College Shorts Deans and Impropriety

Author: Zamir Ahmed, Associate Editor

New York AG alleges impropriety by lenders

An investigation of student loan providers has found that a number of lenders bribed college officials in exchange for steering business their way, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced in a press conference on May 15.
According to Cuomo, lenders influences colleges through free trips for financial aid employees, as well as providing credit lines for colleges and making donations to institutions that stop participating in government aid programs.
"We have found that these school-lender relationships are often highly tainted by conflicts of interest and, we believe, illegal, deceptive business practices," said Cuomo during the press conference.
Officials for student lenders maintain that their practices are legal and are a way for colleges to better understand the system.
"If some of the things he alleges are true, they ought to be stopped immediately," said Sallie Mae spokesman Tom Joyce in an interview. "We welcome the inquiry and we have cooperated with the investigation."
Although no criminal or civil suits have been fired, the attorney general's office could still pursue legal action against the lenders, according to CNN. Currently, 100 colleges are still under investigation while letters have been sent to over 400 institutions warning them that their ties to student lenders could create a conflict of interest.
-CNN.com

Dean in China fired for criticism of restrictions

Zhang Ming, dean of political sciences at Renmin University in Beijing, China, was fired from the post on March 16 after he criticized restrictions on academic freedom in the country in a blog post.
Zhang, who will remain a professor at the university, condemned what he called the "bureaucratization of Chinese colleges" on his popular blog on March 12. Zhang also maintains that he was removed from his post because of an alleged spat with a superior that he described on his blog.
Zhang also maintains that the superior moved to have him removed as dean after Zhang defended a colleague who he believed was wrongfully omitted from a reviewing panel, whose members Zhang felt were selected for their official ranks rather than for their academic contributions, according to MSNBC.
Renmin University maintained that Zhang's comments were unfounded on its Web site.
-MSNBC.com

Plattsburgh St. adds first student BSA chapter

Eight students at Plattsburgh State University have created the first student chapter of the Botanical Society of America (BSA) in the nation, pushing the group's national ranks to over 2,400 members.
The student chapter of the society, which is aimed at promoting the study of botany through research, education and communication between experts, was founded by students who are all enrolled in a plant diversity and evolution course taught by Assistant Professor of Biological Studies Christopher Maritime. The group's membership is currently comprised of five biology majors and three environmental science majors, according to the Cardinal Points.
"The number one benefit is for students to see what it is like to be part of a scientific community," said Maritime in an interview with the Points. "The annual BSA conference will be held in Chicago this summer. I am hoping we can get a few students out there to represent Plattsburgh State."
-Cardinal Points