University System News:
www.chronicle.augusta.com
Keel is voted new GRU president
http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2015-07-08/keel-voted-new-gru-president?v=1436354111
By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer
Augusta native Brooks Keel was approved today as the new president for Georgia Regents University. The University System of Georgia approved Keel, the sole named finalist for the position, at a called meeting. He is currently president of Georgia Southern University, where he has served since January 2010. Keel will replace Dr. Ricardo Azziz, who was appointed in July 2010 and resigned in January to take a year of paid educational leave beginning July 1.

www.ajc.com
Ga. Southern’s Keel named president of Georgia Regents University
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/ga-southerns-keel-named-president-of-georgia-regen/nmtT5/
Janel Davis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Southern University President Brooks Keel has been selected as the new leader of Georgia Regents University in Augusta. Keel was unanimously elected by the state’s Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia during a called meeting Wednesday. The Regents do not typically meet during the months of June and July. Keel takes over the research institution on July 20. Georgia Southern’s Provost Jean Bartels, will be acting president at the Statesboro university until Keel’s replacement is selected.

www.statesboroherald.com
It’s official: Keel named president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta
Provost Jean Bartels will be interim president beginning July 20
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/68774/
From staff reports
After more than five years years as president of Georgia Southern University, Dr. Brooks Keel is leaving to become president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta, effective July 20. The Board of Regents of the state University System approved him for the new position Wednesday. The Board of Regents issued a further statement announcing that Dr. Jean Bartels, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Southern, has been named to serve as the university’s interim president beginning July 20.

www.wjbf.com
Dr. Brooks Keel Named New GRU President
http://wjbf.com/2015/07/08/board-of-regents-set-to-vote-on-new-gru-president/
By Cynthia Otero
Atlanta, GA – Wednesday, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) named Dr. Brooks Keel president of Georgia Regents University (GRU) in Augusta. Keel will assume his new position on July 20th. “Brooks Keel brings a proven track record as a strong leader within our University System,” said Board of Regents Chair Neil Pruitt. “We are excited about the future of Georgia Regents University and the positive momentum Brooks will bring for the benefit of our students and our partnership with the Augusta community.”

www.chronicle.augusta.com
Board should release other GRU finalists in presidential search, attorney says
University system says other interviewees withdrew before final list disclosed
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2015-07-07/board-should-release-other-gru-finalists-presidential-search-attorney-says
By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer
Georgia Southern University President Brooks Keel could be confirmed today as the next president of Georgia Regents University, but because the university system did not disclose the other finalists it is violating the law, according to the attorney for The Augusta Chronicle and the Georgia Press Association.

www.myajc.com
Same-sex benefits coverage coming July 13 for Ga. University System
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/same-sex-benefits-coverage-coming-july-13-for-ga-u/nms7C/
By Janel Davis – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Employees of the University System of Georgia will be able to enroll their same-sex spouses in benefit plans beginning July 13, according to an update posted Tuesday on the system’s website. The policy updates follow the Supreme Court’s decision last month legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Georgia had been one of 13 states banning same-sex marriage prior to the ruling.

www.onlineathens.com
Same-sex couples can get UGA benefits on Monday
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2015-07-08/same-sex-couples-can-get-uga-benefits-monday
By LEE SHEARER
Same-sex married couples can now enroll in health insurance and other benefits available to married people through University System of Georgia institutions, according to information posted today on the USG website.
Benefits can be retroactive back to June 26 — the day the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all states must recognize same-sex marriages, thereby nullifying state laws in Georgia and some other states that prohibited such unions.

USG Institutions:
www.wjcl.com
68th annual Watermelon Cutting at GSU
http://www.wjcl.com/news/local-news/68th-annual-watermelon-cutting-at-gsu/30156407/story
By dave williams
STATESBORO, GA. (WJCL) — A sweet treat helps cool off some Georgia Southern students and faculty. In what could be one of his last official acts as Georgia Southern University President, Dr. Brooks Keel and his wife took part in the annual watermelon cutting on campus. The watermelon cutting dates back to 1948 when the school’s then president wanted to provide a cool treat to the students, faculty and staff who were still on campus during the hot summer months.

