University System News:
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Synovus invests in Columbus State’s growth
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article121857968.html
BY MARK RICE
Columbus-based Synovus Financial Corp. has extended its investment in Columbus State University by participating in CSU’s First Choice Campaign and providing long-term support to various programs, including business and leadership development, the university announced Monday. The news release doesn’t mention the financial commitment’s dollar amount. CSU university relations director Greg Hudgison referred the Ledger-Enquirer’s question to the corporate communications office at Synovus, where spokesman Lee Underwood also declined to mention that figure. “Synovus is not disclosing the amount of the pledge because we want the focus to remain on First Choice and CSU,” Underwood said in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer. “I can confirm, however, that the pledge will be fulfilled over a multi-year period, and will be in addition to the financial support Synovus is already making to CSU.” For more than 10 years, Underwood said, Synovus annually has donated $50,000 to the Blanchard Leadership Forum and $50,000 to the CSU Annual Fund.
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia Tech, UGA and Georgia State present thousands with new degrees
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2016/12/18/georgia-tech-uga-and-georgia-state-present.html
David Allison
Editor, Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia Tech, The University of Georgia and Georgia State have presented thousands of new graduates with their degrees. Georgia Tech held its fall Commencement Dec. 16-17, while UGA’s fall Commencement was Dec. 16 and Georgia State’s was Dec. 14. At Georgia Tech, more than 1,100 received bachelor’s degrees, plus another 71 who earned their degree at the end of the summer. The graduate ceremony awarded 842 master’s degrees and 232 doctorates. The Commencement featured keynote addresses from Georgia Tech mathematics professor Robin Thomas and Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
www.ajc.com
Georgia Tech fall graduates celebrate
Christopher Quinn
Georgia Tech graduated it’s fall class of 2016 Sat., Dec. 17. Students and families gathered in McCamish Pavilion to get a bit of early celebration before the holidays.
www.griffindailynews.com
UGA-Griffin celebrates 30 graduates in fall ceremony
By Thomas Hoefer
The University of Georgia (UGA) Griffin Campus hosted the fall graduation celebration for its Class of 2016 Thursday at Stuckey Auditorium, recognizing 30 graduates from five different colleges.
www.savannahceo.com
Armstrong Hosts 2016 Fall Commencement, Honoring More Than 600 Graduates
Staff Report From Savannah CEO
Armstrong State University hosted the 2016 Fall Commencement on Saturday, December 10, 2016, conferring degrees on more than 600 students in two graduation ceremonies held at the Armstrong Sports Center. Armstrong recognized students receiving master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and associate’s degrees in a wide range of fields. Students from the College of Liberal Arts, College of Education, College of Health Professions and College of Science and Technology celebrated in a colorful march, showcasing decorated graduation caps. In a packed arena, Armstrong President Linda M. Bleicken warmly welcomed the 2016 graduates and their families to Fall Commencement.
www.goldenisles.news
CCGA hosts first fall commencement ceremony
By LAUREN MCDONALD
A line of 52 graduates, all in caps and gowns, walked across College of Coastal Georgia’s campus for the final time Friday evening. CCGA held its 2016 fall commencement ceremony Friday, the first in the school’s history since it became a four-year institution. To symbolize the momentous occasion, and to begin a new tradition, the students walked as a group from one side of campus to the other.
www.statesboroherald.com
2016 GSU grad living his dream
Boro native works for NASA
By AUBREY TREVATHAN
Special to the Herald
Statesboro native James Shaw is living the life he dreamed about as a 5-year-old — working for NASA.
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/77834/
Shaw graduated Dec. 9 from Georgia Southern University and the mechanical engineering major just finished his fourth rotation in a cooperative education program with NASA and is thanking his GSU experiences for leading him there. After graduating from Southeast Bulloch High School in 2003, Shaw joined the U.S. Army and served in South Korea, Kuwait and Iraq. He came to Georgia Southern in the spring of 2010 to pursue his engineering degree at the university he always wanted to attend. Shaw happened upon an expired NASA co-op poster in the engineering building, and decided to go online to browse available openings. He found an application for an educational program where students participate in planned work experiences related to their academic major or career interest. That was the only opening that particular week. He applied and soon after, was interviewed and hired.
