Emory Report
February 9, 2009
Volume 61, Number 19


 

   

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February 9
, 2009
Take Note

Free tax filing help available
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) is again offering free tax preparation, for Emory employees whose household income was less than $42,000 in 2008.

Those who qualify and use the service won’t have to pay for filing, loans or Rapid Refund, and a VITA spokesman says refunds can be obtained in seven to 10 days.

Located in Goizueta Business School Room 330, the service will be offered from Feb. 3 through April 9, on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays from 7 to 8 a.m.; and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Go to www.hr.emory.edu/freetaxes to find out what documents are required. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-955-1566 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.

SURE aids research with mentoring

Funding has opened nine new positions for the Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory (SURE). That makes a total of 70 spots available in this year’s program, which gives students a chance to conduct research alongside a faculty member or graduate student mentor in the math and science labs.

Grants from the Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and the nonprofit Concerned Parents for AIDS Research, enabled the program to expand.

SURE has hosted more than 1,100 students over the past 20 years.

This year’s deadline for applications is Feb. 11. For more info, visit: www.cse.emory.edu/sciencenet/undergrad/SURE/SURE.html.

Strong backing for higher education
Voters give high marks to Georgia’s four-year colleges and universities, and they believe higher education budget cuts should be minimized even in difficult economic times, according to a public opinion poll by ARCHE, the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education.

Poll respondents gave high marks — in the 80 or 90 percentile — for quality, leadership, importance for the state’s four-year public and private colleges and universities.

Eighty percent believe state budget cuts to public colleges and universities should be minimized, even during today’s economic downturn. Almost two thirds (65 percent) are willing to pay $1 more a week in taxes if the money goes to enhance the quality of education for college students.

The online poll of 600 registered Georgia voters was conducted late last year; to view results visit
www.atlantahighered.org.