University System News:
www.jdsupra.com
Georgia Passes New Social P3 Legislation
http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/georgia-passes-new-social-p3-legislation-74894/
By Han Choi, Stephanie Kim, Steve Park, Brian Walsh | Ballard Spahr LLP
Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law new public-private partnership (P3) legislation, the Partnership for Public Facilities and Infrastructure Act (SB 59) (the Act) on May 5, 2015. The Act allows state and local government entities to partner with private entities on “qualifying projects,” broadly meaning any project deemed to meet a public purpose or public need and satisfying those requirements set forth under the Act. The Act covers those qualifying projects pursued with local government entities, meaning any county, municipality, consolidated government, or board of education, as well as with state government entities, including institutions of the University System of Georgia. … State Government P3 Projects
The Act also requires that those public entities at the state level participating in the procurement of qualifying projects adopt a set of guidelines, and designates specific entities as responsible for setting such guidelines. For qualifying projects undertaken by the State Properties Commission, guidelines for the process must be developed by the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. For qualifying projects undertaken by the University System of Georgia, guidelines for the process must be developed by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The Act does not specify any further guideline requirements for other state government entities.
www.dawsonnews.com
Salary increases are shocking
http://www.dawsonnews.com/section/45/article/16493/
I was stunned to read Tom Crawford’s column in Dawson Community News on May 27, in which he has stated that the University System of Georgia has increased the salary and bonuses of some of the presidents of the universities, which ranges from 41-87 percent of their already high salaries. In terms of actual dollars, the salary of the president of Georgia Tech has been increased from $773,644 to $1,093,646, while the salary of the president of Georgia State has been raised from $570,604 to more than $1 million. The unfair and unjust raises in the salary are just like winning a “lottery” that is funded by the students, who were already having difficulty paying the tuition, and now may either just drop out or work extra hours to pay the raised tuition. Some of the families pay the student’s tuition, and this raise will create financial hardship for them also.
USG Institutions:
www.times-herald.com
UWG campus in Newnan will change lives
http://www.times-herald.com/opinion/20150604editorial-UWG—-11-
The University of West Georgia’s first semester in the old Newnan Hospital building is under way. Much has been said and written about the new center’s impact. The enlarged UWG presence will bring scholarship and cultural events to Newnan. The economic impact is already being seen as commercial tracts nearby – and not so close – are being eyed for development as restaurants and retail space. Even though the Newnan Center is just that – a center for classes and not a full-scale campus – it will have wide-ranging impacts on the lives of Cowetans. There are no dormitories and no library, but the impact of a college center in such a prominent location reverberates with potential.
www.wctv.tv
VSU, Georgia Northwestern Tech Form Pathways Program Partnership
http://www.wctv.tv/education/colleges/headlines/VSU-Georgia-Northwestern-Tech-Form-Pathways-Program-Partnership-306080361.html
VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University signed articulation agreements with Georgia Northwestern Technical College on Tuesday, simplifying student transition between the two institutions of higher education. The Pathways Program agreement will allow Georgia Northwestern Technical College students with an Associate of Applied Science to maximize the transfer of credits in order to complete either a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership or a Bachelor of Applied Science in human capital performance in two years or less at Valdosta State University, noted Andy Clark, vice president for the Division of Enrollment, Marketing, and Communications at VSU.
www.accesswdun.com
Brenau, two other area colleges get high marks for online courses
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/6/314412/brenau-two-other-area-colleges-get-high-marks-for-online-courses
By Ken Stanford Reporter
Brenau University and two other northeast Georgia colleges get high marks for their online courses in a recently published report. According to the report, published by affordablecollegesonline.org, there are more than 30 institutions statewide offering fully online or hybrid degree options. “While off-campus learning is on the rise across the state,” the report says, “certain colleges stand out for the strength of their commitment. (These) schools…are recognized as providing the best opportunities and value for students seeking online training and educational programs.” Brenau is #11 on the list of Georgia schools, which is headed by Albany State University.
www.nola.com
LSU’s faculty elite salaries rank near bottom, compared to its regional peers
http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/06/lsu_faculty_salaries_near_bott.html
Quincy Hodges, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
In fact, LSU ranks near the bottom of the pay scale when comparing the top 10 teaching faculty salaries against several peer institutions in the southern region, averaging $232,500, according to data compiled by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. LSU’s peer group includes public universities with the following: 1) a land grant mission, 2) a Carnegie Research designation, signifying high research activity, 3) the absence of a medical school and 4) located in the Midwest or the South. Among those that fit the description: Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State, North Carolina State and Texas A&M. Looking at the top 10 highest-paid professors at each institution, Texas A&M ($336,000), Tennessee ($307,500), Arkansas ($249,000) and Georgia ($237,000) had higher average salaries than LSU. …Comparing the overall average faculty pay at LSU against its Southeastern Conference rivals puts the Old War Skule in the bottom half, ranking 8th during the 2013-14 academic year, according to data compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Interestingly, though top faculty at Arkansas and Georgia earn more than the best of the best at LSU, when looking at overall faculty salaries the Tigers come in higher than both the Razorbacks and Bulldogs.
Higher Education News:
www.diverseeducation.com
Even as Student Loan Debt Soars, HELP Committee Chair Sees Positive
http://diverseeducation.com/article/73562/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=80f3f9ee598f49f4b4e729aef2cd697d&elqCampaignId=415&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqTrackId=a7c4040dafb946a8a1308bc2c9a7a538
by Catherine Morris
The accumulated total of student loan debt in the United States has hit an approximate $1.3 trillion. Of that, $1.1 trillion is federal loan-student debt, and a further $200 billion is made up of private loans. It is a substantial sum, the greatest amount yet in U.S. history. Student loan debt was the topic Wednesday at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s fourth hearing on the anticipated reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). More Americans have student loan debt than ever before. In 2014, 41 million Americans had some student loan debt, up from 28 million in 2007. Despite the rising debt, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), chair of the HELP committee, said that college is more affordable than students believe, comparing the average debt a student takes on for four years of college to the price of a car. The average debt after four years of college is approximately $28,400, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. “We should take steps to make college more affordable, but I believe we should also cancel misleading rhetoric that causes so many students to believe that they can’t afford college,” Alexander said.
www.insidehighered.com
Bill Gates on College Completion
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/06/04/bill-gates-college-completion
Bill Gates is among a group of rich college dropouts people often cite when questioning the value of a college degree. He isn’t buying that argument. “Although I dropped out of college and got lucky pursuing a career in software, getting a degree is a much surer path to success,” Gates wrote on Wednesday. Gates published two blog entries encouraging more people to earn college credentials to help them get jobs.