University System News:
www.ajc.com
Georgia House passes ‘campus carry’ bill legalizing guns at colleges
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/georgia-house-passes-campus-carry-bill-legalizing-/nqWGs/
Kristina Torres, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The state House voted Monday to legalize carrying concealed guns on Georgia’s college campuses. State Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, led the charge for House Bill 859, a piece of legislation he has informally dubbed the state’s Campus Safety Act: “It’s a real world solution to a real world problem,” Jasperse said. “In today’s world, it’s a must.” But in an hour-and-a-half debate before the 113-59 vote, House Democrats said the bill would allow the weapons with “no instruction, no training, no supervision,” said state Rep. Virgil Fludd, D-Tyrone. “We’re putting (students) in volatile situations with alcohol and hormones.” HB 859 would allow anyone 21 or older with a weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, except for inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses, and at athletic events. It also would mandate that those weapons be concealed — something proponents say make it safer — since Georgia requires gun owners to apply for “concealed carry” permits that require fingerprinting and background checks. …With Monday’s House passage, HB 859 now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
See also:
Bill allowing guns on college campuses clears House
http://wrbl.com/2016/02/22/bill-allowing-guns-on-college-campuses-clears-house/
Bill allowing guns on college campuses clears House
http://www.wsbtv.com/ap/ap/georgia/bill-allowing-guns-on-college-campuses-set-for-hou/nqTxW/
www.11alive.com
Ga. House passes college campus carry bill
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/2016/02/22/ga-house-passes-campus-carry-bill/80765490/
Bill allowing guns on college campuses clears House
http://journaltimes.com/news/news-state-ga/bill-allowing-guns-on-college-campuses-clears-house/article_9a97cccc-3b23-5abd-8a1a-20c8c27a380f.html
www.getschooled.blog.myajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Georgia House will endanger students if it passes campus carry gun bill today
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/02/21/georgia-house-will-endanger-students-if-it-passes-campus-carry-gun-bill-monday/
UPDATE: The House passed the campus carry bill 113 to 59 after an hour of spirited debate. (I have a lot of the debate on Twitter.)
Alexander Evans is a graduate student studying epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He holds a master’s in business administration and bachelor degrees in biology, public health and business administration from Kent State University. Evans writes about the expected House vote today on House Bill 859, which would allow anyone 21 or older with a weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, except for inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses, and at athletic events. The legislation would also require the firearms be concealed. The leader of the House predicts the legislation will pass. “When we have armed robberies taking place in campus libraries, right here near this Capitol on multiple occasions, I think there is a real concern out in the state,” House Speaker David Ralston told the AJC. Sponsored by state Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper, House Bill 859 is opposed by the Board of Regents. By Alexander Evans
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Charlie Harper: Not just a Georgia problem
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article61765652.html
One of the more interesting semi-public power plays during this year’s General Assembly has been between legislators and the Board of Regents. Georgia’s Constitution insulates the Board of Regents and thus the University System of Georgia from direct political influence. This is to keep the whims of modern politics from imposing undue influence of academics and admissions, which could ultimately jeopardize accreditation. The input legislators have over the system is usually limited to one line item in the state budget that funds the entire system, plus any specific projects that make the short list for funding through the state’s annual bond package. There’s evidence that Legislators would like to exert more influence over the University system, especially with regards to rising tuition rates. Early in the session, Rep David Stover of Newnan filed a bill that would change the members of the Board of Regents from being appointees of the governor to being elected. His reasoning included tuition increases at “more than twice the rate of inflation.”
www.gainesvilletimes.com
No hike in tuition is welcome news to area students
Chancellor says state Regents listened to concerns about yearly rising rates
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/section/6/article/115261/
By Ron Bridgeman
Georgia’s college students will pay the same tuition next year — for the first time in at least 14 years. However, no one in a random sampling of University of North Georgia students Thursday at the Student Center on the Gainesville campus had heard the news announced Tuesday by the Board of Regents. Most students reacted with a version of “that’s good news,” like Ben Delgado, a nursing student from Gainesville, when told about the decision.
