University System News:
www.ajc.com
More Georgia university consolidations recommended
Christopher Quinn
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley plans to recommend two consolidations to the Board of Regents: Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Bainbridge State College. The Board will act upon the recommendations at its Jan. 11 meeting. If approved, the two new institutions will be named Georgia Southern University, to be led by President Jaimie Hebert, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, to be led by President David Bridges. The announcement says the consolidation of these four institutions should enable the University System to better serve students, broaden or redesign academic programs offered in the coastal and south Georgia regions and reinvest savings into academics to improve student success.
www.insidehighered.com
Georgia System Plans Two More Mergers
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/01/09/georgia-system-plans-two-more-mergers
By Scott Jaschik
The University System of Georgia is continuing to merge institutions — although these mergers typically involve maintaining multiple campuses. The system announced plans last week for two new pairs of institutions to be merged. Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University would be merged under the Georgia Southern name. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Bainbridge State College would be merged under the Abraham Baldwin name.
www.valdostatoday.com
MORNING NEWS BRIEFS FOR 1-9-17
http://valdostatoday.com/2017/01/morning-news-briefs-for-1-9-17/
Chancellor Steve Wrigley of The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley is expected to recommend two more consolidations of institutions of higher learning. Wrigley wants to bring about the merger of Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University as well as the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College merger with Bainbridge State College. The Board of Regents will take up the mergers January 11th at its meeting. If approved, the two new institutions will be named Georgia Southern University, to be led by President Jaimie Hebert, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, to be led by President David Bridges.
www.businessinsvannah.com
CITY TALK: Proposed merger will likely benefit Savannah economy
Bill Dawers
City Talk
In Sunday’s City Talk, I mentioned the possibility of surprises for the Savannah area economy in 2017. We got one of those surprises after that column was written but before it was published. As you probably know by now, the Board of Regents is poised to vote this week on the proposed merger of Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University. For the record, I began teaching at Armstrong in the fall of 2000, and I’ve had a full load of four classes per semester for a number of years. I’m not going to discuss the bureaucratic complexities in this column, but I might occasionally discuss some of the broader economic impacts of the merger. And it seems extremely likely a GSU-ASU merger would be good news for the Savannah economy and especially for the Southside. Given the proximity to Savannah’s major employers and myriad cultural offerings, the Armstrong campus seems likely to grow after the merger. That likely means more employees and higher average salaries.
www.savannahnow.com
Editorial: Armstrong/GSU merger must be mutually beneficial
The state board that oversees Georgia’s public colleges and universities is expected to vote Wednesday on a recommendation to study a proposed merger of Savannah’s Armstrong State University with Georgia Southern University in Statesboro. If regents approve the recommendation from Chancellor Steve Wrigley, the merger would not be a done deal. Nor should it be, as a proposal this complex must not be done on a whim and merits considerable study. Instead, approval by the 19-member board would clear the way for the formation of a consolidation committee. This committee would be expected to take a year or more, to conduct a fact-finding mission to determine whether a merger is in the best interests of the two universities, students, the state and the public. Thus, approving the chancellor’s recommendation isn’t the same as approving the merger. Instead, it authorizes officials to take a hard look at the proposal, with no preconceived notions about whether a merger should, in fact, occur. Presumably, the regents would make that decision armed with real evidence and findings from its consolidation committee, as opposed to unsubstantiated notions of what is best for the public.
www.albanyherald.com
Merger of ABAC, Bainbridge State colleges proposed
Georgia university chancellor proposes merger of Georgia Southern, Armstrong State universities
By Jim Hendricks
ALBANY — After the merger of Albany State University and Darton became official New Year’s Day, the University System of Georgia turned its attention toward two more mergers, including one that would consolidate colleges on either side of Southwest Georgia. University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced Friday he plans to recommend two consolidations Wednesday to the Board of Regents: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton with Bainbridge State College, and Georgia Southern University in Statesboro with Armstrong State University in Savannah. The Board of Regents is expected to act upon the recommendations at its meeting Wednesday. If approved, the two new institutions will be named Georgia Southern University, to be led by current GSU President Jaimie Hebert, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, to be led by current ABAC President David Bridges. Currently, ABAC has a student enrollment of 3,475 and Bainbridge State has an enrollment of 2,468. A statement from ABAC said that Bridges and Bainbridge State interim President Stuart Rayfield have pledged to work together to enhance educational opportunities for students, and that Bridges and Rayfield would not have further comment until the Regents take action on the proposal.
