When the legal markets imploded in 2008, it wasn't apparent that law schools, too, would need to tighten their belts. Today, applicants are down about 14 percent nationally. At Temple, while applications are down, competition for admission remains keen. Like many other law schools, Temple is adjusting its curriculum to move slightly away from the heavily theoretical training model to one that focuses more on experience.

These days, student orientation has become a family affair, and many parents remain very involved throughout the semester. Temple Dean of Students Stephanie Ives says parents want to be "in the loop," so the university decided to include them during the orientation process. “We would rather talk with the parent who we have helped orient and inform right from the start," said Ives, "so that the parents feel a sense of knowledge and connection with the school."

Are there tell-tale signals to a shooting spree such as the one in Colorado last week? Psychologists say it's nearly impossible to accurately predict human behavior, although they do agree that parents, teachers and friends need to heed warning signs that can signal the possibility of extreme violence. "It's awfully hard to generalize about these things," said Laurence Steinberg, professor of psychology at Temple. "Some have long histories of depression, others don't. Right now, we don't know yet about (Holmes) history."

Temple University celebrated another milestone in its development Wednesday with a "topping off" ceremony for the final phase of construction on a brand new residence hall. Thanks to the generosity of a Temple alumnus, a new 27-story structure is transforming the Philadelphia sky-line along North Broad Street. "It makes a bold new statement about Temple's presence and its role in the city," said Richard Englert, Temple's acting president.