USG NEWS:
www.gainesvilletimes.com
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/81670/
UNG plans to increase college graduates
By Savannah King
The University of North Georgia has a plan to improve student success and increase the number of college graduates in North Georgia by 2020. A crowd of more than 100 educators, administrators, students, business leaders and community members gathered Wednesday afternoon for a briefing on the university’s plans for fulfilling the goals of Gov. Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia initiative.
Related article:
www.accessnorthga.com
College completion plan unveiled at UNG’s Gainesville campus
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=259878
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2013/mar/27/ggc-tabs-grason-to-head-proposed-nursing-program/
GGC tabs Grason to head proposed nursing program
by Joshua Chase
LAWRENCEVILLE — Georgia Gwinnett College has selected Sharon Grason as the inaugural director of nursing, the first degree program in the School of Health and Sciences. Before the program can be run by Grason, it first has to be approved by the Board of Regents and the Board of Nursing.
www.chronicle.augusta.com
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2013-03-27/historic-augusta-mills-might-become-gru-campus-expansion?v=1364452883
Historic Augusta mills might become GRU campus expansion
By Susan McCord
Staff Writer
City officials are pitching the idea of redeveloping two historic textile mills into educational and housing space for the expansion of the Georgia Regents University campus. Mayor Deke Copenhaver said Wednesday that the Augusta Regional Collaboration Project developed the idea last year to restore the former Sibley and King mills, both of which are owned by Augusta Canal Authority. “We presented this to Dr. Azziz and his cabinet on Monday and they seemed receptive,” Copenhaver said.
www.chronicle.augusta.com
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2013-03-27/gru-program-knit-topics-across-classes?v=1364438494
GRU program to knit topics across classes
By Tracey McManus
Staff Writer
Georgia Regents University associate professor of English Wesley Kisting imagines a college experience where all students share a common thread in their first two years. Where mathematics, English, history and chemistry professors discuss the same topics but from different perspectives.
www.savannahnow.com
http://savannahnow.com/sports/2013-03-27/new-league-same-incentives-gsu#.UVRh5nCTpGN
New league, same incentives for GSU
By Donald Heath
STATESBORO — Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson’s slip of the tongue was quickly corrected Wednesday morning. Just after Georgia Southern announced it had accepted an invitation to the Sun Belt, a Football Bowl Subdivision conference, Benson looked at some of the potential immediate goals ahead for the Eagles. GSU would be playing in the six-team Eastern Division of the league during the 2014 season and could play in the Sun Belt’s first championship football game, he said, if the Eagles won their division.
www.savannahnow.com
http://savannahnow.com/sports/2013-03-27/georgia-southern-moving-fbs-sun-belt-conference#.UVRmH3CTpGM
Georgia Southern moving up to FBS, Sun Belt Conference
By Donald Heath
STATESBORO — A marching band played the school fight song, and cheerleaders orchestrated the cheers Wednesday morning in the Williams Center on the campus of Georgia Southern University. The Eagles announced another historic step for the GSU football program in the same room where the program’s rebirth received similar fanfare more than 30 years ago.
www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/ap/education/ga-southern-announces-it-is-moving-to-sun-belt/nW5Yz/
Ga. Southern, App. St. move from SoCon to Sun Belt
By STEVE REED
The Associated Press
Two of the most dominant programs in the Football Championship Subdivision are moving up to Football Bowl Subdivision. Georgia Southern and Appalachian State announced in separate press conferences on their campuses Wednesday their athletic programs are leaving the Southern Conference to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014.
USG VALUE:
www.technologytransfertactics.com
http://www.technologytransfertactics.com/content/2013/03/27/robotic-chewbot-dog-toys-wins-20000-and-patent-in-georgia-tech-innovation-contest/
Robotic “Chewbot” dog toys win $20,000 and patent in Georgia Tech innovation contest
The Georgia Institute of Technology recently completed its 5th annual InVenture contest that rewards its most innovative students and their inventions. This year’s winner is Christopher Taylor, a mechanical engineering major, for his line of fully automated robotic dog toys, or Chewbots.
RESEARCH:
www.bizjournals.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/a-healthy-conversation/2013/03/brain-tumor-detection-research.html
Blue dye used to detect brain tumors
Urvaksh Karkaria
Staff Writer-Atlanta Business Chronicle
Researchers at Georgia Tech and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta have developed a technique to help distinguish tumors from normal brain tissue during surgery by staining tumor cells blue. The finding is significant for hospitals that lack machines to help guide tumor removal.
www.news.discovery.com
http://news.discovery.com/tech/solar-cells-from-trees-dissolve-water-130327.htm
Solar Cells Made From Trees Dissolve in Water
BY NIC HALVERSON
You may consider yourself the greenest, most carbon-neutral person on your block, but get ready to take your ecological quest to a whole new level with recyclable solar cells made from trees. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University have fabricated efficient plant-based solar cells on cellulose nanocrystal substrates. Better yet, they can be dissolved in water and recycled.
