University System News:
www.getschooled.blog.ajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Should Georgia lower GPA required to keep HOPE for GaTech students?
http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/10/15/new-study-pressure-to-get-and-keep-hope-could-be-reducing-students-willing-to-take-tough-stem-courses/
Has the HOPE Scholarship — or rather the fear of losing the generous merit-based aid — reduced the number of Georgia students willing to pursue challenging science and math degrees? That’s the suggestion of a new study by researchers at Georgia and Oklahoma State Universities. The study of merit-based scholarship programs in several states including Georgia found: State merit-based scholarships reduce the likelihood a student will earn a degree in a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field. …Given Georgia’s need to encourage more students to enter the tech, math and science fields, should we re-calibrate HOPE based on a student’s major? Should we penalize an engineering major at Georgia Tech or a biochemistry major at the University of Georgia for slipping to a 2.9 in demanding courses? Last year, I asked the chancellor of Georgia’s colleges and universities this question: Given the rigor of Georgia Tech courses and the state’s increasing need for math and science talent, should Tech be treated as a special case and the GPA threshold to retain HOPE Scholarships lowered? Chancellor Hank Huckaby told me, “I don’t know how you deal with that but I understand the argument can be made. I don’t have an answer but it keeps coming up. And that argument is getting louder. It, quite frankly, is something we haven’t addressed yet.”
www.savannahnow.com
Undocumented immigrants fight to sue Georgia Board of Regents in high court
http://savannahnow.com/news/2015-10-16/undocumented-immigrants-fight-sue-georgia-board-regents-high-court
By Walter C. Jones | Morris News Service
By Walter C. Jones | Morris News Service
An attorney for 39 undocumented immigrants told the Georgia Supreme Court Friday that there must be a way for them to challenge a rule of the Board of Regents that requires them to pay out-of-state tuition. The board that oversees the state’s public colleges and universities enacted a rule in 2010 requiring nonresident rates of nearly four times higher for students who are not “lawfully present” in the United States. But in 2012, the Obama administration has determined that undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children could remain for at least two years, a decision the students argue means they are indeed lawfully present. They’re not able to make their case in court because a superior court judge and the Court of Appeals have both ruled that the board can’t be sued. Friday, their appeal came before the Supreme Court which is trying to decide if the Board of Regents can be sued or not. …Either way, no decision is expected for about three months.
www.nique.net
USG makes changes, Tech affected
By Maura Currie
A recent meeting of the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents (USG) addressed a number of items regarding Tech’s future. The Sept. 15 meeting opened with a discussion of new requirements for entering freshmen at USG institutions, including Tech. Beginning in the academic year of 2017–2018, new freshmen can fulfill their foreign language requirements for admission with upper-level computer science credits. “Part of the change involved high school graduation requirements that have evolved over the years to include computer programming classes that require coding skills,” said Sonja Roberts, marketing and communications coordinator for USG. “It is not necessarily a bypass but rather another option that enables a student to complete this particular portion of the college freshmen admission requirement criteria.” The Committee of Academic Affairs responsible for the aforementioned report went on to present a proposal from Tech’s President G.P. “Bud” Peterson to reestablish the Love Family Professorship in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering to comprise of two professorships.
www.politico.com
Morning Education
A daily overview of education policy news
http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-education/2015/10/for-profit-crackdown-widens-spellings-a-shoo-in-at-unc-young-immigrants-seek-in-state-tuition-in-georgia-210765
By Caitlin Emma
YOUNG IMMIGRANTS SEEK IN-STATE TUITION IN GEORGIA: The Georgia Supreme Court will hear from a group of undocumented immigrants in Georgia today about why they deserve to pay cheaper, in-state tuition rates. The 39 students bringing the case in Olvera et al. v University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents et al have been granted the opportunity to stay in the country via the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
USG Institutions:
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Columbus State reaches record enrollment
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article39299391.html
BY MARK RICE
Columbus State University has the most students enrolled in the 57-year history of the institution. The fall 2015 figures released Thursday show CSU’s enrollment at 8,440 — an increase of 3 percent over last year’s total. The university’s previous record enrollment was 8,307 in 2011. “To record an enrollment increase of 3 percent is incredibly impressive, and is a credit to the faculty, staff, facilities, community and programs we have here,” CSU president Chris Markwood said in a news releases.
