Westcliff University has acquired Pacific College, a private nursing school in Costa Mesa, California, in a move that will expand the university’s nursing education offerings and create additional pathways from entry-level nursing programs to graduate study. Founded in 1993, Pacific College specializes in nursing and healthcare education and offers vocational, associate, bachelor’s and master’s-level programs. The acquisition brings Pacific College into Westcliff’s broader academic portfolio and is expected to expand opportunities for collaboration across the university’s programs, employer partnerships and healthcare education initiatives. The transaction comes as California faces continued demand for nurses and other healthcare professionals. State health officials project that California will need more than 61,000 additional registered nurses by 2033. Nationally, the nursing workforce is also expected to face a significant shortage, with more than 189,000 job openings projected through 2034. For Westcliff, the acquisition builds on its recent expansion into nursing education. The university recently launched its College of Nursing, supported by a nursing campus in Corona, California, that includes simulation-based clinical training facilities. The addition of Pacific College will broaden the university’s nursing portfolio, including pathways from vocational and registered nursing programs through graduate-level education such as family nurse practitioner preparation. “Pacific College has earned the trust of students, faculty and healthcare employers over the past three decades by preparing healthcare professionals who make a difference in their communities,” said Anthony Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff University. “This is more than an acquisition. It is an investment in the future of healthcare education.” Lee said the partnership will allow Westcliff and Pacific College to combine their respective strengths while expanding access to academic programs, clinical partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration and career-focused support. Pacific College reported a 95.83% NCLEX-RN pass rate during the 2024–25 academic year, a result that places the institution among the higher-performing nursing programs in California. Its baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), while the college holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The acquisition also reflects Westcliff’s broader strategy of expanding through established educational institutions while maintaining their institutional identity and strengths. In 2020, Westcliff acquired Western State College of Law, preserving the Orange County institution while incorporating it into the university. Westcliff said the same approach will guide its work with Pacific College as the nursing school enters a new phase of its development. “One of the most rewarding parts of this process has been getting to know the people of Pacific College,” Lee said. “Their dedication to students, pride in the institution and passion for healthcare education are evident in everything they do.” Pacific College’s faculty, staff and educational programs will become part of the Westcliff University community. Students will continue to have access to Pacific College’s personalized educational environment while gaining opportunities to participate in a larger university community and engage with programs and resources across multiple disciplines. The acquisition comes as nursing education providers across the country respond to rising demand for healthcare workers and growing pressure to develop flexible pathways into the profession. For Westcliff, the addition of Pacific College represents another step in its effort to connect career-focused education with workforce needs in high-demand fields. About Westcliff UniversityWestcliff University is a private institution of higher education headquartered in Irvine, California. Founded in 1993, the university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs across more than 20 areas of study, including business, education, technology, nursing, law, computer science and engineering. Westcliff describes its academic model as career-focused and technology-driven, with an emphasis on hands-on learning, industry engagement and AI-enhanced educational experiences. The university reports more than 10,000 students from more than 130 countries across nine campuses worldwide. Westcliff University is organized as a California Public Benefit Corporation and has received national recognition, including inclusion on the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list and designation as a Military Friendly institution. About Pacific CollegePacific College is a private college based in Costa Mesa, California, specializing in nursing and healthcare education. Founded in 1993, the college offers vocational, associate, bachelor’s and master’s-level programs designed to prepare students for careers in nursing and patient care. Pacific College is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Its baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The University of Michigan Board of Regents has selected C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Vanderbilt University, as its preferred candidate to become the university’s 17th president. The Board of Regents is scheduled to hold a special meeting at 11 a.m. on Sept. 1 to take a formal vote on Raver’s appointment. If approved, she is expected to assume the presidency on Dec. 1, succeeding current President Domenico Grasso. Raver has served as Vanderbilt’s chief academic officer since 2021, overseeing the university’s academic