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Gujarat National Law University Ph.D. Law and Allied subjects admissions 2022

Are you looking for admissions to GNLU? Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar has announced admissions in 2022 to the Ph.D. Program in Law and Allied Subjects. Check out below for details like the application process, eligibility criteria, important dates, etc.

Admissions 2022

• Law (6 seats) (Full Time only)
• Management/Allied Areas (5 seats) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Social Work (2 seats) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Sociology/Allied Areas (1 seat) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Political Science (1 seat) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Economics/Allied Areas (10 seats) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Physics/Allied Areas (7 seats) (Full Time/Part-Time)
• Botany/Allied Areas (1 seat) (Full Time/Part-Time)

Eligibility criteria

• Candidates who have secured a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate in Master's degree or its equivalent. Candidates who have completed an equivalent degree from a foreign educational institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency can also apply.
• A relaxation of 5% of marks is applicable for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled and other categories.
• Candidates possessing a degree equivalent to an M.Phil degree from a Foreign Educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency shall also be eligible to apply.

Selection procedure

Application process, important dates to remember.

• The last date for filling out the online application form is 5th June 2022
• Last date of receipt of application forms (in hard copy): 8th June 2022
• Date of examination (online): 11th June 2022
• Date of research proposal presentation (offline): 1st Week of July

Contact details

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Home » Opportunities & Events » Courses and Workshops » GNLU’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme [2021-22, 38 Seats]: Apply by August 31

GNLU’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme [2021-22, 38 Seats]: Apply by August 31

• Aprajita Karki
• Aug 24, 2021
• No Comments

About the Programme

Gujarat National Law University invites application in the prescribed online form for admission in Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Programme for the academic year 2021-22. The University offers a Ph.D. Degree programmes in the interdisciplinary areas of research with the law in the disciplines of Management, Social Work, Sociology, Political Science, History, Economics, Physics and Botany.

Number of Seats

• Management: 07
• Social Work: 02
• Sociology/Allied Areas: 01
• Political Science: 02
• History/Allied Areas: 04
• Economics/Allied Areas: 12
• Physics/Allied Areas: 07
• Botany/Allied Areas: 03

Note: The suitability of topic and eligibility of the candidate will be determined by the availability of Supervisor/research facility/appropriateness of research proposal to be accepted by the Law University.

Minimum Qualifications for Admission

• Candidates for admission to the Ph.D. programme shall have a Master’s degree in at least one of the above discipline or a professional degree declared equivalent to the Master’s degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade ‘B’ in the UGC 7-point scale (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) or an equivalent degree from a foreign educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing, accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions.
• A relaxation of 5% of marks, from 55% to 50%, or an equivalent relaxation of grade, may be allowed for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer)/Differently-Abled and other categories of candidates as per the decision of the Commission from time to time, or for those who had obtained their Master’s degree prior to 19th September 1991. The eligibility marks of 55% (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) and the relaxation of 5% to the categories mentioned above are permissible based only on the qualifying marks without including the grace mark procedures.
• Candidates possessing a Degree considered equivalent to M.Phil. Degree of an Indian Institution, from a Foreign Educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing, accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions, shall be eligible for admission to Ph.D. programme.
• The applicants who have cleared the entrance test with 50% score as qualifying marks are required to do a presentation on the preliminary research proposal with a statement of the research problem and a literature survey that demonstrates that the research topic is unexplored and an original scholarly contribution can be made on the same.

Eligibility Conditions for Admission

It is desirable that the applicants, who possess minimum prescribed qualifications for admission to Ph.D. Programme, should have excellent academic/professional track record in the relevant discipline.

The applicant for part-time Ph.D. should:

• Prove to the satisfaction of DRC that his official duties permit him to devote sufficient time to research.
• Ensure that facilities for pursuing research are available at his place of work in the chosen field of research, where required.

Duration of the Ph.D. Programme

• Ph.D. programme shall be for a minimum duration of three years, including course work and a maximum of six years.
• Extension beyond the above limits will be governed by the relevant clauses as stipulated in the Statute/Ordinance of the University.
• The women candidates and Persons with Disability (more than 40% disability) may be allowed a relaxation of two years for Ph.D. in the maximum duration. In addition, the women candidates may be provided Maternity Leave/Child Care Leave once in the entire duration of Ph.D. programme for up to 240 days.

Category of Scholars

Scholars can be registered full time or on a part-time basis:

• A full time scholar has to attend the University regularly and will be subject to the prescribed attendance rules of the University.
• Professionally employed personnel may be allowed to pursue Ph.D. on part-time bases. Such candidates are required to submit a ‘No Objection Certificate’ from their parent organization/department/employer stating that he/she is permitted to pursue studies on a part-time basis and that his/her duties permit him/her to devote sufficient time for research. Part Time Scholars will have to attend the classes for assigned course-work as per the rules of the University/UGC.

