University System News:
www.insidehighered.com
Another New Name
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/09/16/georgia-regents-university-undergoes-name-change-again
By Kellie Woodhouse
Georgia Regents University is changing its name. Again. As of Tuesday, it’s Augusta University. The change is the second in three years at the 9,200-student public university. When Augusta State University merged with Georgia Health Sciences University in 2012, the institutions took the name Georgia Regents University. At the time, the decision by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents was controversial among many alumni, students and faculty members because the new name did not include homage to the city of Augusta, where the university is located. So on Tuesday regents reversed their decision and voted to change the name again. Though the name change went into effect immediately after the decision, it will take a while to become obvious on campus.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Regents approve $2.076B budget, funding for GGC building, Norcross library
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/2015/sep/15/regents-approve-2076b-budget-funding-for-ggc/
By Keith Farner
Funding was approved on Tuesday for a building addition at Georgia Gwinnett College and a library in Norcross. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved those projects as part of the $2.076 billion fiscal 2017 budget request. The request is a net increase of $55.37 million, or 2.7 percent, over the fiscal year 2016 state appropriation to the University System of Georgia. That budget covers existing projects and programs, enrollment, increases in health insurance and retirement programs and maintenance and operations of new facilities.
www.savannahnow.com
Regents seek funding for Armstrong health building
http://savannahnow.com/news/2015-09-15/regents-seek-funding-armstrong-health-building
By Morris News Service
ATLANTA — Armstrong State University will get a new health classroom building, Savannah State University will get equipment for its science center and Richmond Hill will get a public library if the governor and legislature approve funding requests made Tuesday by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents. Regent Don Waters of Savannah was excited about the news.
USG Institutions:
www.statesboroherlad.com
A new ‘Day for Southern’ record
Local fund drive for university tops $2.3 million
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/70087/
By Al Hackle
With the 42nd annual “A Day for Southern,” people in Statesboro and Bulloch County, and on the campus itself, set a new record of giving to Georgia Southern University: $2,335,990. Those were the digits key campaigners were holding when they turned around at the 5:30 p.m. reveal. All day Tuesday, volunteers had called on repeat and expected donors, sometimes following up on earlier pledges. “This is kind of the culmination of all that, where we go out into the community and shore up some of those commitments, make some new commitments,” said Anthony Waters, the community campaign chairman. “This is kind of where it comes to fruition of a long year’s work.”
www.wgxa.tv
MGSU research center focuses on public opinion on various issues
http://www.wgxa.tv/news/local/MGSU-research-center-focuses-on-public-opinion-on-various-issues-327774741.html
By Kathryn Shepherd
The focus behind Middle Georgia State University’s Center for Applied Research and Education is to find what the public thinks about various issues. Projects they’re working on include grant and needs assessments and satisfaction. Researchers interview potential customers or meet with people to document their understanding of upcoming legislation. Dr. Michael Gibbons said this helps the Central Georgia economy.
Higher Education News:
www.macon.com
Gaming companies want to roll the dice in Georgia
http://www.macon.com/news/local/politics-government/article35360919.html
BY MAGGIE LEE
ATLANTA — The $1 billion that the Georgia lottery aims to raise for education this year would be a record haul, but lottery cash buys less college than it used to. The gap has state lawmakers’ attention, and some are pushing for allowing casinos and horse racing as a way to prop up HOPE Scholarship funding. “Our marching orders are pretty simple. It’s to look at those proposals, study the economic and social issues around (casinos and horse racing),” said state Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, opening two days of state House and Senate committee hearings on gaming and the HOPE Scholarship, which started in Atlanta this week. If the committee members come up with a consensus, they will make recommendations in time for the legislative session in January. So far, there are two major proposals on the table.
www.savannahnow.com
Editorial: Squeeze Georgia Lottery to keep HOPE alive
http://savannahnow.com/editorial/2015-09-15/editorial-squeeze-georgia-lottery-keep-hope-alive
State lawmakers are rightly trying to squeeze more revenue out of the Georgia Lottery Corp. to support the state’s popular but struggling HOPE scholarship and pre-kindergarten programs. On Monday, they grilled Lottery Corp. executives about cutting costs or reducing prizes. During a joint meeting of the temporary committees created by the House and Senate to study the issue, lawmakers are looking for ways to address the shrinking share of tuition that the scholarships cover. One avenue is to increase the available money from the existing sources, and another would be to find new sources by legalizing casinos and betting on horse races.
www.stateimpact.npr.org
New Database Shows How Student Earnings Compare For Florida Colleges
New Database Shows How Student Earnings Compare For Florida Colleges
BY JOHN O’CONNOR
Lots of schools promise to train students to be nurses, technicians or other in-demand medical careers. But a new federal database shows that isn’t always the case. At some schools only a small percentage of students who attend using federal grants or loans earn more than a high school graduate a decade after enrolling in college. The data links students who received federal financial aid to what they reporting earning on their tax forms a decade later.