University System News

2014 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION NEWS:
www.bizjournals.com
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/capitol_vision/2014/02/georgia-senate-takes-on-common-core.html
Georgia Senate tackles Common Core
Dave Williams
Staff Writer – Atlanta Business Chronicle
Legislation calling on the Georgia Department of Education to review national education standards easily passed the state Senate Tuesday. An amended version of the bill, which cleared the Senate 34-16, stopped short of ordering the state to abandon the controversial Common Core standards as originally had been proposed. Instead, a state advisory committee would examine the standards and make recommendations.

www.ajc.com
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/gabby-giffords-national-gun-control-group-targets-/ndcwC/
Gabby Giffords’ national gun control group targets Georgia
By Kristina Torres
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Americans for Responsible Solutions, a national gun control organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, announced a campaign Wednesday to defeat a sweeping gun bill that would widely expand access to guns in Georgia. The group has asked its Georgia members to ramp up pressure on lawmakers, Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Gov. Nathan Deal in an attempt to defeat House Bill 875.

www.myajc.com
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/bill-would-extend-college-tax-exemption-to-private/ndmr7/?icmp=ajc_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_ajcstub1
Bill would extend college tax exemption to private developers
BY JANEL DAVIS – THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
The state House passed a bill Wednesday that could let developers get a property tax exemption when they take over operations of university system dorms. House Bill 788, introduced by Rep. Lynn Riley, R-Johns Creek, is part of a plan by the University System of Georgia to privatize student housing on its institutions’ campuses and decrease its $3.8 billion in debt. The bill passed the House 166-0 and now heads to the state Senate.

www.unionrecorder.com
http://www.unionrecorder.com/editorials/x2039933752/Opportunities-key-to-retaining-locals-after-graduation
Opportunities key to retaining locals after graduation
The Union-Recorder
MILLEDGEVILLE — Nearly every local conversation on economic development includes mention of the need to retain local graduates, among the best and brightest, here in Baldwin County. Providing new avenues for high school graduates to earn advanced education and expand their employment options is one way to do that. One such move in that direction is the effort underway to allow Georgia Military College campuses to offer four-year degrees. Legislation has moved through channels in the House and is now in the Senate for approval. House Bill 763 unanimously passed the House Higher Education Committee last week and the House Rules Committee Monday.

USG NEWS:
www.times-herald.com
http://www.times-herald.com/local/20140226-UWG-President-Chamber-Early-Bird-Forum
Marrero: UWG Striving To Make Tuition Affordable
by CELIA SHORTT
University of West Georgia President Dr. Kyle Marrero promised that UWG will continue to strive for affordability for students during the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Early Bird Forum Tuesday. Marrero reported that Georgia’s instate tuition is the 43rd cheapest in the country. “Affordability is something that we will continue to strive for because we know financial access is the point which can be the intersection of people having the opportunity to succeed or not,” he told the audience at the Newnan Centre meeting facility on Lower Fayetteville Road. Affordability will continue to be a goal for UWG’s new campus in Newnan, which is slated to open for classes and students in January 2015.

www.mdjonline.com
http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story_sports/24635967/article-Southern-Poly-athletics-to-end-with-close-of-current-season?instance=secondary_story_bullets_left_column
Southern Poly athletics to end with close of current season
by MDJ staff reports
Southern Poly officials announced the institution’s athletic programs will be discontinued at the end of the 2013-14 season. Monday’s announcement is aligned with the planned 2015 consolidation of Southern Poly with Kennesaw State University, as announced by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in November. Southern Poly currently fields four sports teams — baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and men’s soccer —which compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics as a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference. Southern Poly will continue to support the affected teams as they complete the remainder of their seasons.

www.valdostadailytimes.com
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/local/x1783693117/VSU-to-bring-in-security-firm
VSU to bring in security firm
Kristin Finney
Associated Press
VALDOSTA — In response to the recent increase of crime on campus, Valdosta State University President William McKinney announced that VSU will be bringing in a private security firm to help the university’s police. The announcement comes following several violent incidents including an armed kidnapping, murder and a non-fatal stabbing.

