Category: Education

Betsy DeVos Releases Statement on the Executive Order Signed by President Trump

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos released the following statement on the Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump today which will transform the federal hiring process to replace one-size-fits-all, degree-based hiring with skills-based hiring:

“I want to applaud President Trump for today’s Executive Order that recognizes the skills, knowledge, and experience students and workers gain both inside and outside the classroom. All too often, workers have been denied opportunities that match their skills because they lacked a traditional degree, and industries have missed out on capable employees because of arbitrary postsecondary degree requirements. It’s long past time to extend credit to workers for the talents they bring, even if those abilities aren’t learned while earning a traditional degree, and today’s Executive Order ensures the federal government does that going forward.

“I continue to challenge the business community to rethink education and to embrace potential employees who have gained their experience and skills outside of the typical classroom—including serving our country through military service. Learning is a lifelong journey, and there are many ways to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workforce. I thank President Trump for his leadership on this issue, which will benefit students, lifelong learners, and all American workers.”

MBDA Awards Nearly $2 Million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

WASHINGTON (December 3, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), is announcing grant awards of nearly $2 million to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In June 2018, MBDA invited HBCUs to propose projects that will achieve one or more of the following objectives: increase their ability to compete for and receive Federal research and development funds; establish partnerships with Federal laboratories and other technology resources; increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) entrepreneurship; and compete for Federal contracts.

“Historically Black Colleges and Universities served as the catalyst to creating the black middle class in America and will continue to be the incubator for minority business talent, innovation, and leadership. These important schools generate billions in economic impact annually and are engines for job creation in their local economies across the United States,” said MBDA National Director Henry Childs II. “These grant awards will provide seed money for these institutions to pursue innovative projects and to build more revenue-generating infrastructures to better serve our nation’s future entrepreneurs and workforce.”

The HBCUs that received grant awards include:

Clark Atlanta University ($499,497) to develop a STEM entrepreneurship curriculum that increases student interest in the innovation economy at three Atlanta University Center Consortium campuses.

Howard University ($359,891) to design a technical support model for 11 HBCUs in the mid-Atlantic region to compete for Federal research and development funds and leverage partnerships with Federal laboratories.

South Carolina State University ($404,992) to launch regional training sessions for HBCUs to compete for Federal research and development funds.

Tougaloo College ($695,412) to establish a partnership among multiple HBCUs, private companies, federal labs, and research institutions to increase capacity for HBCUs to participate in federal research and contracting opportunities.

These programs are part of the 2018 MBDA Broad Agency Announcement, a new initiative this year. More than $13 million was awarded for 35 projects focused on Department of Commerce and MBDA priorities from resources that increase disaster preparedness and relief to programs that increase access to capital.

美国国际商会赞助联盟智库

世界亚裔小姐选美大赛是由美国国际商会(AICC)拥有的国际知名品牌，也是每年主办的世界上最负盛名的选美比赛之一，通过大赛在世界范围内选拔、评估和推广世界亚裔小姐大赛的获胜者是亚裔妇女的杰出代表。她们的外表形象、才华和精神上的东方美是亚裔女性整体特征的缩影，也是全世界亚裔民族的共同骄傲。目前，已成功举办过29届。第30届世界亚裔小姐总决赛将于2018年12月8日在洛杉矶千禧酒店举行。

今年世界亚裔小姐大赛中国赛区已于今年9月和10月分别在沈阳和成都成功举行了分赛区总决赛。11月11日，中国总决赛在北京成功举行。

一年一度的世界亚裔小姐选美大赛已经在亚洲及中国成为最著名的选美比赛。通过选美大赛，展示了美国亚裔民族文化的多样性，以及亚裔女性既有共同特征又有鲜明特征的魅力。该比赛是一个巨大的公共文化活动，2018世界亚裔小姐大赛的全部赞助和门票收益，都将捐赠给501(c)(3)非营利性文化教育研究机构——联盟智库(CIE)，帮助实现“亚洲青年文化创新创业志愿者项目”的公益事业，促进少数民裔文化的创新创业研究合作与交流。

更多关于世界亚裔小姐大赛的信息，请访问其官网和脸书：

https://missasiainternational.org

https://www.facebook.com/maip1980

Upcoming Event: 2018 National Book Festival

Leading Historians, Novelists, Poets and Children’s Writers Among Authors to be Featured in 2018 National Book Festival

Lineup Includes Madeleine Albright, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jon Meacham, Junot Diaz and U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith

Dozens of best-selling authors, leading historians, American poets and children’s writers will be featured speakers at the 2018 National Book Festival, the Library of Congress announced today. This year’s festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

This year’s schedule includes a wide-ranging mix of authors and genres.