www.wrbl.com
College student for the day
http://wrbl.com/2015/10/15/college-student-for-the-day/
COLUMBUS, Ga. – Today dozens of high school students had a chance to get a feel for the future and be a college student for the day. It’s part of an ongoing initiative to help get minority men to go to college and keep them from dropping out. The African-American male initiative was created back in 2002 to increase the enrollment retention and graduation of Georgia’s minority males. Columbus State is a part of this initiative and hosts events like today’s “College Student for a Day” to help the young men realize their potential and opportunities and as one student told us today, it seems to be working.
www.rockdalecitizen.com
Ga. Perimeter signs pact with military
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/news/2015/oct/15/ga-perimeter-signs-pact-with-military/
From staff reports
The Military Outreach Center at Georgia Perimeter College recently hosted a Memorandum of Understanding signing between the Georgia National Guard, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and the Technical College System of Georgia. The memorandum will open up “quality educational opportunities for members of the guard and also allow both systems’ military outreach personnel access to National Guard posts across the state,” said Col. Kevin Berkman, director of personnel for the Georgia Army National Guard.
www.thebrunswicknews.com
Not supporting arts center at college
http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/not-supporting-arts-center-at-college/article_fa6d9ef2-a0a9-52e3-b989-126b3823f129.html?_dc=318924860563.1292
Your recent editorial on ESPLOST3 encouraged citizens to “ask themselves if all children deserve to learn in a modern school environment.” I would say that they do, and would gladly support ESPLOST3 if it were only to replace Burroughs-Molette and Altama elementary schools. Of course, this is not the case. The best example is the proposed Community Arts Center (previously known as the Performing Arts Center), at an estimated cost of $20 million. What makes this item even more unacceptable is that if built, it will be located on the CCGA campus and operated by a CCGA organization. The question that must be asked is “What is such a project doing on the ESPLOST3 project list?”
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia looks to cybersecurity execs for industry growth strategies
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2015/10/16/georgia-looks-to-cybersecurity-execs-for-industry.html
Urvaksh Karkaria and Dave Williams
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia lawmakers are looking to the growing number of cybersecurity companies setting up shop in metro Atlanta for ideas on how to further expand the industry’s presence in the Peach State. Executives from more than a dozen Atlanta-based cybersecurity firms have been invited to make presentations next month to the Georgia House of Representatives’ and state Senate’s Science and Technology committees, which are considering what legislation might be needed this winter to give the industry a lift. Metro Atlanta is a natural fit for cybersecurity because it’s home to large financial, retail, logistics and health-care companies that have found themselves vulnerable to Internet hackers… Atlanta’s successful cybersecurity industry can be attributed in part to the talent pool emerging from Georgia’s universities, said David Scholtz, CEO of Damballa, an Atlanta-based web security firm. “We have an active internship program with Georgia Tech and a large percentage of our research, R&D and engineering staff came to us after completing their master’s and Ph.D. degrees there,” Scholtz said.
www.globalatlanta.com
Sponsors of France-Atlanta 2015 Inspired by Innovation Theme
Sponsors of France-Atlanta 2015 Inspired by Innovation Theme
Phil Bolton
Since its inception six years ago, France-Atlanta has born the motto “together towards innovation.” This year’s two-week series of events, Oct. 27-Nov. 9, is no exception and is to focus on sustainable innovations. Once again more than 40 French businessmen, experts in various fields and artists are to descend on Atlanta to meet with their counterparts through a program of workshops, panel discussions, lectures and performances that is estimated to attract some 4000 participants as it has in the past… The Georgia Institute of Technology is once again a co-presenter this year with the Consulate General of France as a means of underscoring its close relationship with France through its Georgia-Tech Lorraine campus where more than 500 Tech students study every year in Metz, France.