GOOD NEWS:
www.onlineathens.com
http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2014-02-25/northeast-georgia-council-boy-scouts-america-honors-athens-citizens
Boy Scouts honor Athens citizens with Distinguished Citizen Awards
By APRIL BURKHART
Hundreds of community members, former Boy Scouts and supporters of local Boy Scouts troops gathered for the 15th annual Athens American Values Dinner presented by the Northeast Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America last night at The Classic Center. After a flag ceremony presented by Boy Scouts of all ages, guests recited the Pledge of Allegiance and enjoyed a traditional American dinner of green beans, mashed potatoes and chicken while celebrating this year’s William E. “Billy” Hudson Distinguished Citizen Award recipients. …The second award was presented to University of Georgia President Jere Morehead by Hank Huckaby, chancellor of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia. …“The decision to elect Jere Morehead was the correct decision for UGA and our students will be in excellent hands under his leadership,” Huckaby said. “My admiration for him has been enhanced since his taking the position of president and I think it’s appropriate that he’s being honored tonight with this award. He exemplifies all of the values taught by the Boy Scouts of America.” …Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, Ron Jackson, presented the final award to Athens Technical College President Flora Tydings. Since she was named president in July 2003, Tydings successfully implemented new programs at Athens Tech and formed a partnership with The Classic Center and Holiday Inn in Athens to create a Hospitality and Tourism Management Program.

www.redandblack.com
http://www.redandblack.com/uganews/campus/uga-startup-company-wins-inaugural-award-from-four-athens/article_0888634a-9e8e-11e3-9a51-0017a43b2370.html
UGA startup company wins inaugural award from Four Athens
Laura James
A company that makes interactive software to teach kids science won “Startup of the Year for 2013” from Four Athens. IS3D LLC, a company founded in 2010 by a group of scientists, clinicians, educators, artists, programmers and game designers from the University of Georgia, won the inaugural award, which is given to the nominated business that exemplifies dedication, hard work, teamwork and passion.

RESEARCH:
www.redandblack.com
http://www.redandblack.com/uganews/science_health/uga-researchers-receive-grant-to-study-mysterious-coastal-phenomenon/article_00c7b3f8-9e8a-11e3-a405-0017a43b2370.html
UGA researchers receive grant to study mysterious coastal phenomenon
Lauren McDonald
The sudden population explosion of a single-celled organism named Thaumarchaeota in the coastal waters of the Southeastern United States baffled scientists. Researchers at the University of Georgia have received a $727,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study this phenomenon and its implications. James Hollibaugh, a distinguished research professor of marine sciences, is the principal investigator for the project. He said the Georgia coast is an ideal place to do this research.

www.onlineathens.com
http://onlineathens.com/uga/2014-02-26/uga-extension-publishes-first-app-iphones-ipads-and-android-devices
UGA Extension publishes first app for iPhones, iPads and Android devices
By UGA NEWS SERVICE
Spring is around the corner, and University of Georgia Extension has a new app to help families and outdoor enthusiasts make the most of those first springtime hikes. “Native Plants of North Georgia,” now available for iPad, iPhone and Android devices, is a consumer-oriented field guide of the flowers, trees, ferns and shrubs that populate North Georgia’s yards and forests. …Representatives from Southern Regional Extension Forestry, UGA Extension and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Office of Information Technology decided to use the popular guide as a pilot project in their development of mobile applications for UGA Extension. The app, developed by application programmer Benaiah Morgan Pitts, allows the public to browse photos of plants organized by their blooming periods and includes leaf and bloom descriptions as well as their scientific and common names. Other UGA Extension faculty members have collaborated on apps in recent years, mostly focusing on horticulture, pest management and turfgrass management. However, “Native Plants of North Georgia” is the first app to be produced by the UGA Extension publications and Extension information technology team.

STATE NEEDS/ISSUES:
www.myajc.com
http://www.myajc.com/news/business/states-economic-outlook-brightens-a-bit/ndkRc/?icmp=ajc_internallink_invitationbox_apr2013_ajcstub1
State’s economic outlook brightens a bit
BY MICHAEL KANELL – THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
The rest of 2014 should bring solid, if unspectacular, job growth to Georgia, with help coming from housing, manufacturing and technology, economists say. Growth may be slightly slower than in 2013, but prospects for this year have brightened a bit in recent months with a Congressional compromise – however temporary – on the federal budget, said Rajeev Dhawan, director of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University.

