News Shorts: RIETS Registration, Presidential Fellowship Cut, NIH Funding, and Mobile Apps

Presidential Fellowship Cut

Yeshiva University’s Presidential Fellowship in University and Community Leadership, initiated in the fall of 2004 to bring alumni into offices within Yeshiva University, has been suspended. “The Fellowship is an auxiliary program and at this time our focus must be on undergraduate programs that benefit a broad cross section of our student body during these formative years they spend with us,” President Joel said in a statement. The program, which has attracted 150 graduates over a decade, places approximately twenty students in offices around the university.

Eli Shavalian, head resident adviser and co-chairman of the Student Life Committee told The Commentator, “I am disappointed that the Fellowship is cancelled because I think there are so many students in this university that have so much potential that could have been tapped into had they been able to do the Fellowship.”  SCWSC President Chana Posluns said she was “disappointed” and that “participating in the Presidential Fellowship was something I had anticipated doing since my first year at Stern.” She did admit that YU had “made the right decision.” Given the difficult financial situation that Yeshiva University is faced with,” she said, “the core curriculum and the student body as a whole--that is of paramount importance.”

RIETS Raises, Backs Down from Registration Increases

Six days before the beginning of registration for RIETS rabbinical students, Dean Rabbi Marc Penner told students that the cost to register would more than triple. “At the behest of the RIETS board we have been asked to raise registration fees in an attempt to preclude more serious measures that might impact on the quality of our educational program,” he wrote in an email sent to students. “As always, our goal remains to enable every deserving student to continue his learning in RIETS.” The dramatic cuts caused widespread anger. A letter circulated among students and sent to the administration stated, “the lack of advanced warning of such a dramatic increase to $1000, is an unreasonable expectation of talmidim [students] that are already stretched to the limit.” In response, RIETS back down from the fee raises.

YU’s Mobile Apps Win Awards

Two of Yeshiva University’s mobile applications have been recognized as winners in the Higher Education Marketing Report’s 2013 Education Digital Marketing Awards. “Cardozo Life” won the gold award for Mobile Media and “This Is Yeshiva University” received the silver award for Mobile Media.

“Cardozo Life,” reports on the school’s activities, faculty and alumni, and includes interviews, articles, and insights about current issues and the latest legal topics. Users can scroll through stories, watch videos, and share information to connect to Cardozo. “This Is Yeshiva University” offers a concise, visual overview of the school. Users can tour YU’s undergraduate and graduate schools, learn about the university’s history, and the activities taking place on campus. From interactive campus maps to promotional videos and photo galleries, users can get acquainted with the school through this ground-breaking free publication.

Einstein Ranks High for NIH Funding

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University ranked among the top fifth of medical schools in securing research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2013. The rankings, provided by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, a non-profit organization based in North Carolina that compares research funding at medical schools using an open access NIH database, were published in the online newspaper BioScience. In 2013, Einstein received more than $155 million in NIH funding, ranking 25th out of 139 United States medical schools that received NIH grants. Einstein had a particularly strong showing in the basic science categories. The rise to the 25th position represents an advance of seven positions since 2007, when Einstein ranked 32nd.