Important Dates

• Last date of receipt of application forms (in hard copy): August 31, 2021 (Tuesday)
• Date of online examination: September 04, 2021 (Saturday)
• Date of Research Proposal Presentation: September 18, 2021 (Saturday)

Admission Form and Fees Payment

The candidates who are interested in seeking admission in Ph.D. Programme can apply directly by filling the online admission form. The Application fee INR 4,000/- (non-refundable) shall be made through the following link: https://lawc.to/8iWyc

The hard copy of the filled-in admission form along with all the relevant certificates shall reach the University through post to the below-mentioned address latest by 31st August 2021.

For any query, please mail to [email protected] .

For the official link and full details: https://lawc.to/UaQg1

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Research in Law and Inter Disciplinary areas at Gujarat National Law University

31 may 2022, 01:54 pm ist.

Representational image

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) has invited applications for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Programme for the academic year 2022-23 in Law and Allied Subjects.

The University offers full time PhD Degree Programme in Law. The University also offers Full time/Part time Interdisciplinary Research with Law in different disciplines- Management/Allied Areas (which includes Commerce/Business Studies/ Management/ Public Policy and other associated subjects); Social Work; Sociology/Allied Areas; Political Science; Economics/Allied Areas (which includes Commerce/Business Studies/ Management/ Public Policy and other associated subjects); Physics/Allied Areas; Botany/Allied Areas.

The suitability of the topic and eligibility of the candidate will be determined by the availability of the Supervisor/research facility/appropriateness of the research proposal to be accepted by the Law University.

Minimum Qualifications: Applicant should have a Master’s degree or an equivalent professional degree with at least 55% marks in aggregate (50% for SC/ST/OBC/DA and other categories of candidates and for those who had obtained their Master's degree prior to 19th September, 1991) or its equivalent grade or an equivalent degree. Those with M.Phil. Degree are also eligible for admission to PhD programme.

Selection: Selection process will consist of (i) Admission Test (UGC NET/JRF and MPhil Passed Candidates shall be exempted) to be held on 11.6.2022 and (ii) Presentation of the proposed research before the Departmental Research Committee (DRC) to be held in the first week of July, 2022 for those qualifying the entrance test with 50% score.

The duration of the admission test will be 2 hours. It will have 2 papers with a total of 100 Multiple Choice Questions- Paper I: Research Methodology & English (50 Questions) Paper II: Subject Awareness- Domain Knowledge (50 Questions). Presentation has to be done for 15 minutes.

Application: Application can be filled online at the link provided in the admission Notification at https://www.gnlu.ac.in/ (Academics> Academic Programs > Ph.D) latest by June 5, 2022. Application fee of Rs. 4,000/- can be paid online.

The hard copy of the filled-in admission form along with all the relevant certificates should reach ‘The Registrar, Gujarat National Law University, Knowledge Corridor, Koba, Koba (Sub P. O.), Gandhinagar, Gujarat – 382426’ by post latest by Wednesday, 08 June 2022 in a cover marked as ‘Application for Admission to the PhD Programme’.

For details, visit https://www.gnlu.ac.in/

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PhD Programme in GNLU for the Academic Year 2023-24

Event Status : Created Event

Event Information

Gujarat National Law University invites online applications from eligible candidates for admission in PhD programme. The important details of the admission process are listed below -

Course name: Doctor of Philosophy

Educational Qualification:

Candidates for admission to the PhD programme shall have a Masters degree or a professional degree declared equivalent to the Masters degree by the corresponding statutory regulatory body, with at least 55% marks in aggregate or its equivalent grade B in the UGC 7-point scale (or an equivalent grade in a point scale wherever grading system is followed) or an equivalent degree from a foreign educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing, accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions.

Candidates possessing a Degree considered equivalent to M.Phil. Degree of an Indian Institution, from a Foreign Educational Institution accredited by an Assessment and Accreditation Agency which is approved, recognized or authorized by an authority, established or incorporated under a law in its home country or any other statutory authority in that country for the purpose of assessing, accrediting or assuring quality and standards of educational institutions, shall be eligible for admission to PhD programme

The applicants who have cleared the entrance test with 50% score as qualifying marks are required to do a presentation on the preliminary research proposal with a statement of the research problem and a literature survey which demonstrates that the research topic is unexplored and an original scholarly contribution can be made on the same.

Address to send the application: The Candidate must fill in the application form and send it to The Registrar Gujarat National Law University Knowledge Corridor, Koba, Koba (Sub P. O.), Gandhinagar - 382426 (Gujarat), INDIA along with relevant documents.

For more details related to eligibility criteria, syllabus, fee, pattern, annexures, etc refer to the attachments below.

Attachments

• Prospectus.pdf

Important Dates

Check out all the important dates below:

Admission Details

Course Wise Details

See all the detailed information related to the course given below:

Apply/Application Details

Admission history.

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GNLU Gandhinagar - Admission 2024, Fees, Courses, Placement, Ranking

• Courses & Fees
• Scholarship
• GNLU Gandhinagar Latest Updates
• About GNLU Gandhinagar

Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar is a public university established in 2003 under the Gujarat National Law University Act 2003. The university is recognised by the Bar Council of India (BCI) and University Grants Commission (UGC). It is popularly known as GNLU Gandhinagar. The university is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) , International Association of Law Schools (IALS) , Asian Law Institute (ASLI) and Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. 

