University System News:
www.ajc.com
Lawmakers agree on record $23.7 billion budget with raises
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/lawmakers-agree-on-record-237-billion-budget-with-/nqqPZ/
James Salzer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
House and Senate leaders agreed Tuesday on a record $23.7 billion state budget for the upcoming year, but not before adding more to the pot for employee raises. Gov. Nathan Deal in January had proposed 3 percent raises for the state’s 200,000 teachers and state employees. Lawmakers then increased the raises for employees in areas with high turnover, such as public health nurses.
www.myajc.com
Speaker doesn’t foresee changes in Georgia campus gun bill
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/speaker-doesnt-foresee-changes-in-georgia-campus-g/nqqDW/
By Laura Diaz – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gov. Nathan Deal’s call for changes to legislation that would allow guns on college campuses could go unmet. House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said Monday that he expects no new legislation to move in the final two days of the legislative session addressing concerns raised by the the governor about the bill. “I consider those issues closed,” Ralston said in comments to be aired 7 p.m. Tuesday on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “The Lawmakers.” “I think it’s a good bill.” Meanwhile, opponents of the “campus carry” bill called for Deal to veto it.
www.onlineathens.com
UGA forum participants divided on allowing guns on college campuses
http://onlineathens.com/mobile/2016-03-21/uga-forum-participants-divided-allowing-guns-college-campuses
By LEE SHEARER
Not everyone agreed during a Monday forum at the University of Georgia that allowing guns on campus would be bad.
UGA’s two largest legislative bodies, the elected Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Senate and the university-wide University Council, urged Gov. Nathan Deal to veto House Bill 859, a measure permitting those with concealed weapons licenses to bring their guns onto university and college property. The bill has already passed both houses of the legislature and is waiting for the governor’s signature or veto. …The Franklin College Senate and the council were following the lead of University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby and UGA President Jere Morehead, among others. They and the presidents of every other USG public college oppose the bill, along with their chiefs of police.
www.ajc.com
Needed lessons: Are we valuing science over civics?
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/needed-lessons-are-we-valuing-science-over-civics/nqqPj/
Maureen Downey, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are science, technology, engineering and math skills more important to the state than civics and citizenship? By approving a bill that boosts the grade point averages of students in STEM disciplines, a political scientist argues the Legislature is shortchanging other critical knowledge areas, including how government works in America. Sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, HB 801 gives college students the same half-point boost to their grade point averages for STEM that they earned for taking advanced classes in high school. The bill adds an additional 0.5 point to a B, C or D in STEM courses at any of the state’s public campuses. The bill empowers the Board of Regents to decide which STEM courses earn the boost. But Steven Anthony, a retired Georgia State University lecturer who wrote a biography of legendary Georgia House speaker Tom Murphy and a primer on Georgia government, says, “The biggest education problem in this country is the lack of emphasis on civics, government and political history. Those areas need to be equally emphasized. Sure, do STEM but not to the exclusion of citizenship.”
www.getschooled.blog.myajc.com
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Georgia wrong to value STEM courses more than civics, politics
Georgia wrong to value STEM courses more than civics, politics
One education bill that sailed through this General Assembly session is House bill 801, which boosts the GPA of college students taking demanding math and science courses. Sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, HB 801 gives college students the same half-point boost to their grade point averages for STEM that they earned for taking advanced classes in high school. The bill adds an additional 0.5 point to a B, C or D in STEM courses at any of the state’s public campuses. The bill empowers the Board of Regents to decide which STEM courses earn the boost. Jones says the bill will encourage students to enroll in challenging math, science, technology and engineering classes that could otherwise jeopardize their HOPE Scholarships. …Not everyone agrees with the rationale behind the legislation, including retired college lecturer Steve Anthony. From 1977 to 1995, Anthony worked for the Georgia House, most of the time as chief aide to legendary Speaker Thomas Murphy. In 1999, Anthony started teaching at Georgia State University where he developed the Georgia Politics course. …By Steve Anthony
The recent attempt to prioritize which college subjects are more important than others, House Bill 801, once again raises the old debate about the purpose of higher education. Is it to educate or is it a contest?
USG Institutions:
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
GGC president: Explosion may have been from ‘build-up of gases in a sewer line’
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/cities/lawrenceville/ggc-president-explosion-may-have-been-from-build-up-of/article_43cf12fe-ef64-11e5-bf62-b38a4a664abb.html
LAWRENCEVILLE — Emergency workers, including members of the local bomb squad and the FBI, crowded the Georgia Gwinnett College campus Monday after a curious “explosion” in a women’s restroom injured a food-service worker. The initial investigation by federal officials revealed that a “build-up of gases in a sewer line” appeared to a potential cause of the blast, which happened in Building A near Collins Hill Road, according to school president Stas Preczewski. In underlined type, he stressed “There is no evidence or suspicion of foul play at this time” and no “explosive device” found. “It may take some time to determine the exact cause, if one can be found,” Preczewski said. “In the meantime, we are acting out of precaution by keeping the building closed as inspections and repairs begin.” Gwinnett County deputy fire chief Charles Wells also said authorities hadn’t found anything suspicious, but the incident was under investigation. All students were safe.
