University System News:
www.ajc.com
Report finds Kennesaw State didn’t follow guidance after cheerleaders took a knee
http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/report-finds-kennesaw-state-didn-follow-guidance-after-cheerleaders-took-knee/smTiOUD3D7aHF88rh9fozL/
Eric Stirgus
Kennesaw State University didn’t follow guidance from state officials when it made changes last month that kept cheerleaders from kneeling on the football field during the national anthem to protest police misconduct and racial inequality, according to a report received Tuesday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The University System of Georgia advised KSU president Sam Olens and its other presidents during an early October meeting that such protests were constitutionally protected free speech as long as they weren’t disruptive. The five-page report found KSU, though, didn’t adhere to the guidance.
www.myajc.com
KSU didn’t follow guidance on cheerleader kneeling
http://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/ksu-didn-follow-guidance-cheerleader-kneeling/CDKOAKt4idekbBTeoodTwJ/
By Eric Stirgus – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw State University president Sam Olens did not follow state guidance when the university made a change that kept cheerleaders from kneeling on the football field during the national anthem, a report released Tuesday concluded. University System of Georgia officials told Olens and the presidents of its public universities during a two-day October meeting that taking a knee during the anthem is free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution and should not be interfered with, unless it causes a disruption. Any changes by a college should be discussed with the USG. The Saturday after that meeting, KSU implemented a change that kept its cheerleaders in its stadium tunnel before the anthem. That was a week after five cheerleaders had first taken a knee on the field. Olens did not discuss the change with USG officials, who learned about it through an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article. “President Olens was aware of the proposed change three days before it was implemented and did nothing to stop the change,” the report said. “President Olens also did not advise the University System Office of the proposed change, though he was instructed to do so earlier that week.”
www.cbs46.com
Board of Regents completes review of KSU following cheerleading controversy
http://www.cbs46.com/story/36897183/board-of-regents-completes-review-of-ksu-following-cheerleading-controversy#ixzz4z5TCPBp6
By Jonathan Carlson, Chief Investigative Reporter
KENNESAW, GA (CBS46) -The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has completed their review of Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens’ actions, as well as that of the school, following the controversial episode involving five cheerleaders who kneeled during the national anthem at a football game earlier this fall. Among the findings—the Board of Regents calls into question the KSU athletic department’s story that the change in opening ceremony that pushed the cheerleaders off the field had nothing to do with the cheerleaders kneeling in the game prior. “Their explanation is called into question, however, by the timing of the change…” the report reads. Also, President Sam Olens was told by the University System Office—after the first kneeling event—First Amendment rights of the cheerleaders would be violated if they were taken off the field. But days later, he allowed the change in program, and accompanying ban to happen–knowing full well the consequences, and failed to inform the University System Office as he was instructed to do.
www.insidehighered.com
Kennesaw State Reverses Cheerleader Change
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2017/11/09/kennesaw-state-reverses-cheerleader-change?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=369c420804-DNU20171109&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-369c420804-197515277&mc_cid=369c420804&mc_eid=8f1f949a06
By Nick Roll
Kennesaw State University has reversed the change to its pre-game policy that took the cheerleaders off the field during the playing of the national anthem.
The policy change was put in place after a group of five cheerleaders took a knee during the anthem, although the university maintained that the timing of the change was coincidental. Activists cried foul, and public records and text messages dug up by activists and local media put that claim under further scrutiny, and the University System of Georgia announced a review of the matter. The review of the matter is still ongoing, but the reversal of the policy comes a week before the System Board of Regents is set to meet. It also comes just days before the football team’s military appreciation game. Critics of those who take a knee during the anthem — a form of protest done to call attention to police brutality and racism — have said it is disrespectful to the military.
www.mdjonline.com
Report: Olens told to alert bosses to cheerleader policy change, but never did
http://www.mdjonline.com/news/report-olens-told-to-alert-bosses-to-cheerleader-policy-change/article_44c85e68-cee2-11e7-baf2-cb4576bae508.html
Ricky Leroux
A review of Kennesaw State University’s handling of a recent controversy regarding cheerleaders kneeling during the national anthem reveals that KSU President Sam Olens was told to alert officials with the University System of Georgia before any changes regarding the cheerleaders were made, but failed to do so. The university was thrust into the national spotlight after the five cheerleaders took a knee during the anthem at a Sept. 30 home game as a way to protest police brutality and injustice. The following week, the cheerleaders were kept off the field during the anthem. On Nov. 8, KSU reversed course and resumed allowing the cheerleaders on the field. The review, performed by the University System of Georgia’s Office of Legal Affairs and released Tuesday, shows that Olens was told about the changes on Wednesday, Oct. 4, three days before the Oct. 7 game, which saw the cheerleaders kept from the field during the national anthem.
