Morehouse College joins Bowie State University and Delaware State University this fall semester, as FICO launches its second annual analytics challenge to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in data science

BOZEMAN, Mont. – September 9, 2024 – FICO (NYSE: FICO)

Highlights:

• The FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge expands to include students from Morehouse College, Bowie State University, and Delaware State University, with more HBCUs to participate in the spring semester.
• For the 2024-25 school year, the real-world analytics challenge will focus on financial fraud detection, helping students identify anomalies and fraud features leveraged in a real-time fraud detection model.
• Students will learn how responsible AI techniques are crucial to protect and safely advance analytic practices.

Global analytics software leader, FICO announced today the second year of its FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge program created for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The semester-long program features remote mentoring from FICO’s leading data scientists and in-person lectures by FICO’s Chief Analytics Officer, Dr. Scott Zoldi. This year, FICO is bringing the program to students at Morehouse College and continuing its work with Bowie State University and Delaware State University. Additional HBCU schools will participate in the spring semester starting in January 2025 as the program expands from its pilot phase.

“Diverse viewpoints and voices are necessary to develop any AI that is unbiased. FICO is doing something to address that need and working directly with students at HBCUs to encourage a more diverse future of data scientists. The Educational Analytics Challenge program not only empowers students to get a real-world experience with data analytics, but also to learn the fundamentals of building responsible, auditable, and ethical AI models to protect and safely advance AI practices for future generations,” said Dr. Scott Zoldi, Chief Analytics Officer at FICO.

Following the successful 2023-24 FICO Educational Analytics Challenge program year, students at Morehouse College, Bowie State University, and Delaware State University will turn their attention to a new set of challenges focused on AI, analytics, and financial fraud detection.

As part of this year’s program, students will be tasked with joining the fight against transaction fraud. Criminals today often commit financial fraud by mimicking legitimate banking behavior to secure billions in customer funds, and banks need to leverage real-time behavioral analytics and machine learning models to identify and prevent fraud. The Educational Analytics Challenge participants will use transactional behavior analytics to design and build their own real-time fraud detection models to identify anomalies and suspicious banking activity. Their models should be capable of being operationalized in the fight against fraud.

“Our partnership with FICO will give rising Morehouse Men the opportunity to sharpen their analytical skills and use their creativity and intellect to address a real-world problem in banking — transaction fraud,” said Alfred Watkins, Ph.D., Chair of the Computer Science Department at Morehouse College. “It is my hope that this fraud detection design competition will fuel a passion for data science in our students that inspires them to seek careers in the growing field of analytics, which is in dire need of their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and insights.”

“FICO’s work with the HBCU Partnership Challenge over the last year is an exceptional example of how public-private partnerships can work to provide mutual benefits while strengthening HBCU institutions,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., representing North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District. “FICO is impacting the lives of students, helping to build a strong representation of diversity across the data science community and to better prepare them to meet the changing needs of the workforce for generations to come,” concluded Congresswoman Adams.

In addition to hosting the competition, the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge also provides participating HBCUs with financial support to enhance analytics instruction and career resources so that students will learn more about opportunities available to them after graduation. For more information about how HBCUs can get involved in the FICO Educational Analytics Challenge, please contact Seyi Mclelland at SeyiMclelland@fico.com.

To learn more about the Educational Analytics Challenge:

• Scott Zoldi for Forbes Tech Council — Developing The Next Generation Of Data Scientists
• Scott Zoldi for FICO Blog — Using AI and Data Science to Fight Bias and Drive Opportunities
• HBCU Partnership Challenge — Congresswoman Alma Adams Celebrates FICO and Echo360 Joining HBCU Partnership Challenge

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 200 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, insurance, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 100 countries do everything from protecting 4 billion payment cards from fraud, to improving financial inclusion, to increasing supply chain resiliency. The FICO® Score, used by 90% of top US lenders, is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the US and has been made available in over 40 other countries, improving risk management, credit access and transparency.