GNLU secured 8th spot in NIRF Ranking 2022 in the law category. The university offers a total of 11 courses at UG, PG and doctoral levels. GNLU Gandhinagar campus covers an area of 50 acres. The university provides extensive practical training to students. Moot court competitions are conducted at regular intervals at the campus. Further, the university has numerous student clubs to organise academic and extracurricular activities.

Table of Contents

Gnlu gandhinagar highlights, gnlu gandhinagar courses and admission 2024, gnlu gandhinagar placements, gnlu gandhinagar cut off, gnlu gandhinagar reviews, gnlu gandhinagar faqs, gnlu gandhinagar rankings 2023, gnlu gandhinagar campus facilities and infrastructure, gnlu gandhinagar faculty, gnlu gandhinagar alumni, gnlu gandhinagar scholarships, gujarat national law university seat reservation, gnlu gandhinagar contact details, related questions, gnlu gandhinagar related news, fee details of popular colleges, similar colleges, explore more law colleges in gujarat.

Undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses are offered by the university. GNLU courses list includes a total of 11 programmes. The university courses list also includes three postgraduate diploma courses. GNLU fees structure for Integrated UG courses is Rs 2,58,000 for the first year. Some of the popular courses offered are BA LLB (Hons), BSW LLB (Hons), LLM, PG Diploma in Intellectual Property Rights, PhD law etc. 

GNLU Gandhinagar courses are offered in full-time and part-time modes. The university only offers PhD courses in part-time mode. Candidates are required to meet GNLU eligibility criteria for admission in courses offered. 

Gujarat National Law University Courses and Eligibility Criteria

The university has a Committee of Recruitment Affairs (CRA) that handles GNLU Gandhinagar placements. The CRA is responsible for conducting the placement and inviting companies to hire students. Both on campus and off campus placements are conducted by the CRA. Another important job of the CRA is to prepare students for GNLU placements. It conducts seminars, guest lectures etc. to provide insights about the professional world to students. 

Gujarat National Law University also has a winter internship programme. This helps students to develop professional skills and increase their chances of getting placed during GNLU placement drive. Some of the notable GNLU Gandhinagar recruiters are mentioned below. 

GNLU Top Recruiters

GNLU Gandhinagar Placement Stats 2021

GNLU Gandhinagar Cut Off 2023 is yet to be released. The university cutoff for LLB (Hons) and LLM courses is released by the Consortium of NLUs annually. GNLU cutoff is different for each category for candidates. The Consortium of NLUs released five cutoffs each for LLB (Hons) admissions. 

Candidates who meet Gujarat National Law University cutoff marks are given time to confirm their admission. The university expected cut off for LLB (Hons) and LLM courses are mentioned below. 

GNLU Expected CLAT Cut Off 2024 for LLB

• CLAT Closing Rank General 124 Scheduled Tribe 5569 Scheduled Castes 4984
• CLAT Closing Rank General 142
• Overall 4.3 ( 2 Reviews)
• Infrastructure 4.3 ( 2 Reviews)
• Faculty 4.0 ( 1 Reviews)
• Placement 2.0 ( 2 Reviews)
• Hostel 4.0 ( 2 Reviews)

What is Gujarat National Law University campus size?

Does gnlu have a student exchange programme, is gujarat national law university recognised by bci, is gnlu a government university, is it compulsory to stay in a hostel in gnlu, what is gnlu position in nirf law ranking 2022, how many seats are there in the gnlu ba llb (hons) course, does gujarat national law university have a uniform for students, when was the college , gnlu , gandhinagar established , is gnlu , gandhinagar a government college, what is the year of establishment of gnlu gandhinagar .

GNLU is one of the first college of its kind in Gujarat with top ranking, and also stands out on the national level.

Ranking Publisher NIRF

Gnlu gandhinagar law nirf ranking 2024.

• OVERALL Combined scores base on institute performance. 65.69 GOOD
• TLR Strong emphasis on quality education and adequate resources. 73.22 GOOD
• RP Active engagement in research, high-quality publications, and strong professional collaborations. 38.16 AVERAGE
• GO Good placement and higher study opportunities for students, high median salary, and admissions into top universities. 72.9 GOOD
• OI Focus on diversity, inclusivity, and facilities for disadvantaged and physically challenged students. 71.85 GOOD
• PR Positive perception among employers, research investors, and academic peers. 52.72 GOOD

The 50 acres lush green campus of the university has a variety of facilities. GNLU Gandhinagar campus facilities provide a comfortable and learning environment to students. Some of the facilities available at Gujarat National Law University campus are:

Boys Hostel - The university campus has modern and well furnished hostels for boys students. The annual fees for GNLU boys hostel is Rs 66,000 for UG students and Rs 66,200 for LLM students. The fees include mess charges as well. Girls Hostel - GNLU Gandhinagar as a dedicated hostel for girls. To provide maximum comfort to girl students, all basic amenities are available at girls hostels. Rs 66,000 and Rs 66,200 are GNLU hostel fees for LLB (Hons) and LLM courses students, respectively.