Editorials/Columns/Opinions
www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/college-too-expensive-how-do-we-fix
College is too expensive, but how do we fix that?
Fox Business
“There is no skepticism that there are major flaws right now with the higher education system, everyone wants to increase access and reduce costs, but discerning why college costs what it does gets very complex very quickly,” says Debra Humphreys, vice president for policy and public engagement at The Association of American Colleges and Universities.
President Barack Obama outlined his solution in August to create a ratings system that takes into account a school’s access, affordability and alumni success that potential students can use to analyze and compare schools during the application process. “Whether we’re talking about a two-year program, a four-year program, a technical certificate, bottom line is higher education cannot be a luxury.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/discussing-social-class-narrows-achievement-gap-higher-education
Discussing social class narrows achievement gap in higher education
Laboratory Equipment
An upcoming article in Psychological Science describes a novel one-hour intervention that closed by 63 percent the persistent academic achievement gap between first-generation college students and continuing-generation students. (Continuing-generation students are defined as those with at least one parent with a four-year college degree.) The key to the one-time intervention’s success was raising students’ awareness of the ways that social class shapes the college experience, according to Northwestern psychologist Nicole Stephens.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/how-louis-vuitton-bag-can-explain-higher-education-bubble
How a Louis Vuitton bag can explain the higher education bubble
THE WEEK
If you happen to have $31,500 lying around, you could buy a Louis Vuitton PM Showgirl handbag. Or you could spend almost exactly the same sum to pay for one year’s worth of tuition (not including room and board) at an average American four-year private college. The handbag and the college degree have more in common than you might think. In America, the markets for luxury handbags and higher education both produce what are called “Veblen goods.”

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/bane-and-boon-profit-colleges
The bane and the boon of for-profit colleges
The New York Times
Marc Jerome, the executive vice president of Monroe College, says his business is being unfairly targeted as corrupt. The graduation rate at Monroe’s two New York campuses, in the Bronx and New Rochelle, is much higher than those at nearby community colleges. More than nine out of 10 of recent graduates tracked by the school in its latest survey either continued their education or found jobs; the survey was responded to by about 70 percent of graduating students, most of whom are low-income blacks and Latinos. And Monroe students have a lower default rate on student loans than the national average for public schools. And yet, a frustrated Mr. Jerome told me, the college founded by his grandfather 80 years ago is being singled out as one of the bad guys: private, for-profit universities that lure poor, unprepared students with misleading ads that promise good jobs on graduation but discharge them with limited employment prospects and a crushing burden of debt.

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/student-affairs-and-technology/8-resources-learn-business-social-media
8 Resources to Learn the Business of Social Media
By Eric Stoller
The best social media guides on the web often come directly from the very sites that we wish to use for marketing, promotion, and engagement. Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google Plus, and YouTube provide a plethora of resources that student affairs practitioners can use in their strategic communication endeavors. In no particular order, here are 8 sites that you can use to learn the “business” of social media:

www.redandblack.com
http://www.redandblack.com/views/our-take-technology-brings-new-era-of-protest/article_35458776-9fbc-11e3-a0e4-001a4bcf6878.html
Our take: Technology brings new era of protest
Technology has changed the way our generation views the world, and protests are no exception. Beginning with Egypt in 2011, social media, cell phone footage and Twitter hashtags have become the way protestors make their causes known to the rest of the world. Common technology that people carry in their pockets is being used to tell the stories a news organization can’t — nothing is more compelling than a raw, unedited video depicting a violation of human rights. Seeing emotions up close, the camera shaking fro the movement of the crowd, creates more of a personal bond with the viewer than aerial footage ever could. …Since social media has become a part of every student’s life, its growing popularity may be one of the reasons students care about world events that don’t directly involve the United States.

Education News
www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/02/27/common-application-following-difficult-year-announces-departure-executive-director
Rejected at Common App
By Scott Jaschik
The Common Application announced Wednesday that Rob Killion had stepped down — at the board’s request — as executive director of the organization. The 10 years that Killion led the organization were a period of tremendous growth for the Common App, which now has 517 colleges as participants, more than double the 255 institutions that were members when he started. The Common App became the norm for applying to competitive private colleges and also gained ground in public higher education.