www.gpbnews.org
Sam Olens Criticized For Handling Of KSU Cheerleader Protest
http://gpbnews.org/post/sam-olens-criticized-handling-ksu-cheerleader-protest
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lawyers for Georgia’s board of regents say a university president failed to keep state officials informed about moving cheerleaders off the field before football games after some black cheerleaders knelt during the national anthem. In a report released Tuesday, the board’s legal office found that Kennesaw State President Sam Olens did not advise the state’s university system of the change in the pregame routine even though he had been instructed to do so.
www.wsbtv.com
KSU violated guidance when keeping cheerleaders off field, regents board says
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/ksu-violated-guidance-when-keeping-cheerleaders-off-field-regents-board-says/651640827
by: Carl Willis
The Georgia Board of Regents said Tuesday that Kennesaw State University did not follow guidance when it kept cheerleaders off the field after several of them took a knee during the National Anthem. University System of Georgia officials told KSU president Sam Olens and the presidents of its public universities during a two-day October meeting that taking a knee during the anthem is free speech protected by the U.S. Constitution and should not be interfered with, unless it causes a disruption. Any changes by a college should be discussed with the USG.
www.11alive.com
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION CRITICIZES KSU PRESIDENT’S HANDLING OF KNEELING CHEERLEADERS
http://www.11alive.com/mobile/article/news/special-investigation-criticizes-ksu-presidents-handling-of-kneeling-cheerleaders/85-493715434?scroll=0
This all unfolded after five cheerleaders decided to kneel as the national anthem played before the Sept. 30 football game.
Author:
Adrianne Haney
KENNESAW, Ga. — A special investigation into Kennesaw State University’s handling of cheerleaders who kelt during the national anthem has concluded, finding that the university’s president failed to follow guidance laid out by the University of Georgia System. “The Athletics Department maintains that the run of the show change was not related to the cheerleaders kneeling during the national anthem,” the report says. “Their explanation is called into question, however, by the timing of the change.” This all unfolded after five cheerleaders decided to kneel as the national anthem played before the Sept. 30 football game against North Greenville University. In video from the sidelines of the game, cheerleaders kneel at the same moment their teammates take their posture for the playing of the anthem. At their next game on Oct. 7, against Texas Southern, the cheerleaders were not on the field until after the national anthem. KSU repeatedly told 11Alive News that the decision to keep the cheerleaders off of the field until after the national anthem was merely one of many changes that had nothing to do with the protest or any complaints about it. But a recently-released report seems to contradict that statement. On Oct. 18, the University System of Georgia asked the Board of Regents to conduct a formal investigation. That investigation included interviewing a number of people from the school, including university President Sam Olens.
www.myajc.com
Georgia schools seek, enjoy international students
http://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-schools-seek-enjoy-international-students/9fs9a2Gp783wAqMx6FNs8O/?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=addb4264b9-eGaMorning-11_22_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-addb4264b9-86731974&mc_cid=addb4264b9&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Eric Stirgus – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oglethorpe University president Larry Schall is like a college basketball coach when it comes to recruiting students. He looks for them throughout metro Atlanta and increasingly abroad, in countries such as Dubai and Jordan. Oglethorpe and many metro Atlanta colleges and universities are seeing a higher percentage of their students come from other nations, and they want more international students, saying their presence improves campus diversity. The recruitment efforts, though, come as some worry the White House’s proposed travel ban against a handful of countries and President Donald Trump’s desire for a border wall along the Mexican border will discourage some foreign students from coming here. Trump believes the measures are necessary to reduce crime and protect the homeland from foreign terrorists. Having students from other countries “makes our campus like a model (United Nations), which is what we want,” said Mark Butt, Emory University’s associate dean of admissions. The number of non-U.S. resident students in the University System of Georgia has increased by nearly 50 percent over the past decade, from 9,896 in 2007 to this fall’s total of 14,834. …Among Georgia’s public colleges and universities, Georgia Tech has the largest number of international students. Its international student enrollment doubled since 2006, from 2,907 to 5,959 in 2016. The largest percentage of Tech’s international students come from China and India. Emory gets many international students from those countries, as well as South Korea, Brazil and Mexico.
