University System News:
www.ajc.com
Breaking: KSU President Sam Olens to resign in February
http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/olens-announce-future-plans-today-officials-say/iPzhFSEHL20OIQXMfbzCaN/
Eric Stirgus Greg Bluestein
Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens is resigning on Feb. 15, he announced in a letter Thursday to students, faculty and staff. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported last week that Olens was considering leaving the university.

www.mdjonline.com
Olens resigning as KSU president
http://www.mdjonline.com/news/olens-resigning-as-ksu-president/article_2a986754-e0e9-11e7-b23f-730cda45b83e.html
Staff report
Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens will be resigning from the position on February 15, the university announced Thursday. Olens has served as president since Nov. 1, 2016. Ken Harmon, KSU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been named interim president, according the University System of Georgia. A national search for the next president will begin immediately.

See also:
www.cbs46.com
KSU President Sam Olens to step down effective Feb. 15, 2018
http://www.cbs46.com/story/37067701/announcement-expected-from-ksu-president-sam-olens-after-cheerleading-scandal

www.oconeeenterprise.com
Pilot Club has given $10,000 in donations to university
http://www.oconeeenterprise.com/lifestyles/article_6c7f4bbe-e027-11e7-93e8-7b98306a2daf.html
by Michael Prochaska
The Pilot Club of Oconee County has reached a milestone in its contributions to the University of North Georgia. The organization, which underwrites service projects related to neurological and brain-related disorders, made it to the $10,000 level on the Donor’s Wall, which is located at the Gainesville Campus. …Donations to UNG fund scholarships, programs, faculty endowments, campus beautification and buildings. Last year, nearly $4.2 million was donated to UNG. In October, UNG’s fourth annual Oconeefest raised more than $10,000 in scholarship funds.

www.law.com
Judge Pryor, UGA Among Top 11th Circuit Feeders for Supreme Court Clerks
Most of those lawyers found slots with conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/sites/dailyreportonline/2017/12/12/judge-pryor-uga-among-top-11th-circuit-feeders-for-supreme-court-clerks/?kw=Judge%20Pryor%2C%20UGA%20Among%20Top%2011th%20Circuit%20Feeders%20for%20Supreme%20Court%20Clerks&et=editorial&bu=Daily%20Report&cn=20171214&src=EMC-Email&pt=Morning%20News
By Greg Land
…With six graduates moving on to Supreme Court clerkships, the University of Georgia School of Law ranks No. 14 among law schools providing the justices’ staff attorneys. The dean of University of Georgia’s law school, Peter “Bo” Rutledge—who clerked for Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III before going on to clerk for Thomas—said the school has a multifaceted approach targeting students interested in clerkships. Asked whether the University of Georgia deliberately reaches out to minority or female students for potential clerkships, Rutledge said the program instead seeks to be as inclusive as possible. “I would say our attitude is very ecumenical,” he said. “Our programs are open to all our students.” Whether to apply, he said, is an individual choice but one the law school supports.

www.onlineathens.com
UGA fall commencement to take place Friday
http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2017-12-13/uga-fall-commencement-take-place-friday?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=7bb528d84e-eGaMorning-12_14_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-7bb528d84e-86731974&mc_cid=7bb528d84e&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Sara Freeland  UGA Today
The University of Georgia will welcome its newest alumni on Friday as more than 1,700 undergraduates and 1,100 graduate students walk in the university’s fall commencement ceremonies. The undergraduate commencement starts at 9:30 a.m. in Stegeman Coliseum; tickets are required. The graduate ceremony, which doesn’t require tickets, will follow at 2:30 p.m. University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley will deliver the fall undergraduate commencement address.

www.thebrunswicknews.com
State attorney general to speak at CCGA fall commencement
https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/state-attorney-general-to-speak-at-ccga-fall-commencement/article_50b9907b-ea16-5ee2-9db2-bca09ff4ea97.html
Christopher M. Carr, the state attorney general, will be the keynote speaker at College of Coastal Georgia’s fall commencement ceremony Friday. The ceremony will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Carr has served as attorney general since Nov. 1, 2016.

www.valdostadailytimes.com
Man Up conference scheduled
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/man-up-conference-scheduled/article_9fde4a76-9043-5739-b5c8-585d534ec915.html
By Kimberly Cannon
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta State University African-American Male Initiative will hold the Man Up Leadership Conference 9 a.m.-noon, Jan. 20.  Derrick Carter, Sr., project director for AAMI, will be the conference host and facilitator.  Carter said the goal of AAMI is to recruit and retain African-American males in college, and as director at VSU, he works as a mentor.  “You may quit on yourself but I won’t let you quit,” Carter said he tells the young men.  He said the conference will be genuine and heartfelt, able to impact attendees’ everyday lives and allow them to leave a better person.

