ACUHO-I News Blog

On Inside HigherEd this week: how the health care legislation will affect higher education; how student loans will change; pay stagnates for mid-level administrators; and  other news.

HEALTH CARE AND HIGHER ED: What the new legislation means for students, campus health centers and medical schools.

STUDENT LOAN BILL SCORECARD: A look at who fared well — and who didn’t– in legislation to overhaul the student loan programs.

TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE: For-profit player teams up with community college to free those willing to pay more from waiting lists. Is this an important new option or an abandonment of a commitment to equity?

THE 3-YEAR M.D.: Texas Tech announces option that could encourage more medical students to consider family medicine, and save them time and money. Major study will recommend similar move nationally.

NO INCREASES FOR MID-LEVEL PAY: Whether in academic affairs, student affairs, or the business side of the house, salaries were stagnant, survey finds.

“Keep Austin Weird” – it’s the unofficial “official” slogan for the city of Austin. What began as an off-the-cuff remark during a pledge drive for KOOP has turned into a massive marketing campaign to support local businesses. Other cities have tried to “borrow” it (“Keep Ann Arbor Weird”?), but no one does weird like Austin.

So, what makes us so weird? For starters . . .

We have the largest urban bat colony in North America. Nearly 1.5 million (you read that right, million) Mexican free-tailed bats call the Ann Richardson Bridge over Lady Bird Lake home each year. The bridge is just three blocks west of the Convention Center, so you’ll be able to walk over easily from your hotel. Since the bats emerge each night at dusk, the flight times vary. You’ll need to call the Bat Hotline at 512.416.5700, Category 3636 for the current schedule.

Austin has the only clothing-optional public park in Texas. Hippie Hollow is located on Lake Travis and is about a 30-minute drive from downtown.

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Campus: Davenport University (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Name: South Hall
Opened: August 2009
Cost: $16.5 million
Architect: Integrated Architecture

When Davenport University began to provide on-campus housing four years ago, no one expected the change in student population would be so drastic. Davenport’s 13 off-campus sites serve primarily non-traditional students, but the new main campus is used by a whole different crowd.

The first residence hall on this campus opened in 2005 and held about 100 students, but more room was needed, with the traditional student base doubling every year. With South Hall, the third residence facility on campus, the residential population has grown to 400. Not only that, but the construction on the project included foundation footprints attached to South Hall for future housing that will increase that number to 500.

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