Related articles:
www.gizmag.com
Recyclable solar cells created using trees
http://www.gizmag.com/recyclable-solar-cell-trees/26832/
www.redorbit.com
Recyclable, Efficient Solar Cells Created Using Trees
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112811785/trees-new-efficient-recyclable-solar-cells-032713/
www.mnn.com
New organic solar cells process sunlight as plants do
Organic solar cells would create renewable energy, rely less on fossil fuels, be recyclable, and be cheaper than current cells.
http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/new-organic-solar-cells-process-sunlight-as-plants-do
STATE NEEDS/ISSUES:
www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/sine-die-2013/
Sine Die 2013
After 39 days, the 2013 General Assembly will meet one final time today for Sine Die, the last day of the legislative session. Major issues remain unresolved. The only thing the House and Senate must do before the clock strikes midnight is pass a state budget. …
www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/deal-reported-on-lobbyist-gift-reform/nW6Qh/
Lawmakers strike deal on lobbyist gift reform in session’s final hours
By Greg Bluestein and Chris Joyner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State lawmakers have worked out an ethics overhaul that would cap lobbyist gifts at $75 and eliminate lobbying registration requirements for volunteer advocates. Now all that’s left is for both the House and Senate to approve the changes before midnight Thursday, when the 40-day session ends for the year.
www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/big-items-still-in-the-works-on-legislatures-final/nW5h8/
Agreement reported on ethics legislation
By Aaron Gould Sheinin and Kristina Torres
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State lawmakers reportedly have worked out an 11th-hour ethics deal capping lobbyist gifts at $75 and eliminating lobbying registration for volunteer advocates. Senate Rules Chairman Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, said Thursday morning both the House and Senate made compromises to make the deal happen.
www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/gov-deal-signs-midyear-budget-battle-still-looms-o/nW6GQ/
Gov. Deal signs midyear budget, battle still looms over next year’s spending plan
By Greg Bluestein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Nathan Deal has signed a $19.3 billion midyear budget that would send an extra $167 million to local school districts to help fund increased student enrollment.
www.bizjournals.com
http://www.gpb.org/news/2013/03/27/lawmakers-to-finish-2013-session-thursday
Lawmakers To Finish 2013 Session Thursday
By Claire Simms
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers will wrap up the 2013 session Thursday, but they have several major pieces of legislation to pass before celebrating Sine Die. The Latin term means “without day,” which indicates the legislature will adjourn without scheduling another day to meet this year. The only bill that members of the General Assembly are required to pass is the 2014 fiscal year budget, which takes effect July 1, 2013.
www.accessnorthga.com
http://www.accessnorthga.com/detail.php?n=259879
Ga. Legislature: Lots undecided heading to finale
By The Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) The General Assembly convenes Thursday for the final day of the 2013 session. Here’s a look at some of the legislation that’s already passed, what’s pending and some bills whose future is uncertain.
PASSED: …STATE ARCHIVES: …
PENDING: BUDGET: …LOBBYING RULES: …GUNS:
Related article:
www.enquirerherald.com
Ga. Legislature: Lots undecided heading to finale
http://www.enquirerherald.com/2013/03/27/2394954/ga-legislature-lots-undecided.html
www.onlineathens.com
http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2013-03-27/ethics-guns-budget-likely-dominate-final-day-general-assembly
Ethics, guns, budget likely to dominate final day of General Assembly
By RAY HENRYASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers have just one day to make major decisions on whether to limit lobbyist spending, loosen gun laws and pass the state budget. The General Assembly meets only 40 days annually, meaning its session Thursday will be the last for the year.
www.macon.com
http://www.macon.com/2013/03/26/2413214/decision-scheduled-on-georgia.html#wgt=rcntnews#storylink=cpy
Decision scheduled on Georgia venture investments
By MAGGIE LEE
ATLANTA — Members of the state Legislature are set to decide Thursday if they will put $10 million of public money into a venture capital fund. The Senate wants to, the House has so far been silent, and delegates from both chambers are now in a conference committee to iron out the differences in their spending plans for the fiscal year beginning in July.
