University System News:
www.schools.com
Best community colleges in Georgia
http://www.schools.com/articles/top-community-colleges-in-georgia?utm_content=buffer34b0b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
By Justin Boyle
If looking to train for a career, work on a two-year degree or knock out some prerequisites for a bachelor’s level education, we’ve ranked the campus-based community colleges and two-year online schools in Georgia that can help you do it. Community colleges in Georgia are handled a bit differently from those in other states, though, so we made a couple of changes to our usual ranking system to better suit the terrain. Georgia has two separate community college systems, the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the University System of Georgia (USG). Of the two, the TCSG contains schools that focus on graduating students with technical, business and industry training, while USG schools concentrate their efforts on preparing students to transfer to four-year university programs.
University System of Georgia (USG) – Georgia Perimeter College (Decatur); Georgia Highlands College (Rome); Bainbridge State College (Bainbridge); Darton State College (Albany); Atlanta Metropolitan State College (Atlanta)
www.albanyceo.com
First Lady Sandra Deal Makes Public Library Donations
http://albanyceo.com/news/2016/01/first-lady-sandra-deal-makes-public-library-donations/
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
First Lady Sandra Deal today announced that she will donate a copy of “Memories of the Mansion: The Story of Georgia’s Governor’s Mansion,” to every public library in Georgia. This announcement was made in partnership with The Georgia Council of Public Libraries during “Public Library Day” at the Georgia State Capitol. “We wanted to make ‘Memories of the Mansion’ available to everyone in Georgia, and the best way we know how is to have a copy available at every public library in the state,” said Deal. “Public libraries are a wonderful resource for the people of Georgia, and they will now allow for these historical photos and stories to be cherished for free.” The book, co-authored by Kennesaw State University history professors Dr. Catherine M. Lewis and Dr. Jennifer W. Dickey, launched in September of 2015 at the Atlanta History Center. Deal and her co-authors worked closely with the Maddox, Carter, Busbee, Harris, Miller, Barnes and Perdue families to include their memories and behind-the-scenes photos of life in the mansion.
USG Institutions:
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
GHC ranked second in Schools.com’s Top Five Best State Colleges in Georgia
http://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/rome/news/education/ghc-ranked-second-in-schools-com-s-top-five-best/article_74f8a602-c5e7-11e5-9c00-535d094e8b05.html
Georgia Highlands College was recently recognized by Schools.com in its 2016 “Best Of” list as number two in the Top Five Best State Colleges in Georgia. Schools.com, which focuses on what career-minded students are most interested in, touted GHC for its transfer rate to four-year schools and its affordable tuition cost.
www.myajc.com
Multiple robberies in Georgia State library alarms students
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/multiple-robberies-in-georgia-state-library-alarms/nqFGY/
By Janel Davis – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State University is temporarily shutting down public access to the library that has been the site of four robberies while new security measures are put in place. Since December, several students in the library have been robbed at gunpoint of laptops, backpacks and cell phones, including two robberies Thursday morning. “I am deeply concerned about the recent string of robberies in the university’s library, and I am taking immediate action to vigorously address security issues. The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is our first priority,” Georgia State president Mark Becker said Thursday.
www.wncn.com
University tries to secure library after multiple robberies
http://wncn.com/ap/university-tries-to-secure-library-after-multiple-robberies/
The Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Georgia State University says the library on its main campus in downtown Atlanta will be temporarily closed to the public to install new security measures after a series of robberies inside the library. Georgia State President Mark Becker said in a statement that security cameras will also be added at the library and more police will patrol campus.
www.11alive.com
Child rescued from storm drain on Georgia Tech campus
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/west-side/2016/01/28/child-rescued-storm-drain-georgia-tech-campus/79474442/
Christopher B Buchanan
ATLANTA — Georgia Tech police are credited with saving a child from an unusual situation on Thursday after a fall into a storm drain. The incident happened at a drain near the Kessler Campanile and the student center officials said. Two Georgia Tech officers rescued the child from the drain.
www.albanyceo.com
ASU & CSU Presidents Among Those Appointed to Georgia Council on Economic Education
http://albanyceo.com/news/2016/01/georgia-council-makes-new-board-appointments/
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
The Georgia Council on Economic Education has elected two new members to its Board and has made several committee appointments. Dr. Arthur Dunning, President of Albany State University, and Dr. Chris Markwood, President of Columbus State University, were elected to the Board of Trustees and will serve three-year terms.
www.wsfa.com
ASU State of the University
http://www.wsfa.com/story/31085773/asu-state-of-the-university
By Andrew Gorton
ALBANY, GA (WALB) – Dr. Dunning used his first state of the University speech since being named A-S-U’s permanent president to outline what consolidation will mean for students, faculty and staff. “This change is going to be profound and it’s going to alter the course of this university,” said Dunning. Change was the focal point of President Dunning’s speech as he addressed students and faculty at A-S-U’s State of the University Address this morning. One of the main focuses of the address was the merging of A-S-U and Darton State College, including what it means for the university.
www.chronicle.augutsa.com
Augusta University health board looks at financial turnaround plan
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/health/2016-01-28/augusta-university-health-board-looks-financial-turnaround-plan
By Tom Corwin
Staff Writer
Facing a deficit so far this year, the board that governs Augusta University’s health system took stock Thursday of a turnaround plan that includes greater use of its pharmacies and operating more beds. But even as they discussed plans that could bring in an additional $17 million, AU President Brooks Keel also wanted to call attention to some of the lowest paid full-time employees, more than 700 of whom earn less than the federal poverty level, and the need to give more raises. The boards that govern the health system and medical center also formally approved their new names – AU Health System and AU Medical Center – and adopted them as the new legal names. The boards had voted by e-mail on the names last week. Keel said the need for the earlier adoption of the names was to coincide with the unveiling last week of its new brand, which included the health system.
