University System News:
www.middlegeorgiaceo.com
Governor Appoints 13 to State Boards
http://middlegeorgiaceo.com/news/2016/01/governor-deal-appoints-13-boards/
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
James M. Hull, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (reappointment) …Larry Walker, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (reappointment)
USG Institutions:
www.tiftongazette.com
ABAC enrollment increases for Spring Term 2016
http://www.tiftongazette.com/news/abac-enrollment-increases-for-spring-term/article_785bd19a-b573-11e5-8a40-eb63a138a6ca.html
Special to The Gazette
TIFTON—When the spring semester began on Wednesday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, the enrollment showed 3,172 students taking classes, marking the second largest spring term enrollment in the history of ABAC. Dressed for the chilly day, ABAC President David Bridges enjoyed seeing the faces of incoming freshmen as well as returning students in a walk across the campus.
www.getschooled.blog.myajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Impressive early admits to Georgia Tech: Average SAT is 1453, 96 percent took AP calculus
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/01/09/early-admits-to-georgia-tech-more-applicants-more-diverse-and-more-women/
Students who applied to Georgia Tech through early action learned today if they won a spot. Those admitted to Tech are among Georgia’s highest scorers on college admissions tests. They also took very high numbers of AP and college-level classes. …Typically, top students apply under early action. For example, the University of Georgia, which announced its earlier decision acceptances in November, said its admitted students this year had an average GPA exceeding a 4.0, a mean SAT of 1374 (with a mean SAT writing of 659), or a mean ACT of 30. Tech’s early admit students boasted higher SAT and ACT scores than their UGA counterparts.
www.statesboroherald.com
New Health Center brings GSU into 2016
Expansion allows better service to larger student population
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/72146/
Special to the Herald
After 38 years in a health center build to handle a student population of about 5,000, Georgia Southern unveiled its new Health Center Friday, a 2016 version that’s modern and large enough for the university’s 20,500 students. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday for its new campus location across from the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center and offered the public tours of the 39,000-square-foot facility. Georgia Southern students will begin utilizing services in the new location when the spring semester begins Monday.
www.mdjonline.com
Kennesaw State University buys more land on Busbee Parkway
http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/27038685/article-Kennesaw-State-University-buys-more-land-on-Busbee-Parkway
by MDJ staff
KENNESAW — Kennesaw State University’s physical presence in its namesake city will continue to expand following the purchase of property east of its Kennesaw campus. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on Wednesday approved the $875,000 purchase of 1.02 acres at 3051 George Busbee Parkway from Cobb County, according to a KSU news release. The property, formerly occupied by a Kids ‘R’ Kids day care franchise, includes a 12,320-square-foot building and adjacent parking area. Funding for the purchase will come from state bonds earmarked for the university’s infrastructure expansion.
www.wtoc.com
Georgia Southern to discontinue Art Fest after 30 years
http://www.wtoc.com/story/30921638/georgia-southern-to-discontinue-art-fest-after-30-years
By Dal Cannady
STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) -Thousands of youngsters could be disappointed this spring. Georgia Southern University announced this week they’ll do away with Arts Fest after 30 years. The university’s art department hosted the event in Sweetheart Circle to help youngsters develop their art talents and teach their own art students how to share their work. The chair of the art department tells us the school’s art program has evolved and changed from what it was when they started the Art Fest and its success has made it harder to host on their own.
www.statesboroherald.com
GSU seeking WWI artifacts
Saturday event to offer more information
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/72160/
Special to the Herald
The Georgia Southern University Department of History and the Georgia Southern Museum seek to learn more about the impact of World War I on the state of Georgia and are asking for anyone with artifacts from that era to bring them on Saturday, Jan. 16 from 2-5 p.m. to the Georgia Southern University Museum. Georgia Southern’s faculty and museum curators will be on hand to help provide more information on the items. The university is asking Georgians to bring their artifacts, documents, photos or stories to share with Georgia Southern’s faculty and museum curators as they seek to learn more about the experiences of Georgia’s soldiers, the importance of training camps and war industries in the state, and the experiences of those on the home front.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Georgia Gwinnett College prohibits hoverboards
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/education/georgia-gwinnett-college-prohibits-hoverboards/article_0c0b7a35-3b9d-539e-9f13-009caee21e11.html
By Keith Farner
Georgia Gwinnett College has joined other colleges around the state to prohibit hoverboards from campus, the college’s police chief announced on Friday. “Due to the recent fire concerns surrounding Hoverboards, GGC has chosen to prohibit the use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards, Swagways, or similar devices in all GGC buildings,” GGC Police Chief Terry Schneider wrote in an email to employees on Friday morning. The reason is because of fire concerns regarding the batteries that operate the boards, Schneider said.
