Academics

Former U. President Bowen GS ’58 argues online education is “here to stay”

William Bowen lectures on the future of online education and MOOCs

Former U. President Bowen GS ’58 argues online education is “here to stay”

Evan Draim

Former University President William G. Bowen GS ’58argued that “online education is here to stay”in a lecture in McCosh 50 on Monday night,saying that universities must work to find solutions to the challenges posed by technological advances. The national discourse surrounding the growing prevalence of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, has become increasingly relevant to the University in recent years, where several professors have adopted Coursera, a massive online education platform that allows professors to offer online courses to students off-campus. University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83, who has indicated his support for a greater role for online education in the past, acknowledged the cost considerations driving the popularity of MOOCs in a May lecture.

NEWS | 10/14/2013

U. debate on threat posed by climate change grows hot

U. debate on threat posed by climate change grows hot

Greta Shum

The threat posed to humanity by climate change is questionable, University physics professor William Happer GS '64 said in a talk Thursday at the physics department's monthly colloquium. Happer's comments came in response to anannual report on the state of climate changereleased by theUnited Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in September, with whose findings he disagreed.Two weeks earlier, Happer had shared the same views at atalk celebrating Institute for Advanced Study physicist Freeman Dyson’s 90th birthday. Happer’s criticism of the link between greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide contributing to global warming has been a point of contention among the academic community, including his peers at the University. In his Thursday discussion, titled “Why Has Global Warming Paused?”, Happer directly challenged the IPCC report that supported the link between human greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.Contrary to the report, Happer said that increased carbon dioxide emissions would not pose a problem for humanity. Over the past 15 years, temperatures have not risen as high as scientists, including himself, have predicted, Happer pointed out.

NEWS | 10/14/2013

With Class of 2013, Mudd Library offers online database of senior theses

Konadu Amoakuh

Princeton senior theses are now joining the world of digital documents.On Tuesday Oct.

NEWS | 10/13/2013

$100 million BRAIN initiative frozen by shutdown, but holds potential benefits for neuroscience at U.

Elizabeth Paul

Pending the end of the government shutdown, University neuroscientists may play a crucial role in pioneering new neurotechnologies through President Obama’s recent $100 million Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies initiative.

NEWS | 10/09/2013

Pilot program allows first-come, first-served precept sign-up via SCORE

Austin Lee

First-come, first-served precept and lab sign-ups were available through the Student Course Online Registration Engine for 150 courses this fall, as part of a University pilot program to centralize the course enrollment system and move away from the use of Blackboard for section enrollments. This initiative, which was started last spring with 50 courses, has been in the works for two years, University Spokesperson Martin Mbugua said.

NEWS | 10/01/2013

Greatest threat to University is becoming too comfortable in No. 1 ranking, Shapiro says

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Greatest threat to University is becoming too comfortable in No. 1 ranking, Shapiro says

Elizabeth Paul

The University’s high standings on rankings such as U.S. News and World Report does not mean Princeton should not pursue experimental teaching methods, former University President Harold Shapiro explained in a Sunday afternoon discussion onthe challenges facing higher education. Four current and former college presidents, including Shapiro and former University president Shirley Tilghman, discussed the expansion of online courses, financial difficulties and inadequate rating systems.

NEWS | 09/29/2013

From “sexiest Internet executive” to politics professor: Omar Wasow

Loully Saney

Omar Wasow became an assistant professor of politics this fall to teach students on race and identity.

NEWS | 09/26/2013

With 88 concentrators, ORFE sees jump in sophomore class

Michael Granovetter

Concentrators in the operations research and financial engineering department jumped by more than a third with this year’s sophomore class, according to the University directory.

NEWS | 09/26/2013

SPIDER instrument to be launched in Antarctica

Greta Shum

A team of University physicists and engineers met with collaborators in Palestine, Texas this summer to assemble and test a telescope complex, known as SPIDER, that when launched will help scientists understand the fundamental physics of a period during the early universe.Currently, most of SPIDER has been disassembled and is on its way by boat to Antarctica.

NEWS | 09/25/2013

As part of expanding neuroscience program, new complex to open next semester

Greta Shum

Construction of the University’s new neuroscience and psychology complex, Peretsman-Scully Hall, is slated to be completed by Nov.

NEWS | 09/22/2013

Wilson School adds nine research seminars among host of changes to curriculum

Angela Wang

After switching to a nonselective admission process last year, the Woodrow Wilson School admitted a record 163 students from the Class of 2015 and has introduced a number of changes to the school’s curriculum, among them the addition of nine new skills-based research seminars that will replace one of the two previously mandatory task forces. Previously, all juniors in the Wilson School were required to participate in a policy task force each semester and wrote their junior papers in tandem with the task force.

NEWS | 09/19/2013

No-P/D/F policy rescinded for COS 126, remains for COS 217, 226

Elizabeth Paul

Following the adoption of a no-pass/D/fail policy for COS 126, 217 and 226 last spring, the computer science department has now reinstated the P/D/F option for COS 126: General Computer Science. In May, a couple months after the policy was announced, Dean of the College Valerie Smith and Dean of the Faculty David Dobkinapproached Andrew Appel '81, computer science department chair, and requested that the department reconsider its implementation of a no-P/D/F policy for COS 126, Appel said. Smith and Dobkin “requested that we reconsider and offered to help in various resource constraints we were running up against,” Appel explained. William O.

NEWS | 09/19/2013

Duneier, early Coursera proponent, departs platform amid national debate on role of massive online education

Regina Wang

Less than a year and a half after the the University first began offering online courses through the massive online education platform Coursera, one of its first and most popular courses will be discontinued.Sociology professor Mitchell Duneier was an early champion of Cousera.

NEWS | 09/16/2013

Saitta ’14 discovers new way to distinguish dinosaur sexes

Saitta ’14 discovers new way to distinguish dinosaur sexes

Elizabeth Paul

Evan Saitta ’14 discovered a new way to distinguish between male and female stegosauruses while completing his senior thesis research in central Montana this summer.

NEWS | 09/16/2013

ENV course examines climate change through Hurricane Sandy, Jersey Shore visits

Austin Lee

While the University campus was shielded from the worst effects of Hurricane Sandy last fall, the other home of Katie Goepel ’15 was not as fortunate.

NEWS | 09/15/2013

Dean of the Graduate School William Russel to retire in spring

Regina Wang

Dean of the Graduate School William Russel announced Wednesday he will step down at the end of this academic year.

NEWS | 09/12/2013

Manuscript of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel digitized for public access

Patience Haggin

The original manuscript of American author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel, “This Side of Paradise,” has been digitized and made publicly accessible online, the Princeton University Library announced today.

NEWS | 09/11/2013

Class of 2017 dominated by New Jersey, California applicants

Class of 2017 dominated by New Jersey, California applicants

Sarah Cen

New Jersey and California together contributed to over 27 percent of the total Class of 2017, while four states — Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming and Iowa — contributed no students.

NEWS | 09/10/2013

Eisgruber ’83 lectures on importance of technology in learning

The University and universities at large must learn to use technology to enhance the learning experience, according to University Provost and President-elect Christopher Eisgruber ’83 in his lecture entitled, “The Changing Landscape of Higher Education:MOOCs, Money and the Future of Liberal Arts Education” in the filled-to-capacity Dodds Auditoriumon Fridayafternoon.

NEWS | 06/01/2013

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