www.msn.com
Georgia Tech fraternity sanctioned after alleged racial slurs
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/georgia-tech-fraternity-sanctioned-after-alleged-racial-slurs/ar-AAftYdi
David Beasley
A fraternity at the Georgia Institute of Technology is being punished after some of its white members were accused of shouting racial slurs at a black female student, the university said, but the fraternity denied the allegation. Georgia Tech’s Phi Delta Theta chapter will be banned from participating in this year’s Greek Week and homecoming activities and will not be permitted to host or participate in parties on campus, the school announced on Wednesday. The sanctions followed a finding by Georgia Tech that the fraternity violated the student conduct code regarding discrimination, the university said in a statement.
www.times-georgian.com
UWG sorority shut down over hazing allegations
http://www.times-georgian.com/news/uwg-sorority-shut-down-over-hazing-allegations/article_dadbaba6-73b0-11e5-8117-ab5133f02a38.html
Donny Karr/Times-Georgian
The University of West Georgia announced Thursday that the national chapter of Delta Delta Delta sorority has withdrawn the charter of the UWG chapter. The decision was made after the national chapter completed an investigation regarding allegations of hazing.
Higher Education News:
www.news-press.com
Enrollment opens for Florida’s prepaid college plans
http://www.news-press.com/story/news/education/2015/10/15/enrollment-opens-floridas-prepaid-college-plans/73987656/
The News-Press
Florida’s prepaid college plans are now on sale, with the open enrollment period running through Feb. 29. This is the only time of year families can buy one of the five tuition and dormitory plans offered through the Florida Prepaid College Board. Among the options families can pick from is a four-year state university plan, which starts as low as $183 a month. Another payment option is $145 a month for the “2 + 2” tuition plan, which covers the first two years a student spends at a state college, formerly known as a community college, as well as two years at a state university. New this year is an option for families to purchase one year of tuition at a time. This plan starts as low as $46 per month and covers 30 Florida university credit hours.
www.insidehighered.com
Study: State Scholarships Discourage STEM Majors
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/10/16/study-state-scholarships-discourage-stem-majors?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d5b8358eb0-DNU201510016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d5b8358eb0-197515277
State merit-based scholarships reduce the number of students who major in a math, science or technology field by 6.5 percent and maybe more, according to a new analysis in The Journal of Labor Economics.
www.insidehighered.com
Agriculture Colleges Have $8.4B in Deferred Maintenance
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2015/10/16/agriculture-colleges-have-84b-deferred-maintenance?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=d5b8358eb0-DNU201510016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-d5b8358eb0-197515277
Colleges of agriculture authorized to receive U.S. Department of Agriculture funding have serious deferred maintenance needs, a study by Sightlines and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities has found.
The roughly 100 agriculture colleges have $8.4 billion in deferred maintenance of their buildings and supporting facilities, which has contributed to a 29 percent erosion of their value. The deterioration comes in many forms — roofs that leak, foundations that crack, doors and windows that don’t keep the heat in or cold out, and HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems that fail — and negatively affects the functioning of key research areas, like labs and animal care facilities.
www.diverseeducation.com
Tennessee Lawmaker Considering Bill to Allow College Faculty to be Armed
http://diverseeducation.com/article/78364/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elq=cd2b174681f1421280bc7f9809219215&elqCampaignId=771&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqTrackId=cb633067e937430aa94392221040c260
by Lucas L. Johnson II, Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ― A Republican state lawmaker says he might offer legislation authorizing faculty and employees at Tennessee’s public higher education institutions to carry firearms and have “the best chance possible to defend themselves” if there’s a campus shooting. Sen. Mike Bell of Riceville mentioned the proposal Thursday as the state Senate Higher Education Subcommittee discussed campus security. Higher education officials with the University of Tennessee system and the Tennessee Board of Regents ― which oversees the state’s six universities, 13 community colleges and 27 colleges of applied technology ― discussed their emergency preparedness plans.