Learn more at https://www.fico.com/en.
Join the conversation at https://x.com/FICO_corp & https://www.fico.com/blogs/
For FICO news and media resources, visit https://www.fico.com/en/newsroom.
FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

Contact

Jessica Butalla
press@fico.com

Free legal helpline has gained pro bono support from 40+ law firms, 250+ individual practitioners since launching in November 2023

September 3, 2024 – Hillel International, ADL (the Anti-Defamation League), the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP today announced that the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line (CALL) has received more than 650 requests for assistance from university students across the country who experienced antisemitic harassment, violence or discrimination in the first nine months of the program.

Through CALL, lawyers from leading firms provide free assistance to students reporting antisemitic discrimination and hate by conducting in-depth information-gathering interviews and offering pro bono representation in cases of violations of students’ civil rights under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Since CALL’s launch, nearly 100 attorneys from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and 40 other law firms fielded students’ requests for help. More than 250 individual practitioners also volunteered their time to support Jewish students.

Examples of CALL’s work on behalf of students include:

• Providing legal support to a Jewish student at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst who was verbally harassed and physically assaulted because he was supportive of Israel and the hostages taken in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
• After Jewish students attending The Ohio State University were assaulted, CALL worked with Jewish partner organizations to file a Title VI complaint.
• As a result of a CALL intake, ADL and the Brandeis Center filed a Title VI complaint alleging the Pomona College administration failed to protect Jewish students as anti-Israel organizations held on-campus protests in violation of college regulations that resulted in physical violence, intimidation, and occupation of campus buildings.
• CALL drafted a letter to Princeton University leadership condemning the use of no-contact orders to silence a Jewish student journalist trying to report on anti-Israel protests. This led Princeton to change its policy so that these no-contact orders could no longer be issued under such circumstances and affirmed that the student would not face consequences for her journalism.

“As antisemitism on campus skyrockets, CALL is making a difference in the lives of Jewish students every day by providing outstanding legal support to fight harassment and  bigotry,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “CALL empowers students to take action and push back against those who perpetrate and enable hate on their campus.”

So far, CALL has received a wide variety of antisemitic incident reports including physical assaults; in-person and online harassment; exclusion from student organizations and other educational opportunities on campus; harassment, discrimination, and improper political indoctrination from professors in the classroom;  protestors who confront and harass Jewish and Israeli students on campus; vandalism and unauthorized removal of hostage and pro-Israel posters on campus; disruptions of regular classroom instruction and events sponsored by Jewish and pro-Israel organizations; and retaliatory bad faith complaints filed against Jewish students through universities’ internal grievance processes.

“We know that addressing the scourge of antisemitism requires a multifaceted approach, and I am proud of the critical role that the Campus Antisemitism Legal Line has played during the past year,” said Adam Lehman, president and CEO of Hillel International. “As a complement to our broader work supporting Jewish life on campus and addressing antisemitism, CALL offers an essential tool for Jewish students to get the help they need from leading legal experts to protect their civil rights.”

Recognizing the mounting concerns about the upcoming school year, the CALL helpline remains ready to assist and support Jewish students who face antisemitic incidents on campus. Students, family members, faculty, or staff members can go to the CALL website or text “CALLhelp” to 51555 to report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism, or violence that may necessitate legal action.

“The law is a powerful motivator and an essential tool in the effort to combat antisemitism and protect Jewish students from harassment and discrimination on campus,” said Alyza D. Lewin, president of the Brandeis Center. “Through CALL, we have educated students on their legal rights, demanded universities meet their legal obligations, and perhaps most importantly, come together as a community in strength to empower and protect our students. They know that if they have the courage and confidence to wear their Jewish identity proudly, and they come under attack for that, we will have their back.”

