University System News:
www.ajc.com
Georgia’s Supreme Court rejects appeal for in-state tuition
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/georgias-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-for-in-state/nqGn3/
Janel Davis and Jeremy Redmon
Georgia’s highest court on Monday unanimously rejected an appeal aimed at allowing immigrants without legal status to pay substantially lower in-state college tuition rates. But the contentious legal battle is not over. An attorney for the 39 plaintiffs in the case said they would file suit this week against the members of the Georgia Board of Regents individually. The plaintiffs have scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Monday to announce that plan. In its ruling Monday, the court said the principle of sovereign immunity shielded the Board of Regents from the plaintiff’s lawsuit, filed more than a year ago.
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia Supreme Court rejects in-state tuition for illegal immigrants
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/blog/capitol_vision/2016/02/georgia-supreme-court-rejects-in-state-tuition-for.html
Dave Williams
Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
Illegal immigrants living in Georgia do not have the right to less expensive in-state college tuition, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday. In a unanimous decision, the justices declared the University System of Georgia Board of Regents is covered by “sovereign immunity” and, thus, cannot be sued. “The sweep of sovereign immunity under the Georgia Constitution is broad,” the court wrote. “It provides: ‘Except as specifically provided in this paragraph, sovereign immunity extends to the state and all of its departments and agencies. The sovereign immunity of the state and its departments and agencies can only be waived by an act of the General Assembly.’” The lawsuit stems from a policy change the regents approved in 2010 requiring all students wishing to attend any university system institution be “lawfully present” in the United States and that any non-U.S. citizen seeking in-state tuition be living in Georgia legally.
www.getschooled.blog.myajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Immigrant college students lose Georgia Supreme Court appeal for in-state tuition
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/02/01/immigrant-college-students-lose-georgia-supreme-court-appeal-for-in-state-tuition/
From the State Supreme Court this morning:
In a ruling today by the Supreme Court of Georgia, college students who are not U.S. citizens have lost their appeal of a Georgia Court of Appeals decision upholding the dismissal of their lawsuit by a Fulton County judge. The students were asking the high court to rule that they are entitled to cheaper in-state tuition at Georgia’s colleges and universities. In today’s unanimous opinion, however, Justice Harold Melton writes for the court that the Board of Regents, which governs the state’s university system, is immune from the students’ lawsuit under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which is the legal doctrine that protects the state government and its agencies from being sued.
www.11alive.com
Proposed bill could put tasers on Georgia college campuses
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/education/2016/01/29/proposed-bill-could-put-tasers-georgia-college-campuses/79540010/
Colin Diersing, Harvard University, USA TODAY College
ATLANTA — A bill proposed Jan. 20 in the Georgia state legislature could allow students to carry tasers and other forms of stun guns at public colleges and universities. The bill, authored by Rep. Buzz Brockway (R-Lawrenceville), is likely to reignite a longstanding debate in the state about whether campuses could be made safer by allowing students to be armed. Last year, legislators dropped a proposal to allow guns on campuses in the face of stiff opposition from the state’s board of regents and activist groups. But Brockway hopes his proposal will attract bi-partisan support and serve as a compromise in the often-contentious question of how to best ensure students’ safety. Many of the state’s biggest schools, including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech University, currently prohibit stun guns under their respective weapons policies But if Brockway’s proposed bill were to pass, those bans would be lifted, and students would be free to buy and carry stun guns campus.
www.morgancountycitizen.com
Librarian of the Year
http://www.morgancountycitizen.com/librarian-of-the-year/
By Tia Lynn Ivey MANAGING editor
About 60 people gathered at the Morgan County Library last week to celebrate Steve Schaefer, former director of the library, who was named Librarian of the Year by the Georgia Public Library Service (GPLS). According to the GPLS, “Georgia’s 2015 Public Librarian of the Year is Steve W. Schaefer, who retired this year from his position as director of the Madison-based Uncle Remus Regional Library System. The award recognizes a full-time and professionally licensed public librarian whose innovative and creative talents are instrumental in the delivery of outstanding library service to his or her library and the communities it serves.”
The Georgia Public Library Service honors “the outstanding service and achievements of Georgia’s public libraries, librarians and library champions.” “We’re so pleased to be able to recognize the work of those who help make our libraries exceptional,” said State Librarian Julie Walker.