www.moultrieobserver.com
SRTC acquires tech component of Bainbridge State College
http://www.moultrieobserver.com/news/local_news/srtc-acquires-tech-component-of-bainbridge-state-college/article_1e747486-cf2d-11e7-8e4b-af78699f4fc1.html
Staff Reports
THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Shortly after the calendar flipped into 2017, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of Bainbridge State College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Not long after that approval was finalized, Southern Regional Technical College was asked to assume responsibility for the technical programs being offered by BSC. During the discussions with the University System of Georgia to transfer the technical programs to SRTC, it became apparent that it would be in the best interest of the students, the University System, the Technical College System of Georgia and the state of Georgia to not only transfer the programs, but to also transfer the ownership and operations of the Bainbridge campus, according to a press release from Southern Regional Tech. The largest need for instructional space on the campus was for technical programs. The transfer is proposed for a July 2018 date and is contingent upon necessary approvals by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the retirement of BSC’s public private venture capital liabilities.
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia Tech researcher heads to University of Oregon to lead new campus
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/11/21/georgia-tech-researcher-heads-to-university-of.html?ana=e_me_set4&s=newsletter&ed=2017-11-22&u=xw%2BDRjRaikB6EdaliSJBWQ0ae2f198&t=1511362220&j=79216241
By Malia Spencer – Staff Reporter, Portland Business Journal
The University of Oregon has tapped Robert Guldberg, head of the Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences at Atlanta-based Georgia Tech, as executive director of its new Knight Campus. Guldberg will start in September 2018 leading the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon’s Eugene campus. Guldberg’s work focuses on regenerative medicine and bridging the world of research and entrepreneurship. “Bob describes himself as an engineer who speaks many different ‘languages’ — engineering, biology, entrepreneurship and the like,” said UO President Michael Schill in a written statement. “This fluency is just what we need for the Knight Campus.”
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
GGC nursing students earn state awards
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/ggc-nursing-students-earn-state-awards/article_3e91434e-2b05-5114-9701-e5178f85d51b.html
From Staff Reports
Nursing students from Georgia Gwinnett College claimed eight awards for excellence – including the prestigious NCLEX Bowl Championship — at the 65th annual Georgia Association of Nursing Students (GANS) convention, held in mid-October in Columbus. “We are so proud of all the distinctions our students earned at this year’s convention,” said Dr. Diane E. White, dean of Georgia Gwinnett’s School of Health Sciences in a new release. “It is a testament to their dedicated work that in our first three years as a nursing program, they have already established a winning tradition for Georgia Gwinnett College.” There were 22 students representing Georgia Gwinnett at the convention, with eight members competing in the NCLEX Bowl, a team-quiz competition based on the nursing profession’s licensing examination. The Georgia Gwinnett contingent missed but three questions in the competition and won the championship, besting the college’s second-place finish in 2016, its maiden NCLEX Bowl competition. In addition, five nursing students and one faculty member were honored individually or on behalf of Georgia Gwinnett’s GANS chapter.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity completes first home for veteran
http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnett-habitat-for-humanity-completes-first-home-for-veteran/article_1b6650a7-596f-5b7c-903a-5c96ddf567b6.html
By Todd Cline
This Thanksgiving is more than a little special for Nyshawn Jenkins and her family. When they celebrate on Thursday, they will do so in their new home in Sugar Hill — a home the family has thanks to Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity. “(This) has been a life-changing experience,” Jenkins said. ”Without Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, I would not have been able to accomplish one of my biggest goals — becoming a homeowner.” While it is a new experience for Jenkins, it’s also a new one for Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity. Jenkins is the first veteran homeowner for the organization. Jenkins, who spent almost 10 years in the military, went through a program geared toward veterans, attending a workshop and, along with her family, putting in 250 hours of sweat equity into the project, working alongside volunteers to renovate the house. …One interaction particularly stood out. “When I witnessed my son Ky ask one of the Georgia Gwinnett College student volunteers: ‘What is college like?’ I knew this was exactly where he needed to be,” Jenkins said. “At that moment I knew he was looking toward his future and seeking advice, not just listening to me tell him: ‘You have to go to college.’”
www.statesboroherald.com
A Thanksgiving gift
Hospital Auxiliary volunteers give 122 bags of food to Christian Social Ministry
http://www.statesboroherald.com/section/1/article/82795/
By JULIE LAVENDER
Herald Writer
For the sixth year in a row, the Auxiliary of East Georgia Regional Medical Center collected and presented bags of Thanksgiving food to Christian Social Ministry for distribution to families in need. With donations from their own Auxiliary members and the help of hospital employees and other individuals, the Auxiliary collected 122 bags of food. …Though the Thanksgiving food bag project is one of the volunteers’ larger service projects, the group of men and women raise money throughout the year with jewelry sales and other opportunities, and the money raised supports three scholarships to the Georgia Southern University nursing program and four scholarships to health programs at Ogeechee Technical College. Additionally, the group makes contributions to non-profit charities with this year’s donation topping out at $26,000. Sellers, a volunteer since 2005, said that there are currently 57 volunteers on role and teen volunteers from colleges give of their time during the summer.
