Globally, women’s workforce participation is about 25% lower than men’s, often due to barriers such as domestic responsibilities and cultural norms. Vocational training can increase employment opportunities, but women may not be able to attend training programs that require them to be away from home. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with an international research team, explored whether hybrid distance learning can improve accessibility to job training for rural women in Nepal.

University of Texas at Arlington President Jennifer Cowley received a national award for civic and community engagement on Wednesday from Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities focused on higher education and strong communities. Campus Compact recognized Cowley with its Richard Guarasci Award for Presidential Leadership, an honor reserved for presidents of four-year institutions who demonstrate deep and sustained commitments to civic and community engagement throughout their careers. The organization selected Cowley for her focus on UTA’s dedication to student accessibility and its role in contributing to the health and strength of local communities.