USG Institutions:
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Candor, communication will help boost Fort Valley State, new president says
http://www.macon.com/news/local/education/article57467493.html
BY JEREMY TIMMERMAN
FORT VALLEY — About six weeks into his new job as president of Fort Valley State University, Paul Jones is optimistic about the school’s future. He’s nearly halfway though a 100-day assessment period, after which he’ll have more firm plans and goals. But one thing is already evident to him. “Faculty, our staff, our students seem to care very deeply about Fort Valley State University, and I’m learning why that passion is there,” said Jones, a graduate of Colorado State and Utah State universities. One of the biggest concerns is enrollment. This year’s total student count of 2,695 was an increase from 2014 — the first upturn in four years — but Jones said that needs to improve. He pointed to 3,600 as a solid goal for the university, not far from the 3,896 students enrolled on the campus in 2011 before the recent slide. Residence halls and other facilities were built and configured with that level of enrollment in mind.
www.buckheadview.com
Georgia State president to address BBA’s Annual Luncheon Feb. 25
http://buckheadview.com/2016/01/31/16052/
Georgia State University President Dr. Mark Becker will give the keynote address during the Buckhead Business Association’s (BBA) Annual Luncheon and awards presentation event, at 11:30 a.m. Thursday Feb. 25 at the new Flourish Atlanta by Legendary Events facility, on Piedmont Road. …“We look forward to hearing from Dr. Becker about his vision for Georgia State and how it will continue to help transform the city,” Coxon added. …It’s been a busy few months for Becker and Georgia State administrators. Earlier this year, the Board of Regents agreed to the consolidation of Georgia State and Georgia Perimeter College (GPC). The combined university will have more than 52,000 students, making it the largest university in the state system, and will be fully operational for fall 2016 classes. In addition, Georgia State in December won the right to redevelop Turner Field and approximately 70 acres surrounding the stadium. The school is planning to develop the property for a mix of uses, including student housing and athletic facilities, according to reports.
www.times-herald.com
Educator Wright to retire after 40 years
http://times-herald.com/news/2016/01/longtime-newnan-educator-cathy-wright-to-retire
By CELIA SHORTT
After being a part of the educational field in Georgia for more than 40 years, longtime educator and Cowetan Cathy Wright is retiring. Currently, Wright is the director of the University of West Georgia campus in Newnan, and the campus is holding “Cathy Wright Day” on Feb. 5 to celebrate her retirement.
www.wtoc.com
Darton officials speak on enrollment status
http://www.wtoc.com/story/31093453/darton-officials-speak-on-enrollment-status
By Andrew Gorton
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Enrollment at a local college has unexpectedly fallen. Darton State College’s enrollment is down by eight percent. The total is roughly 400 students for spring semester, compared to spring 2015. Officials believe a large reason for the decline is the economy, but they also believe there is also a positive reason for the decreased enrollment. …Despite the decrease in enrollment, Darton officials do not expect an increase in tuition.
www.news.yahoo.com
Tell if an Online Program Has a Good Reputation
https://news.yahoo.com/tell-online-program-good-reputation-150000466.html
By Bobbie Lynn Eicher
Great online programs offer the flexibility and affordability that students need. Schools ranging from local community colleges to elite universities like Stanford University and the Georgia Institute of Technology offer individual classes and entire degrees. Sometimes, though, it’s not immediately obvious whether a program is a valuable educational experience or an offering aimed at grabbing tuition money. Before sending out any applications, potential online students should understand how to distinguish between a great opportunity and a terrible mistake. They can do so by following these three tips … When I decided to pursue an online graduate degree for myself, the Georgia Tech name was enough to make me feel confident that I was making a good choice. Though the online Master of Science in computer science was a new program at the time, it was being built by one of the best schools in the world for computing.
www.myajc.com
General Assembly is big on campus
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/general-assembly-is-big-on-campus/nqD9g/
By Jim Denery
They may have been under the Gold Dome, but this past week legislators’ minds seemed to be on college campuses … One particular campus drew more attention than others at the Capitol. That would be the one on North Avenue in Atlanta. Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson faced tough questioning Monday from the subcommittee that controls university funding. Those questions dealt with whether the university had failed to provide due process to students accused of sexual assault and other wrongdoing … The school is known for engineering, but Peterson got a lesson in literature from state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, who called Tech’s policies “Kafkaesque.” Ehrhart, the subcommittee’s chairman, warned Peterson that schools that fail to give both sides a fair shake in disciplinary matters could see state funding cut.