www.albanyherald.com
ASU Greeks donate toys to kids
ASU Greek organizations collect toys for children attending Sylvandale Academy
http://www.albanyherald.com/news/local/asu-greeks-donate-toys-to-kids/article_ad99fb6e-752c-596a-b630-b18d3a704f32.html
From Staff Reports
ALBANY — Ten Albany State University Greek organizations collected 200 toys for children attending Sylvandale Academy recently. Bernard Goins, the Greek Life coordinator, Erin Baugh, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Douglas Turner, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, delivered the items to the elementary school. The toy drive was hosted by the Greek President’s Council. This is the first year of the toy drive.

www.wsbtv.com
Georgia’s Uga is the best mascot in college football
http://www.wsbtv.com/sports/georgias-uga-is-the-best-mascot-in-college-football/663561805
By: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
College football fans earlier this season voted on the best mascot in the sport. It wasn’t really a contest. Georgia’s English Bulldog, Uga, has long been a college football favorite. The line of dogs dates back to 1956 when Uga I, “Hood’s Ole Dan,” first took the field for the home opener against Florida State. Today, Uga X reigns over a Bulldogs team chasing its first national title since 1980.

www.bizjournals.com
Regents approve two more university consolidations (Video)
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/12/13/regents-approve-two-more-university-consolidations.html
By Dave Williams  –  Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
The University System of Georgia is about to merge another four of its institutions into two. The system’s Board of Regents voted Tuesday to consolidate Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University and merge Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with Bainbridge State College. Both consolidations will take effect Jan. 1. The two merged institutions will go forward under the names of Georgia Southern University and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Each will begin operating with expanded missions and degree offerings.

www.wjcl.com
Ga. Southern President talks about official Consolidation with Armstrong St.
http://www.wjcl.com/article/ga-southern-president-talks-about-official-consolidation-with-armstrong-st/14426528
Dave Williams
What’s been a formality for more than a year now is finally official. Late Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia gave their final approval for the consolidation of Georgia Southern and Armstrong State. The newly consolidated university will allow for expanded missions and degree offerings and will take effect January 1st. Even though, that process is now complete, there’s still plenty of work that lies ahead. “Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves,” said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, Ga. Southern President. “The implementation plan and fulfilling what the promises are in that prospectus, that’s up to us now and we’re working through those implementation plan right now and we’re just ready, ready to get after it.”

www.myajc.com
UGA bus driver charged after leaving gun in residence hall restroom
http://www.myajc.com/news/local/uga-bus-driver-charged-after-leaving-gun-residence-hall-restroom/2Vp9npfu6eHpECS8eXcePN/
By Ellen Eldridge – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A student bus driver for the University of Georgia was arrested after allegedly taking a loaded gun into a residence hall on campus, officials said.
Brett Michael Davis told police he was driving his route Dec. 6 when he parked at the Russell Hall bus stop so he could walk to Brumby Hall to use the men’s room, according to a campus police report. The 30-year-old left without his weapon to continue his bus route. A campus employee called police about 8:45 a.m. and, shortly thereafter, Davis returned — out of breath — to retrieve his gun, the report states. According to officials with the University System of Georgia, the “campus carry” law leaves it up to the person carrying the gun to know what the rules are and to follow them, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. …Davis had a concealed carry permit, but was charged with having a weapon on school property, a misdemeanor, the report states. He was also charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct for leaving a loaded gun unattended in an area where others had access to it, according to the report.

Higher Education News:
www.chronicle.com
Proposed Tax on Graduate Students’ Tuition Waivers Appears to Be Dead
https://www.chronicle.com/article/Proposed-Tax-on-Graduate/242047?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=0c9647b326b646e29780815741306c7d&elq=71302925481c423c806ec933b1ce1306&elqaid=17142&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=7436
By Adam Harris
A legislative provision that would have effectively taxed tuition waivers used by graduate students to offset their educational costs will not be in the final tax package in Congress, Bloomberg reports. A House-Senate conference committee met on Wednesday to discuss the compromise bill, which Republican leaders hope to put on President Trump’s desk as soon as possible. Sen. Mike Rounds, Republican of South Dakota, told Bloomberg: “Folks who are in grad school will feel pretty good about the final result.” The provision appeared in the House’s version of the tax bill, but not the Senate’s. Nonetheless, several House Republicans voiced opposition to the waiver last week, sending a letter urging congressional leaders not to include the provision in the final tax bill. Thirty-one lawmakers signed the letter, which was sent two days after eight graduate students were arrested on Capitol Hill while protesting the proposed tax. “A tax on graduate tuition waivers would be unfair, would undermine our competitive position, and would inhibit the economic growth that tax reform promises,” the lawmakers wrote.