www.gallup.com
http://www.gallup.com/poll/167546/business-leaders-say-knowledge-trumps-college-pedigree.aspx?utm_source=WWW&utm_medium=csm&utm_campaign=syndication
Business Leaders Say Knowledge Trumps College Pedigree
American public puts more emphasis on college major and institution
by Valerie J. Calderon and Preety Sidhu
WASHINGTON, D.C. — When hiring, U.S. business leaders say the amount of knowledge the candidate has in a field, as well as applied skills, are more important factors than where a candidate attended school or what their college major was.

www.walb.com
http://www.walb.com/story/24833990/new-charter-school-partnership-lets-students-earn-associates-degrees
New charter school partnership lets students earn associates degrees
By Troy Washington
AMERICUS, GA (WALB) –
A charter school and technical college are working together to get more students to continue their education. Bishop Hall Charter School recently broke ground on a new 22-thousand square foot facility near Southwest Georgia Technical College. It’s paid for with $3 million in education SPLOST revenue.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/community-college-grads-out-earn-bachelors-degree-holders
Community college grads out-earn bachelor’s degree holders
CNN Money
Berevan Omer graduated on a Friday in February with an associate’s degree from Nashville State Community College and started work the following Monday as a computer-networking engineer at a local television station, making about $50,000 a year. That’s 15% higher than the average starting salary for graduates — not only from community colleges, but for bachelor’s degree holders from four-year universities.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/keene-state-college-joins-program-help-first-generation-students
Keene State College joins program to help first-generation students
New Hampshire Union Leader
Keene State College has joined a program to help first-generation students seeking a higher education. Keene State recently announced it is now a College Partner in the “I’m First” program, which is an online community founded by the Center for Student Opportunity to support students who are the first in their family to attend college.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/students-appeal-help-college-costs
Students appeal for help with college costs
The Lowell Sun
“Don’t hesitate to call upon your local rep, to call upon your local senator and let them know what’s on your mind, and what’s important to each and every one of you, and how you feel that they can make the state better,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo told the students from area colleges. He said, “It is my hope that upon graduation from one of Massachusetts’s fine higher educational institutions you will choose to stay here in Massachusetts, and continue to be part of this incredible environment. And it is also my hope that the Legislature can continue to provide robust financial aid resources and economic investments to help make this goal a reality.”

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/tuition-living-expenses-boston-area-colleges
Tuition, living expenses up at Boston-area colleges
Boston.com
Tuition and living expenses are on the rise at local colleges and universities, with reported hikes of 2 to 4 percent for the 2014-15 academic year. Here are the cost details reported by Boston.com:

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/02/27/undocumented-students-eligible-aid-washington-state
Undocumented Students Eligible for Aid in Washington State
A new law has made Washington State the fifth state where students who lack the legal documentation to live permanently in the United States are eligible for state student aid, Reuters reported.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/william-jewell-college-technology-replacing-lecture-halls
At William Jewell College, technology is replacing lecture halls
The Kansas City Star
This fall, the college is giving every student, faculty member and employee an Apple iPad Air to keep. Everyone will “use the same hardware and software,” provost Anne Dema said, meaning that all of William Jewell College will be accessible from anywhere to every member of the campus community on a 10-inch touch screen. “This notion of having mobility changes education,” Dema said.

www.diverseeducation.com
http://diverseeducation.com/article/60944/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=1163f71ce00840f68bcdee7052c03cc6&elqCampaignId=173
Report: Economy Misses Out With Low Black, Latino STEM Employment
by Ronald Roach
The U.S. workforce could employ as many as 140,000 additional African-American and Latino college graduates in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields annually if the gap in college completion in STEM by Blacks and Latinos closed to roughly match that of the White and Asian American STEM graduation rates, according to a new report released by the Washington-based Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies think tank.

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/02/27/email-privacy-policy-proposed-harvard
Email Privacy Policy Proposed for Harvard
A faculty committee has recommended that Harvard University adopt policies designating specific officials to authorize an email search and — in most cases — to inform anyone whose email is searched, The Boston Globe reported.

www.diverseeducation.com
http://diverseeducation.com/article/60947/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=1163f71ce00840f68bcdee7052c03cc6&elqCampaignId=173
Florida A&M Receives $85M in Software From Siemens Corp.
By Diverse Staff
Florida A&M University announced Wednesday that it has received an $85 million donation in software technology from the Siemens Corporation, the largest in-kind gift in the school’s history. “This grant helps FAMU students to take on challenges to create that type of workforce that this country desperately needs,” FAMU interim President Larry Robinson told the Tallahassee Democrat.