Classrooms - The university has modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology such as projectors. Furthermore, GNLU classrooms are fully air conditioned. 

Health Centre - A Physician and a Nurse visits GNLU hostels every day. The university has basic first aid facilities for students. To deal with medical emergencies, an ambulance is also present at the campus 24x7.  

Laboratories - The university has modern laboratories for students. This allows students to gain practical experience along with theoretical knowledge. 

Moot Court - Regular national and international moot court competitions are conducted at regular intervals at the campus. GNLU moot court allows students to practise law. 

GNLU Clubs, Societies and Committees

• Theatre Club
• Photography Club
• Fine Arts Club
• Literary - Entertainment Club
• Gaming Club
• GNLU Debating Society
• GNLU Moot Court Committee

Campus Facilities

The university offers a wide range of merit based and need based scholarships. GNLU scholarships are offered to students who participate in national, state and international level competitions, students who do international internships, students who are selected under the student exchange programme etc. In order to avail GNLU Gandhinagar scholarships, students must meet the eligibility criteria determined by the university. 

GNLU Gandhinagar scholarship amount varies from scholarship to scholarship. Further, the university is registered at the National Scholarship Portal (NSP). Students can visit the NSP to apply for state and national level scholarships. Gujarat National Law University offers research fellowship to students enrolled in PhD programmes.

College Location

I want any investigation course, can i get admission in gujarat national law university.

Dear Mahesh, 

Yes, you can get admission to Gujarat National Law University if you are eligible. The university has started the admission process for the academic session 2024-25 through CLAT scores. GNLU offers law programmes at undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD levels. Along with these, the university also offers a PG Diploma in three specialisations including Biotechnology, Law and Policy, IPR and Medical Law and Policy. However, you have to ensure you are eligible for your desired course before applying for the courses. For the UG and PG programmes, CLAT has released the admission cutoff which shall be qualified for admission. 

Hope this helps!

Feel free to contact us for any further questions or clarifications. 

How can I get admission in Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar for BA LLB course for 2020-2021 session?

Dear Student,

In order to get admission in BBA LLB at  Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar , it is crucial to sit for the CLAT exam . The last date to fill the CLAT application form for the 2020-2021 session was August 15, 2020. The admission in Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar is closed but there are other top law colleges in Gujarat that can cater to your needs. Few of them are specified below.

Karnavati University (KU ), Gandhinagar

Parul University, Gujarat

Check the entire list of top BBA LLB colleges in India and their fee structure here.

To get admission in the desired college, either dial 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill the Common Application Form . You can also drop your queries in the QnA zone.

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Another Air Law PhD at UCT Law

The aviation field generally attracts more investors than  African scholars, particularly scholars of the Law. While few have sought to pursue this field of Law, even fewer have taken the tough decision to embark on a doctoral thesis. William Kiema not only did this, he has now completed his PhD in Air Law at UCT - and will be graduating on 3 September 2024. 

William Kiema is a 30-year old Kenyan who will be only the second PhD graduate to come out of the Faculty's newly-established Air and Aviation Law Programme . The programme is led by Distinguished Professor Philippe-Joseph Salazar, who also supervised William's doctoral research and his thesis titled Open Skies for Africa: A Principled Approach to the Implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market.  

William achieved his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Nairobi (Kenya) in 2018, and then completed his Master's in Law at UCT as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar  (a merit-based scholarship granted to promising African students). William’s passion for and commitment to the creation of a stable and properly regulated African airspace alerted him to the gaps in the African Civil Aviation industry and so, as a legal scholar, he sought to understand better the Aviation industry from a legal perspective. This brought him back to UCT Law, and in January 2021 he was admitted to the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Law to pursue his PhD.

William's interest in aviation stems from his childhood, and he remembers that growing up in his home town in Kenya, he would see planes fly overhead as he stood in awe and wonder at " the kind of magic that kept the big birds from falling off the sky ". Like any other child with a vibrant and curious mind, though, William’s professional preferences swung between being a medical doctor, a lawyer, a pilot and an engineer. “ Well," says Kiema, " I became a doctor - not a medical doctor but a Doctor of Philosophy in Law, guiding pilots and other aviators in the legal intricacies in what is arguably one of the most regulated industries in the world ."

Armed with the desire to undertake research and also to share his knowledge of Air Law, William has pioneered UCT Law's new professional short course on Fundamentals of Aviation Law,  which has attracted aviation law practitioners, non-lawyers, and senior executives and managers from the aviation industry (including civil aviation authorities, airports, air navigation service providers, airlines, international and regional aviation bodies, government officials responsible for civil aviation and the general consumers of aviation services). Chief among the objectives of this short professional development course, offered by the Faculty's Law@work  unit, is to provide an overview of air service agreements, open skies agreements, traffic rights, the legal and institutional framework of international aviation, and the roles and functions of principal organisations involved in the regulation of the aviation industry. The course also aims to equip participants with a contextualised operational perspective of Aviation Law.

