Eric Townsend

A renowned expert on education psychology and diversity in higher education visited Elon University on Nov. 22 and led a lunchtime discussion with dozens of faculty and staff members on the impact of interactions between professors and students, notably among various demographic groups.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents in the latest Elon University Poll disagree with the idea of using school vouchers to help parents pay for their children to attend private or religious schools instead of public schools, and nearly the same number believes doing so would weaken public schools.

International Education Week returns to Elon University this month with a series of events that run from Nov. 15-19, 2010, and include concerts, a special College Coffee and a panel discussion on NAFTA. The annual national program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education this year focuses on Mexico, its people and its influence on American culture, politics and economy.

When the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect on Jan. 1, 1994, its goal was to increase trade between Canada, Mexico and the United States by eliminating tariffs and encouraging investment. Seventeen years later, as part of International Education Week 2010 at Elon University, representatives from the three nations met to offer thoughts on the future of the agreement.

When it comes to closing a nearly $3 billion state budget shortfall for the next fiscal year, more than 6 in 10 North Carolinians support an increase in the sales tax by 1 cent per dollar spent, according to the latest Elon University Poll. More than half of respondents – 56 percent – said they would oppose the elimination of state jobs to address the gap.

Periclean Scholars in the Class of 2011 have worked for three years to raise awareness of environmental issues in the nation of Sri Lanka, and in January, the group will host a national conference there with support from a $5,000 grant from the American Cultural Center run by the U.S. Embassy.

The North Carolina Literary and Historical Association and the Federation of North Carolina Historical Societies have honored two Elon University faculty members with the Christopher Crittenden Memorial for lifetime contributions to the advancement of North Carolina history.

Kevin O'Mara, a professor of business administration, and Gary Palin, executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, presented Nov. 12 at the International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted by the Izmir University of Economics in Izmir, Turkey.

The men and women who oversee Project Pericles at college campuses around the United States met at Elon University Nov. 15-16 for an annual conference that allowed them to exchange best practices for a national program that strives to mold students into socially responsible global citizens.

Parents, students, community leaders and Elon University administrators gathered Tuesday for a half-day conversation on the future of Jewish culture on campus as the number of Jewish students continues to grow and as the university embarks on a commitment to global engagement and diversity in its newest strategic plan.