Higher Education News:
www.hechingerreport.org
Report proposes new definition of “merit” to help low-income college applicants
Foundation said the deck at the most selective colleges is stacked against poor kids
Report proposes new definition of “merit” to help low-income college applicants
by Jon Marcus
The nation’s most selective colleges and universities should give special preference in the admissions process to qualified students from low-income families, who are vastly less likely to attend those schools than wealthier Americans with similar academic ability, according to a new report.
www.chronicle.com
As Federal Sex-Assault Investigations Multiply, Resolutions Remain Elusive
http://chronicle.com/article/As-Federal-Sex-Assault/234858?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=0cfe9de6ce9f434ca66758d080e2f579&elqCampaignId=2196&elqaid=7481&elqat=1&elqTrackId=aa225c33fe574aa9817c7dec14f586bc
By Katherine Mangan
Over the past year and a half, the number of colleges finding themselves in the cross hairs of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights over their handling of sexual-assault cases has nearly tripled, to 161. Being put on the list is just the start of a painstakingly detailed back-and-forth that takes, on average, more than a year to resolve. How colleges end up on the list, how long they will remain there, and on what points they will be found in or out of compliance with the federal gender-equity law known as Title IX remain a mystery to most college officials. To help shed light on the process, The Chronicle is introducing an online investigation tracker with which readers can browse comprehensive information about federal inquiries and sign up to receive alerts about important developments in those investigations. A quick look at the database reveals some surprising statistics about the most recent wave of enforcement, which began in April 2011, when the department issued a pivotal “Dear Colleague” letter that spelled out colleges’ responsibilities under the law. In 2014, 13 cases were resolved, and 70 were opened. Last year, only seven cases were resolved, and 106 were opened.
www.chronicle.com
The Legal Limits of ‘Yes Means Yes’
http://chronicle.com/article/The-Legal-Limits-of-Yes/234860?cid=cr&utm_source=cr&utm_medium=en&elq=94e23da1295647f2bd5ba5db3c1eabbb&elqCampaignId=2198&elqaid=7487&elqat=1&elqTrackId=31ca5dd847d94384a1eab475a89808f5
By Paul H. Robinson
Debate grows over the use of “yes means yes” as a sexual-consent policy on college campuses. As opposed to “no means no,” which directs sexual initiators to halt their advances if the other person struggles or says to stop, “yes means yes” or “affirmative consent” states that sexual initiators have to actually get consent from the other person before proceeding to the next step. California and New York have recently mandated such policies, yet many people oppose them. Carol L. McCoy, a chancery-court judge in Nashville, last summer overturned a decision by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to expel a student under such a policy, holding that it had violated due process. On one side of the debate are those unhappy with the culture on many campuses that seems to allow men to bully women into intercourse, putting the burden of ambiguous situations entirely on the woman. In this culture, ambiguity is taken as a green light. On the other side are those who see the affirmative-consent rule as a violation of the basic principles of American criminal justice.
www.insidehighered.com
Marching Against Campus Carry
MLA members protest new state law at Texas Capitol — and argue that guns have no place in college classrooms.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/01/11/mla-attendees-march-protest-campus-carry-law
By Scott Jaschik
AUSTIN, Texas — Chanting, “Gun-free UT. Make it safe for you and me,” and, “Guns are not a teaching tool. They do not belong in school,” more than 200 attendees at the Modern Language Association’s annual meeting marched to the Texas Capitol Friday to protest the state’s new “campus carry” law. The law, which will take effect this year, allows guns into public college classrooms and dormitories — much to the anger of many professors at Texas and elsewhere. Many other states are considering similar legislation, although bills in other states would give public colleges more leeway to block guns from some locations.
Legislative News:
www.onlineathens.com
Georgia legislature gets down to business
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2016-01-10/georgia-legislature-gets-down-business-today
By JIM THOMPSON
The Georgia General Assembly convenes this morning for its 2016 session at the state Capitol in Atlanta, and in addition to its single state constitutional mandate to pass a balanced budget, the state legislature is also set to consider a range of issues from dealing with domestic terrorism to education reform to casino gambling. The 2016 session is actually the second year of the two-year cycle of legislative sessions, meaning legislative proposals introduced last year but got no definitive action can be considered again this year.
www.myajc.com
Top issues to watch at the 2016 Georgia General Assembly
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/top-issues-to-watch-at-the-2016-georgia-general-as/npyWq/
By Nancy Badertscher and Aaron Gould Sheinin – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Education: Gov. Nathan Deal is building his second term around fundamental changes to how the state operates and pays for its public education system. …Budget and taxes: Deal is expected to propose a $23 billion-plus budget that pours a lot of money into education, health care and construction projects. …Gun proposals: Democratic lawmakers have made long-shot proposals to require anyone who wants a concealed weapons permit to take state-sponsored safety training and to bar anyone getting a divorce from buying a gun without the permission of a judge. Those bills are House Bill 709 and Senate Bill 250, respectively. Gun rights advocates, meanwhile, will most likely focus support on House Bill 544, sponsored by Rep. Heath Clark, R-Warner Robins, which would allow guns anywhere on the campuses of the state’s public colleges and universities. …Higher education: Lawmakers are likely to review how officials at Georgia colleges and universities handle sexual assaults reported on their campuses. Investigations by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found that despite more than 150 allegations of rape and sodomy since 2010, none resulted in a criminal prosecution. The University System of Georgia, hoping to handle the issue itself, implemented a set of systemwide rules last year that include centralized training for students and staff, and a system coordinator to oversee the training and handling of sexual assault complaints.