During the 2023-2024 academic year, colleges and universities saw more than 1,400 antisemitic incidents on campuses – by far the highest number of antisemitic incidents in a single school year ever on record according to ADL and Hillel International tracking. Following the Oct. 7 attack, a survey by Hillel and ADL found that 73 percent of Jewish college students and 44 percent of non-Jewish students experienced or witnessed antisemitism on their campuses last fall.”We’re grateful to be part of this important effort to help victims of campus antisemitism. Gibson Dunn is committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of hate and intolerance,” said Barbara Becker, Gibson Dunn Chair and Managing Partner.

CALL’s supporting organizations include Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Epsilon Pi, the American Jewish Committee, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Jewish on Campus, the Jewish Federations of North America, JGO: The Jewish Grad Organization (formerly JGSI), the Israel on Campus Coalition, the Israeli-American Council, Masa, Olami, the OU Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Delta Tau, and Zeta Beta Tau.

A separate legal helpline providing pro bono legal assistance to parents whose children are experiencing antisemitism in California’s K-12 schools is run by the Brandeis Center, ADL, and StandWithUs, along with four leading law firms. Parents and other interested adults in California can report incidents of antisemitic discrimination, intimidation, harassment, vandalism or violence occurring in K-12 schools to the Legal Protection K-12 Helpline.

About ADL

ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all. More at www.adl.org.

About Hillel International

Founded in 1923, Hillel has been impacting the lives of Jewish college students for 100 years. Today, Hillel International is a global organization that welcomes students of all backgrounds and fosters an enduring commitment to Jewish life, learning, and Israel. As the largest Jewish student organization in the world, Hillel builds connections with students at more than 850 colleges and universities. During their formative college years, students are inspired to explore, experience, and create vibrant Jewish lives.

About the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law
The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law is an independent, unaffiliated, nonprofit corporation established to advance the civil and human rights of the Jewish people and promote justice for all. LDB engages in research, education, and legal advocacy to combat the resurgence of anti-Semitism on college and university campuses, in the workplace, and elsewhere. It empowers students by training them to understand their legal rights and educates administrators and employers on best practices to combat racism and anti-Semitism. The Brandeis Center is not affiliated with the Massachusetts university, the Kentucky law school, or any of the other institutions that share the name and honor the memory of the late U.S. Supreme Court justice. More at www.brandeiscenter.com.

About Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is a leading international law firm.  Consistently ranking among the world’s top law firms in industry surveys and major publications, Gibson Dunn is distinctively positioned in today’s global marketplace with more than 1,800 lawyers and 20 offices, including Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Dallas, Denver, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Orange County, Palo Alto, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore, and Washington, D.C.  For more information on Gibson Dunn, please visit our website.

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Contact: ADLMedia@adl.org

New AI-Powered 2024-25 Academic Calendar Directory Includes Calendars from Over 100 Colleges, Including Stanford, Harvard, and NYU, Ready for Immediate Use

San Francisco, CA – (September 3, 2024) – A new academic year is beginning, and with it comes the daunting task that students, parents, and faculty know all too well: manually entering every important academic date into personal calendars. Whether it’s adding class schedules, breaks, deadlines, or add/drop dates, the process is time-consuming, frustrating, and all too familiar. This tedious task is more than just a nuisance—it’s an annual ritual of lost time.

But there’s good news this year. Agenda Hero, known for simplifying calendars, is changing the game with the launch of its AI-powered 2024-25 Academic Calendar Directory. Using its Magic AI tool, Agenda Hero has converted academic calendars from over 100 colleges—including Stanford, Harvard, NYU, and UC Berkeley—into formats that can be instantly added to Google, Outlook, and Apple Calendars.

“Agenda Hero lets me add all important dates to my calendar with one click,” says Amy Chang, a rising senior at Stanford University. “It’s not just a calendar tool—Agenda Hero addresses the invisible labor of planning and tracking. I love the ethos behind it.”

Imagine the time saved: A university with 50,000 students, each spending just a minute per event to enter a 30-event calendar into their personal calendar. That’s 25,000 hours of work. To put it in perspective, that’s over 1,041 days—nearly three years of continuous, round-the-clock effort—wasted on a task that Agenda Hero now solves. And that’s just one university.

“College is a time to live life fully and explore new paths. If we can give students more time to do that, Agenda Hero has done its job,” says Caren Cioffi, CEO of Agenda Hero.

The benefits don’t stop at academic calendars. Agenda Hero Magic will convert emails, flyers, images, and text into calendar events, ensuring no important date is missed throughout the school year.

“As a busy student who leads clubs, manages Greek Life activities, attends campus events, and more, I love Agenda Hero,” explains Imgard Bonheur, a rising Senior at Stanford University. “It lets me take a photo of any event flyer and automatically add it to my calendar, making it easy to stay involved in all that college offers.”

The days of manually creating calendar events are over. Explore the 2024-25 College Calendars Directory at https://agendahero.com/2024-2025-us-college-calendars. To add your college calendar to the growing list, reach out to support@agendahero.com.

About Agenda Hero:
Agenda Hero helps people spend less time managing calendars and more time enjoying what’s in them. Using AI, Agenda Hero converts text, PDFs, images, flyers, and emails into calendar events. For more information, visit https://agendahero.com.

For Media Inquiries:
media@agendahero.com

Philip Phillips, Ph.D., professor of English and associate dean of the university honors college at Middle Tennessee State University, was recently elected to serve as president-elect for The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

The election took place immediately following the 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Biennial Convention, held virtually Aug.1-2.

During his 2024-2026 term as president-elect, Phillips will serve on the Society’s 12-person board of directors. His election represents a six-year commitment to the Society including successive terms as president and past president.

“I am fully committed, both personally and professionally, to the mission of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi,” Phillips said during his remarks to delegates at the Society’s convention. “I know firsthand the value of recognizing and promoting academic excellence, and especially supporting the scholarship, creative activity, study abroad opportunities, and community service projects of our students who represent the full range of disciplines,” he said.

Initiated into Phi Kappa Phi as a faculty member at MTSU in 2011, Phillips has been an active leader of Phi Kappa Phi at the local and national levels. He served on the Phi Kappa Phi board of directors from 2018-2020 and again from 2022-2024. He has been a member of the bylaws committee, finance and budget committee, fellowship committee, and the strategic planning taskforce.

“I am thankful for the presence of our president-elect, Philip Phillips, whose dedication and new ideas continue to invigorate our national board,” said Society President Sharhonda Rush. “Phi Kappa Phi’s governance structure thrives on the close collaboration among the president, past president, and president-elect. This teamwork ensures seamless and resilient leadership that continues to propel Phi Kappa Phi forward.”

Phillips holds both master’s and doctoral degrees in English from Vanderbilt University, and a B.A., also in English, from Belmont University. At MTSU, he has served as graduate admissions director for the English department and chair of the academic master plan committee for the university. He serves as immediate past president of his chapter. Outside the university, he has been a member of both the diversity and research committees of the National Collegiate Honors Council, a member of the editorial board of The Edgar Allan Poe Review, and founder and director of the Great Books in Middle Tennessee Prisons program.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. In special cases, students with an exceptional GPA, and faculty, professional staff, and alumni who achieve scholarly distinction may also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Hope Lemoine
Marketing Coordinator
hlemoine@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7781

Lora Becker, Ph.D., professor of psychology and director of the neuroscience program at the University of Evansville, will serve as past president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—for the 2024-2026 biennium.

Becker’s new role follows her two-year term as president, which came to a close at the Society’s 2024 Biennial Convention, held virtually Aug.1-2.

Under her direction, Phi Kappa Phi saw a successful 2022-2024 biennium that included the distribution of more than $2 million in awards, induction of nearly 40,000 new members, installation of five new chapters, rollout of a new membership management system, and launch of a new strategic and fundraising plan for the Society.

