Changes announced for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday starting in 2011

Starting with the spring 2011 semester, Vanderbilt University will cancel classes university-wide in observance of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday each January.

Class of 2014 draws from largest applicant pool ever

Vanderbilt’s Expanded Aid Program to fund students with demonstrated need who earn admittance  resulted in a 13 percent increase in applications.

Stellar Nights program Sept. 21 to focus on the hunt for new planets

“New Worlds on our Doorstep: Hunting for Planets” will be given by astronomer Joshua Pepper on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Dyer Observatory.

Environment, immigration to be explored at Divinity School forums beginning Sept. 23

Several public forums will be held at the Divinity School this semester, including a presentation by Vanderbilt theologian Paul DeHart on his journey of faith and a three-seminar Relevant Religion series on the environment.

Charles Townes, inventor of the laser, discusses nature of innovation Sept. 23

The title of his talk is “How Do New Things Happen? Origins of the Laser.” He will discuss the particular case of the laser in detail, from its origins to its present development, from a personal point of view.

Vanderbilt Registry now updated daily, available online

The Registry includes details on faculty appointments and qualifications and is updated daily with current information from the university faculty information system.

Should laptops be banned in the classroom? Panel says yes – and no.

Laptop computers with wi-fi access can be a distraction in the classroom, but they also can be indispensible learning tools, according to a panel discussion hosted by the Center for Teaching Sept. 14.

VU professor consulted for ‘ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’

Mary Louise Hemmeter, associate professor of special education, received a call out of the blue to consult with the design team on the project.

more info and top stories »

  This Week

Sept. 20: New York Times Supreme Court reporter Adam Liptak to speak at Vanderbilt

Sept. 23: Discovery Lecture Series: “The Joy of Crossing Borders.” Dr. Jacek Hawiger

Sept. 24: David Dorfman Dance Company

Sept. 25: Chinese Students and Scholars Association Moon Festival Celebration

 Mark Your Calendars

Sept. 27: Service Awards Ceremony

Sept. 28-30: Benefits Fair

more events »

Sign Up for a Clinical Trial

Vanderbilt Researchers need African-American Volunteers for a Study on the Causes of Alzheimers Disease

Type 2 Diabetes Study Seeking Volunteers

Announcements

Adult Weight Management Workshop free orientation Sept. 21

Evolutionary v. racial medicine lecture Sept. 22

Faculty-staff discounted basketball season tickets still available

Complete elder care survey and be eligible for prize

VanDIY: What to do when a friend or family member has cancer

Pizza Perfect Catering announces free lunch winners

Newest Health Plus ‘Healthy Cooking Video’ now live

more announcements »

Featured Media

VUCAST: Controlling your “inner elephant”

See what a group of Vanderbilt engineering undergrads and Owen MBA students built to help those at the bottom of the financial pyramid and how controlling your “inner elephant” can make you a better leader.

more media »

Tune in to VUCast, for audio and video of events happening around campus. You can also find VU podcasts on iTunes and VU videos on YouTube.

from the Family Focus e-newsletter:

Meet Alex

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we bring you the story of Alex, a 6-year-old with neuroblastoma. Despite nearly a year of treatments, Alex is still smiling.

For 6-year-old Alex Kallas, happiness is doing puzzles, playing in bounce houses and watching “Dora the Explorer” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”

Alex was adopted from Russia with fetal alcohol syndrome, and he was diagnosed with autism in October 2007. In November 2009, he was diagnosed with stage 3, high-risk neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system.

He had just begun kindergarten last year when his parents, Andrea and Erik, noticed he had a low fever and was constantly tired and lethargic. They attributed it to the stress of starting school, but his tiredness got continually worse.

Read more about him here.