University System News:
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Professional Association of Georgia Educators mourns death of Allene Magill
Professional Association of Georgia Educators mourns death of Allene Magill
Sad news from the Professional Association of Georgia Educators: Dr. Allene Magill, executive director of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, passed away at home unexpectedly Saturday. “The PAGE family is overwhelmed and saddened today with the passing of Dr. Allene Magill, our leader and executive director,” said Craig Harper, director of communications. “Allene was a tireless advocate for educators and public education in Georgia for many decades with her most important work occurring over the past 14 years with PAGE. …During Magill’s storied career she was twice named superintendent of the year for Georgia, served on the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia, was president of the Georgia School Superintendents Association and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders.
www.albanyherald.com
ART DUNNING: Albany State University is poised for success
ASU PRESIDENT: Excellence in customer service, academic offerings and community support are vital
http://www.albanyherald.com/opinion/art-dunning-albany-state-university-is-poised-for-success/article_6406c8d8-78a1-5a30-a6f3-b2b9b0b6fe64.html
By Art Dunning
At the end of this month, I will retire as president of Albany State University (ASU), a position I’ve held for nearly five years. I came to Albany after holding various roles in the University System of Georgia (USG), and have witnessed the resilience of this university to rebuild after a natural disaster and grow from a college to a university. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as president of Albany State during such a pivotal time in the institution’s history. Over these years, we have accomplished a lot together, and I am thankful for the support of the campus and Albany community for the commitment and dedication to this great institution. One of my major tasks was to guide ASU through the consolidation with Darton State College. The consolidation of these institutions was built on Albany State’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) designation and Darton’s designation as an access institution. It positioned the university to reach more students, offer more programs and have a greater impact. Change can be difficult and can take some time, but tireless efforts are continuing to be done to strengthen ASU to better serve this region and the State of Georgia.
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia Research Alliance CEO Mike Cassidy to retire
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/01/26/georgia-research-alliance-ceo-mike-cassidy-to.html?ana=e_mc_prem&s=newsletter&ed=2018-01-26&u=xw%2BDRjRaikB6EdaliSJBWQ0ae2f198&t=1517261979&j=79650891
By Maria Saporta – Contributing Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
Mike Cassidy, president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance since 2000, will be stepping down by the end of the year. The Georgia Research Alliance with its high-powered public-private board has led the state’s technology and innovation efforts since its founding in 1990. Cassidy joined the organization in 1993 as its fourth staff member. “I will have been there 25 years this May. I will be 65 in November. And we will have a new governor next January,” Cassidy said in an interview. “All those forces converged, and I thought it would be a good time for a change in leadership.” GRA’s board includes the presidents of Georgia’s public and private research universities as well as some of the top business leaders from around the state. It has helped Georgia’s universities expand their research capacity and create high-value jobs. It probably is best known for recruiting top research scientists to Georgia. …Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson agreed, saying, “Mike provided great leadership during some challenging economic times. He was instrumental in facilitating the transition of GRA to the Board of Regents.”
www.bizjournals.com
UPDATE: Army renews $2.35B Georgia Tech research contract
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/01/29/georgia-tech-wins-910m-army-contract-extension-for.html?ana=e_me_set1&s=newsletter&ed=2018-01-29&u=xw%2BDRjRaikB6EdaliSJBWQ0ae2f198&t=1517262633&j=79688771
By Jessica Saunders – Managing Editor, Atlanta Business Chronicle
The Army has renewed a contract with Georgia Tech for 10 more years with a ceiling of $2.35 billion. Under the agreement, Georgia Tech will continue working with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center on Department of Defense research. The work will be done by Georgia Tech Research Institute, a DOD University Affiliated Research Center. The Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract is for five years, with a renewal option for an additional five years. The contract renewal has a total ceiling of $2.35 billion over the ten-year period. An IDIQ contract means provision for an indefinite quantity of supplies or services during a fixed period of time. “This new, up to 10 year UARC-based contract will continue a long partnership between the two organizations,” Systems Simulation, Software and Integration Director Jeff Langhout said. “This will be another important instrument to enable the Army and academia to collaborate and solve the Army’s most challenging priorities including readiness and modernization.”
www.chronicle.augusta.com
AU Health System has plan to reduce costs by $20 million
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2018-01-25/au-health-system-has-plan-reduce-costs-20-million
By Tom Corwin Staff Writer
AU Health System is still losing money but had a much better December and has “turned this corner,” said Dr. Brooks Keel, chair of the health system and president of Augusta University. The health system has a plan over the coming months to reduce costs by $20 million and that should help, officials said. At a board meeting Thursday, AU Medical Center CFO Greg Damron said the medical center has begun to implement a plan to make a financial turnaround and “we’re starting to see the fruits of that here” in its December report. Keel said it takes a while to make changes in a large system, which he likened to turning a battleship, but “we have turned this corner.”
