Trying to grown: Nicholls State University is preparing physical and personnel expansions in an effort to increase enrollment and offset shrinking revenues. The university is converting vacant space on campus to expand its Petroleum Engineering Technology and Safety Management Program, which is one of the most in-demand programs at Nicholls. Enrollment at the university has been declining in recent years. Nicholls enrolled slightly more than 6,300 students during the spring semester, and though it has a goal to increase that number to 8,000, early projections suggest fall enrollment will decline for a third consecutive year. Read the full story.
Driving force: Asia Pacific cities are driving the global economy. According to a new report from the Brookings Institute, the 100 biggest metropolitan centers in the Asia Pacific region make up one fifth of the global economy, or $22 trillion worth in 2014. Of those metro areas, 49 are in China, 19 in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, 12 in North America, seven each in Southeast Asia and Latin America, and six in Australia and New Zealand. Though Chinese metro economies enjoyed the fastest GDP per capita growth, it’s not all about Asia. Cities such as Portland, San Jose, Seattle and San Francisco all outpaced national growth averages in 2014. Read the full story from Bloomberg.
Nuts for almonds: Though criticized for being a water-thirsty crop grown mostly in California, almonds are more popular than ever. And spreads made from the tree nut are increasingly supplanting peanut butter in U.S. lunch boxes and pantries. Americans are eating about two pounds of almonds per person annually—double the amount they consumed just seven years ago thanks in part to protein-rich Paleo diets, peanut-butter allergies and evolving tastes. But the almond craze has come at a cost. The growth in consumption—coupled with smaller crops —have sent prices surging to record levels. Read the full story.
