Once again students from the School of Business & Economics MBA programme will be taking up the challenge of competing in the 2008 Cranfield Regatta, an international sailing event which is designed to allow MBA students and alumni from all over Europe to meet their counterparts from other business schools. The regatta will take place around Port Solent and Cowes on the last weekend in July and Exeter’s eight-strong crew are working hard in the hope of a high placing for the University. The crew is made up of part-time and full-time MBA students and alumni who have a broad range of sailing skills and experience but are dedicated to doing their best for Exeter. This year’s crew consists of current students Nadia Nikolova, Simon Baird, Nagyb Shah, Stuart Harris, Richard Dawson and alumni Jonny Malcolm, Mark Roberts and Wade Tipton. The race will consist of four head to head races with the various business school teams taking part. The team has is being sponsored by Vospers South West Motor Dealership, Jam Creative, The Birmingham Assay Office and House of Marbles.

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University at Albany-SUNY students in the evening and weekend MBA programs are in Budapest this week as they visit seven companies there and immerse themselves in Hungarian business, history and culture.

The School of Business entourage includes two dozen students, retired Dean Paul Leonard, and several faculty and staff. New School of Business Dean Donald Siegel popped in for a visit last weekend.

In the evenings, the future MBAs take an international business class with Professor Yasha Crnkovic.

St. John’s University conferred 2,146 undergraduate degrees at three graduation ceremonies held over the weekend.

The Rev. Donald J. Harrington, president of the university, gave the keynote address at all ceremonies for the 122d commencement exercises.

Addressing the students at the campus in Jamaica, Queens, yesterday, Father Harrington told the students that “the quality of life in society rests upon the quality of education in our grammar and high schools and in our colleges and universities.”

Referring to the rioting in Los Angeles, he said, “Regardless of how we interpret the events of the past month, regardless of where we seek to place the blame, I submit to you that an essential part of any solution must be the renewal of the educational system of our land.” Industry, Health, Banking

At the first ceremony, held in Alumni Hall in the morning, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Michael E. Maher, an alumnus of the university who is chairman of Maher Terminals Inc. in New Jersey, one of the largest independent container terminal operators.

Sister Irene Kraus, president of the Daughters of Charity National Health System in St. Louis, received an honorary doctor of letters degree.

In the ceremony held in the afternoon, also in Alumni Hall, an honorary doctor of commercial science degree was awarded to Richard T. Greene, president of Carver Federal Savings Bank, one of the largest black-owned financial institutions in the nation.

Edward Mercado, director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Health and Human Services, received an honorary doctor of laws degree.

On Saturday, a commencement ceremony was held on the Grymes Hill campus of the university in Staten Island. An honorary doctor of civil law degree was awarded to Josephine L. Gambino, president and senior member of the New York Civil Service Commission. Cornell University

Cornell University’s 124th commencement took place yesterday in a cold rain with temperatures in the 30’s, prompting the university’s president, Frank H. T. Rhodes, to cut short his prepared remarks to the 5,900 graduates. University officials said it was the first time in 17 years that it had rained on commencement.

Each of the graduates of Cornell’s 11 schools and colleges at the ceremony, which was still held outdoors on the campus in Ithaca, N.Y., was given a red rose. Mr. Rhodes used the occasion to remind them to “take time to smell the roses.”