“Lora’s wisdom and guidance were invaluable as our organization emerged from a global pandemic and undertook changes to better serve our chapters and members,” said incoming Society President Sharhonda Rush during her closing remarks at the 2024 Phi Kappa Phi Biennial Convention. “I’m glad that Lora will remain on our board as past president, where she’ll continue to serve as a valuable advisor to me and everyone on Phi Kappa Phi’s national board of directors.”

“As I transition out of the role of Society president, I’m struck by the talent, professionalism, and thoughtfulness expressed by our board of directors this past biennium,” Becker said. “I am confident in the leadership of our new president, Sharhonda Rush, along with the amazing and dedicated staff at the Phi Kappa Phi national office, to carry us into the future. I have learned so much over my 10 years of service to Phi Kappa Phi.”

Becker has been active in the Society since 2014 at the local, regional, and national levels. She has held a number of roles within the University of Evansville chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, including president, a position she assumed in 2015. Becker was also chair of the 2016 biennial convention credentials committee and served as chair of the national bylaws committee for the 2016-2018 biennium. During the 2020-22 biennium Becker served as the convention planning committee co-chair, budget and program review committee chair, chair of the executive director search committee, and a finance and budget committee member.

Becker received her B.S. in biology and psychology from Wright State University. She earned an M.A. in psychobiology from State University of New York at Binghamton where she also received her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience. Becker’s primary research activity seeks to understand human and animal emotions, and she has conducted behavioral neuroscience research with undergraduate students for more than 20 years.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. In special cases, students with an exceptional GPA, and faculty, professional staff, and alumni who achieve scholarly distinction may also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Hope Lemoine
Marketing Coordinator
hlemoine@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7781

Sharhonda Rush, MBA, MPP, optimization consulting manager at BlackLine, has been named president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Rush’s role as president follows her two-year term as president-elect, which came to a close at the Society’s 2024 Biennial Convention, held virtually Aug.1-2.

As president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi for the 2024-2026 biennium, Rush will work with the Society’s board of directors and executive leadership team to develop and implement a new strategic and fundraising plan for the Society and further enhance governance and strategic oversight.

The first African American president of Phi Kappa Phi and the first president who works outside of academia, Rush was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi as a graduate student by the Jacksonville University chapter in 2016. Wanting to make a difference and eager to drive change, she became involved at the national level in 2020 when she was elected as a director on the 2020-2022 Society Board of Directors and chaired the Finance and Budget Committee. During the 2022-2024 biennium as Society president-elect, she continued as chair of the Finance and Budget Committee and served as an ex-officio member on all other standing committees.

Rush earned both a master’s in public policy and an MBA at Jacksonville University and a BSA in accounting from Christopher Newport University. Rush is a certified public accountant. Throughout her finance and accounting career, Rush has gained extensive experience in strategic thinking, collaborating with others, and implementing innovative solutions. In her role at BlackLine, she works with finance and accounting professionals to optimize processes and enhance efficiencies through the strategic use of technology.

A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Rush is actively involved in various community-based sorority initiatives. She has volunteered as a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and with JTA Cares programs, serving homeless individuals and families transitioning from homelessness. Rush serves as a board member for the Jacksonville University Black Alumni and the North Florida UNCF Leadership Council and is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, where she provides mentoring to college students majoring in accounting.

“I am so excited for all that we will do together in the coming years,” Rush said during her closing remarks at the 2024 Pih Kappa Phi Biennial Convention. “I deeply value the vibrant connection that Phi Kappa Phi has with our campus chapters. Together, we form a powerful network of scholars and leaders. I am committed to nurturing and strengthening those bonds, ensuring that we not only sustain, but also elevate, our collective impact,” said Rush.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Hope Lemoine
Marketing Coordinator
hlemoine@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7781

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—today announced the recipients of a 2024 Pioneer Award. The $1,000 awards were given to 50 Phi Kappa Phi members nationwide.

The Pioneer Awards are designed to encourage and reward undergraduate members for developing the research, engagement and leadership skills necessary to become a successful scholar.

