IUPUI is one of 70 "up-and-coming schools" in the United States that everyone should be watching, says U.S. News & World Report.

For its 2008 college rankings, the national magazine, for the first time, asked college presidents and other administrators who respond to its annual peer assessment survey to identify schools that have made "striking improvements or innovations" for placement on the up-and-coming schools list.

U.S. News placed the 70 institutions receiving the most nominations on the list. Universities on the list were divided into three categories, including the National Universities category under which IUPUI was listed.

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A yeast geneticist on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) is close to developing mutant yeast for ethanol production that would reduce or eliminate the need to use corn to make the alternative fuel.

The production of biofuels from basic plant material, rather than corn and other crops, would address concerns that making corn-based ethanol is pushing up food costs, said Mark Goebl, a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the IU School of Medicine

Goebl's work is part of the Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, which was established to address the societal needs for clean, affordable and renewable energy sources, improve the nation's energy security, and reduce global warming. Its primary mission is to promote research excellence in the area of renewable energy through collaborative efforts among faculty in the disciplines of engineering, chemistry, physics, biology, and environmental affairs. It will promote renewable energy applications through teaching, learning, civic engagement, and synergistic partnerships with industry, government labs and local communities.

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From a field of more than 4,000 undergraduate institutions, 596 colleges were selected for the list. These institutions are ranked based on the quality of the education they provide and how much their students achieve.

Ranked 448 out of 569 institutions on the list, IUPUI placed second among the three large public research campuses in Indiana.

According to Forbes.com, the methodology used to compile the list attempted to put itself in a student's shoes. How good will my professors be? Will the school help me achieve notable career success? If I have to borrow to pay for college, how deeply will I go into debt? What are the chances I will graduate in four years? Are students and faculty recognized nationally, or even globally?

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A prestigious initiative underway at IUPUI and three other universities in Indiana to address the state's need for well-prepared teachers in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines drew praise and a pledge from Governor Mitch Daniels.

"We need major improvement in the math and science mastery of Hoosier kids, and we need it now. The way to get started is a new wave of math teachers who really know their math and science teachers who really know their science, trained intensively for a year in the classrooms of experienced educators," said Daniels at an August 14 news conference.

The governor said he will request state funding to expand the Woodrow Wilson Indiana Teaching Fellowship, a master's degree program that prepares top math and science graduates for careers as math and science teachers in high-need Indiana classrooms. Indiana is the first state to implement this program created by the former president of Columbia Teacher's College, Arthur Levine, who joined the governor for the announcement.

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The Office of Equal Opportunity will hold an open house Tuesday, August 26, 2008 from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in UN123 to celebrates its new location, new name and new vision. Light refreshments will be served.

Formerly named the Office of Affirmative Action, the Office of Equal Opportunity moved from its quarters in the Administration Building to Room 123 in the Union Building. Kim D. Kirkland is the Director of Equal Opportunity, arriving on June 2 to assume her new duties. Kirkland was the Affirmative Action Officer and Senior Investigator responsible for monitoring compliance with federal and state equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws and regulations at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Ohio