www.albanyceo.com
Carleen Wise of Plains Selected 2016 Outstanding Scholar at GSW, Recognized by Regents, House, Senate
Staff Report From Albany CEO
http://albanyceo.com/news/2016/03/carleen-wise-plains-selected-2016-outstanding-scholar-gsw-recognized-regents-house-senate/
Carleen Wise of Plains, Ga. was recognized as Georgia Southwestern State University’s Outstanding Scholar today during the March 2016 meeting of the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents. In a special ceremony, Chancellor Hank Huckaby recognized the top students from each USG campus. Wise will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Business Administration in management. …As the recipient of this award, Wise was honored during the annual Academic Recognition Day in the Georgia General Assembly, and she will receive a signed resolution from both the Georgia House of Representatives and the Senate.
www.13wmaz.com
Petition started over graduation change
http://www.13wmaz.com/news/petition-started-over-graduation-change/94564659
Kasandra Ortiz, WMAZ
MACON, GA.– – A student started a petition against Middle Georgia State University’s venue change for graduation. It will now be held at the Macon campuses Wellness Center instead of at the Macon Coliseum. Kayla Watson is a senior at Middle Georgia State University’s Macon campus. She says she started the online petition because the school has decided to hold graduations at the Macon campus’ Wellness Center instead of at the Macon Coliseum, as in previous years. “The comments on the petition are inspiring to read just to know that other people are concerned about this change also,” says Watson. … “A 4-year degree is not cheap. Therefore, once we graduate, we will be in debt. This one special moment that we get to walk across the stage, it’s very important for all of my family members to be there,” says Watson. WMAZ tried to reach out to Middle Georgia State University’s Macon campus about the petition, but they did not want to comment on camera as to why they are changing venues for graduation, but they did respond to that student that started the petition, saying having two ceremonies a year at the Coliseum would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and that they hope to start some new traditions as a university. They also say they plan to hold several ceremonies on several days to accommodate for the smaller venue.
www.ajc.com
Police: 2 shot in drug deal on Georgia State campus
http://www.ajc.com/ap/ap/georgia/police-2-shot-in-drug-deal-on-georgia-state-campus/nqqKN/
ATLANTA — Police say two people have been shot in a drug deal on the campus of Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta. GSU Police Deputy Chief Carlton Mullis says a student approached two people in a car in a dormitory parking lot around 9:30 p.m. Monday. He says the student got in the car, intending to sell drugs to the occupants. Mullis says there was an exchange of gunfire between the student and the driver. He says the driver was shot three times, and the student was shot once. They were taken to a hospital for treatment. Their conditions were not immediately known. The passenger was taken into custody. Mullis said authorities plan to charge all three in connection with the incident.
Higher Education News:
www.chronicle.com
PreACT Test, to Help Students Prepare for ACT, Will Debut This Year
http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/preact-test-to-help-students-prepare-for-act-will-debut-this-year/109614?elqTrackId=b2c45f9f110f4d9f9cafe6690811fcc9&elq=3367671448494611b8ea85583f0b55da&elqaid=8349&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2715
by Eric Hoover
ACT Inc. will offer a new multiple-choice examination for 10th graders this fall, the Iowa-based organization announced on Tuesday. Designed to help students prepare for the ACT exam, the PreACT will test students in English, mathematics, reading, and science. (It will not include a writing portion.) The new product will arrive as a handful of testing companies continue to vie for a share of the common-standards market. Two of those players — ACT Inc. and the College Board — own rival college-admission exams, the ACT and SAT, respectively. In that competitive realm, the death of one assessment tends to inspire the creation of another.
www.chronicle.com
What a Funding Fracas Could Mean for the Future of CUNY
http://chronicle.com/article/What-a-Funding-Fracas-Could/235791?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=c961a324855042c19560af675b6e92f0&elq=3367671448494611b8ea85583f0b55da&elqaid=8349&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2715
By Sarah Brown
The City University of New York is wondering where it will get $485 million — roughly one-third of the budget for its four-year institutions. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, has called for New York City to begin footing that sum as part of his proposed budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year, relieving the state of a major financial burden. But the city has adamantly rejected the plan, creating deep concern about the future of the country’s third-largest public-university system.
www.chronicle.com
How LinkedIn Views Its Role in Education
http://chronicle.com/article/How-LinkedIn-Views-Its-Role-in/235788?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=250dbc4ff9274163b55afda61624d69f&elq=3367671448494611b8ea85583f0b55da&elqaid=8349&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=2715
By Jeffrey R. Young
Many higher-education leaders are watching LinkedIn closely these days.
On the one hand, colleges are big users or the professional social network, setting up university pages and encouraging graduates to set up profiles to get jobs. But some officials are also wary of how much the company plans to move into education, especially after it purchased the online-course library Lynda.com last year. A year has now passed since that acquisition, and the company’s plans for the service are coming into sharper focus. To find out what those plans look like, The Chronicle spoke with Michael Korcuska, LinkedIn’s vice president of management for learning.