www.wtvm.com
VSU Interim President looking to better the university
http://www.wtvm.com/story/29493739/vsu-interim-president-looking-to-better-the-university
By Colter Anstaett
VALDOSTA, GA (WALB) – VSU’s new Interim President was on campus and getting settled in to his new role Tuesday. Dr. Cecil Staton arrived on campus Monday to take over as President until a permanent replacement for Dr. William McKinney is chosen. In April, Dr. McKinney announced that he would resign as of July 1st after less than three years on the job. Dr. Staton said even though he may not be at VSU long term, he wants to help the university as much as he can. “We’re gonna not take this as a time to sit back and relax. We’re gonna use every day and every moment of time we have here to make sure we leave Valdosta State University better than when i came into the office,” Dr. Staton emphasized.

www.wtvm.com
Darton State College gets Textbook Transformation Grant
http://www.wtvm.com/story/29498031/darton-state-college-gets-textbook-transformation-grant
By Caitlyn Chastain
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Darton State College is trading in one $160 textbook to give students a free PDF book instead. The school received a Textbook Transformation Grant through the Affordable Learning Georgia Initiative to make the Theatre Appreciation class a “no cost to students” learning option. Once it’s completed the online theatre textbook will also be available for any University System of Georgia school to use. Darton is trying to go one step further by attempting to expand the online textbooks to other courses.

www.onlineathens.com
UGA sets new fundraising record at $144 million
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2015-07-08/uga-sets-new-fundraising-record-144-million
By LEE SHEARER
University of Georgia fundraisers announced Tuesday they broke their year-old record for gifts and pledges to the university and by a lot. Gifts and new pledges added up to $144.2 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, said Kelly Kerner, vice president of UGA’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

www.kpcw.org
Cool Science Radio
http://kpcw.org/post/cool-science-radio-july-2-2015-0
By LYNN WARE PEEK & JOHN WELLS
The development of quantum computers has been limited by the ability to increase the number of quantum bits, or qubits, that encode, store and access large amounts of data. We speak with Dr. Jason Amini of the Georgia Tech Research Institute, about a new device that allows more electrodes to be placed on a chip – an important step that could help increase qubit densities and bring the world one step closer to a quantum computer.

www.onlineathens.com
UGA professor’s lawsuit can go forward, appeals court rules
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2015-07-08/uga-professors-lawsuit-can-go-forward-appeals-court-rules
By LEE SHEARER
The state Court of Appeals has revived a University of Georgia professor’s lawsuit against the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, former UGA President Michael Adams and others after it was dismissed by a Fulton County Superior Court judge. Dezso Benedek alleges that UGA officials conspired with the state attorney general’s office to kill his academic career through a 2010 tenure revocation hearing.

Higher Education News:
www.getschooled.blog.ajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
If colleges admitted solely on grades and SAT scores, would there be fewer winning teams and males?
http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/07/if-colleges-admitted-solely-on-grades-and-sat-scores-would-there-be-fewer-winning-teams-and-males/
In theory, everyone wants colleges to admit students based solely on academic excellence. In reality, few of us would want to attend colleges that did so. If colleges relied only on test scores, AP enrollment, class ranking and grade point averages, there would be fewer males along with fewer African-American students. Campuses would be more monochromatic and female. The U.S. Supreme Court announced last week it will revisit the use of racial preferences, leading to declarations that college acceptances should be blind to any factors outside student performance. (We discussed the news here.) However, colleges do weigh other factors beyond academics to ensure their campuses have a rich mix of personalities, talents and interests. If colleges did not consider what else students bring to the table besides grades and SAT scores, there may not be baritones for the chorus, baton twirlers for the marching band or running backs for the football team.

www.getschooled.blog.ajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Opinion: Expecting more of community college students while giving them less
http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/07/08/opinion-expecting-more-of-community-college-students-while-giving-them-less/
Rick Diguette is a writer who teaches English at a local college. He is also a lucid voice on the changes to the higher education landscape in Georgia.
By Rick Diguette
At the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges held a few months back in San Antonio, the buzzwords of choice were predictive analytics and retention strategies. I’m afraid big data’s stranglehold on higher education continues unabated, as does the notion relentlessly promoted by Complete College America that we must produce more college graduates, preferably sooner than later. The retention and graduation rates at America’s two-year colleges have always been anemic, especially when compared with four-year colleges and universities. And the reasons for this are as plain as the nose on a two-year college student’s face. They are typically burdened with a number of so-called “demographic qualifiers” that work against retention and graduation in both obvious and subtle ways.

