Student Affairs

Releasing the results of a study that found racial bias on campus, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology yesterday urged its staff to improve living and learning conditions for black students. "We must spare no effort to improve the experience here for minority students," said MIT president Paul E. Gray, responding to a two-year internal study pinpointing racial inequality on campus. "The report carries a clear and disturbing message, that the environment for living and learning at MIT poses special problems for black students.

Vince "Chico" Williams won't have a further chance to turn the floundering Cheyney University football program around. Williams lost 31 games during his four-year tenure as head coach and then, soon after last season, he lost his job. A decision not to renew Williams' contract was reached after a recommendation by acting athletic director Harold L. Johnson and director of student affairs Leon White, according to director of public relations Mary...

Mayor Nutter's chief of staff, who announced last month that he would be leaving City Hall, is headed back into the academic world. Clarence D. Armbrister will join Johns Hopkins University on July 11 as senior vice president and chief of staff, working closely with university president Ronald J. Daniels. "The opportunity to work for President Daniels at one of the finest institutions in the country is an opportunity that, when presented, you enthusiastically accept," said Armbrister, who has worked with Nutter since he became mayor in 2008.

La Salle University basketball player Terquin Mott was arrested by Philadelphia police Wednesday morning and charged with burglary of another student's dormitory room. According to detective Jim Bowman, of the North Detectives (35th District), the incident took place at St. Edward's Hall on the La Salle campus and was reported at 9 a.m. Mott will have a hearing back at the 35th District within 10 days. "(Mott) has been suspended from the team indefinitely," said La Salle coach Speedy Morris.

The longest tenure by a Philadelphia-area college athletic director might be nearing an end. Villanova's Ted Aceto, who has been the school's AD for 19 years, has been offered a similar job at Florida International University in Miami. "The job's his for the taking," an administrative source at Florida International said. "He's the top choice, and we think he's going to take it. " Aceto said yesterday he hasn't made up his mind even though officials at FIU were hoping to announce his decision as early as today.

He grew a fine crop of tomatoes every year and was an avid Phillies fan. She was an excellent cook and seamstress, and had recently taken up quilting. Both were committed to their Catholic faith. John D. Hartman, 80, a retired physician, died Wednesday of heart failure at Meadowood, a retirement community in Worcester. His wife of 58 years, Mary Ellen Tharp Hartman, 78, also a retired physician, died Monday during heart surgery at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood. A native of Peninsula, Ohio, John Hartman played drums for a dance band as a teenager.

Not everyone makes it onto a short list for the coveted job of university president. That flattery was paid to Penn provost Stanley A. Chodorow yesterday when it was disclosed that the esteemed administrator and academician was one of four candidates being considered to head the University of Michigan. Chodorow, 53, a medieval historian and the second-in-command at Penn, made it to the final four despite holding the provost's job at Penn only since 1994. Three other candidates under consideration were: Lee Bollinger, Dartmouth provost, Carol Christ, Cal-Berkeley provost and Larry Faulkner, provost of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Good news for the economy seems to be bad news for enrollment at Bucks County Community College. As of Thursday, enrollment was at 9,256, down about 800 students from this time last year. A stronger economy may be to blame, according to college officials. "As a general rule, when the economy is good, we're in bad shape with enrollment," said William Schurmann, dean of student affairs. During good economic times, officials have noted, college students are more likely to opt for more expensive, private schools.

A proposal by two top officials in the Upper Merion Area School District to restructure the high school administration drew mixed reviews Monday from the school board, whose members asked for further study. The proposal was made by high school principal Kevin Hart in conjunction with schools Superintendent Charles Scott. The current system assigns one of the school's four principals to each grade, and they are responsible for all aspects of the administrative, academic and disciplinary affairs of that grade, said Hart, who is the top principal with the other three his assistants.

Administrators and friends of Harcum Junior College have announced a joint venture to extend the school's performing arts program to schoolchildren in the community. Norma F. Furst, president of the Bryn Mawr college, said Tuesday that the efforts would be focused on this season's program at the college's Visual and Performing Arts Center. "Harcum is in a wonderful location, and our concept is to bring the community to the creative arts center," Furst said. "We want the program geared to youngsters who want to come and see our productions," she said, adding that the presentations also would provide "a way for us to train people" for theater work.