University System News:
www.insidehighered.com
The New Ph.D.s
New federal data show American universities awarded a record number of Ph.D.s in 2015.
By Doug Lederman
American universities awarded a record number of doctorates in 2015 — although the rate of growth in the number of Ph.D. recipients continued a several-year decline. And the 55,006 recipients were more likely to be men and to be American citizens or permanent residents than they were the year before. Those are among the findings of the newest version of the federally supported Survey of Earned Doctorates, covering the year 2015. The survey, the best available data on Ph.D. graduates, is conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago on behalf of six federal agencies: the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The survey provides a slew of demographic and other data about who received Ph.D.s from American universities, which institutions awarded those degrees, how graduates paid for their educations and how they fared in the job market upon finishing. …As has long been the case, a small set of American universities produces a disproportionate share of Ph.D. recipients. Below are the 25 institutions that awarded the most doctorates in 2015. Georgia Institute of Technology, 526 …The same is true for African-American Ph.D.s, and below are the 10 institutions that have produced the most doctorate holders in that group over the last five years.
U of Georgia, 130; Georgia State U, 120
www.griffindailynews.com
www.wtvm.com
Georgia Southern nursing students remember fellow classmates ahead of graduation
By Dal Cannady, Reporter
Some Georgia Southern University students observed a bittersweet milestone, Thursday afternoon. Forty-three of them will graduate on Friday with nursing degrees but they received their pins Thursday. The ceremony recognized the group that has become even more close-knit since the death of five students in a crash last year. The five were on their way to hospital observations here in Savannah. Faculty members congratulated the graduates-to-be while students said the tragedy will stay with them.
www.polk.allongeorgia.com
GHC student chosen as Board of Regents Academic Day representative
http://polk.allongeorgia.com/ghc-student-chosen-as-board-of-regents-academic-day-representative-2/
Theresa Arthen has been working full-time while pursing her Associate of Science in Nursing from GHC since 2013. She’ll be the first to tell you it’s not easy. But she’s quick to say, it can be done. And all this comes from a student who holds a perfect 4.0 GPA. One student is chosen from each college in the University System of Georgia each year to be a Board of Regents Academic Day Representative. Arthen was chosen for GHC, due to her outstanding scholastic achievement, as well as holding the mandatory 4.0 GPA. Arthen’s drive to succeed comes from her family—and more specifically from her mom. …But Arthen doesn’t just excel in the classroom. She also helps as an anatomy tutor for other students at GHC.
Second officer dies
Georgia Southwestern State University Interim President Charles Patterson announced “We have just received word that GSW Public Safety Officer Jody Smith has succumbed to his injuries and has passed away. We offer our deepest condolences to his family during this very difficult time. Officer Smith was a bright, young and energetic officer, and he will be sorely missed.” Smith came to the Georgia Southwestern University Police Department in August 2016. Prior to joining the University force, Smith worked as a deputy sheriff with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in addition to serving as a part-time officer with the Plains Police Department. Smith was enthusiastic about joining the Georgia Southwestern State University Public Safety Department, as it offered him an opportunity to pursue a college degree and work in law enforcement.
www.accesswdun.com
2nd officer shot in Georgia dies after suspect found dead
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/12/478872
By The Associated Press
A second Georgia police officer died Thursday, a day after being shot alongside a fellow officer who was a lifelong friend, and the hunt for the suspected gunman ended when a SWAT team found the fugitive dead — apparently by his own hand — inside a home where he was hiding. Officer Jody Smith initially clung to life after being gravely wounded Wednesday when the university officer went to help his friend, Americus Officer Nicholas Smarr, respond to a domestic dispute call at an apartment in rural Americus, about 130 miles south of Atlanta. Both men were shot. Smarr was killed and Smith was airlifted in critical condition to a hospital in Macon. The university that employed Smith announced Thursday evening that he had died.
www.polk.allongeorgia.com
Governor Deal issues statement on 2 fallen officers
http://polk.allongeorgia.com/governor-deal-issues-statement-on-2-fallen-officers/
In light of the tragic loss of Americus police office Nicholas Ryan Smarr and Georgia Southwestern State University Officer Jody Smith who both perished after an ambush following a domestic dispute call Wednesday, Governor Deal has issued his deepest condolences. The two had been best friends since high school. Officer Smarr was administering aid to his friend Officer Smith when he succombed to his own wounds. The suspect was found dead in his home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after law enforcement officials surrounded a home Thursday morning. Governor Deal issued the following statement Thursday:
www.ajc.com
BREAKING: Services set for slain Americus officer
Steve Burns The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Funeral services will be Sunday in Americus for Nicholas Smarr, the Americus police officer who was shot to death in the line of duty this week, according to a funeral home announcement. Services will be at 2 p.m. in the Georgia Southwestern State University Storm Dome, the announcement said. Mark Scott, Americus police chief, will be one of the people officiating. Smarr, who was 25, and Georgia Southwestern police Officer Jody Smith were shot Wednesday after they answered a domestic disturbance call at an apartment complex. Smarr died on the scene, and Smith, his longtime friend, died Thursday at a Macon hospital. No service plans have been announced for Smith.