History and Biography

• Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will discuss her new book, “Fascism: A Warning,” a history of fascism in the 20th century and how its legacy shapes the world.

• Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will speak about her new book, “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” an examination of leadership based on four presidents she has studied most closely.

• Historian Jon Meacham will discuss his new book, “The Soul of America,” about critical times in our history when hope overcame fear and division.

• Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow is back with a new biography of Ulysses S. Grant.

Poetry and Writing

• Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will join the festival for a conversation with former Poet Laureate Robert Hass about the making of poetry.

• Best-selling author Amy Tan will discuss her new memoir, “Where the Past Begins,” delving into memories of her traumatic childhood, the inspiration behind her fiction writings and the workings of her mind as a writer.

Children and Teens

• Children’s author and Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Diaz will discuss his debut picture book, “Islandborn,” about a girl who can’t remember the island where she immigrated from – so she imagines it with help from family and friends.

• Matt de la Peña and Loren Long will discuss their new children’s book, “Love.”

• Leigh Bardugo will speak about her series, “Six of Crows,” a young adult best-seller.

• Jacqueline Woodson, the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, will discuss two new books she has been writing.

Novelists

• Isabel Allende will discuss her novel “In the Midst of Winter.” The story is about an academic who rear-ends a car driven by an undocumented immigrant and an adventure that unfolds.

• Dave Eggers tells the true story of a young Yemeni American man’s quest to resurrect the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but is trapped by civil war in his new book, “The Monk of Mokha.”

• Jennifer Egan will discuss her historical novel “Manhattan Beach,” set in the docks of Brooklyn during World War II when a girl becomes the first female diver on the squad.

Additional authors—including the Main Stage lineup—and other details of the festival will be announced in the coming months. More information and updates will be available on the National Book Festival website at loc.gov/bookfest/.

The National Book Festival is made possible by the generous support of private- and public-sector sponsors who share the Library’s commitment to reading and literacy, led by National Book Festival Co-Chairman David M. Rubenstein. Charter sponsors include the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Washington Post and Wells Fargo; Patron sponsors The James Madison Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities; PBS is the Champion-level sponsor; Contributor-level sponsors National Geographic and Scholastic Inc.; and, in the Friends category, Booklovers Circle members, Marshall B. Coyne Foundation Inc., Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction administered by The University of Alabama School of Law, J.J. Medveckis Foundation, Timothy and Diane Naughton, Reading Is Fundamental and Small Press Expo (SPX). Those interested in supporting the National Book Festival can contact the Library at devofc@loc.gov.

Later this summer, the National Book Festival app will be updated with complete presenter, schedule and wayfinding information for iOS or Android smartphones. Follow the festival on Twitter @librarycongress with hashtag #NatBookFest.

The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States—and extensive materials from around the world—both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov, and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.

First Lady Melania Trump and Mrs. Abe visit with school children in Japan

Nov 06, First Lady Melania Trump and Mrs. Abe visit with school children in Japan | November 6, 2017 (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Nov 07, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will participate in an Embassy meet and greet in Seoul, Republic of Korea, followed by a courtesy call with National Assembly leaders. Then, the President will deliver remarks to the National Assembly. After the President’s remarks, President Trump and the First Lady will participate in a wreath laying ceremony, and then depart the Republic of Korea en route to Beijing, People’s Republic of China. After arriving at the Beijing Airport, the President and First Lady will participate in a welcome tea with President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China and Madame Peng Liyuan, followed by a tour of the Forbidden City and viewing of an opera performance. Later, the President and First Lady will have dinner with President Xi and Madame Peng.

Vice President Pence will travel to the U.S. Capitol to participate in a series of meetings with lawmakers and take part in the Senate Republican Policy Lunch.

First Lady Melania Trump to Kick Off the “Week of Inclusion” at Michigan Middle School

First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will visit Orchard Lake Middle School in West Bloomfield, Michigan to kick off the “Week of Inclusion,” part of National Bullying Prevention Month.

During her visit, Mrs. Trump will spend time in the school’s Viking Huddle Class, a 6th grade classroom that focuses on social emotional learning. The First Lady and Mrs. DeVos will observe and participate in lessons about respecting others, kindness, and inclusion.