and research enterprise. During her tenure, Vanderbilt’s annual research expenditures surpassed $1 billion, the university recruited eight new deans and established the College of Connected Computing, its first new college in more than four decades. She has also overseen the expansion of Vanderbilt’s academic presence beyond its Nashville campus, with new or expanded initiatives in New York City, San Francisco, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and West Palm Beach, Florida. “Dr. Raver has a proven record of building strong teams, expanding research excellence and strengthening every institution she has served,” Michael Behm, chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, said in a statement. “She understands what it takes to lead a complex, world-class university.” Raver’s academic background is in developmental psychology and human development. She is the Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her research has focused on child development, education policy and poverty, attracting more than $24 million in support from agencies and foundations including the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation. Before joining Vanderbilt, Raver served as deputy provost at New York University. She previously held faculty positions at the University of Chicago and Cornell University. She earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Yale University. In a statement, Raver said she was honored to be considered for the presidency and highlighted Michigan’s role in research, education, economic development and public service. “Michigan’s scale and impact across research, education, economic growth and public service are unmatched, and I’m eager to build on its remarkable legacy,” Raver said. “I look forward to working alongside faculty, staff, students and alumni to lead Michigan forward.” Her selection follows a national presidential search conducted by the university’s Presidential Search Committee with assistance from executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Grasso will remain president through Nov. 30 and is expected to work with Raver during the transition period. “It will be an honor to welcome Dr. Raver as the university’s next president,” Grasso said. “I look forward to working with her in the weeks ahead to ensure a smooth and successful transition.” Raver’s appointment would come as universities across the United States continue to navigate challenges involving research funding, enrollment, academic strategy and the evolving role of higher education in economic and public life. Her background combines senior academic administration with a research career in developmental and social science, positioning her to lead one of the country’s largest public research universities.
Recently, internationally renowned chemist Professor Wei Zhang, a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship and former Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Colorado Boulder, officially joined Great Bay University (GBU) in China as a full-time faculty member. He has been appointed Chair Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Materials Science. According to available information, Great Bay University was officially established in Guangdong Province, China, in June 2025. Positioned as a high-level, research-intensive, internationally oriented institution with a "small but elite" model, the university focuses on fundamental and frontier scientific research to support China's major national strategies and the socioeconomic development of the Greater Bay Area. It is committed to building a new research university that is world-class, open and inclusive, and distinguished by its Greater Bay Area identity. Professor Wei ZhangProfessor Zhang received his bachelor's degree from the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University before pursuing graduate studies in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and subsequently completed postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He later joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Boulder, a leading research university internationally recognized for excellence in physics, chemistry, aerospace engineering, and other scientific disciplines, and home to numerous Nobel laureates. Professor Zhang was awarded tenure in 2014, promoted to Full Professor with tenure in 2018, and has served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry since 2022. Professor Zhang's research focuses on functional polymeric materials enabled by dynamic covalent chemistry. His work has consistently bridged fundamental chemistry and practical applications, spanning two-dimensional materials, porous organic materials, sustainable and recyclable polymers, molecular separations and carbon capture, flexible sensing devices, and materials for all-solid-state batteries. Together, these efforts form a highly interdisciplinary research program that extends from molecular design to functional materials and onward to applications in energy, environmental technologies, and electronic devices. In recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions, Professor Zhang has received the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award and the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, and has been elected a Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). He has also been named a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher for two consecutive years. The Sloan Research Fellowship is widely regarded as one of the world's most prestigious early-career scientific honors, with many of its past recipients later going on to win the Nobel Prize.
