The beginning of the fall semester each year is highlighted by the return of college football. Due to COVID-19, many teams have decided to play fewer games this season compared to previous years. Some major conferences originally decided to postpone competition until 2021, but subsequently agreed to play a limited number of games later this year. Depending on the team, some players, coaches, and other personnel have tested positive for the virus, which led to decisions to postpone some contests to later dates. A common feature has been either to have no fans present in stadiums or to reduce the usual attendance drastically. Meanwhile, the non-football side of academic institution life also displays a considerable amount of variation regarding the volume of disease testing that occurs and whether to send students home who test positive or just quarantine them for different periods of time. Schools also vary on the proportion of students who decided to enroll for the fall semester. Each college and university is affected differently by reductions in revenue derived from tuition, housing, meals provision, and activity fees.
Fostering Research Integrity And The Responsible Conduct Of Research
As posted on October 19, 2020 in the Federal Register on pages 66341-66342, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Research Integrity (ORI) seeks information and comments from entities and individuals regarding activities that foster research integrity and promote the responsible conduct of research. In particular, ORI is interested in learning about best practices, challenges, and needs related to teaching the responsible conduct of research, promoting research integrity, and preventing research misconduct. ORI will use this information to support the goal of conducting outreach and developing educational resources that best support the Public Health Service (PHS) funded research community. Responses to the RFI must be received electronically no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the 60th day following the date of publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.
The following three categories are of interest:
Using Training and Education To Foster Research Integrity (ORI seeks to understand key challenges to using training and educational efforts to foster a climate that encourages research integrity and the responsible conduct of research.)
Research Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research Program Administration and Facilitation of Training (ORI requests answers to 10 questions.)
Research Integrity/Responsible Conduct of Research Training Sessions (ORI seeks information on institutional experiences, practices, and needs.)
U.S. Department Of Education Launches 2021-2022 FAFSA Cycle
The U.S. Department of Education on October 1, 2020 released the 2021–2022 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form as a means of providing information, tools, and resources to help students make informed decisions about their education options. This year, enhanced help topics provide even more guidance through the form. As a result of user feedback, many financial help topics on fafsa.gov feature images of the forms with relevant line numbers visually highlighted to help applicants navigate the FAFSA form. Additionally, skip-logic functionality means applicants see only the questions that pertain to them. The Department also furnishes other tools and resources designed to help students complete and submit the FAFSA form and make informed choices.
The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment provides links to College Scoreboard where students can estimate their post-completion starting salary based on the school they plan to attend and the program in which they will enroll. For borrowers with existing loans, the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment outlines how much they owe and how much more they can borrow, and grant recipients can see how much they have received and their remaining eligibility. Starting with the 2021–2022 award year, the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment will be required before borrowers can receive a financial aid disbursement.
More September 2020 TRENDS Articles
A QUASI-CATEGORICAL DEMURRAL
indicates that it is too soon to understand the full implications and overall impact of COVID-19. Read More
WHISTLING THE COLLEGE HORNPIPE
contains information about advantages the federal government possesses in developing financial responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Read More
HEALTH REFORM DEVELOPMENTS
Points out how despite a decline in poverty rates, the ability to access health care remains difficult for some population subgroups while at the same time insufficient attention is paid by policymakers regarding the adequacy of the health workforce. Read More
DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Describes how once again reauthorization of the Higher Education Act failed to occur; the issuance of final regulations for distance education and innovation; and how the U.S. Department of Education is rescinding several guidance documents. Read More
QUICK STAT (SHORT, TIMELY, AND TOPICAL)
Delaying Or Avoiding Health Care During The Pandemic Because Of Concerns About COVID-19
Trends And Patterns In Menarche In The United States: 1995 Through 2013–2017
Machine Learning Maps Research Needs In Coronavirus Literature
Rapid Blood Test Could Detect Brain Injury In Minutes Read More
AVAILABLE RESOURCES ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONICALLY
Scorecard On State Health System Performance
Racial Disparities In Cancer
The State of Obesity 2020: Better Policies For A Healthier America Read More
COMPOSITION AND CAPACITY OF THE GENETICS WORKFORCE
discusses how the clinical genetics workforce likely will face greatly increased demand for its services. Read More
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF SOCIAL DISTANCE
refers to the neurocognitive basis of social isolation and its deep consequences for mental and physical health, along with neurobiological mechanisms underlying social interplay and the impact that social deprivation has on them. Read More