Nursing shootings shock campus, inspire new policy

On Oct. 28, a nursing student who was allegedly distraught over his failing grades shot and killed three of his professors, then himself.

Robert Stewart Flores Jr., entered the College of Nursing and killed assistant nursing professor Robin Rogers, 50, in her second-floor office.

He then proceeded to a fourth-floor classroom and shot professor Cheryl McGaffic, 44, and assistant nursing professor Barbara Monroe, 45, in front of a group of students who were 40 minutes into an exam.

After telling the students to leave the room, Flores killed himself.

About three months after the shootings, the Dean of Students Office enacted two new policies for handling threatening and disruptive behavior.

Regents approve largest tuition increase

In March, the Arizona Board of Regents unanimously passed a $1,000 tuition hike ÷ the highest in UA history ÷ and increased the amount of tuition allowed to be set aside for financial aid. Of the $34 million the UA will make from the tuition hike, about $21 million will go to aid.

Kappa Sigma, Sigma Chi, and Pike latest to lose recognition

When the local chapter of the Kappa Sigma fraternity lost its university recognition for hazing violations on July 3, it became the fourth fraternity to lose recognition in the past year.

Sigma Chi had its recognition suspended in late April after an investigation revealed that pledges had been forced to clean, paint, and eat beans after vomiting.

Pi Kappa Alpha damaged their house in late May after learning that their national charter had been suspended. The university had previously suspended recognition in December of 2002 for alcohol and hazing violations.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon temporarily lost university recognition in March after pledges damaged a float belonging to another fraternity. The fraternity was already on probation for hazing violations, including paddling.

President Likins unveils Focused Excellence

In response to the regents' decision to implement Changing Directions, Likins announced plans last fall to narrow UA's mission, eliminating some programs to allow others to succeed.

After weeks of meetings with other top administrators, Likins and Provost George Davis announced in January about 50 proposals for cutting, merging and restructuring programs across UA.

Among the most controversial: eliminating the School of Information Resources and Library Sciences and merging the department of German studies with the department of Russian and Slavic studies.

Starting in April, Likins and Davis modified some of those plans, deciding to spare the library school, but still moving ahead to merge the German and Russian departments.

IBSB, other additions approved for UA research

As part of its Focused Excellence plan, the UA received approval last spring to construct four research facilities worth $182 million.

In an unprecedented change in policy, the legislature gave the green light for UA to build three buildings, including the Institute for Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, near the Arizona Health Sciences center as well as an addition to the chemistry building.

The buildings will be a break from traditional research, as scientists from several different disciplines will be working together on advanced medical research.

The money that the researchers generate will go to the university as well as the state to help offset the state's budget.