charter school in East Austin operated by The University of Texas at Austin, based on its Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores from the spring. Ramona Treviño, the school’s principal, said the testing involved students in the school’s third and fourth grades.
Contact: Robert D. Meckel, Office of Public Affairs, 512-475-7847.
EXPERT SPOTLIGHT
Joan Mullin, Professor of Rhetoric and Composition
Mullin leads the Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing Mentor program in the Department of Rhetoric and Composition at The University of Texas at Austin. She is collaborating on a book on plagiarism in the university classroom. She can discuss definitions of plagiarism, detection and prevention.
Contact: Joan Mullin, 512-232-2265.
For more information contact: Jennifer McAndrews, public affairs specialist, College of Liberal Arts, 512-232-4730.