www.wtoc.com
One year later: GSU, Armstrong consolidation
http://www.wtoc.com/story/37361332/one-year-later-gsu-armstrong-consolidation
By Meredith Parker, Reporter
It’s been one year since the announcement of a consolidation between Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University. The merger took place at the beginning of this month. School leaders say most of the transition has been smooth and quick. “I don’t think people saw a huge difference when Jan. 1 hit,” said Dean Barry Joyner, Waters College of Health Professions. A decision made last January has come full circle for Students at the Armstrong Campus of GSU. “I think everyone just wants them to rip the band-aid off,” said graduate student, Ali Wells, Armstrong Campus. “From the day the consolidation was announced, it was so much emotion and everyone was like, ‘wait, what this,’ and then now, the emotion has settled down I think,” said Nipuna Ambanpola, Student Government Association President. “So, I think what you will see is some Armstrong signs have come down and some Georgia Southern signs have gone up,” Dean Joyner said. “In committee meetings, we are trying to use technology for a lot of those committee meetings that require people from both campuses to be present to those meetings. I don’t think you’re seeing a lot of faculty yet going back and forth. Mostly, it’s been at the administrative level.”
www.thegeorgeanne.com
CEIT renamed and adds new degree
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_50fcf895-37bb-557f-8d1d-03ff0fe16c95.html
By Brendan Ward The George-Anne staff
The Georgia Southern University College of Engineering and Information Technology has been renamed to the College of Engineering and Computing due to GS’ consolidation with Armstrong State University. Along with the name change, the college has added a new information technology program. GS students can now earn a bachelor of science in information technology starting this semester. The degree is offered on both the Armstrong and GS campuses, but each campus offers specific tracks. A general IT track and a cyber security track are offered on the Armstrong campus, while data science and IT management are offered on the GS campus.
www.thewestgeorgian.com
Wolves in India
By Thomas Thrasher
The University of West Georgia chose four students to represent the school in the 25th annual International Economic Convention, which was held in Mumbai, India. The students and professors were able to explore the area as well as make new connections with various people across the world. The UWG team came together and created a phenomenal paper and presentation where they earned the title of second-runner up during the competition. The team of four students managed to represented UWG well by bringing home a trophy after competing against 10 other schools.
www.thewestgeorgian.com
Best of West
By Matthew Harvey
The Best of West is a peer nominated award that provides recognition to faculty and staff at UWG. Melanie McLean, a staff member of the Dean’s Office, was recognized in the category of Strategic Imperative Recognition. UWG’s faculty and staff works hard behind the scenes to make this the great school that it is. One of the ways that hard work done by faculty and staff is recognized is through the Best of West Employee Award and Recognition Program.The Best of West award provides recognition to faculty and staff in the categories of values, strategic imperatives and cross divisional collaboration. McLean’s award for Strategic Imperative Recognition was given for her efforts in Project Search. Project Search is a partnership between the University of West Georgia and Carrollton High School that provides opportunities for students with developmental disabilities. Project Search gives these students the chance to be in a college atmosphere while gaining valuable work experience through jobs within Dine West.
www.vsuspectator.com
Tennessee residents receive in-state tuition for VSU
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has approved Valdosta State and nine other institutions to extend in-state tuition to eligible residents of Tennessee starting this spring semester. Starting the academic year of 2015, VSU offered the Border States Waiver for all residents of Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. “We are very excited about this announcement,” Ryan Hogan, director of admissions, said. “I believe students in Tennessee will be interested in the many benefits a degree from VSU has to offer them.” Out of the 11,375 traditional students enrolled at VSU in Fall 2016, 1,919 came from out-of-state. VSU suspects there will be a slight increase in the number of students from Tennessee, but have made no direct projections at the time.
www.myajc.com
UGA president announces plans to help rural and low-income students
https://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/uga-president-announces-plans-help-rural-and-low-income-students/ypTcilTRMyTKbRTOh2iIEO/?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=61330f05b1-eGaMorning-1_25_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-61330f05b1-86731974&mc_cid=61330f05b1&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Eric Stirgus
University of Georgia president Jere Morehead announced specific plans Wednesday to help two groups of students – those from rural areas of the state and financially-struggling seniors. UGA has created the ALL Georgia Program, a five-year, $300,000 privately-funded initiative to offer additional academic and other support to its rural students. Many of them are first-generation college students and some have difficulty adjusting to the university’s academic standards, according to a recent report done by a UGA task force. About 15 percent of UGA students are from rural parts of Georgia and their graduation rate is 10 percentage points lower than other students, the report found. “It represents another step to ensure that each and every student at the University of Georgia, regardless of background, is set up to be successful in the classroom and in life after graduation,” Morehead said in his annual state of the university address of the ALL Georgia Program.
www.chronicle.augusta.com
Assistant dean at AU wants to change employers’ perceptions of millennials
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/2018-01-28/assistant-dean-au-wants-change-employers-perceptions-millennials
By Joe Hotchkiss Staff Writer
The U.S. Census says there are more than 83 million “millennials” in America – people born between 1981 and 2000. Why should you care? Ask Melissa Furman. She is the assistant dean of Augusta University’s Hull College of Business, and specializes in career development and leadership. She also wants to change employers’ perceptions of millennials, and get businesses “on board with why they’re going to be the most amazing generation in the workforce in the world,” she said. “And if you are not hiring millennials in your workforce, shame on you. Because there are so many benefits from having millennials in the workplace.” Explaining their place and their future requires some background.