www.wtoc.com
GSU, ASU possible merger stirs up debate
http://www.wtoc.com/story/34212013/gsu-asu-possible-merger-stirs-up-debate
By Tesia Reed, Reporter
The news of a possible merger between Armstrong State and Georgia Southern is causing quite the firestorm online. Plenty of people has been expressing their opinions against the merger on Armstrong’s Facebook page. Our Tesia Reed met with some of these students and alum and joins us now with their reaction. Both Armstrong and Georgia Southern students are vocal about this merger – but most Armstrong students seem to be against it. They’ve even started a petition that at last check has more than 2,000 signatures. “I don’t want Southern. I chose Armstrong for Armstrong, not Southern, and I’m going to have to transfer again if the merger goes through. I’m going to be one of those students and I know of at least 20 students who are like what are we going to do now,” said Mikayla Williams, Armstrong sophomore. Mikayla Williams says she transferred out of Georgia Southern because it was too big for her. The sophomore says she found a family with the pirates and she doesn’t want to be taken away from her.
www.wbtv.com
Armstrong State students, alumni hold protest against possible merger with Georgia Southern
By Bradley Mullis, Weekend Assignment Editor
The possible merger between Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University has left many Armstrong students and alumni upset as they face the possibility of losing their identity. Armstrong has a historic past in Savannah, dating back to its inception in 1935. Generations of locals and others have attended the public university to receive a higher level of education. “I go here, my brother goes here, my parents went here, my grandfather went here. I mean, obviously you know when it used to be in downtown,” said freshman, McKenna Cummings. Nevertheless, after the University System of Georgia announced last week that the Board of Regents would hold a vote deciding on the merger between GSU and ASU, students and alumni alike decided to break with tradition and assemble in protest. Students are protesting for a number of reasons.
www.onlineathens.com
Regents asked lease property to two UGA sororities, sell a farm for $2.2 million
By Staff Reports
The University System of Georgia was asked to lease two properties to University of Georgia sororities while selling an 865-acre farm in eastern Georgia for $2.2 million, according to the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Georgia Board of Regents. Two Regents-owned properties in Athens — located at 525 Bloomfield Street and 1064 South Lumpkin Street — would be leased to the Eta Chapter of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority and the Beta Sigma Chapter of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, respectively, according to the agenda. As UGA works to consolidate its real estate holdings throughout the state, it has deemed these properties “no longer advantageously useful to UGA or other units of the University System of Georgia,” and is asking the Regents to set up an initial 30-year term lease with both sororities. …As for the farm, located along Highway 78 on the border of Oglethorpe and Wilkes counties, UGA has a deal in place with the organization Wilkes Barnett and is asking the Regents to sell the property for $2,185,000. The farm was used by UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, but CAES functions were recently moved to other farms closer to the main campus. In February 2015, UGA tried selling the property through a bid process, but submitted bids were below the average of the appraisals for the farm, which resulted in their formal rejection in April 2015.
www.onlineathens.com
UGA environmental researcher honored for work on Georgia coast
A coastal environmental group, One Hundred Miles, has honored Clark Alexander, the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography’s interim executive director, as one of the group’s One Hundred Miles 100. Alexander was selected within the “researchers and innovators” category for the research he has conducted about the Georgia coast since 1989. His research includes barrier island erosion patterns and the effects of climate change on marsh habitat. The environmental group also noted Alexander’s help in advancing the work of institutions across the coast.
www.tomjoynerfoundation.org
Albany State University Delivered 400 Meals To Albany Storm Victims
http://tomjoynerfoundation.org/albany-state-university-deliver-400-meals-to-albany-storm-victims/
by ahouston
Power outages left many residents concerned with where they may receive their next meal. Albany State University faculty and staff members offered a little relief Saturday to storm victims by delivering 400 meals to the Salvation Army and local churches. ASU food service providers, Aramark and Sodexo, prepared meals that included breakfast, lunch and dinner items. “It is important for residents of this community to know that their sense of family extends to their university, Albany State University. Just as we are committed to excellence in educating students, we are committed to serving citizens,” said Art Dunning, president of Albany State University. “I commend our Sodexo and Aramark food service providers for making meals available to storm victims, and I am grateful to our faculty and staff volunteers who will assist with delivering the meals.”