Editorials/Columns/Opinions
www.saportareport.com
http://saportareport.com/blog/2013/03/column-stephanie-blank-to-chair-alliance-theatres-2013-tony-gala/
Saporta Report
By Maria Saporta
Column: Stephanie Blank to chair Alliance Theatre’s 2013 Tony Gala
Georgia Council on Economic Education
The Georgia Council on Economic Education, a nonprofit organization that helps teachers teach economics, has named six new members to its board. They are: …Houston Davis, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer of the Georgia Board of Regents;
www.blogs.ajc.com
http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2013/03/27/new-race-to-the-top-teacher-evaluations-with-strong-reliance-on-test-scores-begin-in-2014-2015/?cxntfid=blogs_get_schooled_blog
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
New Race to the Top teacher evaluations with strong reliance on test scores begin in 2014-2015
As expected, House Bill 244 passed both the House and the Senate, incorporating the educator evaluation system piloted by Georgia’s Race to the Top districts into state law. With the Senate vote this week, the bill now moves to the governor, who will sign it into law.
www.forest-blade.com
http://www.forest-blade.com/opinion/editorials/article_4830c960-9719-11e2-9ff3-0019bb2963f4.html
Notes from the Senate
by SENATOR JACK HILL, 4th DISTRICT
SENATE PASSES FY 2014 BUDGET
The Senate passed the FY 2014 general budget on Friday, which calls for $19.8 billion in state spending. The budget is based upon an expected 5% increase in revenue collected by the state. …
www.forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashoka/2013/03/27/social-entrepreneurship-is-bringing-purpose-to-higher-education/
Social Entrepreneurship Is Bringing Purpose To Higher Education
Ashoka, Contributor
Higher education in the United States is facing a crisis. The rising cost of tuition is often how this crisis is defined, but when we listen carefully to the discourse, a different issue emerges: students, parents and employers are all expressing doubt about the value of an undergraduate degree. In response, innovators are trying to change the form and function of higher ed.
www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/yet-more-conflation-moocs-online-education-open-letter-dr-matloff
Yet More Conflation of MOOCs with Online Education: An Open Letter to Dr. Matloff
By Joshua Kim
Dear Dr. Matloff.
Thank you for contributing to our community’s discussion about the pros and cons of MOOCs. I thought that your critique of the limitations of the current MOOC offerings in your Bloomberg opinion column Dumbed-Down Math and Other Perils of Online College made many valid points about the challenges of bringing a college course to scale. …Where I would like to take issue with your column is what I see as a confounding of “MOOCs” with “online learning.”
www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/stratedgy/unbundling-and-reinforcing-hierarchy
Unbundling. . . and Reinforcing the Hierarchy?
By Margaret Andrews
With all the talk about the unbundling of higher education, some recent developments have me wondering whether some of the newer developments we’re seeing are actually reinforcing the existing hierarchy in this market to the benefit of elite schools. . . and at the expense of everyone else.
www.bucks.blogs.nytimes.com
http://bucks.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/an-emotional-investment-in-saving-for-college/
An Emotional Investment in Saving for College
By ANN CARRNS
One of the first things we did when our children were born was contribute to a state-sponsored 529 college savings plan for each of them. Saving for their education is, for us, as much of an emotional investment as a financial one.
Education News
www.myajc.com
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local/emory-faculty-to-hold-no-confidence-vote-on-wagner/nW5xc/
Emory faculty to hold confidence vote on President Wagner
BY LAURA DIAMOND – THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Faculty at Emory University decided Wednesday to conduct a vote to determine the level of confidence they retain in President James Wagner. Voting dates have not been set. Should the measure end with a “no confidence” majority it would send the message that faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences no longer think Wagner should lead Emory. It is non-binding as Wagner’s employment is up to the board of trustees.
www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/03/28/california-academic-leaders-oppose-outsourcing-plan
United Opposition
By Ry Rivard
Academic senate leaders from California’s three higher education systems uniformly oppose an effort to require public colleges to award credit for work done by students in online programs unaffiliated with their colleges, including course offerings from unaccredited, for-profit providers.
www.diverseeducation.com
http://diverseeducation.com/article/52236/#
Institutions Are Increasingly Incorporating Online Technologies Into Their Long-Term Plans
by Jamaal Abdul-Alim
At Oregon State University, students use a “virtual spectrometer” to measure the absorbance of different solutions in an online chemistry course that features a “virtual lab.” At the University of Central Florida, aspiring teachers practice their skills in a simulated middle school classroom that features digital avatars controlled by trainers who act like students. …Consider the following statistics from a January report produced jointly by the Babson Survey Research Group and the College Board, titled Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States. According to the report: