University System News:
www.mdjonline.com
Rep. Earl Ehrhart praises new university safety policies
http://mdjonline.com/printer_friendly/27120797
by Meris Lutz
State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, applauded the University System of Georgia’s decision this week to implement uniform policies for student conduct and sexual misconduct across its 29 colleges and universities. The new policies, which go into effect July 1, lay out a process of investigation and review, articulating students’ right to an attorney, their right to stay informed and be heard throughout the investigation, and their right to challenge an investigator or decision maker’s involvement on grounds of bias. The decision to involve law enforcement remains at the discretion of the student filing a complaint.
www.news.wabe.org
Policies Approved For Handling Ga. College Sexual Assault Claims
http://news.wabe.org/post/policies-approved-handling-ga-college-sexual-assault-claims
By MARTHA DALTON
Georgia’s Board of Regents adopted two policies Wednesday that address how state colleges handle sexual assault allegations. Last year, a state committee found schools deal with claims of rape and other assaults differently. So the group came up with a statewide set of procedures, including training for staff and access to legal counsel for the accused and alleged victims. “These policies represent the culmination of many hours of collaborative efforts and research, each dedicated toward ensuring that the interests of the victim and the accused are protected,” said Gina Sheeks, the vice president of student services at Columbus State University, who served on the committee. But Georgia Tech student Kate Napier, who started a campus group that opposes the measures, said the new policies subject alleged victims to interviews, which could be traumatizing. … However, the Regents passed the policies unanimously. …Napier said Georgia Tech’s sexual assault policies do a better job of protecting potential victims. … University System Chancellor Hank Huckaby said the new policies outline core responsibilities and that the schools can add to the requirements if they choose.
USG Institutions:
www.tiftongazette.com
ABAC to offer Bachelor of Science degree in nursing
http://www.tiftongazette.com/news/abac-to-offer-bachelor-of-science-degree-in-nursing/article_43826c2c-e6ec-11e5-9c17-4fac281a1224.html
Special to The Gazette
TIFTON — Registered nurses in the Tifton area got a shot in the arm on Thursday when Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College President David Bridges announced that ABAC will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing beginning with the 2016 summer term. “This is like a dream come true for many of our nursing graduates in the area,” Bridges said. “I think it’s great that we are able to make this announcement during the 50th anniversary year of nursing at ABAC.” Troy Spicer, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at ABAC, said the R.N. to B.S.N. completion program adds depth to one of the most popular offerings at ABAC.
www.athensceo.com
Terry Grads Rank No. 1 for First-time CPA Exam Pass Rates
http://athensceo.com/news/2016/03/terry-grads-rank-no-1-first-time-cpa-exam-pass-rates/
Staff Report From Athens CEO
Graduates of the Terry College of Business’ J.M. Tull School of Accounting ranked No. 1 among large programs and No. 2 among all programs for first-time pass rates on the Certified Public Accountant exams during 2015. According to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy, which proctors the test, Terry College students who took the CPA exam for the first time had an 88.4 percent pass rate.
Students who pass the CPA on their first try are well positioned for the job market, said Terry College Dean Benjamin C. Ayers.
www.walb.com
UGA, Tech make list of colleges with the biggest tuition hikes
http://www.walb.com/story/31435479/uga-tech-make-list-of-colleges-with-the-biggest-tuition-hikes
by Nick Selbe
On March 4, the University of Southern California announced its tuition for the 2016-2017 school year will surpass $50,000 for the first time in school history. This makes it one of the most expensive universities in the nation and is indicative of a growing trend: Colleges nationwide are getting increasingly expensive. …Using the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, StartClass found the 25 colleges with the biggest tuition increases over the past 10 years. All tuition amounts reported are inflation-adjusted for 2015 dollars. For this list, we used the reported in-state tuition for each college.
#13. University of Georgia
2004 in-state tuition: $5,354
2014 in-state tuition: $10,847
Percentage increase: 102.60 percent
#5. Georgia Institute of Technology
2004 in-state tuition: $5,361
2014 in-state tuition: $11,405
Percentage increase: 112.74 percent
Higher Education News:
www.getschoooled.blog.myajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
New testing tool helps middle school students pick colleges
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2016/03/11/new-predictive-tool-lets-some-early-teens-pick-suitable-colleges/
By Ty Tagami
Some Georgia parents who like to plan far into the future have a new tool to guide their young teenagers to college. The makers of the Measures of Academic Progress, or MAP, test, have unveiled a new online predictive tool that tells parents which colleges would suit their middle school student based on current test scores. The College Explorer tool tells middle school and early high school-age students “which colleges and universities they’re on track to enter long before they embark on the college application process,” according to the Northwest Evaluation Association, the global not-for-profit that makes the MAP.
www.diverseeducation.com
Republican Senators Say ED Overreaching on Title IX
http://diverseeducation.com/article/82280/?utm_campaign=Diverse%20Newsletter%203&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&elqTrackId=eafc279640e349c9b3f732f9921ab60c&elq=3501d40ae64a4b038c42655c806f9ad4&elqaid=88&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=771
Senators took acting education secretary John King to task over the interpretation of a 2011 Dear Colleague letter in an education subcommittee meeting on Thursday morning. The letter in question, issued by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, interpreted the legal requirements of colleges and universities under Title IX in instances of sexual assault on campus. Although the Dear Colleague letter does not have the binding force of law, the OCR follows the guidance set forth when conducting its own investigations of Title IX compliance. Failure to comply with Title IX can result in an institution losing all of its federal funding, so stakes are high for colleges and universities.
www.insidehighered.com
Lumina Releases Papers on Performance-Based Funding
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/03/11/lumina-releases-papers-performance-based-funding?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5d583b912-DNU20160311&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5d583b912-197515277
The Lumina Foundation on Thursday released a second batch of white papers on performance-based funding in higher education. This group of five papers focuses on lessons from states that have linked funding for state colleges to metrics such as on-time graduation and the number of at-risk students who graduate.
www.insidehighered.com
Obama Education Adviser Departs
James Kvaal helped shape the administration’s sweeping higher education policies.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/03/11/obama-adviser-who-shaped-higher-education-policies-leaving-white-house?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=b5d583b912-DNU20160311&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-b5d583b912-197515277
By Michael Stratford
One of the architects of President Obama’s most significant higher education policies is resigning from the administration this week. James Kvaal, a top White House adviser and former official at the U.S. Department of Education, is leaving to teach at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy. His last day, after nearly seven years, is Friday, the White House said. Kvaal was a driving force behind some of Obama’s higher education policy achievements, such as overhauling the federal student loan system and expanding income-based repayment for student loans. He was also a key player in the administration’s regulatory battle with for-profit colleges, its attempt at rating colleges and Obama’s plan for free community college.