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/02/27/gop-tax-plan-would-combine-tuition-tax-breaks-end-popular-deductions-colleges
The Tax Bill Cometh
By Doug Lederman
WASHINGTON — Tax legislation introduced Wednesday by Republican leaders in the House of Representatives doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Miami of becoming law.
But that does not mean that its many provisions related to higher education — many of which would negatively affect colleges and universities — don’t matter. “Whether or not this legislation is considered by the current Congress, its proposals are likely to have a long shelf life,” said M. Matthew Owens, vice president for federal relations at the Association of American Universities. “This is concerning because there are several troubling provisions that would adversely affect students’ ability to pay for college, and make it harder for universities to carry out their missions as charitable tax-exempt entities.”

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/02/27/agreement-accreditation-system-graduate-medical-education
Agreement on Accreditation System for Graduate Medical Education
The associations that represent allopathic and osteopathic medical schools announced Wednesday that they had agreed to a common system for accrediting U.S. providers of graduate medical education.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/university-iowa-other-regents-universities-join-new-320-million-digital-manufacturing-institute
University of Iowa, other Regents universities join new $320 million digital manufacturing institute
Press-Citizen.com
President Obama on Tuesday announced the creation of a Chicago-based Digital Lab for Manufacturing, a collaboration between dozens of public and private entities aimed at spurring manufacturing innovation and economic growth. UI, the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University and the state of Iowa are among the 60 academic institutions, government entities and other organizations included in the consortium.

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/02/27/outside-study-finds-uconn-ignored-allegations-professor-endangered-children-and
Abuse Ignored
By Scott Jaschik
In July, the University of Connecticut placed the music professor Robert Miller on leave and barred him from campus, amid allegations that he had committed sex crimes with minors while working at a camp, and had had inappropriate interactions with UConn students. The allegations concerned conduct that had apparently gone on for years, prompting the university to commission an outside law firm to determine whether the university had failed in its responsibilities. On Wednesday the university released that outside report — and its findings were damning not only of Miller (who remains on leave and isn’t talking) but to others who are or were at the university and who knew about the allegations for many years and did little if anything about them.

Related article:
www.diverseeducation.com
http://diverseeducation.com/article/60955/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=1163f71ce00840f68bcdee7052c03cc6&elqCampaignId=173
Report: UConn Knew of Sex Abuse Claims Against Professor

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2014/02/27/31-women-accuse-berkeley-mishandling-sex-assault-charges
31 Women Accuse Berkeley of Mishandling Sex Assault Charges
Thirty-one current and former students at the University of California at Berkeley filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Education Wednesday charging that the university has mishandled allegations of sexual assault, The Los Angeles Times reported.

www.universitybusiness.com
http://www.universitybusiness.com/news/university-michigan-probed-response-sexual-assault
University of Michigan probed for response to sexual assault
Bloomberg News
The University of Michigan is being probed by federal investigators for its handling of sexual assaults on campus. The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights notified the university yesterday of an investigation into its compliance with Title IX, Rick Fitzgerald, a spokesman for the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based school, said in an e-mail. Title IX bars gender discrimination in education, and failure to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct is a violation.

www.insidehighered.com
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/02/27/consumer-financial-protection-bureau-sues-itt-alleges-predatory-loan-scheme
CFPB vs. ITT
By Michael Stratford
WASHINGTON — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against ITT Educational Services, accusing the large for-profit higher education company of engaging in predatory lending and other abusive practices. The bureau’s lawsuit marks its first enforcement action against a for-profit college and is an indication, some observers said, of how seriously and aggressively the watchdog agency — which officially turns three years old this July — plans to use its enforcement powers in this contentious, politically charged sector of higher education. The complaint accuses ITT of pressuring students into predatory loans and misleading consumers about their colleges’ job placement rates, accreditation and the transferability of credits.

Related articles:
www.diverseeducation.com
http://diverseeducation.com/article/60953/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=1163f71ce00840f68bcdee7052c03cc6&elqCampaignId=173
Feds Sue For-profit ITT Educational Services

www.news.yahoo.com
http://news.yahoo.com/us-consumer-bureau-sues-college-chain-itt-over-183427421–sector.html;_ylt=AwrBJR_MUw9TvyoACoXQtDMD
US consumer bureau sues college chain ITT over student loans