www.myajc.com
GOP Georgia lawmakers file bill to protect campus speakers
http://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/gop-georgia-lawmakers-file-bill-protect-campus-speakers/GczLzkuKffXBxuKO5foDaK/
By Eric Stirgus – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several top Republican state lawmakers have proposed a bill that could impose penalties as severe as expulsion for student protesters who repeatedly stop people from speaking on Georgia’s public college campuses. They join counterparts in about a dozen states in pushing legislation modeled after a conservative organization’s proposal. Senate Bill 339, filed last week, is designed to ensure constitutional protections to speakers after several controversial speakers nationwide — mostly conservative — were either turned away by college administrators or shouted down by students. “We think that the First Amendment is very important and something that should be protected on our campuses,” said Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, the bill’s lead sponsor. Others are concerned that those efforts to protect the rights of speakers could result in unfair penalties to some protesting those speakers.
www.news-daily.com
Documenting History: Georgia Archives celebrating 100 years
http://www.news-daily.com/features/doumenting-history-georgia-archives-celebrating-years/article_94abe86f-4ad0-5cb9-bd7f-671076bc0ce6.html
By Heather Middleton
MORROW — This year the Georgia Archives is celebrating 100 years. For the last century, Archives officials have collected and preserved some of the state’s most important historical documents dating back to 1733. The Georgia General Assembly created the Archives in 1918. It was founded by Lucian Lamar Knight who also served as its first director, according to the New Georgia Encyclopedia. The Archives’ mission was and still is to serve state and local governments and the people of Georgia by identifying, selecting, preserving and making accessible the records that constitute the state’s recorded history.
www.myajc.com
Numerous events planned for the celebration of Georgia’s founding
http://www.myajc.com/lifestyles/numerous-events-planned-for-the-celebration-georgia-founding/mtBKcNp9hzCB0aokS9AwsI/?utm_source=eGaMorning&utm_campaign=61330f05b1-eGaMorning-1_25_18&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_54a77f93dd-61330f05b1-86731974&mc_cid=61330f05b1&mc_eid=32a9bd3c56
By Kenneth H. Thomas Jr. – For the AJC
The Founding of the Colony of Georgia 285 years ago, on February 12, 1733, will be celebrated in many different ways. The Georgia Historical Society in Savannah takes the lead every year in Georgia Day celebrations with their Georgia History Festival, including a February 9 parade with school children. At georgiahistory.com, teachers and others can find educational material about Georgia’s birth — go to the “Learn” heading, which leads to “Explore Georgia History” and “For Educators.” Also, on Feb. 9 and 10, the Georgia Archives will display the Royal Charter and Georgia’s recorded copy of the Declaration of Independence. …Georgia’s founding and colonial period is rich with historical records and resources, found at the Georgia Archives, the University of Georgia’s Hargrett Library, and the Georgia Historical Society, as well as in many published sources.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
Foreign Languages Department Chair subject of University System of Georgia investigation
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_1b8a24d8-016d-11e8-88fa-7bdbabdfac0f.html
By Ian Leonard The George-Anne staff
Editor’s Note
Due to the nature of a currently ongoing investigation, some names in this article have been altered at the request of the subjects in an effort to keep their identities private. Jocelyn and Riley are the altered names.
Joel Wright, Director of the Title IX Office, made note of seemingly rising tensions between faculty members within the Foreign Languages Department (FLD) in October of 2016, according to a Title IX report. “There appears to be great tension amongst the faculty members of the Department of Foreign Languages,” Wright said in a Title IX harassment report. “It appears that the majority of the tension revolves around the promoting of the ACTFL [American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages] standards on oral proficiency.” While Wright attributed the strained environment to upcoming proficiency exams at the time, there are some within the FLD who pin the blame on the department chair, Eric Kartchner.
Higher Education News:
www.diverseeducation.com
AAC&U Annual Meeting Addresses Evolving Role of Higher Education
AAC&U Annual Meeting Addresses Evolving Role of Higher Education
by Tiffany Pennamon
WASHINGTON— Centering around the theme “Can Higher Education Recapture the Elusive Dream?” institutional administrators and other education leaders gathered at the 104th annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) to discuss higher education’s role in helping students achieve the “American dream” despite emerging discourse that the two are disconnected. Workshops and panel sessions largely offered best practices and strategies on areas including how to recruit and maintain diverse faculty members, how institutions can protect their brand and still support free speech on campus and how institutions can improve student success outcomes across two-and four-year institutions.
www.wsj.com
College Endowments Rose 12.2% in Fiscal 2017, Reversing Decline
Solid performance doesn’t end worries about long-term returns, as many schools brace for new tax
https://www.wsj.com/articles/college-endowments-rose-12-2-in-fiscal-2017-reversing-decline-1516856461?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=4
By Melissa Korn
College endowments grew by more than 12% last year, thanks to a global stock market rally and private equity gains. But long-term returns aren’t as buoyant, and the amount of money schools are pulling from their endowment funds continues to grow faster than inflation. Adding to finance chiefs’ worries, some of the nation’s colleges and universities are bracing for a new tax on their endowments.