www.medium.com
How We’re Working with Universities to Stay on the Cutting Edge of Research
https://medium.com/self-driven/how-were-working-with-universities-to-stay-on-the-cutting-edge-of-research-5be60d99e265
By Bryan Salesky, CEO, Argo AI
Developing reliable self-driving cars requires pushing the envelope in computer science and artificial intelligence. While we’re applying the latest techniques in computer vision and machine learning to the work we’re doing every day, some of the most advanced research is being done at the university level. That’s why it’s critical to stay connected to the academic community, so we can cultivate the young minds that will help us bring cutting-edge work out of the lab and into the real world. To do this, we’ve formed unique affiliations with Carnegie Mellon University and Georgia Institute of Technology to work with three world-class faculty members. Simon Lucey, Deva Ramanan and James Hays are collaborating with Argo AI to push the limits in computer vision and machine learning … James Hays is an associate professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing, where he focuses on using internet-scale data and crowd-sourcing to improve scene understanding and allow smarter image synthesis and manipulation. His research interests span computer vision, graphics, robotics and machine learning.
www.times-georgian.com
Fifth suspected gang member arrested
http://www.times-georgian.com/news/local/fifth-suspected-gang-member-arrested/article_cb8b93f2-cf37-11e7-b7ed-ef02fb2356fe.html
Erin McSwain-Davis/Times-Georgian
Law enforcement have arrested the last of five suspected gang members accused of robbing people at an apartment complex near the University of West Georgia. Cameron Dalton-Harvey, 18, was arrested Monday, according to Carrollton police.
www.myajc.com
Warden for troubled Georgia prison hospital reassigned
http://www.myajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/warden-for-troubled-georgia-prison-hospital-reassigned/36xVe5yoASFUEjqpvZb4AP/
By Danny Robbins – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The warden who has been in charge at Augusta State Medical Prison for the last 18 months has been reassigned, a signal that state corrections officials want new leadership at the facility as it deals with the sanitation and safety concerns recently brought to light by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Georgia Department of Corrections spokeswoman Joan Heath confirmed Tuesday that at the end of the month, Scott Wilkes will move from the Grovetown facility to the Augusta Transitional Center, which he directed before he was promoted to his current position in July 2016. Wilkes is being reassigned because “he has been very successful in leading transitional and reentry efforts previously,” Heath wrote. Wilkes’ replacement will be Ted Philbin, who was the warden at Autry State Prison in Pelham before recently being tasked with developing plans for the opening of the Metro Reentry Prison, Heath said. The Department of Corrections wants Philbin at Augusta State Medical Prison because it believes he is “a good fit for ASMP at this time,” she said. Wilkes, who is in his 17th year with the department, did not respond to a phone and email messages seeking comment for this story. Augusta State Medical Prison, the flagship of Georgia’s state prison healthcare system, includes both a 55-bed hospital and a close security prison that can house more than 1,300 men. Responsibility for the 34-year-old facility is essentially shared by the Department of Corrections and Georgia Correctional HealthCare, the branch of Augusta University contracted by the GDC to provide medical services.
Higher Education News:
www.hechingerreport.org
OPINION: Five reasons colleges can enroll more low-income students
New findings in a growing body of research
OPINION: Five reasons colleges can enroll more low-income students
by DANIEL PORTERFIELD
More than 80 leading colleges and universities are committed to a 2025 national goal of enrolling 50,000 more lower-income students in institutions with a 70 percent or higher graduation rate. This bold effort comes through the American Talent Initiative, launched late last year by Michael Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor. When people ask me why I believe in the initiative, I love talking about the talent and drive of my first-generation mentees. I tell them about Michelle Bailey, from Alexandria, Pennsyvania, who graduated ninth in her class at Franklin & Marshall and now holds a Fulbright ETA Award in Taiwan. I also tell them about Ashley Christopherson, from Reno, Nevada, who graduated magna cum laude and now advocates for rural students through the College Advising Corps. That said, to make the best argument for expanding college opportunity, we can also move beyond anecdotes and cite the findings of a growing body of research. Here are five crucial points that stand on a bedrock of evidence.