www.accesswdun.com
UNG: Program aimed at helping African-American male students expanding beyond Gainesville campus
By Ken Stanford Reporter
The University System of Georgia’s African-American Male Initiative will fund a course this spring at the University of North Georgia aimed at helping African-American male students develop greater communication, decision-making and leadership approaches. A $10,000 grant will enable UNG to expand the program to its Dahlonega campus. “In addition to the stated goals of the course, we expect there to be a residual effect of retention and graduation among the students who take this course,” said Robert Robinson, director of UNG’s Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA). “The course will keep the same basic curriculum as our current Adaptive Leadership course, but we will supplement the class with guest speakers, tailored objectives and other leadership components.” AAMI was established more than 10 years ago by the Georgia Board of Regents, and is designed to enhance the recruitment and retention of African-American men in higher education.
www.wtoc.com
First responders participate in active shooter training at Georgia Southern
By Dal Cannady, Reporter
The paramedics and EMT’s who rush to save lives are now finding their own lives at risk all too often. Many of them are training at Georgia Southern for tips that could save patients and co-workers. Emergency medical crews face even more danger these days. When they roll out to a shooting victim, they must often worry if the bad guy’s still there waiting for them. Mass shootings on campuses and elsewhere put first responders in even more danger than what they faced even a few years ago.
www.ajc.com
Professor: Opponents must fight renewed effort for guns on campus
Maureen Downey – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With Georgia lawmakers planning another try at a law allowing guns on public college campuses, a University of North Georgia professor urges opponents to rally against the effort. Opposition and concerns over safety led Gov. Nathan Deal to veto campus carry earlier this year, but House Speaker David Ralston says a revised bill may be coming in January. In a guest column, professor Matthew Boedy urges opponents to again speak out against firearms on campus. “I hope when these legislators come to my campus they will see it is one of the safest places in this state, like other campuses. And colleges are safe not merely because our police are well-trained, well-funded, and serve bravely. It is because higher education teaches us how to disarm our quarrels before they reach the level of violence. It teaches us how to argue without being threatening. It teaches us how to seek justice broadly, not impose it singularly through the barrel of a gun,” Boedy writes in the AJC Get Schooled blog.
www.athensceo.com
Sean McMillan on Why Economic Development is Important to UGA
Director of the Office of Economic Development Sean McMillan talks about why the University of Georgia created an economic development department in Metro Atlanta.
www.wsbtv.com
Georgia Tech student paralyzed in freak accident
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/georgia-tech-student-paralyzed-in-freak-accident/476621928
by: Carol Sbarge
The parents of a Georgia Tech student paralyzed in a freak accident say they’re not giving up hope that he’ll walk again. Grant Brunson, 18, was taking part in a team-building exercise with his fraternity in November when he fell off the shoulders of one of his brothers. He only fell about 5 feet, but he landed on his neck and broke a vertebrae, leaving him partially paralyzed. “As a parent that’s your worst nightmare to receive a call that something’s happened to one of your children,” Lisa Brunson said. “(We were) just praying the whole way that everything would be OK.” “I walked back into the room only to see Lisa on the phone in sheer panic,” Benny Brunson said. The Brunson’s say they are trying to stay strong for Grant, who is facing a long road to recovery. He is now undergoing rigorous rehabilitation at the Shepherd Center in Buckhead. He’s making progress, but he and his parents are taking it one day, sometimes one hour, at a time. This week, doctors are working to wean Grant off his ventilator. He’ll then have a voice box to be able to talk. His parents say it’s even harder around the holidays.
Higher Education News:
www.chronicle.com
How Politics Shapes the Making of Higher-Education Regulations
http://www.chronicle.com/article/How-Politics-Shapes-the-Making/238701
By Beckie Supiano
The Education Department has been criticized for its heavy use of rule making to advance the Obama administration’s policy priorities — in particular, holding for-profit colleges accountable. But now many observers expect at least some of those efforts to be curtailed or ended under the incoming Trump administration. To help make sense of this evolving landscape, The Chronicle spoke with Rebecca S. Natow, whose book, Higher Education Rulemaking: The Politics of Creating Regulatory Policy (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016) was released last week. The conversation with Ms. Natow, a senior research associate with the Community College Research Center, at Columbia University’s Teachers College, has been edited and condensed.
www.insidehighered.com
National College Enrollments Continue to Slide
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2016/12/19/national-college-enrollments-continue-slide
By Paul Fain
Overall college enrollments declined 1.4 percent this fall compared to one year ago, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, a dip of more than 270,000 students. Nationwide enrollments began their slide in 2012 and have now continued for the last 10 consecutive college terms.
The biggest drop this fall was in the for-profit sector, which saw a 14.5 percent decline. Community colleges experienced a 2.6 percent decline. Enrollments were down slightly (0.6 percent) at four-year private institutions and up a small amount (0.2 percent) at four-year public institutions.