Notes in the Margins: prayer, online sabbaticals and empty clinics

Drake's 'D+' campaign earns an 'F' from some Drake University's new marketing campaign -- "D+ the Drake advantage" -- has some faculty thinking it's sending the wrong message. Drake officials answer: Lighten up. The kids get it.

In Medical School Shift, Meeting Patients on Day 1 Changing tradition, medical students who started their training at New York University School of Medicine last week got to meet real patients on their very first day.

Court: University must fund prayer activities A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that the University of Wisconsin-Madison must pay for student activities involving prayer, worship and proselytizing.

Local students benefit from private colleges' financial aid Northwestern University is the latest institution that's hoping to portray itself as a more affordable and all-around better neighbor by boosting financial aid for those already living in their area.

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MSU Mankato dental clinic struggles for patients The lack of appointments concerns Mankato's dental hygiene students because they each need to see a certain number of patients before they can graduate.

As Colleges Compete, Major Money Flows to Minor Sports Even as the University of Florida cuts faculty and budgets, its athletic director, Jeremy Foley, has been expanding a formidable empire dedicated to winning championships, not just in football and men’s basketball but in 19 other sports.

College Online: Virtually the Same? The University of California hopes to beat out Ivy League schools by becoming the first to develop an elite-quality undergraduate program, using the university’s best faculty and the latest technology and social media.

The Virtual Sabbatical An Australian law professor remained at home and used Skype and YouTube to communicate with students and faculty members at the English university where she took her sabbatical.