www.myajc.com
Former UGA employee facing 56 theft counts
http://www.ajc.com/news/crime–law/former-uga-employee-facing-theft-counts/NHJ0Q0miX84cHsekbDBhkL/
Steve Burns The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A former University of Georgia employee is facing 56 felony counts of theft by taking after she allegedly mishandled funds for a statewide professional group, authorities said. Melody Salome Kesler, 45, was informed of the charges Friday, according to a UGA police report. Police said they began an investigation in November. They were notified by the executive board of the Georgia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers that the group’s treasurer, who was a UGA employee, “unlawfully” spent money from the association’s checking account without permission, police said. The group submitted bank statements to support the allegation, according to the police report. Kesler, who had been employed by UGA since 2003, was terminated Nov. 30, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Georgia Gwinnett president discusses campus carry, Tasers
Lawrenceville school now eighth largest in University System of Georgia
By Keith Farner
LAWRENCEVILLE — When Dewey McClain raised the topic of campus carry on Thursday morning, Stas Preczewski ducked behind the podium. The Lawrenceville Democrat suggested to the Georgia Gwinnett College president that some of his colleagues under the Gold Dome may re-introduce the hotly contested campus carry bill that was passed last year to allow guns on college campuses. It was eventually vetoed in May by Gov. Nathan Deal. “It’s a challenge,” Preczewski said. “All the presidents have opposed it. All of the faculty senates have opposed it. All of the student government associations have opposed it. … In terms of actual firearms on campus, everybody still remains, students, faculty, staff, presidents. And I’m a former Army guy.” Though he didn’t attend the Gwinnett delegation breakfast on Thursday morning at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, Rep. Buzz Brockway, R-Lawrenceville, last year sponsored a bill to allow students to legally carry stun guns on campus. Preczewski said he’d prefer the move toward Tasers on campus to allow the personal kind, not the projectile.
www.news.wabe.org
David Ralston: Ga. Lawmakers Writing New ‘Campus Carry’ Bill
http://news.wabe.org/post/david-ralston-ga-lawmakers-writing-new-campus-carry-bill
By JOHNNY KAUFFMAN
Gov. Nathan Deal this spring vetoed a measure passed by the Georgia Legislature that would have allowed licensed gun owners to carry their weapons on campus at Georgia’s public colleges and universities. But lawmakers are working on a new version of the “campus carry” bill for the legislative session set to begin in January, House Speaker David Ralston said in an interview Wednesday. “Let’s put together a new bill,” he said, “Maybe address some of the concerns that were raised, and take additional measures necessary to protect our constitutional rights under the Second Amendment, which is what I’m all about.” Legislators could try to override Deal’s veto at the beginning of the session, but Ralston said that approach wouldn’t be his preference. …The University System of Georgia and university presidents from around the state declared their opposition to the now vetoed “campus carry” measure before it passed the legislature. “The bottom line: we oppose this legislation,” said outgoing University System Chancellor Hank Huckaby at the time. “Our campus police officers will tell you that allowing students to have firearms on campus makes their job extremely challenging, particularly if an extreme emergency were to occur.” Ralston didn’t give specifics about how the new “campus carry” bill will differ from the measure vetoed by Deal, but he seemed to indicate there wouldn’t be drastic changes.
Higher Education News:
www.usnews.com
What Employers Think of Online, Competency-Based Degrees
Many employers accept online degrees, but most don’t know a lot about competency-based education, experts say.
By Jordan Friedman
…But while employers are generally more accepting of online degrees, experts say, many are still unfamiliar with competency-based education, which can be either instructor-led or completely self-paced. That form of learning is more common in online than face-to-face programs, and often in fields such as information technology, business and health care administration – though this varies.
www.insidehighered.com
Ohio Showdown on Campus Carry
Faculty groups urge governor to veto legislation that could effectively end gun bans. Recent incident at Ohio State complicates debate.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/12/09/ohio-site-next-showdown-over-campus-carry
By Scott Jaschik
As campus carry legislation continues to spread, Ohio has emerged as the next battle site. It is one of the larger of the 18 states that do not permit guns on campus. The Ohio Senate and House of Representatives have both now approved legislation that critics deride as the “guns everywhere” bill. Governor John Kasich, a Republican, has not indicated whether he will sign the bill, which has strong support from his party. The legislation removes blanket bans on bringing guns to certain places, such as college campuses and day care centers. Individual colleges, day care centers and other organizations could still regulate guns in their facilities. But even if colleges’ boards don’t rush to welcome guns on campus (and they aren’t currently expected to do so), critics say the legislation would effectively make it too easy to bring guns on campus. Currently, bringing a gun to a “gun-free zone” such as a campus is a low-level felony. Under the legislation, doing so would no longer be a felony and would be equivalent to a parking ticket — so many professors fear that people wouldn’t think twice about bringing a gun to campus. Notably, the law does not affect the Ohio Statehouse, where lawmakers work, and guns would continue to be banned there.
www.diverseeducation.com
Colleges Pushed to Note Sexual Misconduct on Transcripts
by Bill Draper, Associated Press
Colleges that expel students whom they suspect of having committed sexual assault are being asked to go further by specifying the reason for expulsion on their transcripts. Victims’ advocates say it’s critical to ensuring that such students don’t end up on other campuses without their new schools knowing the potential risk and to holding them accountable, long term, so they can’t just move on with a clean slate.
www.diverseeducation.com
How HBCUs Can Better Meet the Needs of Students with Disabilities
by Joy Banks, Antonio L. Ellis and Robert Palmer
As researchers who are primarily concerned with the welfare and experiences of all students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), we are excited to see that more research is focusing on Black and non-Black students at these venerable institutions. While this is particularly noteworthy, we have to be mindful to be attentive to the intersecting identities of students at HBCUs. For example, some research has done this by calling attention to the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students at HBCUs; however, a dearth of research has explored the experiences and need of students with disabilities at HBCUs. Indeed, a recent search for articles, reports, and briefs on students with disabilities at HBCUs has resulted in little, if any, information being found on these students. While it is difficult to know the number of students with disabilities attending institutions of higher education in general and HBCUs specifically, what is clear is that more students today are entering higher education with disabilities. Specifically, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 (ADA) have contributed to the increase in the number of individuals with disabilities who are enrolled in higher education. These federal laws contain multiple provisions that outline the responsibility of college officials receiving federal funds to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals who meet the eligibility of having a disability.