* information about this short course on Fundamentals of Aviation Law can be found on the Law@work  website.

In addition to pursuing his PhD and sharing knowledge about Aviation Law, William has consulted for leading law firms in Kenya on aviation law-related matters and has trained civil aviation representatives from Kenya and Nigeria on aviation and air law. William is also a Partner at PMAK Africa Law, a boutique law firm in Nairobi, Kenya, and heads up the PMAK Aviation Law Department. 

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Graduate students tackle healthcare policy reform during new fellowship at Johns Hopkins

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August 5, 2024 : By Ryan Klinker - Office of Communications & Public Engagement

Three students from Liberty University’s Master of Public Health (MPH) program have spent nearly a year in an exciting new fellowship thanks to a partnership between the School of Health Sciences (SHS) and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The research fellowship at Hopkins, a collaboration between Dr. Heidi DiFrancesca, dean of Liberty’s School of Health Sciences , and Dr. Marty Makary, Professor of Surgery at Johns Hopkins, is designed for MPH students to conduct research on healthcare policy at the JHU School of Medicine and attend related events. The fellowship is one year long, beginning each August, and is under the direction of Makary and his research team, which includes Christi Walsh, M.S.N.-C.R.N.P., director of the Healthcare Graduate Research Program at Johns Hopkins. Makary, a pancreatic surgeon, is an outspoken proponent for healthcare reform and has given multiple Grand Rounds lectures on the topic at Liberty.

One of three students selected to particiate in the competitive fellowship, Andrea Mackenzie, saw the fellowship as a chance to fulfill her dreams of impacting the modern healthcare system in America.

“This couldn’t have been a more perfect opportunity,” said Mackenzie, who has been accepted to start her Ph.D. in Public Policy at Liberty. “It was through my (MPH) studies that I realized that one of the greatest effects we could have on the health of the nation would be in education and primary prevention, which seeks to avoids problems in the first place before they happen. It became clear to me that the policies, programs, and choices of our culture have a direct impact on health outcomes, and following a problem upstream to the source often leads to public policy opportunities.”

She joined fellow MPH students Faith Magwenzi and Asonganyi Aminkeng in the fellowship, working mainly in a remote setting, in addition to meeting together one or two times per month virtually and once a month in Washington, D.C.

“After hearing about the fellowship, I was immediately drawn to it due to the valuable skill sets that fellows would gain upon completion,” Aminkeng said. “I wanted to apply because I saw this as an excellent opportunity to enhance my knowledge and skills in public health, and it aligned perfectly with my career goals.

A core phase of the fellowship for each student was coming up with three scientific ideas presumed to be true, looking into the history of these “facts,” and determining their validity based on the researched evidence. The purpose of the exercise was to show how the practices and standards of medicine change over time, sometimes far later than they ought to, and that healthcare can and should make changes as new findings are discovered.

“We were challenged to think and question everything and research and really ask, ‘What do we know and what do we not know? What do we think we know that we get wrong?’” Mackenzie explained. “We looked back historically to see how these beliefs or conclusions came to be. We got to do a different type of research where it wasn’t just gathering publications from recent years; we were going back decades and, in some cases, centuries.”

One example that Mackenzie looked into was the history of ovarian cancer treatments that have existed since the 18th century. She read through old journals and accounts of surgeries that talked about how ovarian cancer was believed to originate in the ovaries, leading doctors to perform surgeries that remove ovaries, when recent findings point to fallopian tubes as the place where the cancer starts.

Magwenzi said this survey of scientific findings and beliefs over the centuries was a highlight for her as well.

“I have enjoyed the internship, particularly diving into literature and learning new things,” she said. “The fact that the internship challenged deeply held assumptions about health was eye-opening.”

Additionally, the students participated in three research projects, working collaboratively as each student took the lead on one of the projects. Aminkeng oversaw research on the prescribing of antibiotics in telemedicine and instances of improper dosage. Magwenzi led a project on the association between prescription rates and costs of weight-loss medications and obesity trends among Medicaid users in the United States. Mackenzie led a study on national physician cesarean section rates in low-risk deliveries.

All three projects were presented at Liberty’s annual Research Week in April. Mackenzie’s C-section research won first place in the Graduate Applied Research Poster Presentation category. Her presentation was also selected by the National Delta Omega Public Health Honor Society to be presented at the American Public Health Association (APHA) national conference in October.

During the fellowship, the students traveled to conferences where they met with professionals who are impacting healthcare policy from different angles. On Capitol Hill, the students attended a conference hosted by the Paragon Health Institute, which provides healthcare research as well as market-based policy proposals for improved outcomes in the public and private sectors. They also met with members of Congress, including Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and sat in on hearings regarding healthcare reform. In Oklahoma City, the group attended the Free Market Medical Association’s 10th annual conference, where they met innovators who are finding alternative and efficient routes to provide patient care.