“It is with great pride that we announce the 2024 recipients of the Pioneer Award. This award, which recognizes 50 outstanding undergraduate members, is a testament to our commitment to fostering research, engagement, and leadership skills in young scholars. The Pioneer Award represents our ongoing dedication to supporting academic excellence and personal growth across all disciplines. It underscores Phi Kappa Phi’s mission to celebrate and advance learning. We congratulate the recipients and look forward to seeing their continued achievements.” said Society Executive Director and CEO, Bradley R. Newcomer.

The selection process for a Pioneer Award is based on the applicant’s academic achievement, honors and awards, relevant research experience, service and leadership experience, on and off campus, a personal statement and letter of recommendation.

The Pioneer Award, established in 2022, is the newest addition to the Society’s robust portfolio of award and grant programs, which currently gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through graduate and dissertation fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives. Phi Kappa Phi is proud to offer an award exclusively for undergraduates through this program.

For the complete list of recipients, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/2024Pioneer. The application process for the 2025 Pioneer Awards will open on Dec. 15, 2024.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

MEDIA CONTACT
Alyssa Papa
Director of Communications
apapa@phikappaphi.org
225-923-7777

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi – the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society – is currently accepting applications for its Mary Todd Sabbatical Award, named in honor of its former Executive Director, Dr. Mary Todd.

This prestigious award, valued at $50,000, will be presented annually to one outstanding faculty member to support a sabbatical year or similar reassignment of duties, allowing them to focus on research, writing, or other professional development activities. The Society recognizes the importance of providing faculty members with the time and resources necessary to explore new ideas, collaborate with colleagues, and make significant contributions to their disciplines.

“This award is designed to support our exceptional faculty members in their pursuit of the love of learning, providing them with the time and resources needed to advance their research and professional development. By fostering their scholarly passions, we are reinforcing Phi Kappa Phi’s commitment to celebrating and advancing the love of learning across all academic disciplines. We are confident that this initiative will uphold our tradition of academic excellence, and we look forward to the impactful contributions it will enable for years to come,” said Society Executive Director and CEO Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.

Applications for the award will be open to active members who are faculty members. A committee of esteemed professionals will review the applications and select the recipient based on their demonstrated excellence, potential for impact, and alignment with the Society’s mission and values.

The award was added to Society’s already robust portfolio of awards in 2023, which currently gives more than $1 million annually to deserving members and students.

The deadline to apply for the Sabbatical Award is Oct. 1, 2024 To learn more about the award, visit www.phikappaphi.org/sabbatical.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”  For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Media Contact
Hope Lemoine
hlemoine@phikappaphi.org

More than one-in-four college students report suffering from an eating disorder

Westlake Village, Calif., (August 14, 2024) – Alsana, an eating disorder recovery community, is helping students adjust to college life by offering virtual support to anyone struggling with disordered eating. According to a 2021 study in Psychiatry Research, 28% of college students suffer from eating disorders, which are the second most deadly mental health condition. Early intervention is key to managing and preventing eating disorders from progressing, which is why virtual treatment is so important for busy college students.

College is often the first opportunity for students to live independently. This, combined with new environments and academic pressure, can contribute to unhealthy eating patterns that might lead to an eating disorder. Alsana’s accessible virtual treatment programs allow students to pursue their studies while building healthy habits.

“The pressures of staying on top of school is tough enough as it is. These stressors can trigger disordered eating habits, and treatment can help students improve their overall health to achieve a successful college career,” said Margot Rittenhouse, MS, LPCC, director of clinical services at Alsana Westlake Village. “ With virtual treatment, the recovery process is  accessible from their college living environment, in-between classes and during times that work best with their schedules.”

Benefits of virtual treatment include group and individual therapy, nutrition counseling and meal support, access to care five days a week, and peer support sessions for additional encouragement in recovery.

For more information about Alsana’s virtual treatment programs, click here.

