A windfall of Fulbright grants.
Prestigious and highly competitive Fulbright grants send outstanding students abroad to study and conduct research. This year, nine UConn students received grant offers, setting a University record. Those accepting were Martha Kolinsky (medical anthropology/Ukraine); Kira Bulazel (genetics/Australia); Michael E. Donoghue (history/Panama); Megan Fencil (biology/Croatia); Mike Gavin (ecology and evolutionary biology/Peru); Beth Selig (German literature and international business management/ Germany); Susan Solomon (German and English/Germany); and Michael Wall (ecology and evolutionary biology/ Australia). Roland Gouvenain declined his Fulbright offer to accept a grant from the National Science Foundation. He researched rain forest dynamics in Madagascar.

Leap year for UConn in national rankings.
When a university leaps 10 places higher in the U.S. News & World Report rankings from the previous year, who notices? Everyone interested in higher education. "We don't need the rankings to testify to all the positives taking place at UConn, but students and parents pay close attention to them," comments Dolan Evanovich, associate provost for enrollment management. This year, UConn was ranked number 28 nationally, third in the Northeast and, once again, the number one public university in New England -- climbing more places than any other institution in the top 50. President Austin attributes the ranking results to "a remarkable transformation" that's making UConn a prime pick for high achievers.

Intellectual property program distinguishes law school.
Copyrights, trademarks and patents are supposed to protect the ownership rights of authors, artists, inventors and creative companies. In today's cyber-world, however, legal battles over intellectual property are anything but cut and dried. A new program at UConn's School of Law offers intensive training in this growing field to selected law students. Only a handful of other law schools offer a similar program. In its first year, 15 students were selected for the 15-credit curriculum, which includes an externship. Steven Wilf, one of four faculty members who developed the program, says it gives future lawyers a coveted skill in an information-driven economy.

Increased demand for IT knowledge.
Fairfield and Westchester Counties are among the most technology-driven business communities in Connecticut. So when the UConn Stamford campus became home to the Connecticut Information Technology Institute (CITI) in 1998, it had a ready-made population of business students, many employed by Fortune 100 companies. This year, CITI's professional development opportunities drew 1,700 people and 60 companies to its classrooms. Many who tap CITI for IT credentialing go on to pursue advanced academic degrees at UConn. Demand for CITI's nationally recognized expertise in software integrations and complex computer system roll-outs spurred a 68% increase in IT services to the corporate community this year.

Thirst-free plants may help alleviate hunger.
In developing countries, drought and salt deposits have turned formerly rich farmland into lunar-like dust. Robert Gaxiola, assistant professor of plant science, knows the effects well. A native of Mexico concerned about "feeding humanity," he set out to genetically engineer a plant that thrives in dry, salty soil. Last year, his efforts bore fruit, or at least lush shoots. Gaxiola and his team successfully engineered specimens of mustard weed that, like a camel, can pack water away in storage sacs and keep toxic levels of salt from circulating. In time, his feat may help turn wastelands into food-producing fields.

New football complex to kick off in 2003.
"I feel very fortunate to be able to support an athletic program that is known for winning on and off the field," says Robert Burton, the president and CEO of Moore Corp., Ltd., and father of Michael Burton, a UConn alumnus who captained the 1999 Husky football team. Burton, already a generous benefactor to the University, recently announced a contribution of $2.5 million to build a new football complex on the Storrs campus. The Burton Family Football Complex will house the gamut of football-related facilities while raising UConn's stature in Division I-A football. Ground breaking will begin in 2003.