www.ajc.com
UGA online programs make national list
Eric Stirgus
The University of Georgia has some of the best online programs in the nation, according to a new survey. U.S. News and World Report ranked UGA as having the sixth-best graduate online education program. UGA was tied with the State University of New York’s Albany campus. Additionally, UGA’s business school was tied for 16th nationally for non Master’s of Business Administration online programs.
www.ajc.com
Georgia still grappling with college-cost quandary
Maureen Downey – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia still has not settled a pivotal question in a 21st century economy driven by knowledge and innovation: Is education a public or private good? … The audit of the University System of Georgia found the average cost of college attendance increased 77 percent, from $8,361 to $14,791 per year, between 2006 and 2015. Much of the increase owes to slashes to higher education funding and reductions to the HOPE Scholarship by the Legislature … While lawmakers contend the merit-based HOPE Scholarship bolsters college affordability, the amount of the award has eroded, paying about 71 percent of the tuition at Georgia Tech, according to the audit. Nor does HOPE cover room and board or books and fees, all of which have risen dramatically. The audit found housing expenses have increased 56 percent and dining expenses 60 percent, both more than double the inflation rate … The General Assembly is likely to seize upon the audit’s finding that the cost of attending a public college in Georgia remains lower than other states.
www.11alive.com
Living in the shadow of Title IX: Sex assault hearings on campus under fire
Kaitlyn Ross, WXIA
ATLANTA — The statistics are alarming – one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted in college. Now, a system designed to protect victims is coming under fire. The Title IX sexual assault hearings on Georgia campuses have been widely criticized for being unfair and secretive. Even a local lawmaker says they should be illegal. Now, but the victims and the accused are calling for a change. “If he was in a hallway, I would walk the other way. If he showed up in my class, I’d shut down,” Kelly said. “And then I’d go home and have a panic attack. Like, every single time.” That was every day of Kelly’s life at Kennesaw State University after she says her ex boyfriend raped her. Both artists and theatre majors, she says she couldn’t escape him. At first, she didn’t want him arrested. She just wanted him out of her classes. “My counselor told me Title IX was a thing that was in place to protect students from this exact kind of situation,” she said. But the Title IX hearings on campuses across the country are incredibly secretive. She says she couldn’t get any information about the process. And for the next 6 months, she lived in the shadow of Title IX. …In a statement, the University System of Georgia told 11Alive they take all accusations of sexual assault very seriously. In July of 2016, they say the process was overhauled to ensure fairness for all students. The new guidelines were in place when Kennesaw State conducted Kelly’s hearing but, due to privacy concerns, the university would not address her case directly.
www.myajc.com
Top issues for Georgia’s General Assembly in 2017
By Kristina Torres – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Budget
The issue: Deal headed into the new year expected to announce a record state budget of about $24.6 billion, but little else is certain. Georgia leaders await direction from President-elect Donald Trump and GOP congressional leaders over plans for major changes to programs that will likely affect how much federal money flows into the state. Deal also has a penchant for conservative budgeting: State agencies have already been told not to ask for “extras,” generally setting low-ball estimates for tax revenue that let the governor sock away big surpluses when the economy outperforms his projections.
Immigration
The issue:Likely efforts include blocking the state from accepting federal refugee resettlement funding and adding a new fee for out-of-state wire transfers that many immigrants and refugees use to send money to their families abroad. Other measures would cut state funding to private universities that don’t comply with immigration laws and ban immigrants without legal status from paying in-state tuition — a hot topic after a Fulton County judge recently ruled that the state should grant in-state tuition to immigrants who have received a special reprieve from deportation through the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The state Board of Regents is appealing the judge’s ruling.
