USG e-clips from March 30, 2015

University System News:
www.coosavalleynews.com
USG Foundation Raises $1M+ for Needs Scholarships
http://www.coosavalleynews.com/np111003.htm
CVN News
In his opening remarks at the annual Regents` Scholarship Gala held at the College Football Hall of Fame, University System of Georgia Foundation Chair Regent James M. Hull announced that the USG Foundation raised more than $1million-a record-in corporate contributions. Funds raised at the event will be used to promote and provide needs-based scholarships for deserving students at the USG`s 30 colleges and universities. The gala honors faculty, alumni and one individual who exemplifies true leadership and support of higher education in Georgia. The 2015 Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to former Gov. Carl E. Sanders. The award is named for former Regent Elridge McMillan, who served on the Board of Regents of the USG for 34 years. The USG Foundation presents the award annually to an individual who has demonstrated a long and significant record of commitment and accomplishment on behalf of public higher education in Georgia. Gov. Nathan Deal presented the award to former Gov. Sanders` wife, Betty, and his children, Betty Foy and Carl.

www.myajc.com
Legislative briefs
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/legislative-briefs/nkgsq/#7d490538.3566685.735685
By From staff reports
State ban on environmentally friendly construction wins final passage
Georgia-owned buildings would be effectively banned from using environmentally friendly construction standards known as LEED certification under a measure given final passage Friday by the Senate. House Bill 255 now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. The state’s timber industry claims the certification process discriminates against the use of local wood products that aren’t registered through the Forest Stewardship Council. According to the Georgia Forestry Association, only about 32,000 acres of the timber industry’s 20 million acres in Georgia currently meet that standard since much of the industry here uses competing guidelines. The bill does not apply to private construction. Critics, however, said it would extend to state-sponsored construction at the state’s public universities and colleges. They called the effort unnecessary because existing law already requires the use of Georgia forest products in state buildings.

USG Institutions:
www.noodls.com
Interest, enrollment growing at UNG’s Cumming Campus
http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/27564293/university-of-north-georgia/interest-enrollment-growing-at-ung8217s-cumming-campus
The dual enrollment program for high school students at the University of North Georgia’s (UNG) Cumming Campus has tripled in size since the campus opened in 2012, helping to drive an increase in overall enrollment. “Our Cumming Campus is a tremendous example of collaboration between the University System of Georgia, government officials and community leaders to expand opportunities for higher education in this region,” said UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs. “The combination of price, functionality, attractiveness and partner collaboration has established a new template for how to provide higher education in areas that are underserved.”

www.thebrunswicknews.com
College looks at going Greek
http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/college-looks-at-going-greek/article_55344d25-e5dd-5536-a69e-301efd97e7ea.html
By Anna Hall
In the past seven years, the College of Coastal Georgia has undergone a series of rapid-fire changes, transitioning from a two-year college to a full four-year baccalaureate institution offering undergraduate degrees, on-campus housing, sprawling student life opportunities and a recently announced partnership with an international school in Greece. But one key facet of an active undergraduate college remains unfilled, and students and officials are starting to take notice. Across the college’s campuses, students, professors and administrators are asking: Is it time for the college to take on a Greek life system, introducing fraternities, sororities or both to its campuses?

www.wabe.org
More Video Gamers Are Calling Metro-Atlanta Home
http://wabe.org/post/more-video-gamers-are-calling-metro-atlanta-home
By TASNIM SHAMMA
Hi-Rez Studios, an online game developer in Alpharetta, announced it’s expanding its headquarters again and adding another 50 jobs. They’re one of a growing list of companies who call metro-Atlanta home. Asante Bradford promotes video game development for Georgia. Eight years ago, he says, there were only about six gaming companies in all of metro-Atlanta. Now, there are more than 70… He says one reason may be that there are more gaming conventions being held in Atlanta and the pool of local talent. The Savannah College of Art and Design and Georgia Tech are ranked among the top schools for game design.

www.witz.com
Student facing felony weapons charges no longer enrolled at CSU
http://www.wltz.com/story/28636153/student-facing-felony-weapons-charges-no-longer-enrolled-at-csu
Columbus, GA – The student facing felony weapons charges for bringing a BB gun on campus is no longer enrolled at Columbus State University. …Billinger is charged with one count of possession of a weapon within a school safety zone.

www.redandblack.com
UGA’s Wilkins Farm up for sale, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences transitioning total farm infrastructure
http://www.redandblack.com/uganews/uga-s-wilkins-farm-up-for-sale-college-of-agriculture/article_3b9dff54-d54e-11e4-8bbf-9bae40785eb3.html
Marlee Middlebrooks
University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences is going through a “total realignment of farm infrastructure,” said Scott Angle, dean and director of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Wilkins Farm is being sold, Angle said, as a part of the College’s continued realignment and attempt to downsize in all of its’ research area units. A plant science farm was sold and an iron horse farm was purchased about a year ago, and now, the college is selling Wilkins Farm, and has since moved all of the animals to two other research farms in the area, Campbell Research Farm and Eatonton Beef Research Farm.