www.wtoc.com
Police officer escorted out of Darton College classroom
http://www.wtoc.com/story/31094713/police-officer-escorted-out-of-darton-college-classroom
By Andrew Gorton
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – On Wednesday, a police officer was escorted from a classroom at Darton State College. The officer is a student at the college, and was wearing his full police uniform. The teacher was reportedly uncomfortable with having a gun in the classroom, and asked the officer to be escorted out.
www.styrk.com
Augusta college student shot by officer who claimed self defense pleads guilty to reduced charges
http://www.styrk.com/posts/augusta-college-student-shot-by-officer-who-claimed-self-defense-pleads-guilty-to-reduced-charges
Sandy Hodson, The Augusta Chronicle
A college student shot by a former Augusta University law enforcement officer responding to a noise complaint pleaded guilty Friday to reduced charges. Donte Stewart had faced a possible prison term of five to 20 years if a jury had believed he tried to run over then Georgia Regents University Officer Wesley Martin on Feb. 22, 2014. But considering the outcome of two earlier criminal cases in which Martin claimed suspects had harmed him, a felony conviction against Stewart was unlikely, said Assistant District Attorney Hank Syms.
Higher Education News:
www.insidehighered.com
Paid Not to Work?
Temple hopes students will graduate earlier if they receive grants that limit them to working no more than 15 hours per week off campus.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/02/01/temple-u-offers-grant-exchange-students-agreeing-work-less-study-more?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a0b0da6759-DNU20160201&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a0b0da6759-197515277
By Jake New
When Henry Fountain enrolled at Temple University last year, he was working two jobs: 40 hours per week with his local government during summer break and 23 hours per week as a busboy at a restaurant during the school year. It was an arrangement he had to balance for years while in high school, but a few weeks into his freshman year at Temple, Fountain quit the restaurant job. And the university gave him $4,000 for doing so. …Fountain is part of the first cohort of Temple students to enroll in the university’s Fly in 4 program. The initiative, now in its second year, requires students to sign an agreement promising that, among other conditions, they’ll meet with an academic adviser at least once per semester, register for classes that are consistent with their academic plan, notify an adviser immediately if a required course is not available and complete at least 30 credits per year. The goal is to graduate those students in four years, saving them money in the process.
www.chronicle.com
In a Charged Climate, Colleges Adopt Bias-Response Teams
http://chronicle.com/article/In-a-Charged-Climate-Colleges/235120
By Rio Fernandes
In the fall of 2006, students living in Ohio State University’s dormitories received letters espousing racist ideas, including the belief that African-Americans are intellectually inferior to white people. Around the same time, about 100 miles away, students at the university’s Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster created a Facebook group that promoted racist views about Oprah Winfrey. The two incidents made Ohio State officials realize they needed a proactive means to prevent occurrences of offensive speech, said Todd Suddeth, director of the university’s multicultural center. So they created a bias assessment and response team, commonly known in the world of student affairs as a BART, to help monitor and confront issues of bias on the campus. Such teams are becoming more common
www.chronicle.com
How a Freshman-Retention Plan Turned Into a PR Disaster for One Campus
http://chronicle.com/article/How-a-Freshman-Retention-Plan/235122
By Sarah Brown
Emails and conversations about freshman-retention plans don’t typically set the world on fire. But when they appeared in the campus newspaper of Mount St. Mary’s University of Maryland last month, they thrust the small Roman Catholic campus and its president, Simon P. Newman, into a spotlight that Mr. Newman never anticipated — or wanted. In one of the emails, which were first obtained by the student-run paper, The Mountain Echo, Mr. Newman discussed his strategy in stark terms: “My short-term goal is to have 20-25 people leave by the 25th. This one thing will boost our retention 4-5%. A larger committee or group needs to work on the details, but I think you get the objective.” A conversation described by The Mountain Echo, said to have taken place between Mr. Newman and Gregory W. Murry, an assistant professor of history, was even more direct. According to the newspaper, the president told Mr. Murry: “This is hard for you because you think of the students as cuddly bunnies, but you can’t. You just have to drown the bunnies … put a Glock to their heads.”