On 26 June 2026, during a virtual meeting between Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), and Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury, the two institutions announced a landmark academic partnership. The announcement was made in the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon'ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India; Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary of Higher Education, Government of India; and Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Ambassador of India to the United States. Under this partnership, IIT Bombay and SUNY Old Westbury will collaborate to develop new educational and research opportunities at SUNY Old Westbury's campus on Long Island, New York. The collaboration will be formalized through a Letter of Intent signed by Professor Shireesh Kedare and Dr. Timothy E. Sams in the presence of Consul General Binaya S. Pradhan. The two institutions will work together to develop academic programs across undergraduate, postgraduate, and research levels in science and engineering, with an initial focus on emerging fields such as artificial intelligence. They will also establish a framework for collaborative research initiatives. "IIT Bombay is recognized as a world-class institution," said Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of SUNY Old Westbury. "We are excited to establish a direct partnership that advances excellence in teaching, innovation, and research in disciplines such as physics and engineering. Our goal is to build a strong IIT Bombay presence on our campus and, together, prepare the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation and economic growth across our region, our state, our nation, and the world." The initial phase of cooperation is expected to include faculty and researcher exchanges, joint research projects, and the organization of joint conferences and academic symposia. These activities will lay the foundation for the future development of joint academic programs and degree offerings. India's Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, welcomed the partnership, describing it as "a living corridor of knowledge between India and the United States." He noted that the collaboration would create "win-win opportunities" for students and scholars in both countries while advancing research and innovation in frontier technologies. According to media reports, IIT Bombay will establish its first overseas sub-campus in the United States through this partnership with SUNY Old Westbury. The first certificate programs are expected to be launched in 2027. The proposed sub-campus will enable IIT Bombay to deliver its academic programs from the SUNY Old Westbury campus. Speaking at a virtual press conference, Professor Shireesh Kedare explained, "Establishing an entirely new campus in the United States would have required land acquisition and multiple regulatory approvals. By partnering with an existing American university, we can bypass these administrative processes and focus our efforts on developing high-quality academic programs." The initial certificate programs will focus on artificial intelligence, sustainability, and clean technologies. Over time, the collaboration is expected to expand to undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs in science and engineering, serving students from the United States, India, and around the world. About IIT BombayEstablished in 1958 as the second Indian Institute of Technology, IIT Bombay is internationally recognized as one of India's premier institutions for science, engineering, technology, and research. On 9 July 2018, the Government of India conferred upon IIT Bombay the status of an Institution of Eminence, recognizing its outstanding academic and research achievements. IIT Bombay is renowned for its distinguished faculty, world-class research, strong industry partnerships, and the exceptional quality of its graduates. The Institute comprises 81 academic departments, centres, and interdisciplinary programmes. Over the past six decades, it has educated more than 75,000 engineers, scientists, and technology professionals. The Institute is home to approximately 760 full-time faculty members, including 121 women faculty, in addition to 241 part-time faculty members. Its faculty are widely recognized both nationally and internationally for their excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.
Dame Anne Pringle has been elected Chancellor of the University of St Andrews on 24 February 2026. She secured a majority of votes in an election also contested by Dame Barbara Woodward, Lord Mark Sedwill, and Lady Alex Walmsley. Pringle is the first woman to hold the office in the university’s more than 600-year history. She succeeds Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, who died last year. Born in Glasgow, Pringle studied at St Andrews and graduated with an MA (Hons) in French and German in 1977. She later became the first woman to serve as the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to Russia from 2008 to 2011, and earlier served as Ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2001 to 2004. Following her diplomatic career, she held leadership and governance roles across business, culture and academia. From 2016 to 2020, she served as Senior Governor of the University Court at St Andrews.
LSE has appointed Jane Cunliffe as the School’s next Chief Operating Officer (COO) on 10 March 2026. Cunliffe joins LSE from the UK Department for Education, where she has served as Chief Operating Officer since 2022. Before that, she held senior roles across several UK government departments. These include the HM Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office. Earlier in her career, Cunliffe was Chief Financial Officer at Oxfam GB. She oversaw finance, legal and governance functions and helped guide the organisation through the Covid-19 period. Cunliffe also holds several non-executive roles. She is a board member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at St Mungo’s. She has also served as a trustee at The Howard Partnership Trust.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) held its HKU@Shanghai event series from 28 February to 1 March 2026 to celebrate the University’s 115th anniversary and announced four strategic bases in Shanghai. The event brought together representatives from the Shanghai municipal government, universities, and the research community. Several Nobel laureates and Fields Medalists also attended. HKU said Shanghai is a major hub for economic, financial and technological innovation, making it an important location for the university’s expansion. During the event, HKU announced four strategic bases in Shanghai: Zhangjiang Base, Caohejing Base, HKU Shanghai Headquarters, and Bund SOHO Base. These bases will serve as platforms for academic exchange, technological innovation, and industry collaboration.
On March 2, 2026, US President has nominated Jim O’Neill as director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), potentially making him the first leader of the agency without a science or engineering background. The nomination has been sent to the US Senate for confirmation. O’Neill previously served as deputy secretary at the US Department of Health and Human Services and briefly as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has also worked in technology investment and was chief executive of the SENS Research Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, both in the humanities. If confirmed, he would become the first NSF director without an advanced degree in science or engineering. The NSF director role has been vacant since Sethuraman Panchanathan stepped down in April 2025.
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