University System News:
www.daltondailycitizen.com
‘The core of it all is the people’: Dalton State celebrates 50th anniversary
http://www.daltondailycitizen.com/news/local_news/the-core-of-it-all-is-the-people-dalton-state/article_cb08c039-32a0-571d-904b-885b618abd30.html
By Chris Whitfield
When Dalton Junior College opened in 1967 with donated land from four founding families and a $1.8 million bond issue financing the construction of the school’s five original buildings, Mike Hurtt said it was the people who made it special. Fifty years later, he said the college — now a four-year school — has grown, but the people are still what make it special. “The thing that stays the same is the people,” said Hurtt, a local attorney who went on to the University of West Georgia after graduating from Dalton Junior in 1969. “They were fantastic — from the staff to the professors — and when I went to West Georgia it just didn’t have that friendly feel. Even though I graduated from West Georgia, I have always identified more closely as an alumni of Dalton State. And it still has that intimate, friendly feel.” That intimate, friendly feel was certainly on display Monday night as students and faculty members — both past and present — were joined by community members to pack the school’s bell tower quad to celebrate with food, fun, music and fireworks as the school recognized its 50th anniversary. Hurtt said it was a very fitting place to be. …The celebration marked another milestone of growth and longevity for the college, which now boasts associate’s and bachelor’s degrees as well as certificates of training for an enrollment which is more than 5,000. That is a far cry from the 524 students and 54 faculty and staff members the college started with five decades ago. Harlan Chapman can remember those numbers exactly as the school’s original registrar.

www.wtoc.com
ABAC creates more than $369 million impact
http://www.wtoc.com/story/36448921/abac-creates-more-than-369-million-impact
By Ashley Bohle, Reporter
According to a University System of Georgia sanctioned study, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College had an economic impact of $369,874,664 on South Georgia during the 2016 fiscal year. “We eat at McDonald’s a good bit,” said Kaine Addison, a freshman at ABAC. Addison is one of many students at ABAC who is helping to make an economic impact on South Georgia. The last time researchers did the study was 2 years ago. ABAC President David Bridges said the report is conducted every other year. The results show that the ABAC economic impact has increased a little more than 12 percent since the 2014 study. Bridges said enrollment, on-campus housing, and bachelor’s programs all play a role.

www.albanyherald.com
Albany State University wraps up SACSCOC site visit
Commission assesses ASU following consolidation
http://www.albanyherald.com/news/local/colleges_universities/albany-state-university-wraps-up-sacscoc-site-visit/article_ae561518-21bb-5382-afd8-8fb11b5e180b.html#utm_source=albanyherald.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1506427223&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Staff Reports
Albany State University recently hosted a Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges site visit team for a three-day assessment. The visit was a routine step to measure the impact of the recent consolidation of ASU and Darton State College on the new university’s ability to stay on track and in compliance with SACSCOC standards. The team interviewed students, faculty and administrators at both ASU campuses in Albany and the university’s four instructional sites in Cordele, Cairo, Waycross and Sandersville. …An official report of the site visit team’s findings will be released when it is completed.

www.thegeorgeanne.com
GS Bachelor of Nursing listed as one of the best online nursing degrees in the nation
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_5c66027f-9249-50a1-91bc-8ca949cd07a7.html
By Brett Daniel The George-Anne Staff
Georgia Southern University’s online bachelor’s degree in nursing was recently ranked no. 3 in a listicle detailing the nation’s 30 best online Bachelor of Nursing degree programs. Best Degree Programs, who authored the article, reviewed more than 70 accredited colleges and universities in the United States for the listicle. From there they chose schools that have one or more national or regional rankings in prominent publications and based their list on affordability. “Georgia Southern University offers some of the most affordable online RN to BSN programs on our list,” the article reads.

www.statesboroherald.com
Irma can’t stop university from topping $2 million
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/81866/
Special to the Herald
Georgia Southern University had another successful year with the A Day for Southern fundraising campaign, which raised $2,178,293 in its 44th year. This is the fourth year that the Statesboro and campus communities have given more than $2 million for the campaign. “Despite Hurricane Irma, our loyal volunteers and donors remained committed to the success of the campaign,” said Gloria Goosby, director of Annual Giving. “We are thankful for the strength of the continued relationship between the Statesboro-Bulloch County community and the University.” Statesboro and Bulloch County businesses, along with Georgia Southern faculty, staff, retirees and alumni, donated to the campaign as a way to show their support for the university. The gifts received support university programs, allow students to achieve academic excellence, and support outreach centers such as the Center for Wildlife Education, the Georgia Southern Museum, the Botanic Garden and state-of-the-art facilities and programs that attract and support research and scholarships.

