University System News:
www.gareport.com
Keel confirmed as new president of Georgia Regents University
http://gareport.com/story/2015/07/08/keel-confirmed-as-new-president-of-georgia-regents-university/
By TOM CRAWFORD
The Board of Regents voted Wednesday to approve the appointment of Brooks Keel as the new president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta. Keel, who has been president of Georgia Southern University since 2010, will begin his new job July 20. He was the sole finalist for the position and replaces Ricardo Azziz, who stepped down June 30. “I had the great fortune to earn both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Augusta, and I’m eternally grateful for the fantastic opportunities in research and scholarship leadership they have brought to my life,” Keel said.
www.savannahnow.com
Jean Bartels named Georgia Southern interim president
http://savannahnow.com/news/2015-07-08/jean-bartels-named-georgia-southern-interim-president
By Savannah Morning News
University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby has named Jean Bartels as interim president at Georgia Southern University. Bartels currently serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at GSU. She has held this position since July 1, 2012. Prior to this role, she served as dean of the Georgia Southern College of Arts and Sciences. Bartels came to Georgia Southern in 1999 to serve as the chair and professor of the School of Nursing. She will begin her new assignment on July 20, upon the departure of Brooks Keel who was named president of Georgia Regents University in Augusta today.
www.savannahbusinessjournal.com
Dr. Jean Bartels named Interim President of Georgia Southern
https://www.savannahbusinessjournal.com/index.php/news-categories/education-career-development/4947-july-8-dr-jean-bartels-named-interim-president-of-georgia-southern.html?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=
Coastal Empire News Staff Report
University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Hank Huckaby announced today that he has named Dr. Jean Bartels (pictured) as interim president at Georgia Southern University following the appointment of Dr. Brooks A. Keel as president of Georgia Regents University this week. She will begin her new assignment on July 20, upon the departure of Keel. “I am very honored that Chancellor Hank Huckaby and the Board of Regents have the confidence to appoint me as the interim president of Georgia Southern University,” said Bartels. “I have a strong allegiance and dedication to this University and will be proud to continue with the momentum of success we are experiencing at Georgia Southern. There will be no standing still.”
www.project.us
Married gays finally get benefits across Georgia
http://www.projectq.us/houston/married_gays_finally_get_benefits_across_georgia?gid=17024
By Matt Hennie
The Supreme Court legalizing gay marriage is forcing state agencies and colleges in Georgia to do what they refused to do on their own: grant benefits to gay couples. Even progressive Decatur is figuring out how to be a little gayer. On Tuesday, the state made it clear to its more than 90,000 employees across Georgia that same-sex spouses are now eligible for all employment benefits – all those benefits they couldn’t receive a day before the historic ruling. …The ruling is also prompting UGA and its parent, the University System of Georgia, to offer benefits to same-sex couples. That’s something UGA President Jere Morehead rejected in the past.
www.americantowns.com
Study backs critics of the Georgia’s state health plan
http://www.americantowns.com/ga/albany/news/study-backs-critics-of-the-georgia039s-state-health-plan-23431046
Last week, the consulting firm Aon Hewitt reported that members of the State Health Benefit Plan pay a greater proportion of health care costs than people covered in six comparable employee plans studied — those of five other Southern states’ plans, plus University System of Georgia workers.
USG Institutions:
Gwinnett Daily Post
University System of Georgia to extend benefits to same-sex married couples
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2015/jul/08/university-system-to-extend-benefits-to-same-sex/
By Keith Farner
The University System of Georgia this week announced that health insurance and other benefits will be extended to same-sex married couples during an enrollment period that begins next week. Beginning on Monday, employees will be able to begin enrolling their same sex spouse in coverage in the University System of Georgia benefits plans. The effective date of the coverage will be backdated to June 26th or July 1st for same sex marriages that occurred June 26th or prior and employees will have until Sept. 1 to register the change and provide documentation.
Augusta Chronicle
A new day, on an even Keel
http://m.chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/editorials/2015-07-08/new-day-even-keel#gsc.tab=0
By Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff
The move is inspired. And that’s precisely what Augusta should be: inspired.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents’ decision to hire Dr. Brooks Keel as the new president of the consolidated Medical College of Georgia and former Augusta State University is a stroke of genius.
Not only is Dr. Keel an Augusta native and graduate of both schools, but as president of Georgia Southern University the past five
years he has had to manage phenomenal growth – and has done it exceedingly well.
WSWG TV
Valdosta State University Welcomes New Administration
http://www.wctv.tv/wswg/home/headlines/Valdosta-State-University-Welcomes-New-Administration-312651961.html
By Winnie Wright
New administration has made it’s way on to the Valdosta State University campus. On July 1st, Dr. Cecil Staton took over as Interim President of the University.
He was appointed Interim President after serving as Vice-Chancellor for Extended education with the University System of Georgia. His first day as president, Dr. Staton appointed an Interim Provost. Dr. Brian Gerber, the Interim Dean of the College of Education, has filled that position.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Free Community College Catches On
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/09/oregon-passes-free-community-college-bill-congressional-democrats-introduce-federal
By Paul Fain
President Obama’s push for free community college has yet to be shunted aside by the debt-free college ideas his aspiring Democratic successors are talking up.
Oregon now is poised to follow Tennessee as the second state with a plan on the books to provide free two-year college. And Democrats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives introduced bills Wednesday that seek to make Obama’s federal proposal a reality. The proposed legislation lacks any Republican support, however, so the bills are unlikely to go anywhere.
Inside Higher Ed
Gates Backs FAFSA Overhaul
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/09/gates-foundation-joins-calls-fafsa-simplification
By Michael Stratford
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is throwing its support behind efforts to redesign the federal government’s student aid application process to make it easier for students to get loans and grants for college.
In a white paper published Wednesday, the foundation called for reducing and streamlining questions on the application form, known as the FAFSA, and allowing families to apply for aid earlier during the college process.
The proposal is the foundation’s first since announcing earlier this year that it plans to play a more active role in higher education policy debates. Over the past several years, the foundation has also sponsored a wide range of research on ways to redesign different aspects of how, when and in what form students receive financial aid from the federal government.