The fellowship also included lessons in searching for and writing grants, and students were able to shadow Makary in the operating room at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

“I have particularly enjoyed learning about grant writing, which is an essential skill for an aspiring public health expert like me,” Aminkeng said. “Additionally, I have developed a deeper understanding of health policy issues and health insurance challenges in the U.S. Understanding the intricate relationship between public health and the health systems in America has reinforced my commitment to making meaningful contributions to improve health outcomes both nationally and globally.”

Mackenzie said the experience of the fellowship was a “springboard” for her career: “This experience brought theory and hypothetical learning into practical reality. We met and made professional connections that are invaluable to my breadth of understanding and a future vision of hope for our healthcare system.”

“The internship awarded me a network of talented individuals and groups that I would otherwise not have access to who can be potential employers and partners in the future,” Magwenzi added. “I gained tons of research experience and as someone who wants to focus on research, the experience has been invaluable.”

DiFrancesca is excited for all the ways the students have benefitted from the experience and how they can now share it with their classmates and the department.

“Through this research fellowship collaboration, we are making an investment in the next generation of public health leaders, underscoring the (School of Health Sciences’) commitment to ensuring our students are well-prepared to tackle the multifacteted challenges of the public health landscape. This enriching experience fosters students growth as burgeoning public health professionals and researchers, equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and exposure to thrive as public health professionals capable of addressing complex health issues and contributing to evidence-based solutions.”

She also spoke about the benefits that this program brings with respect to both their academic journey and on their career trajectory.

“The comprehensive and immersive research fellowship provides a holistic learning experience through a combination of hands-on research, exposure to real-world policy and practice, interdisciplinary learning, and personal and professional development opportunities. This positions them well for successful careers in the dynamic field of public health.”

The first year of the original three-year partnership agreement is about to conclude — an agreement that includes a rigorous, competitive application process that begins with the department chair and other faculty identifying potential candidates and ends with candidates interviewing with Johns Hopkins staff.

“I am delighted to see the profoundly positive and dynamic outcome of our first year and look forward to more students having the opportunity to participate in this collaborative research fellowship in upcoming years.” DiFrancesca said.

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N.J. is adding a new requirement to graduate high school, but a huge number of kids didn’t do it last year

• Updated: Aug. 15, 2024, 7:37 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 14, 2024, 7:29 a.m.
• Tina Kelley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The number of New Jersey students who filed federal financial aid forms dropped this year, just as the state is implementing a new law that will require public high school seniors to fill out the forms in order to graduate.

The law, signed in January, requires the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027 to fill out the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA , as a requirement for getting a public high school diploma.

The form is used to determine how much federal student aid a graduate can get to attend college, and New Jersey officials want more seniors to fill it out to save money and increase the number of people getting a higher education.

But, only a little more than half of New Jersey high school seniors filled out their FAFSA forms this year.

After federal delays in producing and processing a new version of the FAFSA form caused chaos in college admissions this spring, 54.7% of New Jersey high school seniors finished the form — down 6 percentage points from last year, according to the National College Attainment Network, citing August 2 figures.

That meant 6,204 fewer New Jersey students filled out the form compared to the previous year.

The U.S. Department of Education announced last week that for most students, the forms will again be available three months later than usual.

Kim Cook, head of the nonprofit National College Attainment Network, said students would be further harmed if the problems with the forms continue this academic year.

“The unprecedented numbers we are observing in this class’s data make it clear that we can’t afford to have another delayed FAFSA,” she said. “We know that FAFSA opens the door to college; we need that door ready to walk through on-time and without complication.”

According to the network, students who did not fill out the form left about $103 million in federal Pell Grants on the table.

That number is expected to shrink significantly in New Jersey with the new graduation requirement, as schools are expected to focus on getting all students to fill out the FAFSA.

Under the pilot program, which can be renewed after three years, students can submit a waiver or speak to a school counselor to get an exemption from the graduation requirement. Undocumented students who are not eligible for federal aid but do qualify as NJ Dreamers can fill out the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application instead.

Nationally, the percentage of students finishing the forms fell to 46% from about 53% this year. For the past two years New Jersey has ranked ninth in the nation in the percentage of seniors completing the forms, said Bill DeBaun, a senior director at the National College Attainment Network.

Filling out the forms is particularly important for low-income and first generation college students with fewer resources.

“When we look at New Jersey high schools by school income level and percentage of students of color enrolled, we do see big FAFSA completion gaps,” DeBaun said.

There’s still time before the Sept. 15 deadline for this year’s high school graduates to apply for state funds for college, state officials said. New Jersey received $100,000 in federal assistance to get the word out about the FAFSA.

The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is offering free, online one-on-one sessions with financial aid experts throughout August to answer students’ questions. Appointments are available through the authority’s website, and are also open to students who already submitted their FAFSA forms but need assistance correcting errors or providing additional information requested by the U.S. Department of Education.

Evening webinars about the forms are also available in Spanish and English.

Students must fill out the forms to see if they are eligible for federal aid as well as Tuition Aid Grants from the state. The forms are also required to see if students are eligible for the New Jersey College Promise program, which provides tuition money for students under certain income levels. Most universities and colleges require the forms to determine who receives scholarships, as well.