See also:
www.times-herald.com
No tuition increase for Georgia college students
http://times-herald.com/news/2016/02/no-tuition-increase-for-georgia-college-students
www.rockdalecitizen.com
Film Day at Capitol shines spotlight on Georgia’s film industry
http://www.rockdalecitizen.com/film-day-at-capitol-shines-spotlight-on-georgia-s-film/article_a1903242-25e2-500a-9f8e-2bdab68d83ec.html
From Staff Reports
ATLANTA – The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), celebrated Georgia’s thriving film and television industry at Film Day at the Capitol on Feb. 22. Gov. Nathan Deal, Speaker David Ralston, GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr and Georgia Film Academy Executive Director Jeffrey Stepakoff spoke during the celebration to recognize the industry and its importance to Georgia’s economy. “The unwavering support from Gov. Deal and our elected officials, by offering a stable and consistent production tax incentive, gives Georgia’s film industry the long term sustainability it needs to continue attracting a record number of productions,” said Carr. “Our competitive incentive, combined with our diverse landscape, deep talent pool, extensive array of sound stages, community readiness, and the accessibility, are the reason why Georgia is one of the top states for film and television production.”
www.chronicle.augusta.com
Gov. Deal defends film industry tax breaks
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2016-02-22/gov-deal-defends-film-industry-tax-breaks
By Walter C. Jones, Morris News Service
ATLANTA – Representatives of some of the nation’s biggest movie companies and broadcast studios gathered in the Capitol Monday to celebrate Film Day where Gov. Nathan Deal dismissed as “foolish” anyone calling for repeal of the tax breaks that lured the industry to the state. At the event, the state announced that Savannah will be one of the sites for future expansion of the Georgia Film Academy that trains workers for the industry.
USG Institutions:
www.educationdive.com
Top 30 Most Affordable Graduate Accounting Programs For 2016 Ranked by Accounting Degree Review
http://www.educationdive.com/press-release/20160222-top-30-most-affordable-graduate-accounting-programs-for-2016-ranked-by-acco/
The ranking took into account accreditation and tuition costs for out-of-state students enrolling in the 2015-2016 academic year. California State University-Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA took the top spot with tuition totalling $11,160. The second spot went to Albany State University in Albany, GA with a tuition of $15,196. All of the schools in the ranking have achieved AACSB accreditation, which is highly prestigious and has only been given to 170 schools in the nation.
www.americustimesrecorder.com
GSW among 50 best graduate nursing programs in America
AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern State University’s master of science in nursing program has been ranked 45th out of the 50 best graduate nursing programs in America by www.topmastersinhealthcare.com.
Using sources like the American Association of College of Nursing and U.S. News and World Report, the healthcare education rankings site examined the qualities that make nursing schools “in demand and accessible.” The scoring methodology weighed the following criteria: flexibility, 45 percent; active faculty, 30 percent; and tuition and fees, 25 percent.
www.onlineathens.com
UGA Miracle raises over $1 million at Dance Marathon
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2016-02-21/uga-miracle-raises-over-1-million-dance-marathon
By HILARY BUTSCHEK
The Tate Student Center turned into a dance hall overnight Saturday, and by Sunday the University of Georgia Miracle fundraiser had $1,068,358.16 to give to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The 21st annual Dance Marathon, put on by UGA Miracle, exceeded its goal of $1 million and far surpassed last year’s fundraising total of $650,000. The final total was announced inside Sanford Stadium to families of Children’s Healthcare patients and students who participated in the 24-hour event.
www.ajc.com
KSU roommates housing decision delayed by Cobb
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/ksu-roommates-housing-decision-delayed-by-cobb/nqT8p/
Carolyn Cunningham
For the AJC
A decision on whether to allow a group of Kennesaw State University students to continue residing in a house has been delayed by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners until March 15. Kevin Jordan is requesting a land use permit to allow more than two unrelated adults to reside in his home. Commissioner JoAnn Birrell made a motion Tuesday to allow them to remain until May 31, saying she cannot support going against county code to allow more than two unrelated adults. However, commissioners could change the code when they meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday to consider 85 pages of code changes. Both Birrell and Commissioner Bob Weatherford noted the need expressed by many KSU students in their districts to reside in houses instead of more expensive housing options on or closer to the campus.
