Research spending at the University of Massachusetts in fiscal year 2012 surpassed the $500 million mark for the third consecutive year, UMass President Robert L. Caret announced Wednesday. more

(Updated Feb. 28, 4 p.m.) Educational endowments to colleges and universities in the Ocean State dropped 6.1 percent in the 2012 fiscal year, according to a report from the NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments produced by the National Association of College and University Business Officers and figures from Providence College. more

(Updated, 6 p.m.) Nonprofit education management organization United Providence!, which is designed to manage the turnaround process in Providence’s lowest-performing schools, will officially launch Tuesday with an event at the R.I. Convention Center. more

PROVIDENCE – The charitable arm of the Rhode Island Bar Association is seeking applications for two $20,000 scholarships for first-year Rhode Island law school students. more

PROVIDENCE – Seven Rhode Island College students and professors were honored during the 2013 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in early February in Hyannis, Mass. more

NORTH KINGSTOWN – Brandaris Maritime, a local provider of marine-related educational-enrichment programs, has partnered with St. Mary’s Home for Children on the “SeaPerch” program, which equips students to build an underwater Remote Operated Vehicle. more

BRISTOL – The Hearst Foundation, which support organizations in culture, education, and health and social services, has awarded Roger Williams University a $75,000 grant to support its Intercultural Leadership Ambassador program that provides full tuition scholarships to underrepresented students. more

PROVIDENCE – The Teaching Studio, the professional-development consulting group of The Learning Community, is partnering with five Rhode Island public schools for an initiative to improve reading achievement. more

Brown University senior David Emanuel garnered some attention for a student business called Lock’d when he won first place in the statewide Elevator Pitch competition at Johnson & Wales University’s Harborside Campus in Providence on Dec. 5. more

The 2012 New England Common Assessment Program test scores showed significant improvement from 2008 to 2012 in both reading and mathematics proficiency levels, with less significant improvements from 2011 to 2012. more