www.chronicle.augusta.com
School funding issue looms as Georgia Legislature returns
Casino, marijuana bills also top Georgia agenda
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/government/2016-01-11/school-funding-issue-looms-georgia-legislature-returns
From Wire Reports
ATLANTA — Base funding for schools will be a major focus of the legislative session that starts today. For the next 40 days, lawmakers will meet under the Capitol’s Gold Dome. Few of the bills that pass will have the far-reaching impact as the recommendations of the Governor’s Education Reform Commission. …BUDGET: The bulk of state spending goes toward education and health care, and Deal is expected to have $1 billion more to work with for next year’s budget. Most of the added money will go toward filling gaps in school appropriations under the current funding formula and repaying the state’s pension fund and reserves that were drained in the recession. There is some available that could be used for pay raises for state employees if Deal doesn’t use it for his own initiatives, according to experts at Georgia State University.
www.atlantamagazine.com
Gold Dome Preview: Eleven issues to watch during the 2016 legislative session
Coming soon to the Capitol: The rift over school reforms, RFRA’s return, MARTA’s $8 billion pitch, Milton County redux, and more.
http://www.atlantamagazine.com/news-culture-articles/gold-dome-preview-eleven-issues-to-watch-during-the-2016-legislative-session/
This coming Monday, state lawmakers will travel from the far reaches of the state—from Albany and Brunswick to Young Harris and Zebulon—to the Georgia State Capitol for the 2016 legislative session. Between the time they chow down at Sunday night’s Wild Hog Supper and toss shredded paper into the air on Sine Die, politicians will hash out important policy, pass a bunch of meaningless proclamations, and introduce their share of absurd bills—i.e. the one to make English the official language of Georgia (again)—intended to spark controversy. Expect this 40-day to go by relatively fast. After all, it’s an election year. …Before they leave town, Georgia’s part-time, $17,000-a-year lawmakers are required by statute to accomplish one mission: Approve the state’s annual budget.
www.myajc.com
Key players for Georgia’s 2016 legislative session
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/key-players-for-georgias-2016-legislative-session/npx55/
By James Salzer – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nathan Deal: The governor enters the second year of his second term and will set the agenda again in 2016. The fact that he has a respectful relationship with legislative leaders helps him ultimately get what he wants.
Others:
Teams lobbying for utilities, beer and liquor distributors, insurance agents, grocery stores, hospitals, nursing homes, car dealers, manufacturers, school boards, counties and cities, the Georgia Chamber, the Georgia Trial Lawyers, the University System of Georgia,
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
Education funding, sales tax up for debate
Georgia General Assembly will start its new session Monday
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/education-funding-sales-tax-up-for-debate/article_cf7d4994-7213-507e-b555-2edae575d358.html
By Mike Colombo
Managing Editor
DALTON— There’s been a lot of talk about revamping the state’s process for funding education, but lawmakers say at this point it’s too early to predict what might happen during the upcoming legislative session.
Lawmakers from throughout Northwest Georgia met with member of the news media last week at Dalton State College to discuss several issues that are likely to come up this session, which starts Monday. “We won’t really know what’s going to happen until the governor comes out with his platform first,” Rep. Tom Dickson, R-Cohutta, said about education reform. Dickson said he doesn’t think the state will end up tying compensation to test scores, an issue teachers have been concerned about as education reform prepares to take yet again another path. …Bethel said he also supports a measure that would pay full tuition for HOPE Scholarship students who attend state community colleges at $2,000 per semester. Currently only Zell Miller Scholars, students who maintained a 3.7 GPA in high school, receive full payment for their tuition at state schools. Bethel said that measure would put money in the pockets of students who likely need it the most and would cost the state an additional $6.4 million.
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
Kelley expects big issues ahead for state legislature
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/polkfishwrap/news/local/kelley-expects-big-issues-ahead-for-state-legislature/article_bbc4e40e-b626-11e5-afb7-1f8f7d381b10.html
by Kevin Myrick
President Barack Obama has announced his plans for gun control regulations through executive action, but State Rep. Trey Kelley believes the conversation will be far from over in the state legislature no matter the decision made. His take on the matter is simple: instead of curtailing second amendment rights for legal, responsible gun owners, he wants to see expansion of rights here in Georgia. During the last session in 2015, gun owners with concealed weapons permits saw the state house and senate pass a bill allowing them to carry them into bars, churches and other public places. Now he said he thinks that those rights – or any others that might curtail legal ownership rights – should be left alone. …One area that Kelley said the state legislature does need to look into more deeply is in tuition rates. The problem, Kelley said, is that the legislature has no say currently into how tuition at schools like the University of Georgia and others are set, with the statewide Board of Regents having ultimate control over how much college costs per semester. Kelley said himself and others want that changed, and have told the regents costs need to come down in “straight” terms. “We want to make sure that secondary education is affordable to all Georgia students,” Kelley said. “Though the HOPE scholarship program is an integral part of ensuring students can take on the costs to go to college if they make the grades, Kelley said that can’t be a long term solution to increasing tuition rates, especially for those who don’t qualify. We need to make sure that there’s affordable pathways out there.”