www.diverseeducation.com
Addressing the Skills Gap for Students and Young Adults
http://diverseeducation.com/article/76145/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=2fd7bfb9d7c84874a81d5d15e3d43ac3&elqCampaignId=415&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqTrackId=d1a679705f4a469fbe7fd7f054f2f4ea
by Eric Graze
The latest research from the Education Testing Service Center for Research on Human Capital and Education showed that U.S. students across all socioeconomic levels scored lower than students in most countries around the world in literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills. The study examined millennials born between 1980 and the early 2000s ages 16 to 34 and measured the 21st century skills needed by individuals to make measurable improvements in their life and to prosper professionally. The results were disappointing for both the wealthiest cohorts of students, as well as students from lower socioeconomic and minority groups. Their scores indicate a worrisome skills gap.

www.chronicle.com
China Signals a Growing Unease With the Influence of American Universities
http://chronicle.com/article/China-Signals-a-Growing-Unease/231419/
By Karin Fischer
With its growing global clout, China has become the place to be for American colleges, with the number of academic partnerships and programs there increasing each year. But a law proposed by the Chinese government to regulate foreign universities and nonprofit organizations could put those warming relations on ice. Under the draft legislation, overseas colleges would be required to register with the national police ministry and have an official Chinese sponsor for all their activities, from study abroad to student recruitment, faculty lectures to joint research.

www.nytimes.com
Marco Rubio Calls for Overhaul of the ‘Cartel’ of Colleges

By Jeremy W. Peters
CHICAGO – Senator Marco Rubio, laying out an economic blueprint that will be central to his campaign for president, called Tuesday for dismantling the “cartel of existing colleges and universities” that he said left too many students without viable career paths and burdened by tens of thousands of dollars in debt.

www.chronicle.com
As Graduate-Student Debt Booms, Just a Few Colleges Are Largely Responsible
http://chronicle.com/article/As-Graduate-Student-Debt/231415/
By Elizabeth Baylor
New York University and the University of Phoenix do not have much in common. One is a prestigious nonprofit institution that attracts students to its Lower Manhattan campus. The other is a for-profit giant with campuses throughout the United States. But there’s one characteristic the two do share — they’re national leaders in graduate-student debt.

www.huffingtonpost.com
Martin O’Malley Calls For Debt-Free College Within 5 Years
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/07/omalley-debt-free-college_n_7748504.html?utm_hp_ref=college
Tyler Kingkade
Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley on Wednesday will lay out a plan providing debt-free access to a college degree for all students within five years. The former Maryland governor also will propose income-based repayment options for borrowers who have private student loans. O’Malley will unveil his higher education plans during an event Wednesday morning in Manchester, New Hampshire. He will seek to cut tuition “to no more than 10 percent of state median income at four-year public universities,” and encourage “competency-based education strategies” that allow students to graduate quicker, according to campaign briefing documents. To cut non-tuition costs, O’Malley will propose expanding Pell grants and tripling the work-study program so that at least 2 million students can participate.

www.chronicle.com
When College Is Free, or Free(ish)
http://chronicle.com/article/When-College-Is-Free-or/231421/
By Goldie Blumenstyk
The “free college” idea is back in the headlines. Last week Oregon lawmakers passed legislation similar to Tennessee’s to make community college free. And on Wednesday in the U.S. Congress, several Democratic lawmakers and the U.S. secretary of education, Arne Duncan, are expected to unveil the America’s College Promise Act of 2015, a federal proposal to make two years of community college free. But actually those are just a few of the ways students can attend college free, or at little cost — call it “Free(ish) College.” Although those free(ish) paths still account for just a small proportion of American college students, the paths are growing bigger by the day.

www.diverseeducation.com
New Congressional Proposal for ‘Free’ College Expected Today
http://diverseeducation.com/article/76149/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=2fd7bfb9d7c84874a81d5d15e3d43ac3&elqCampaignId=415&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqTrackId=db7b4e0b6a9e4504b27a3ec8e6df9ad1
by Catherine Morris
As the cost of college tuition rises, even at community colleges, the chance that college will ever be affordable again for the average American family is growing increasingly slim. Making college tuition “free” at public institutions is an even more elusive goal. Despite that, President Barack Obama went ahead and proposed that the nation make community college free for qualifying high school graduates during his 2015 State of the Union address. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., was the next to expand on that idea, proposing the College for All Act in May, which would eliminate undergraduate tuition and fees at all public colleges and universities. Now Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., are poised to announce similar legislation of their own today. According to the Huffington Post, Baldwin and Scott’s America’s College Promise Act would provide a federal match of $3 for every $1 invested by states, intended to waive tuition and fees at community, technical and tribal colleges.