Under the traditional timeline, the FAFSA forms are available Oct. 1, and students and families fill them out and send them to the U.S. Department of Education, which determines how much federal aid they should receive, said Alejandro Guiral, president of the New Jersey Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

After three to five days of processing, the department usually determines what amount of federal assistance applicants will receive, and sends the forms to the state Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, known as HESAA, and the students’ chosen schools.

HESAA then determines how much state aid the student is eligible for, and notifies the school, which decides which scholarships or grants it can offer the student.

The final package — with state, federal and campus aid — was traditionally ready for students to review by January. This year, the form was not available until January for most families, and students learned what federal aid they received in mid-March. The amount of state aid they were eligible to receive wasn’t available until the beginning of May.

“They had a long time to wait,” Guiral said. “There’s been a certain percentage maybe that didn’t choose the school they wanted, maybe they went to another college that was not their first or second choice, because of the delay in accurate information about the financial aid package.”

On the new FAFSA form used this year, information from parents’ 2022 tax returns was fed into their children’s applications, although the process was poorly executed, according to a report by the U.S. Inspector General last week.

When parents do not want their income considered in a student’s application, it severely limits how much need-based aid the student would be eligible for, Guiral said. Students in such circumstances may be able to apply independently from their parents, after discussing the matter with financial aid officers.

The wait this year was far longer for students with a parent who did not have a social security number, he said. Their forms were not even ready until mid-March, shutting them out of campus-based aid that was distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.

“Keep trying,” Guiral said to students still hoping to get financial aid for the fall college semester. “The actual application really has become much more simple.” And some colleges will admit students well past the official deadlines.

Guiral’s group is advocating for the department to roll out next year’s application correctly. They are also training administrators for the 2025-2026 school year and are encouraging seniors and their families to set up their accounts with the U.S. Department of Education, so they are ready when the forms become available.

Stories by Tina Kelley

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NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this post.

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Tina Kelley may be reached at [email protected] .

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SUU Graduate Attends Yale Law School

Published: August 14, 2024 | Author: Kierstin Holloway | Read Time: 3 minutes

A Cedar City native, Zufelt originally chose SUU due to its proximity to his friends and family, but he stayed for different reasons. “SUU kept me around by being a place where I felt like my input mattered,” said Zufelt. “The small class sizes, extraordinary faculty, and bounteous opportunities for getting involved allowed me to tailor my college experience very finely to my specific interests.”

After graduating from SUU, Zufelt began his career in research working for a lab at the University of Chicago and doing public health research on the south side of Chicago. His original plan was to continue this career by applying to PhD programs; however, while he knew the research work was important, Zufelt found himself feeling frustrated and sidelined.

“As a researcher, I am in an observational role and the amount I can do for the people I meet is very limited. I am drawn to the practice of law by the opportunity to intervene rather than just to observe,” said Zufelt. “I hope that legal training will empower me to advocate more effectively for the people I work with.”

Zufelt had several experiences at SUU that helped to prepare him for law school. Most notable among them was his time working with the Health Education Action Lab (HEAL) and the SUU Student Association (SUUSA).

Run by Dr. Joshua Price , and others in the economics department, HEAL is designed to give students of any major the chance to participate in empirical research.

“These professors started investing in my professional interests during my freshman year of college and helped me to develop serious research skills,” said Zufelt. “I think this kind of early investment in students is probably a rare thing at other schools.”

During his senior year at SUU, Zufelt had the opportunity to serve as a vice president of the Southern Utah University Student Association (SUUSA). Through this experience, Zufelt learned that, for him, public service would be an essential part of a fulfilling career.

“SUUSA allowed me to give back to the community that had given me so much. I was able to serve dozens of other students by running events, building clubs, and funding on-campus resources,” said Zufelt.

While Zufelt has yet to decide what specific type of law he wants to practice, he has a strong desire to return to Utah and be involved in the community as a public servant and advocate.

“So much of everything I have accomplished in life thus far I owe to the countless friends, mentors, and family who have lifted me to it,” said Zufelt. “I'm not sure I'd be where I am today were it not for the community I got to be a part of at SUU.”

Offering more than 150 undergraduate, 32 graduate, and certificate programs, as well as a professional doctorate degree, SUU strives to provide personalized education to every student. The supportive educational community at SUU offers T-Birds the opportunities they need to soar in their future careers. Learn more about what SUU alumni are accomplishing .

Tags: CurStu Alumni SUUSA Academic

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Brooke Heath 4355865400 [email protected]

Thieving China law graduate swipes US$4,200 in temple donations by switching QR codes

• Surveillance cameras reveal full extent of crimes carried out by law graduate who went to top university

A top university law graduate in China has been arrested for stealing donation money from Buddhist temples in a number of provinces by changing their receipt QR codes to his own.

The man, whose identity was not released, confessed to the police that he had stolen more than 30,000 yuan (US$4,200) from temples in the southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Chongqing, and the northwestern Shaanxi province this year, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

He is believed to have a master’s degree in law from one of the country’s most prestigious universities.