Higher Education News:
www.insidehighered.com
Preserving the Original ‘Free College’ Plan
Providing free college for everyone is a wonderful concept in theory, but it would be all but impossible in practice, argue Abigail Seldin and Kim Cook, and there is a realistic alternative.
https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2016/02/22/pell-grants-already-make-college-mostly-free-essay?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=194526da11-DNU20160222&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-194526da11-197515277
By Abigail Seldin and Kim Cook
Making college not only more affordable but also actually free for everyone has been the subject of much recent debate in Washington, in the national news and on the presidential campaign trail. While a wonderful concept in theory, such a proposal would be all but impossible in practice, given today’s political climate and the massive growth in government spending that a truly free college plan would require. What’s more, these ideas distract from the work we can and should be doing to strengthen an existing federal program that already makes college free, or mostly free, for many low-income students: the Pell Grant. With a current maximum award of $5,775, Pell Grants cover virtually full freight at most community colleges and, when combined with need and merit-based institutional aid, can make a sizable dent in the bill at most public four-year schools, too. But while more than eight million low-income students used some form of the program last year alone, millions more never even knew it was an option.
www.chronicle.com
‘Completion Grants’ Are Just One Part of the Student-Success Puzzle
http://chronicle.com/article/Completion-Grants-Are/235389?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=b86812de380d459eb50cea3d3f09aec8&elq=7532c5072bf04fb7899f57907f80eb90&elqaid=7981&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2487
By Eric Hoover
Even modest financial hardships can often derail students who are nearing graduation. That’s why some colleges give small awards known as completion grants to low-income students who are well on their way to earning a degree. A just-in-time grant of even a few hundred dollars can keep many recipients from dropping out, according to a report released on Monday by the Coalition of Urban-Serving Universities and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. The report, “Foiling the Dropout Trap,” describes how 10 colleges are using similar aid strategies to help students overcome financial shortfalls and stay enrolled. Although officials at those institutions offer promising appraisals of the grants, it’s important to think of the awards as just one potential piece of the completion puzzle.
www.chronicle.com
Better Advising Beats Free Tuition for Improving Degree Completion, Say Experts
http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/better-advising-beats-free-tuition-for-improving-degree-completion-say-experts/108756?elqTrackId=ef8d16f8289d438bb4ccc4bc713bef3f&elq=7532c5072bf04fb7899f57907f80eb90&elqaid=7981&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2487
by Goldie Blumenstyk
In getting more students to complete their degrees, the use of highly structured curricula and proactive advising systems holds more promise than performance pay, free tuition for the first two years of college, or expanding credit for off-campus coursework, according to a survey of higher-education experts. And for improving the quality of teaching, they see more promise in instructional software that adapts to students’ varying paces of learning than in options like technology-focused training for faculty members, better assessments of student learning, competency-based education, or game-based teaching.
www.chronicle.com
Why a Congresswoman Is Pressing Colleges to Do More on Harassment
http://chronicle.com/article/Why-a-Congresswoman-Is/235381?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=7c5850e0edcb4bc0a81251d24862bd08&elq=7532c5072bf04fb7899f57907f80eb90&elqaid=7981&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2487
By Sarah Brown
When Rep. Jackie Speier first glimpsed a damning confidential report outlining a sexual-harassment investigation of Timothy F. Slater, conducted by the University of Arizona when he was an associate professor of astronomy there, the U.S. congresswoman was deeply disturbed. Ms. Speier, a Democrat from California, said the problem wasn’t just his inappropriate conduct — which, according to the report, involved a pattern of sexually charged jokes and open leering at female students, and at least one lunchtime trip with a graduate student to a strip club. It was equally appalling, the lawmaker said, that Mr. Slater was still held in high regard in an academic setting and eventually won a prestigious job at another university.