About Alsana®

Alsana is an eating recovery community with virtual Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) programs across the United States, in addition to Residential, PHP/IOP programs in Alabama, California, and Missouri. Its eating disorder treatment program are compassion-focused, evidence-based, and designed in alignment with Alsana’s Adaptive Care Model®. This whole-person approach addresses healing in all areas of clients’ lives by integrating medical, nutritional, and therapeutic care with movement and relational therapies. Alsana serves adult clients of all genders and sexual identities struggling with a broad spectrum of eating, feeding, and co-occurring mental health conditions. Alsana’s programs accommodate the unique needs of vegan clients and clients struggling with ED-DMT1, also known as “diabulimia.” Learn more at www.alsana.com.

For Immediate Release

Gretchen Ferguson, Westbound Communications
gferguson@westboundcommunications.com
Cell: 760-224-0346

Don’t expect colleges and universities to replace stolen or damaged student property, but GradGuard’s College Renters Insurance can.

PHOENIX (August 13, 2024): As students across the country prepare to return to college campuses, GradGuard, the number one provider of college tuition and renters insurance programs, urges families to consider how to protect themselves from the risks of college life.

College marks a significant milestone for many young adults, often representing their first taste of independence and newfound responsibilities. Among these responsibilities is the important task of safeguarding personal belongings, a consideration that may be new to many students.

“Students and families are smart be aware of the risks that come with living on or off campus,” said John Fees, co-founder and CEO of GradGuard. “The average college student brings thousands of dollars worth of personal property to campus, from laptops and bikes and more. The potential financial loss from theft or damage can be substantial.”

Recent Clery Act Reports reveal an alarming average of 24,000 crime and safety incidents are reported annually on college campuses. Over 3 million students living in on-campus housing are likely unaware that their college or university is unlikely to replace stolen or damaged personal property.

• 2,411 robberies were reported on average annually
• 1,840 fires were reported on average annually
• 20,521 burglaries were reported on average annually

This underscores the real risks students face, even in seemingly secure environments like residence halls or campus facilities.

GradGuard’s College Renters Insurance offers a solution tailored specifically to the needs of college students. Here are five compelling reasons why families are smart to consider renters protection:

1. Protection Against Theft: With thousands of reported incidents each year on college campuses nationwide, theft is a genuine concern.
2. Liability Coverage: Unintentional damage happens, especially in shared living spaces. Whether a sprinkler head discharges from a football being tossed around or a student left a candle burning overnight that caused a fire, renters insurance can protect students from financial liability for damage to their residence hall and to others’ property.
3. Affordability: GradGuard’s policies start with a flexible $100 deductible and no credit check, making College Renters Insurance an accessible option for budget-conscious students and families.
4. Worldwide Property Coverage: Protection extends beyond the residence hall, covering students’ belongings whether they’re studying abroad, visiting home on break, or anywhere in the world.
5. Valuable Financial Literacy: Insurance is a part of life, and a college renters insurance policy is often a student’s first insurance policy. Parents can have peace of mind knowing their student’s belongings are protected.

“College is a time for growth and learning, not worrying about replacing stolen or damaged property,” Fees added. “Our goal at GradGuard is to provide affordable, student-focused coverage with no sneaky “gotchas” allowing students to focus on their education.”

For more information about GradGuard’s College Renters Insurance and to explore available policies, visit www.gradguard.com/renters.

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About GradGuard:

GradGuard is the authority on helping schools educate and protect students from the risks of college life. As the #1 provider of college tuition and renters insurance, GradGuard’s pioneering protections have served more than 1.7 million students at more than 1,900 unique institutions.

GradGuard’s national technology platform embeds its innovative insurance protections within the enrollment processes of more than 600 institutions in the United States, helping schools increase college completion and reduce the cost of college by reducing preventable financial losses.

Contact:

Natalie Hubertus
Sr. Director, Marketing
602-341-5947
nhubertus@gradguard.com