The case came to light after police in Shaanxi released video footage of him at Famen Temple of Baoji city this month.

A clip from the temple’s surveillance camera shows the man kneeling in front of a statue of Buddha that was next to the donation box, along with other visitors.

He then places a piece of paper with his personal QR code over that of the temple’s code on the box.

The man then bows towards the Buddha three times with his hands clasped together in prayer.

Before leaving the temple, he put a banknote in the box, the value of which is not clear.

After the police caught him, he confessed he had applied the same technique to steal from other Buddhist institutions in other provinces.

All the money he took was returned, police said.

The story has attracted widespread interest online, with 6.1 million views on Douyin alone.

“A Chinese saying goes that there is a deity above us, so we should not do bad things. Now this should be changed into that there is a surveillance camera above us,” one online observer said.

“He studies law, but still breaks the law,” said another.

Stealing donations from Buddhist temples is not a rare occurrence in China.

In July, a man in southeastern Jiangxi province was arrested for sneaking into a temple and breaking into the donation box several times.

Also, a man in Shanghai was arrested last year for stealing money from the box in a Buddhist nunnery.

He defended himself by saying he had just borrowed the cash after receiving approval from Buddha whose hand gesture signified that “it is OK to do that”.

• The Graduate School >
• Graduate News >
• UB law professor endorses Biden’s Supreme Court reforms

UB law professor endorses Biden’s Supreme Court reforms

By CHARLES ANZALONE

Published August 15, 2024

A School of Law expert on constitutional law and the Supreme Court says President Biden’s proposed court reforms could prevent a drift toward an authoritarian executive, protect separation of powers and restore judicial accountability.

Biden’s recently proposed reforms include a constitutional amendment stating that the Constitution does not confer immunity from criminal prosecution for acts committed by the president; 18-year term limits for Supreme Court justices; and a binding code of conduct for those justices.

The “challenge,” says Manoj Mate, professor in the School of Law, is the difficulty of amending the Constitution.

“The proposals to reform the Supreme Court are a response to recent decisions in which the court has overturned settled precedent protecting fundamental rights, including civil rights, voting rights and the right to abortion” says Mate, an expert in the areas of constitutional law, election law, and public law and judicial politics in U.S. and comparative contexts. 

“And more recently, the court in Trump v. United States held that the president has broad immunity from prosecution for criminal acts committed while president.”

Trump v. United States has been heavily criticized by scholars and commentators across the political spectrum for “failing to properly analyze the text, history and structure of the constitution,” according to Mate.

Collectively, these decisions and related developments have caused many observers and commentators to “sound the alarm that the court has entered a new phase of judicial aggrandizement.”

“In addition, the Biden reform plan also responds to recent examples of ethics scandals involving unreported gifts to certain justices,” he says.

Biden’s proposed code of conduct would require justices to “disclose gifts, refrain from public political activity and recuse themselves from cases in which they or their spouses have financial or other conflicts of interest.”

The stakes are exceedingly high, says Mate. The recent decision in Trump v. United States poses “an existential threat to U.S. democracy and separation of powers by creating a pathway to an authoritarian presidency that is above the law,” he says.

“These recent Supreme Court decisions have profound consequences for fundamental rights, separation of powers and the accountability of the executive branch. In addition, these developments raise serious concerns about an unaccountable imperial Supreme Court.

“These are sensible and common-sense reforms that would restore equilibrium to our system of separation of powers and the rule of law,” Mate says.

In discussing the reform plan, Mate highlights critiques and challenges facing the plan.

First, although some have suggested the plan represents a threat to judicial independence, the reforms do not amount to more far-reaching proposals that would have immediate impacts on the composition of the court or its powers, according to Mate.

“Biden’s plan is not a court-packing plan like the plan advanced by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in response to court decisions that invalidated key New Deal policies,” Mate says.

“Rather, the plan seeks to address and respond to recent court decisions and political developments that present existential threats to precedent and the rule of law, core fundamental rights and our system of separation of powers. In addition, the plan does not seek to restrict or curb the power or jurisdiction of the court in line with recent proposals.”

Inherent obstacles

Second, Mate notes some of the challenges facing enactment and implementation of the plan.   

“The proposed binding code of conduct is a welcome step and would go a long way toward addressing conflicts of interest and perceived corruption by applying the same code that is binding on lower federal court judges to Supreme Court judges,” says Mate.

However, the other two proposals will be more difficult to enact, given they would likely require amending the Constitution.   

“It would require the enactment of constitutional amendments that would be very difficult to enact, given the high procedural hurdles for amendment, which requires a two-third vote in the House and Senate, and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

“While court packing proposals have been frowned on by some as an attack on judicial independence, a proposal to expand the court may be the only way to immediately address the threats posed by the court’s recent decision in Trump v. United States,” Mate says.

Mate recently joined UB Law from DePaul University College of Law, where he was the inaugural faculty director of the DePaul Racial Justice Initiative. He has also held visiting faculty or fellowship appointments at Harvard University, the University of California, Berkeley School of Law and the University of California, Irvine School of Law.