NKU - Northern Kentucky University has been selected to participate in the McGraw-Hill Institute for Student Success and Academic Change, which runs June 19-23 at Appalachian State University.

The institute brings middle-school, high-school and higher-education officials together to improve the number of students going to college and their success rates.

During the institute, teams made up of administrators, policy-makers, educators and other citizens will address national and local issues related to college access, recruitment, retention and degree-completion.

NKU representatives will work on the development of the NKU Academy, a program designed to give lesser-prepared students an opportunity for remediation to prepare them for college.

Union Institute will hold seminars

UNION INSTITUTE - Union Institute and University will host two free seminars, "Getting Ahead By Going Back" at 6:30 p.m. May 11 and 10 a.m. May 15. They are geared toward adults interested in returning to or starting college.

Topics include selecting the right school, securing financial aid, using education for personal and professional development, and more.

The seminars, free to the public, will be on Union's campus 440 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills. To register, call (513) 487-1219.

Summer science programs offered

MOUNT ST. JOSEPH - Gifted high school students can experience forensic science, computer science and physics during the "Summer Science Adventures," a summer honors institute, at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Sponsored by the school's math and computer science department, the program allows students to explore areas of math, physics and computer science suitable to their ability levels but not often offered by high schools.

A grant from the Ohio Department of Education Office for Exceptional Children allows freshmen and sophomores (sophomores and juniors in fall 2004) to experience college-level education at no charge. Gifted high school students from Hamilton, Adams, Butler, Clermont, Brown, Greene, Clinton, Montgomery, Highland, Preble, and Warren counties are eligible to attend. Enrollment is limited to 90.

The program, to be held July 12-30, is free to high school students who have just completed their freshmen or sophomore years.

Applications are available through a student's high school guidance counselor or through the Mount's math and computer science department. For an application, call (513) 244-4518 or visit http://mc.msj.edu/honors.

Miami U. names researcher of year

MIAMI U. - Chris Makaroff, chairman and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, has been named Miami University's Sigma Xi Researcher of the Year for 2004.

A biochemist, Makaroff studies cellular metabolism and function, focusing on understanding the meiosis, or the process by which germ cells (egg and sperm) are produced. Since joining the Miami faculty in 1989, he has been awarded more than $3.6 million in external research and equipment grants and another $500,000 in educational grants.

School officials say Sigma Xi is an international scientific and research honor society that supports work in science and technology.

Kristina Goetz

E-mail college news to kgoetz@enquirer.com