University System News:
www.bizjournals.com
P3 bill gets final OK from Georgia lawmakers
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/capitol_vision/2015/04/p3-bill-gets-final-ok-from-georgia-lawmakers.html
Dave Williams
Staff Writer- Atlanta Business Chronicle
State agencies and local governments will be able to partner with the private sector to finance and construct public buildings under legislation that cleared the General Assembly Thursday night. On the final night of this year’s legislative session, the state Senate voted 40-7 to agree to changes the House of Representatives had made to the bill earlier in the day. The so-called P3 bill, which lawmakers have been working on for three years, expands the state law governing public-private partnerships to vertical construction. …If Gov. Nathan Deal signs the bill, it will let private companies submit projects to state agencies or local governments unsolicited.
www.ajc.com
Valdosta State University president resigning July 1
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/valdosta-state-university-president-resigning-july/nkk6B/
Janel Davis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s public college system lost its second university president in two days Thursday as Valdosta State University announced its leader would be stepping down. President William McKinney’s resignation is effective July 1. News of his departure comes a day after the resignation of Fort Valley State University President Ivelaw Griffith, whose resignation takes effect June 30. “Dr. McKinney developed and launched the first comprehensive capital campaign for Valdosta State University that will have a lasting impact for generations of students,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby said in a statement.
www.macon.com
Valdosta State University president to step down
http://www.macon.com/2015/04/02/3674622_valdosta-state-university-president.html?rh=1
The Associated Press
VALDOSTA, GA. — The president of Valdosta State University has announced he’s stepping down. University System of Georgia officials say William McKinney is planning to step down effective July 1. Officials say McKinney has served as president of the south Georgia university since 2012 and helped establish a new mission statement, strategic plan and led major fundraisers and more.
www.valdostadailytimes.com
VSU president resigns: William J. McKinney: ‘It is time for a new leader’
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/vsu-president-resigns-william-j-mckinney-it-is-time-for/article_87304924-d993-11e4-85dc-0bec9c700c17.html
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University President William McKinney has resigned. McKinney confirmed his resignation Thursday afternoon. In a prepared statement the president said, “Today, I tendered my resignation as VSU’s president to Chancellor (Hank) Huckaby, and that resignation will be effective July 1, 2015. It is time for a new leader.” University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby’s statement, released on the system’s website, recognized McKinney’s leadership saying, “Dr. McKinney developed and launched the first comprehensive capital campaign for Valdosta State University that will have a lasting impact for generations of students. I thank Dr. McKinney for his contributions to Valdosta State University and the University System of Georgia and appreciate his commitment to higher education. We wish Dr. McKinney and his family the very best.”
www.wctv.tv
No Reason Given For Valdosta State University President’s Resignation
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Valdosta-State-University-President-Announces-Resignation-298517301.html
Update by: Winnie Wright
Valdosta, GA – Valdosta State University President, William McKinney, is stepping down. The president has submitted his resignation to University System of Georgia Chancellor, Hank Huckaby. Thursday, President McKinney issued a letter to the Valdosta State community about his resignation. In that letter, the President does not address why he is leaving, but does say his last day will be July 1st.
www.macon.com
Personality clashes, vision may have led to FVSU president’s quitting
http://www.macon.com/2015/04/02/3674435_personality-clashes-vision-may.html?rh=1
BY WAYNE CRENSHAW AND JEREMY TIMMERMAN
A day after the resignation of President Ivelaw Griffith, the Fort Valley State University community pointed to personality clashes that may have contributed to his downfall. Reasons for the resignation — short of two years in office — were not released by officials with the school or the University System of Georgia. On Thursday, students said they were surprised by the news that Griffith is stepping down, but they did not seem upset about it. Most of them indicated that a change is needed.
www.examiner.com
Fort Valley St. president abruptly announces resignation, leaving in June
http://www.examiner.com/article/fort-valley-st-president-abruptly-announces-resignation-leaving-june
Patrick Davis
Macon Political Buzz Examiner
On Wednesday, April 1 , Fort Valley State University President Ivelaw Griffith abruptly announced that his tenure will end on June 30th. There were a myriad of factors that contributed to Griffith’s announcement of his leaving and local media had reported that there were alleged personality clashes among alumni and other university staff. Griffith may have some detractors, but he was recognized for attempting to raise the academic standards of the university.
USG Institutions:
www.business.blog.ajc.com
Southern Co. plans Energy Innovation Center at Georgia Tech’s Technology Square
http://business.blog.ajc.com/2015/04/01/georgia-techs-technology-square-getting-energy-innovation-center/
Christopher Seward
Southern Co. will open an Energy Innovation Center at Georgia Tech’s Technology Square in Midtown to develop ideas for electricity use. Southern said it will seek partnerships with universities in the Southeast to develop and test ideas. Employees’ ideas will be among the first tested as part of a companywide competition. The parent of Georgia Power and other utilities in the Southeast will join a growing number of major corporations that are setting up shop at the Midtown technology hub.
www.bizjournals.com
Tech Square Labs to add co-working space
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/04/03/tech-square-labs-to-add-co-working-space.html
Urvaksh Karkaria
Staff Writer- Atlanta Business Chronicle
Tech Square Labs is expanding — a move that will give the business incubator 25,000 square feet of co-working space and corporate innovation labs at Georgia Tech. Launched by serial entrepreneur duo Paul Judge and Allen Nance, the venture aims to build the next generation of information security, marketing automation and business-to-consumer companies. Tech Square Labs will open a 10,000-square-foot co-working hub this summer at Square On Fifth (SQ5), a 25-story apartment tower that will house about 600 students. The residential development in the heart of Atlanta’s innovation district aims to lure would-be entrepreneurs with co-working space, conference rooms and a 9,000-square-foot event space.
www.gpb.org
Atlanta: Bright Lights, Big City, Tech-Friendly Capital
http://www.gpb.org/blogs/scitech-now-georgia/2015/04/02/atlanta-bright-lights-big-city-tech-friendly-capital
By Renay San Miguel
Whether you work in the tech industry, or enjoy the digital fruits of that industry’s labor, then you may know that it’s been a busy couple of weeks for Atlanta and the state… With Atlanta, it’s a local economy that was already bristling with Fortune 500 firms now trying to navigate a mobile-first, digital-first economy. It’s city and state officials offering up a welcome basket loaded with tax incentives. It’s an enviable talent stream from Georgia Tech, Emory and the University of Georgia staffing tech startups that have weaved their way into the local economy like kudzu. It’s an upwardly mobile, cord-cutting, millennial-fueled population that demands its shot at test-driving Teslas, iPhone/Galaxy 6s and gigabit fiber network speeds.
Higher Education News:
www.cbsnews.com
Tuition waiver expanded at one top university
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stanford-university-expands-tuition-waiver/
By Kate Gbson
Getting into Stanford University is incredibly difficult, but the cost of admission to one of the nation’s most prestigious universities will be less of a hurdle for at least some of the class of 2019. Of the 42,487 high school seniors who applied to Stanford, just 2,144, or 5.05 percent, were accepted, according to a statement from the university in Stanford, California. But fewer parents will have to pay tuition, which will be free for those coming from households with annual incomes below $125,000, the university said in the release. That expands on a financial aid program that had previously waived tuition costs to students from households making less than $100,000 a year.