Higher Education

Shelton, Conn. – September 30, 2026 -- Timex has launched Timex Tales, an AI-powered storybook app built to teach children ages 5 to 10 how to read a traditional analog clock, using Google Gemini technology.

A Timex survey found 2 in 5 kids struggle with analog clocks

The company commissioned a survey showing that two in five children ages 6 to 9 struggle to confidently read an analog clock, a gap Timex says its new tool is designed to close.

Stories personalize learning through a cast of animal characters

Using Google's Nano Banana image generation, Timex Tales creates personalized adventures where children follow characters including a tiger, dolphin, penguin, dog, and axolotl through settings like castles, cities, and outer space. The stories teach kids to distinguish hour and minute hands, tell AM from PM, and link time to daily routines like morning and evening.

Portland, Maine – September 30, 2026 -- The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) has opened applications for three fellowship programs aimed at first-generation and Pell-eligible college students seeking to study or intern abroad in 2027. CIEE awards more than $13 million annually in grants and scholarships for international study and internships.

Thirteen students head to Dublin for an eight-week paid internship

The Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship Program, established in 2015 and sponsored by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs, the African American Irish Diaspora Network, and The John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation, sends 13 Pell-eligible students to Dublin each year. The program covers full funding, airfare, and a living stipend, and includes lectures and excursions tied to the historical friendship between Frederick Douglass and Daniel O'Connell. Applications close January 8, 2027.

Englewood – September 29, 2026 -- Undergraduate students across the United States pursuing medicine can now apply for the newly launched Dr. Jihad Mustapha Medical Student Scholarship, a one-time award designed to offset the costs of pre-medical and early medical studies.

The fund targets financial barriers facing pre-med students

Dr. Jihad A. Mustapha, an interventional cardiologist and educator, established the scholarship to help talented students focus on academic excellence and clinical preparation rather than financial strain. His career spans decades of clinical practice, research, and teaching, with a focus on cardiovascular and vascular medicine.

Applications open through the scholarship's official website

Students can apply through the program's dedicated site, where guidelines, required documentation, and submission deadlines are listed.

San Diego – September 28, 2026 -- Students in grades four through nine across all 50 states and D.C. can now enter a free national challenge that rewards kids for rescuing food and fighting hunger in their communities, with entries accepted through March 12, 2027.

The Hunger Action Heroes Unite! National Challenge, launched this month by the youth education arm of Feeding San Diego, asks students to identify a real way to fight hunger or food waste, take action, document it with photos and video, and answer three reflection questions. A parent or guardian submits the entry.

Henderson, Tenn. – September 24, 2026 -- Freed-Hardeman University has secured three rankings in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list, including No. 4 for Best Value Regional University in the South.

The university also placed No. 18 among Top Private Schools in the South and tied for No. 35 among Regional Universities in the South.

The Best Value ranking weighs academic quality against cost

U.S. News determines Best Value standings by combining a school's overall academic quality with the net cost of attendance for an out-of-state student receiving average need-based financial aid.

FHU's retention and graduation rates hit new highs

The university reported an 89% fall-to-fall retention rate, meaning nearly nine in ten students return for a second year. Its five-year graduation rate reached an all-time high of 71%.

Lakeland, Fla. – September 23, 2026 -- Florida Southern College will reopen its Frank Lloyd Wright designed Planetarium to the public this month, restoring the historic space to educational and public use for the first time in more than two decades.

Public shows begin September 26 with tickets starting at $15

Located inside the Polk Science Building, the Planetarium is the only one ever built from a Frank Lloyd Wright design. It sits within Florida Southern's collection of 13 Wright structures, the largest single-site collection of his architecture anywhere. Public shows run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m., starting Saturday, Sept. 26. Tickets cost $20 per person, or $15 per person for families and groups of four or more, and are sold separately from the college's Wright architectural tours.

Tulsa, Okla. – September 22, 2026 -- The University of Tulsa has landed a spot among the Top 75 private research universities in the country, according to the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings released Tuesday. The publication also named UTulsa the No. 1 best value for higher education in Oklahoma.

The school jumped 10 places in the overall national university rankings this year. Its undergraduate computer science program leaped 57 spots, while undergraduate engineering rose 16 places and undergraduate business climbed 26 spots. UTulsa also moved up eight positions among the best colleges for veterans.

Petroleum engineering holds steady at No. 3 nationally

UTulsa's undergraduate petroleum engineering program kept its No. 3 ranking among all national universities and remains No. 1 in Oklahoma.

Los Angeles – September 22, 2026 -- Mathnasium, a math tutoring franchise with more than 1,300 learning centers worldwide, is rolling out two new offerings: Mathnasium Plus, a structured enrichment program for advanced students, and myMathnasium, a digital parent portal and app. Both are now available in the United States.

Mathnasium Plus targets students in grades 1 through pre-algebra who are ready to move beyond grade-level work

The program builds on Mathnasium's existing enrichment offerings with a structured curriculum aimed specifically at advanced learners. Instruction focuses on deepening mathematical thinking, strengthening problem-solving, and pushing students to approach complex concepts from multiple angles, with each student progressing based on individual ability and goals.

Washington – September 22, 2026 -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology has claimed the No. 1 spot among National Universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2027 Best Colleges rankings, ending Princeton University's 15-year run at the top since the 2012 edition. Princeton now sits at No. 2, with Harvard University at No. 3. Williams College retained its top ranking among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 42nd edition, which evaluated nearly 1,700 institutions.

Warren, Mich. – September 21, 2026 -- A new one-time educational grant is now open to undergraduate students studying healthcare or related fields, with applications due by May 15, 2027.

The Dr. John Pispidikis Grant targets undergraduates nationwide

The Dr. John Pispidikis Grant for Healthcare Professionals is available to undergraduate students enrolled at any accredited U.S. college or university, regardless of city or state. Applicants must be pursuing a degree or course of study in healthcare or a related field.

An essay is the core of the application

Candidates must submit an original essay responding to the prompt: "How Will You Use Your Healthcare Education to Make a Difference?" Strong submissions are expected to link academic goals to patient care, community service, innovation, or leadership within healthcare.