Higher Education News:
www.ajc.com
Exclusive: Bills would legalize casino resorts in Georgia
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/exclusive-bills-would-legalize-casino-resorts-in-g/nkfSW/
Aaron Gould Sheinin
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Legislation that would open the door to up to six casino resorts in Georgia will be introduced in the state House on Thursday. The measures, both by Economic Development Committee Chairman Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, would generate $250 million a year to support the HOPE scholarship, according to a briefing paper obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

www.wjbf.com
Governor Nathan Deal Instructs Agencies To Prepare For Medical Cannabis Law
http://www.wjbf.com/story/28634859/governor-nathan-deal-instructs-agencies-to-prepare-for-medical-cannabis-law
By Randy Key, WJBF Web Content Coordinator
Atlanta, GA – Friday, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed an executive order directing state agencies to begin preparations for enactment of H.B. 1, legislation that will allow the use of cannabis oil for eight medical conditions. Governor Deal will sign the bill after the session to ensure that no conflicts arise with other pieces of legislation.

www.myajc.com
How far will Georgia’s medical marijuana program go?
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/how-far-will-georgias-medical-marijuana-program-go/nkgmZ/#17053809.3566685.735685
By Greg Bluestein – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
State officials are already preparing for the legalization of medical marijuana. But political leaders remain divided over how far the new program should go. Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order Friday that directs state agencies to start making the back-office changes to allow the use of cannabis oil. At an emotional ceremony surrounded by families who could benefit from the drug, he pledged to sign House Bill 1 once the legislative session ends next week. …Perhaps the biggest question involves whether the state should allow the in-state cultivation of the drug. Under the proposal, families would still have to get the cannabis oil from out-of-state providers such as those in Colorado, where it is now legal. Some families wasted no time in advocating for the next change.

www.myajc.com
Bill renaming tech college system stalled in Senate committee
Language could be attached to another bill this year
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/bill-renaming-tech-college-system-stalled-in-senat/nkgD8/?ecmp=ajc_social_twitter_2014_sfp#6b7a727b.3828699.735683
By Janel Davis – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Legislation to rename the state’s technical college network will not make it out of a key Senate committee this year, the panel’s chairman said Thursday. House Bill 315 would rename the Technical College System of Georgia as the Georgia Career College System. The legislation is a priority of Gov. Nathan Deal, who said the name change better represents the system and would better attract students. Sen. Fran Millar, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said the panel is still studying the legislation and will not take action on it during this session. Millar, R-Dunwoody, told members earlier this week that a Tuesday committee meeting would be the last of this year’s legislative session.

www.washingtonpost.com
What happens when you find out a year of college costs $71,000
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/get-there/wp/2015/03/27/what-happens-when-you-find-out-a-year-of-college-costs-71000/?wpisrc=nl_evening&wpmm=1
By Danielle Douglas-Gabriel
Private colleges are expensive. Many are double, if not triple, the price of public universities. Still, $71,000 a year is a lot of money. That’s the estimated total cost of attendance at New York University for the 2015-2016 academic year. And it’s not far off from what it costs to go to other private schools these days. The sticker price at NYU gained attention earlier this week when incoming freshmen, Nia Mirza, started a petition to get the school to lower the cost of attendance. Mirza, a 19-year-old from Pakistan, claims the price went up after she committed to early admission to the class of 2019. She said she thought it would cost roughly $64,000 to attend the tony private school. But NYU spokesman John Beckman said the school explained to early decision candidates that the cost of attendance was based on the current term and was subject to change once the annual budget was completed.

www.insidehighered.com
Momentum for Campus Carry
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/03/30/push-concealed-guns-campuses-gaining-steam
By Kaitlin Mulhere
At least 11 states are considering whether to allow concealed weapons on college campuses this year, the latest chapter in a now seemingly annual legislative debate between gun control advocates and gun rights supporters. Bills have been introduced, at least once, in almost half of the 50 states in the past few years. Despite slow success thus far — just seven states have adopted versions of campus carry laws — gun rights advocates have their eyes on two very large prizes this year: Florida and Texas. Right now, the odds are starting to stack up in their favor. The Texas bill has passed the Senate and is on its way to House. The version in Florida has passed through two Senate committees and is headed to the Judiciary Committee. Should the bills make it through their respective legislatures, both would end up on the desks of Republican governors who are sympathetic to the gun lobby.

www.chronicle.com
New Proving Ground for the Presidency: Student Affairs
http://chronicle.com/article/New-Proving-Ground-for-the/228907/
By Lee Gardner
In recent years, the role of the college president has expanded — some might say sprawled — into new responsibilities. Today’s presidents are expected not just to run institutions but also to be their public face, representing them to students as well as parents, government officials, and donors. They must navigate thorny campus issues like sexual assault and alcohol. And in an age when any misstep can go viral, they are relied on to know how to deal with unfolding crises in ways that won’t make the situation worse. Given those new demands, a group of administrators often passed over for the top job is getting a fresh look: vice presidents for student affairs. College presidents whose previous positions were in student affairs made up just 4.5 percent of presidents in a 2011 survey conducted by the American Council on Education. More recent data aren’t available, but the past four years have seen a number of private colleges, regional public institutions, and historically black colleges hire presidents with student-affairs backgrounds.