www.noodls.com
Leaving a Legacy for Clayton State’s Library
http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/31874530/clayton-state-university/leaving-a-legacy-for-clayton-states-library
MORROW, Ga-With a family history rich in education-100 years’ worth to be exact-it’s no secret that it’s a field Dr. Gordon Baker is passionate about. It’s also an industry where his family’s name will forever be linked. Dr. Baker, the first and current Dean of Libraries for Clayton State University, recently made provisions in his estate plans to benefit the school’s library. Upon realization of his estate gift by the University’s Foundation, providing the funds satisfy the minimum requirements at the time they are received, and with the approval of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, the main library at Clayton State will be named the Newton-Baker Family Library. Funds received will be used to establish an endowment to maintain and enhance the efforts of the library to support and advance student learning.
www.onlineathens.com
UGA student charged causing $20,000 in damages to a dozen cars at The Standard of Athens
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2016-01-28/uga-student-charged-causing-20000-damages-dozen-cars-standard-athens
By JOE JOHNSON
A University of Georgia student is facing multiple felony charges in connection with a vandalism incident this week at The Standard of Athens luxury student apartment building downtown that caused nearly $20,000 in damage to vehicles belonging to fellow UGA students. Athens-Clarke County police said a trail of blood from on and around cars and SUVs in the parking garage that sustained broken windows and other damage led them to the apartment of 21-year-old Brandyn Matthew Clark, who was covered in blood.
www.onlineathens.com
Woman reports she was robbed at gunpoint on UGA campus
http://onlineathens.com/blotter/2016-01-28/woman-reports-she-was-robbed-gunpoint-uga-campus
By JOE JOHNSON
A 23-year-old Oconee Street resident report she was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night as she was walking on the property of the University of Georgia Special Collections Libraries on South Hull Street, Athens-Clarke County police said. The woman said she was taking a shortcut to visit a friend on Baxter Street at about 10:30 p.m. when a male approached her from behind, pointing a handgun and demanding her “stuff,” police said. She told the robber she had no money, at which time he demanded the woman’s cellphone, which she gave him along with a pack of cigarettes, according to police. The man then ran off into the nearby Parkview Homes housing complex, police said.
Higher Education News:
www.nytimes.com
Colleges That Ask Applicants About Brushes With the Law Draw Scrutiny
By STEPHANIE SAUL
The online admissions application for Auburn University appears simple, until you get to this question on Page 7: “Have you ever been charged with or convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to a crime other than a minor traffic offense, or are there any criminal charges now pending against you?” Those who check “yes,” even though they have never been convicted of any crime, face extra scrutiny — a call from the admissions office asking for additional information, the university says. Auburn, in Auburn, Ala., is one of 17 universities in the South that include broad questions on their admissions applications about any contact with the legal system or the police that applicants might have had — even an arrest, with no conviction — according to the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group. The universities are now the focus of an inquiry by the organization, which says such questions unfairly penalize minorities, who tend to face arrest more frequently and, as a result, could face higher admissions hurdles. …The Common Application, used by 600 colleges, does not ask about arrests, but does require applicants to check “yes” or “no” to whether they have been convicted of a crime or faced serious disciplinary action in school.
www.insidehighered.com
A Push to Finish on Time
A campaign for students to take 15 credits a semester is growing. But some worry 15-credit course loads could become a requirement for financial aid, or might prod job-holding students to take on too much.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/01/29/fifteen-finish-campaign-wins-fans-stokes-worries?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=e64c509324-DNU20160129&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-e64c509324-197515277
By Paul Fain
The Obama administration recently joined a campaign to encourage students to take at least 15 credits per semester, following several statewide higher education systems and a growing number of individual public colleges. The idea behind the “15 to Finish” push is that students who take on course loads of that size or larger have more academic success and, not surprisingly, are more likely to earn a degree on time.
www.chronicle.com
Why ‘Nudges’ to Help Students Succeed Are Catching On
http://chronicle.com/article/Why-Nudges-to-Help/235101?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elq=cfbd0c3bde6f42ad881118cdeff06ea5&elqCampaignId=2327&elqaid=7703&elqat=1&elqTrackId=b9fa0c415f90442f9e13669211c7971c
By Beckie Supiano
An admitted student pays a deposit to hold a spot in a college’s incoming class, but then never shows up on the campus. Enrollment managers encounter that phenomenon often enough to have given it a name — “summer melt” — and have created all manner of strategies to predict and prevent it. From the college’s point of view, melt is just one more moving part of making a class. As for the students who never show up, colleges often assume that they’ve simply enrolled somewhere else. A few years ago new research challenged that assumption. It found that around 20 to 30 percent of low-income students in urban districts who were admitted by and were ready to attend a four-year college did not enroll anywhere. The researchers, Ben Castleman and Lindsay C. Page, took their work a step further. They tested a simple, cheap solution: Send at-risk students a series of customized text-message reminders that they could reply to for extra help. The messages raised enrollment substantially at the test sites where students were underserved. That’s one example of how behavioral economics — which considers the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that keep people from following through on their intentions — has been applied to college access and success.