Guns
The issue: Gun rights advocates have long pushed to allow guns on Georgia’s public college campuses, and they won passage for such an effort last year after several high-profile cases of robberies, including some inside Georgia State University’s library. Deal vetoed the measure, however, saying proponents had not justified changing colleges’ status as “sanctuaries of learning” and the state’s long history of barring firearms on campuses. The University System of Georgia has also long opposed allowing students to carry guns on campus. But advocates have vowed to come back this year with another campus gun bill, likely setting off a battle that could again put Georgia in a national spotlight.
www.ajc.com
AJC poll: Don’t allow guns on Georgia’s college campuses
Kristina Torres The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia voters continue to oppose efforts to legalize guns on the state’s college campuses, a new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll shows. More than half of voters — 54 percent — said they do not want state lawmakers to pursue the issue again this year, after Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a bill last year that would have allowed anyone 21 or older with a license to carry a concealed gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, except for inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses, and at athletic events. The number of naysayers, however, dropped from three years ago, when an AJC poll asking voters a differently worded question (whether they opposed allowing guns on the state’s college campuses) showed more than two-thirds of them did. But state Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, a vocal opponent of the measure, has cited data showing campuses off-limits to guns to be safer than their surrounding communities. While the issue is expected to roil the Capitol again this year, Parent said the poll results are no surprise.
Higher Education News:
www.myajc.com
High college costs hurting Georgia economy
By Christopher Quinn
The high costs of college hurt students’ ability to finish a degree, and especially hold back poor students from getting better jobs, the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education says.
Its annual edition of yearly top 10 education issues notes that the cost of going to a college or university has doubled in 10 years, and that the cost of going to a Georgia technical colleges is up 65 percent, during that time. The inability to pay for tuition is a major reason students fail to complete a degree, the group’s study says. The report notes that enrollment in the Technical College System of Georgia has declined yearly since 2010, at the same time the need for skilled workers is climbing.
www.chronicle.com
The Sex Bureaucracy
To fight assault, the feds have made colleges clumsy monitors of students’ sex lives.
By Jacob Gersen and Jeannie Suk Gersen
Often with the best of intentions, the federal government in the past six years has presided over the creation of a sex bureaucracy that says its aim is to reduce sexual violence but that is actually enforcing a contested vision of sexual morality and disciplining those who deviate from it. Many observers assume that today’s important campus sexual-assault debate is concerned with forcible or coerced sex, or with taking advantage of someone who is too drunk to be able to consent. But the definition of sexual assault has stretched enormously, in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Indeed, the concept of sexual misconduct has grown to include most voluntary and willing sexual conduct. Behind this elastic idea of sexual misconduct is a web of well-meaning federal statutes, especially Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education, and the Violence Against Women Act, which, in its 2013 reauthorization, requires colleges to publicly disclose how they define, prevent, investigate, and discipline sexual misconduct. Under President Obama, the Department of Education’s interpretations of those laws have greatly expanded the control exercised by the federal government over sexual conduct.
www.chronicle.com
Twitter Campaign Urges Betsy DeVos to Make Title IX a Priority
by Fernanda Zamudio-Suaréz
Activists and college students are using Twitter to urge Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s nominee for education secretary, to make priorities of combating sexual assault and enforcing Title IX policy. Ms. DeVos’s confirmation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 11. Although Ms. DeVos hasn’t shared much of her plans for higher education and her background is mainly in elementary and secondary education, the activists and students fear she may change Title IX policies.
wwwi.nsidehighered.com
Gender Roles and Presidential Spouses
Survey finds a quarter of presidents have made decisions on taking or turning down jobs based on spouses’ expected role. And study finds that much more remains expected of presidents’ wives than presidents’ husbands.
By Rick Seltzer
College presidents’ partners and spouses aren’t all wives hosting receptions in the president’s house. Many work jobs outside of their role as presidential partners. A growing number are men. And many say the expectations placed upon them by a college or university influence their spouse’s decision to work as the institution’s president. A new study from University of Minnesota researchers examines the role of the presidential spouse or partner at a time when it is becoming increasingly complex and challenging. Researchers called the survey, which was released Monday after being presented at the Council of Independent Colleges’ Presidents Institute last week, the “largest and most diverse known sample of presidential partners to date.” The results of the study, which involved the leaders of public and private colleges, were earlier presented at a CIC meeting. Presidents’ partners reported high levels of satisfaction in their roles — 84 percent said they found their roles satisfying, very satisfying or extremely satisfying. Yet they also said being a presidential partner brings sources of stress and struggle. Expectations are often unclear, and presidents’ spouses are frequently thrust into the public eye.