www.gainesvilletimes.com
Colleges, school systems discuss ways to work together
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/colleges-school-systems-discuss-ways-work-together/
Norm Cannada
Partnerships in dual enrollment programs and economic and leadership development were the focus of a panel discussion among education leaders Monday at the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville campus. The discussion was part of a meeting of the UNG executive council, which includes leadership at all five campuses. UNG President Bonita Jacobs convenes the meetings about twice a semester, according to spokeswoman Sylvia Carson. More than 40 UNG leaders attended the panel discussion at the Martha T. Nesbitt Academic Building. “We have a wealth of opportunities to educate our students and to develop our students for the workforce of the future,” said Kit Dunlap, president of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and moderator of the panel discussion.

www.walb.com
SRTC acquires Bainbridge State College land and facility
http://www.walb.com/story/36449086/srtc-acquires-bainbridge-state-college-land-and-facility
By Ashlyn Becton, Reporter
In less than a year, Southern Regional Technical College will begin to offer its courses on the campus of what by then will be the former Bainbridge State College. This comes after the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia approved a resolution for SRTC to acquire the land, facility, and equipment at Bainbridge State College. “It’s real exciting for our college and exciting for our students,” said SRTC President Dr. Craig Wentworth. Big changes are coming for Bainbridge that could offer new education and career paths for students. “It’s certainly going to be a help for Bainbridge and those businesses and industries in that area,” said Wentworth. Resolutions from both the State Board of Technical College System of Georgia and University System of Georgia Board of Regents have been signed.  Plans are now in the works for SRTC to offer technical programs on that campus, beginning July 1. Starting January 1, ABAC will also be offering academic programs on the campus, after the consolidation agreement between ABAC and BSC.

www.onlineathens.com
New research consortium designed to advance human health
http://onlineathens.com/features/health/local-news/2017-09-25/new-research-consortium-designed-advance-human-health?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=73f96464e3-eGaMorning-9_26_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-73f96464e3-86731974&mc_cid=73f96464e3&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Charlene Betourney, University of Georgia
Steven Stice is leading researchers at the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center in a newly-funded research consortium designed to hasten the development of advanced cell therapies to treat a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer. With $20 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, the Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies, dubbed CMaT, will bring together RBC researchers, industry partners, clinicians, engineers, cell biologists and immunologists. “Partnerships of this nature that span different universities and sectors are critical to advancing human health around the world,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead, “and I want to congratulate Dr. Stice and his team at the University of Georgia for helping to drive this important research center.”

www.bizjournals.com
Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute gets $51 million grant, undergoes name change
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/09/25/atlanta-clinical-translational-science-institute.html?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=73f96464e3-eGaMorning-9_26_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-73f96464e3-86731974&mc_cid=73f96464e3&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Ellie Hensley  –  Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
The Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute is changing its name to reflect a broader state-wide focus to the Georgia Clinical & Translational Science Alliance (Georgia CTSA). The National Institutes of Health awarded the newly rechristened organization a $51 million grant through its Clinical and Translational Science Award. The five-year grant will be used to increase the quality and value of clinical research and translate research results into better outcomes for patients. Georgia CTSA also welcomed a fourth academic partner, The University of Georgia. Its other partners are Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia Tech.

www.myajc.com
Kennesaw State football stadium to open earlier, have metal detectors
http://www.myajc.com/news/local/kennesaw-state-football-stadium-open-earlier-have-metal-detectors/Q6ZcKxnpZaCv6wRyAItS7J/
By Ben Brasch – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw State University seems to have learned something about their new football fans: They don’t love waiting in lines. The school announced Tuesday that it’s making some changes to the way folks will get into Fifth Third Bank Stadium, including metal detectors and early gate opening times. …“We did, however, hear from patrons regarding long waits at the gate. The safety and satisfaction of our guests are our top priorities,” Griffin said in a statement. There will now be walk-through metal detectors at “high-traffic gates” and staff will use metal detection wands at all other gates of the 8,300-seat stadium.

www.savannahnow.com
Leaked recording suggests former Georgia Southern coach Willie Fritz was worried about job security
http://savannahnow.com/local-colleges/news/sports/2017-09-25/leaked-recording-suggests-former-georgia-southern-coach-willie
By Nathan Deen
STATESBORO — A leaked audio recording of former Georgia Southern head football coach Willie Fritz telling his players goodbye after he accepted his current head coaching position at Tulane revealed Fritz did not believe he had enough job security at the Statesboro university. The recording, which included the date Dec. 16, 2015 in the file name, was posted Monday on the website www.forgotten5.com, a blog site that focuses on the FBS Group of 5 conferences and programs, including the Sun Belt and Georgia Southern. Forgotten5 did not give any source as to how it obtained the recording, which is 13 minutes in length. Fritz speaks to his players for about seven minutes of the recording and explains his reason for leaving. “I’m 55 going on 56,” Fritz told his players. “When I took this job, I took a big chance. I got a contract that didn’t have much job security. They told me if I proved myself, they would give me job security. Well, that wasn’t the case. I got a one-year deal, and I had to win seven games each year, and I would be reviewed. I thought the last couple of years, I felt like I deserved more than that. This stage in my career, this stage in my life, job security is really, really important to me.”