By the Numbers Dollars and percentages, rankings and placements— sometimes the story is in the facts and figures. The UNH story, seen here at a glance, lies in part in its ties to the state—what it contributes and what it receives. It’s an ogoing story. And every alum can play a role. Learn more at UNH Works for NH: unh.edu/works.
20
UNH’s rank in the nation in the relationship between tuition costs and graduates’ earning power—ahead of Dartmouth, Harvard, and the University of Michigan. [The Wall Street Journal’s SmartMoney magazine]
49
Percent by which the state cut its contribution to the UNH budget in 2011.
50
50
1
23
6
3,000 +
N.H.’s place—last in the nation—in per capita support for public higher education.
Number of countries represented in the Class of 2013.
N.H.’s place—last in the nation— even if per capita support for public higher education were doubled.
Percent of the UNH budget that is provided by the state.
N.H.’s national ranking—highest average student loan debt among new grads.
1.4
Dollar amount in billions that UNH contributes each year to N.H.’s economy.
Number of N.H. businesses that seek UNH technical assistance each year. Note: Those that do are more likely to succeed.
1988 & 2013 1,300 10 Two years—a quarter century apart—in which state appropriations for USNH were the same. In other words, state support for the university today is no higher than it was 25 years ago.
Number of students who particpate in the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference, one of the largest in the nation.
UNH’s rank— among the nation’s 25 “most entrepreneurial colleges” in a survey of 300 schools. [Princeton
Review, Forbes.com]
Wake-Up Call A brush with danger sparks a new invention.
A
8 • Uni ve rs it y o f Ne w Ha m p s h i r e Ma g a z i n e • S p r i ng 2013
I l l us t r a t i o ns by J i m P a i l l o t [ 3 ]
few years ago, driving home late one night, Shaojun “Shaw” Yao ’12G nearly fell asleep at the wheel. His brush with danger was, well, a wake-up call, and he headed straight for the chemistry lab in search of a solution. “I wanted to find something you could put in the car or in your pocket to use when you need it,” he says. The problem became the subject of Yao’s dissertation for his doctorate in chemistry, and, after months of experimenting, he concocted an oil blend of peppermint, lemon, sandalwood, rosemary, menthol, and glycerin in a “smart” hydrogel that releases aromatic oils on contact with the skin. “It’s all-natural and green,” says Yao. “And it doesn’t have lasting effects on your body like caffeine.” Yao, who was also earning an MBA, entered his invention in UNH’s Holloway Innovation-to-Market competition last spring, an experience that led him to consider commercializing his research. The result was an exclusive licensing agreement between the university and its sixth startup company, Wakup, Inc. The patent-pending, anti-fatigue, time-release gel comes in a small tube and can be wiped across the upper lip, just below the nose, delivering a minty aromatherapy pick-me-up that lasts up to an hour. It’s the perfect solution, says Yao, for a commuter, an overnight shift worker—or a student. The Wakup team, which is still perfecting the recipe and raising capital, expects to get the product into convenience stores and gas stations soon. Meanwhile, drowsy customers can purchase the energy gel through the company’s website, wakupinc.com. —Rachel M. Collins ’81