TN 'energy grab'?

In the 21 items of this week's NewsBits, perhaps nothing is more intriguing than news that several Tennessee legislators are working to gain state support for a clean-coal initiative. All that and more, right here.

Memphis exec MBA-Pharmacy

The University of Memphis and UT College of Pharmacy are allying to offer an MBA for health-system pharmacy executives. The CA has it.

Solar-voltaic training in TN

The Tennessee Solar Institute and ARRA funding have helped spawn a new course at the University of Memphis and elsewhere, designed to give students better math and science preparation for jobs in solar-panel installation and related fields. The CA reports.

Haslam-UMemphis talk turkey

Gov. Bill Haslam and University of Memphis leadership are talking about something short of autonomy from Tennessee Board of Regents for the university, but the Governor does want to allow UM more influence on tuition and other matters. The CA reports.

Fogelman B-School gets high marks

Fogelman College of Business & Economics (FCBE) at the University of Memphis boasts higher standards and better branding, to alumni applause. The CA reports.

BioImaging is new Memphis anchor

Beyond VeinViewer, Memphis companies and universities are establishing a base of expertise for BioImaging. The MDN reports.

Higher-ed reform now in TN history books

Legislation passed yesterday: More emphasis on graduate rates over just filling college classroom seats, and fresh energy for research at the University of Tennessee and through a Memphis consortium that includes the University of Memphis. Rick Locker of the CA reports.

Memphians still pushing for slice of TN research buildup

Memphis lawmakers and University of Memphis president Shirley Raines yesterday proposed to Gov. Phil Bredesen a Memphis Research Consortium for inclusion in a higher education bill under debate in the state legislature. Memphians had protested so much emphasis being placed on new roles for UT, and the omission of Memphis institutions that Bredesen has long encouraged. The consortium would include the U of M, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, FedEx Corp., Methodist Le Bonheur Health Care System, Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp., Memphis Bioworks Foundation, Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical Technology Inc. and Medtronic Sofamor Danek. The CA reported Bredesen was described as "receptive."

Memphians perceive Bredesen slight

The CA's editorial today makes plain that some Memphians are still rankled that Gov. Bredesen, who has often voiced support for the University of Memphis and the UT Health Sciences Center there, did not include references to those institutions in his address on improving scientific research at UT and in the state, generally.

UMemphis prof argues for lower corporate taxes

University of Memphis economics professor Ronald Spahr argues that by lowering U.S. corporate tax rates, the nation would become more competitive and would alleviate some downward pressure on wages. The MDN reports. Spahr is chair of the UM department of finance, insurance and real estate, within the UM Fogelman College of Business & Economics.

UMemphis tech-transfer accelerates

At the University of Memphis, FedEx Institute of Technology Executive Director Shaye Mandle says tech transfer and commercialization are on the verge of 'exploding', after years of relative inattention. The Memphis Daily News reports.

U.Memphis pushing research

The CA reports today on the University of Memphis' efforts to achieve parity with UT, Vanderbilt and other research institutions. The story's here. Apart from competing for rankings, Memphis may also be concerned that if the governor follows-through on efforts to focus on a single state university as a research hub -- probably UT -- UM could suffer by comparison.

Wunderlich Memphis 'Entrepreneur of Year'

The University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics honored four executives, including Entrepreneur of the Year Gary Wunderlich (at left), CEO of 13-year-old Wunderlich Securities. The CA reports it.

Temblor TV

The University of Memphis' Center for Earthquake Research and Information will be featured in a forthcoming PBS NOVA Science NOW episode. The CA reports.

Stimulating Science

National Science Foundation Stimulus funding is bolstering research at UT-Knoxville, Vanderbilt, MTSU, Sewanee and the U. Memphis. A "quality science" research effort in the field of chemistry is highlighted in this Times Free Press report.

U. Memphis launches entrepreneurship MBA

The University of Memphis requires enrollees in its new Entrepreneurship MBA to development plans to launch new ventures while pursuing the degree. They'll have access to capital from Innova Memphis, and are expected to work at the crossroads where the Fogelman College of Business and Economics' biomedical and service-marketing MBA concentrations intersect. The CA reports.