www.chronicle.com
How Guns on Campus Became a Live Issue in Wisconsin
http://chronicle.com/article/How-Guns-on-Campus-Became-a/233786?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=9710457a9274405592bd67facea58ea5&elqCampaignId=1624&elqaid=6592&elqat=1&elqTrackId=3f9e39d7d12b4a2a9ca4de8efa1605fa
By Eric Kelderman
Wisconsin was one of the last states to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. Now it is in the vanguard of the debate about whether allowing guns on college campuses will protect students or put them more at risk of violence. How did the state get there? Under a 2011 law, citizens with the proper licenses can already carry concealed firearms in public, including onto the campuses of public colleges in Wisconsin. But an exception in that law allows public colleges in the state to ban those weapons from campus buildings, and all do so. Two state legislators in Wisconsin have introduced a bill to eliminate that exception, arguing that armed students would be able to protect themselves from crime, including the threat of a mass shooting.
www.chronicle.com
Don’t Make Me Part of Your Gun Culture
http://chronicle.com/article/Don-t-Make-Me-Part-of-Your/233783?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=9710457a9274405592bd67facea58ea5&elqCampaignId=1624&elqaid=6592&elqat=1&elqTrackId=15c0fdfa7f8045bcbc82dd1420b30287
By Linda Van Ingen
We have an “active shooter” defense training class coming up, and I am just not interested. I resent how the burden of gun violence is being placed on educators. I feel like I’m being pushed into a gun culture that I want no part of. Viewing dramatic video of an active-shooter scenario on my campus is disturbing. How should I respond when someone opens fire in my building? I’m told that if we can’t flee to safety, I should shove the furniture against the door of my classroom, silence all cellphones, and hope the perpetrator will move on. If the active shooter enters the classroom, I should have a strategy in place: signal a student to throw something against the wall to distract the shooter while another student or two — or perhaps me — tackles the perpetrator. This is the preparedness drill of run, hide, or fight. It all seems absurd. Gun advocates have little more to offer.
www.chronicle.com
How Fear Might Affect Grades
http://chronicle.com/article/How-Fear-Might-Affect-Grades/233780?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=9710457a9274405592bd67facea58ea5&elqCampaignId=1624&elqaid=6592&elqat=1&elqTrackId=89e789e1afc5461b9bb55f21ee6bdd50
By Margaret Olin
Now some states wish to extend the opportunity for an experience like mine to ever more professors by allowing students to carry guns on campus. But some of those teachers may not live long enough to recount it at faculty get-togethers. Some of their responses may differ from mine because they will have had time to prepare. …I wonder whether, if my walk through the hallway had been longer, I might have used the extra time to change some grades. Surely it would be unfair, however, to reward one student for toting a gun if it would mean shortchanging other, better, students without guns, so I wonder whether on armed campuses we will see a dramatic rise in grade-point averages all around. Grades, after all, are among the few weapons in the arsenal of most professors. Students, for their part, can throw spitballs, or fire guns.
www.chronicle.com
When Overseeing a University System Means Defusing Lawmaker Outrage
http://chronicle.com/article/When-Overseeing-a-University/233785?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=9710457a9274405592bd67facea58ea5&elqCampaignId=1624&elqaid=6592&elqat=1&elqTrackId=7b6734d49ce249c095c99ea02e40583d
By Peter Schmidt
Joseph A. DiPietro, president of the University of Tennessee system, has been facing some serious tests of his political skills as controversy has swirled around efforts to make the system’s campuses more diverse and inclusive. On Wednesday, Mr. DiPietro faced intense questioning about the university’s spending on diversity at a hearing of the State Senate’s subcommittee on higher education. Lawmakers there questioned whether the system actually has any measurable goals for its diversity efforts, or whether it will always want to spend more to do more. Last month Mr. DiPietro’s office was besieged by angry phone calls prompted by news reports of a web page, published by the diversity office on the system’s Knoxville campus, that encouraged employees and students to abandon traditional pronouns such as “he” or “she” in favor of gender-neutral terms such as “xe” and “zir.”