A research team from Prairie View A&M University’s College of Engineering launched a payload from the Kennedy Space Center to the International Space Station after months of hard work on their project, “University Research (UR) 1 – Investigations of Countermeasures to Modulate and Augment the Immune System of ISS.” The project studied how microgravity and radiation effects both treated and untreated cell cultures.

Florida A&M University is offering a Master of Education degree program this fall after receiving approval from the Board of Trustees. FAMU’s College of Education has been prepping for the program to be added to the University for the past three years and it will offer various specializations from STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) to focus on learning and assessment. The University hopes that the program will help to address Florida’s University System’s goal to produce more highly-trained teachers.

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In financial news, Central State University was given a $100,000 check from alumnus and “Biz Talk” radio host Josh Smith. The check is apart of his $1 million dollar pledge to the University via WCSU FM. Howard University was awarded $10,000 from the Ford Motor Company Fund as a part of the Ford Historically Black College and University Community Challenge Competition. The competition asked student to create solutions and strategies to address sustainability issues in minority communities. Howard University placed 3rd in the competition presenting a project educating the community on pollution, trash and the effects on clear air and water. (via Ford)

In the new version of Alabama State’s education budget, the Alabama House restored Alabama State University’s $10 million dollars that was cut by the version of the budget passed by the Senate. Both ASU’s new president Gwendolyn Boyd and Alabama’s governor Robert Bentley were opposed to the cut. (via AL)

In sports news, Texas Southern University beat Prairie View A&M University in the Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s basketball championship game, earning them the 2014 SWAC title and a place in the NCAA tournament via SWAC. During the NCAA Tournament Selection Show last Sunday, the TSU team learned they will face California Polytechnic State University in their first NCAA game. For the TSU Tigers, this is their fifth time competing in a tournament. (via Houston Chronicle)

Xavier University named a new athletic director, Jason Horn, who will start on March 31. Horn was previously associate athletic director for external affairs at University of Detroit Mercy, where he worked on ticket sales, branding, marketing, fundraising and a host of other media and marketing related duties. Before UDM, Horn worked in the athletic departments at Northwestern State University, Bowling Green University, and Central Florida. (via Sports NOLA)

Saint Augustine’s University won the NCAA Division II Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championship beating Adams State University, Ashland University, Johnson C. Smith University and Lincoln University. According to the NCAA, this is the University’s 13th men’s indoor track and field title, and the 34th national championship overall.

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