In addition to classroom participation, Mrs. Trump will visit with 7th and 8th grade students in the school’s cafeteria in an effort to bring awareness to “No One Eats Alone,” a concept that seeks to reverse the trends of social isolation by asking students to engage in simple acts of kindness – such as making sure that no one is eating alone and students are making an effort to eat with new classmates and peers.

“As part of my ongoing commitment to the overall well-being of children, I am looking forward to today’s visit,” stated First Lady Melania Trump. “By our own example, we must teach children to be good stewards of the world they will inherit. We need to remember that they are always watching and listening. It is our responsibility to take the lead in teaching children the values of empathy and communication that are at the core of kindness, mindfulness, integrity, and leadership.”

National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week 2017

NATIONAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WEEK, 2017

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As we celebrate Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, we recognize the extraordinary contributions that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have made, and continue to make, to the general welfare and prosperity of our country. Established by visionary leaders, America’s HBCUs have long played an integral role in our Nation’s history, providing Black Americans opportunities to learn and achieve their dreams.

Many HBCUs were founded under the cold shadow of segregation and racial prejudice. Before the Civil War, most institutions of higher learning denied admittance to minority students. HBCUs formed to overcome such discrimination and prove to the Nation that all students deserve a high quality education, and that all Americans can rise to great heights if given the opportunity. For more than 150 years, HBCUs have produced some of our Nation’s leaders in business, government, academia, and the military, and they have helped create a thriving and important Black middle class. Today, they continue to provide a rigorous education to students, who are often from low income backgrounds, who seek to advance themselves and give back to their Nation. We can see the influences of HBCUs in every sector of our economy, from medicine and law, to sports and journalism.

Today, more than 100 HBCUs are thriving in 19 States, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enrolling more than 300,000 students. This year, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week coincides with the 150th anniversary of nine HBCUs: Alabama State University, Barber-Scotia College, Fayetteville State University, Howard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, St. Augustine’s University, and Talladega College. It is a great honor for our Nation to join in celebrating the achievements of these nine institutions, as well as those of every HBCU across the country.

Investing in HBCUs strengthens America’s future, and my Administration will help ensure that HBCUs continue to be self-sustainable and viable institutions of higher education for generations to come. This week, we will also host the Annual White House Historically Black College and Universities Summit to provide a forum for HBCU presidents, faculty members, students, government partners, and other stakeholders to address the priorities set forth in my Executive Order to Promote Excellence and Innovation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, signed February 28, 2017. This annual summit also serves to honor HBCU All-Star Students, who are appointed for 1 year to serve as ambassadors for the White House Initiative on Historically Black College and Universities.

National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week serves to remind us of the historic and ongoing struggle for equal access that led to the establishment of HBCUs in our Nation. We use this week to recognize the importance of HBCUs in educating the leaders of tomorrow, and reaffirm our commitment to providing every student with the opportunity to learn, grow, and find success no matter his or her background.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17 through September 23, 2017, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. I call upon educators, public officials, professional organizations, corporations and all Americans to observe this week with the appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the countless contributions these institutions and their alumni have made to our country.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

加州大学2017年申请人数超17万

据全美电视台报道，今年申请加州大学2017秋季入学的人数再创历史新高：新生申请人数超过了17万1,400人，比去年增加了3.1%，创下历史新高，其中有65%是加州州内学生。去年加州大学9所校区收到的新生申请总数是166,380。

申请人数上涨，是因为州内高中生申请大幅增加，申请人数超过了11.16万，比去年增加6%。而美国其他州和国际生申请和去年相比均有所下降。美国其他州的申请学生降到了32,695人，比去年减少2.8%；国际生申请人数减少了0.9%，为27,143人。这也符合加州大学想扩招州内学生的预期。

9所接受本科申请的分校中，申请人数最多的是加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA），有102,177人。随后是圣地亚哥分校（UC San Diego）的88,451人，尔湾分校（UC Irvine）的85,053人，然后是伯克利分校（UC Berkeley）和圣塔芭芭拉分校（UC Santa Barbara）。

今年的申请人中，拉丁裔的比例最高，占了37.2%，比去年增加了35.8%。大约41,575名拉丁裔学生提交了入学申请。目前，加州大学的学生中有23%是拉丁裔，但加州公立学校中拉丁裔学生占了一半以上。
其他种族申请学生中，亚裔占了29.1%，白人占23.7%，黑人占6.2%。