University System News:
www.myajc.com
Georgia Tech sees largest applicant pool in its history
https://www.myajc.com/blog/get-schooled/georgia-tech-sees-largest-applicant-pool-its-history/mhPQD8MJ9MQV0JG2TSMQnK/
By Maureen Downey
The Georgia Institute of Techology notified high school seniors this weekend whether they made the cut for regular decision admission. Georgia Tech notified early decision applicants in January. Between early and regular decision, nearly 8,000 students were admitted this year, out of the largest applicant pool in Tech’s history. More than 35,600 students applied to Tech, an increase of 13 percent. Slightly more than one out of five applicants earned admission, for an overall admit rate of 22 percent.  Out of those 8,000 admitted students, it’s likely 3,000 or so will enroll at Tech. (This year’s freshman class numbers 2,800.) According to Tech:  Georgia admits have more widespread distribution across the state than ever before. That can be attributed in part to the Georgia Tech Scholars program, which offers admission to valedictorians and salutatorians from Georgia high schools.

www.ajc.com
Georgia Tech receives $15 million for new scholarship program
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-tech-receives-million-for-new-scholarship-program/8QIg70HoKsnI8CojGNBdAN/
Eric Stirgus
Georgia Tech has received $15 million from a foundation it will use to offer scholarships to students based, in part, on their financial need. The A. James Clark Scholars Program in the College of Engineering “will support incoming students who exhibit strong academic potential, leadership skills and financial need,” Tech announced on its website Thursday.  The Clark Foundation gift is the largest endowment gift for scholarship support that the College of Engineering has ever received.

www.publicnow.com
Albany State University Hosts #MeToo Forum
https://www.publicnow.com/view/FE45ACE69B4CEDD69D58BB335BA90CAE4727E4C1
ALBANY, Ga – According to RAINN Statistics, every 98 seconds, another person experiences sexual assault. The Albany State University (ASU) History and Political Science club is joining the conversation by hosting a #MeToo forum, Tuesday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m., in the Billy C. Black Auditorium. The panel discussion will assess the significance and future of the #MeToo movement, and promote awareness of sexual assault.

www.gainesvilletimes.com
UNG plans $19M in renovations to convert Lanier Tech space
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/ung-plans-19m-renovations-convert-lanier-tech-space/
Joshua Silavent
The University of North Georgia is looking to implement $19 million in renovations at its Gainesville campus to convert space being vacated by Lanier Technical College. The new campus being constructed for Lanier Tech off Ga. 365 at Howard Road, set to open in January 2019, will leave empty buildings available for UNG to use to expand programming.

www.myajc.com
Former Kennesaw State official violated policies, report finds
https://www.myajc.com/news/local-education/former-kennesaw-state-official-violated-policies-report-finds/t1yEGITTueZleyZEMBZD0J/
By Eric Stirgus – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw State University released a report Friday that concluded its former chief information officer violated several management policies and didn’t treat her employees in ways consistent with the University System of Georgia’s core values. Some employees said Lectra Lawhorne “publicly humiliated or bullied” them and the work environment was “toxic and hostile.” The redacted executive summary by KSU’s chief auditor is the most recent bad news in a string of problems that have beset KSU, the third-largest public university in Georgia. The auditor found KSU hired an employee who had previously been incarcerated for theft. Lawhorne initially said she didn’t know about the person’s criminal history, but she later recalls the person mentioning a prior brush with the law, the report said. KSU also found Lawhorne erred by allowing a subordinate not to work for an entire month but still be paid an extra $750 for that month and the next four months for work on projects for the University System of Georgia. The other employees were not named. “Taken together, these violations demonstrate a failure of effective and ethical leadership by Ms. Lawhorne,” the summary said.

www.tiftonceo.com
ABAC Athletics Hall of Fame Announces 2018 Inductees
http://tiftonceo.com/news/2018/03/abac-athletics-hall-fame-announces-2018-inductees/?utm_source=Tifton+CEO&utm_campaign=797d9a76cb-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_12&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b977a0f8f6-797d9a76cb-303871653
Staff Report From Tifton CEO
Six individuals and one team will relive their “Glory Days” when they are inducted into the Class of 2018 of the Athletics Hall of Fame on April 6 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. ABAC Athletics Director Alan Kramer said the 2018 class includes the 1982 state championship men’s basketball team, Luis Paredes of Panama from the 1974-76 men’s tennis teams, Teresa Cromer Walker of Tifton from the 1993-95 softball teams, Andy Vaughn of Douglas from the 1981-83 golf teams, Jorge Novoa of Tifton, a friend of the tennis program since 1972; Jenni Collins Smith of Cotton from the 1980-82 women’s basketball teams, and Chuck DeVane, formerly of Valdosta and now living in Hot Springs, Ark., from the 1980-82 baseball teams. “This is a great group of inductees, and I’m looking forward to hearing all the stories from their playing days,” Kramer said. “We’ve been able to connect with some of our top performers from just about every sport at ABAC.”

www.augustachronicle.com
Georgia parts ways with Fox
http://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20180310/georgia-parts-ways-with-fox
By Marc Weiszer
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia fired men’s basketball coach Mark Fox on Saturday after a disappointing season that will leave it outside the NCAA Tournament for a third consecutive year, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. The school confirmed the move late Saturday. Fox did not immediately return a message seeking comment. “Days like today are very difficult, especially when you are talking about someone like Mark Fox,” athletic director Greg McGarity said. “In the end, I felt like we have not reached our full potential as a basketball program. I really thought we were on the way to turning the corner this year. We just did not achieve the level of success as a program that I believe we should at the University of Georgia.

www.valdostadailytimes.com
Center for Rural Prosperity — choose wisely
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/opinion/columns/center-for-rural-prosperity—-choose-wisely/article_5e45405a-124c-58af-bfb6-4932f4f9663c.html
Gary Wisenbaker
Culminating nearly two years of research and focus on issues plaguing the non-metro areas of Georgia, the Georgia House passed HB 951, sponsored by Rep. Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland), establishing a Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation. …The idea was to reach out and learn firsthand the challenges faced by all rural Georgia, not just those confined to particular geographic pockets. …And Shaw’s bill, now pending in the state Senate, proposes reforming existing state resources to address those needs. It represents solid, conservative legislation. It creates a deputy commissioner for rural Georgia, a position to be held by former state Rep. Amy Carter, to coordinate rural initiatives within the Georgia Department of Economic Development. …In its current form HB 951 envisions installing the CRPI at a unit of the University System of Georgia that awards a bachelor of science degree in rural community development. While this is logical thinking, it hamstrings the location possibilities for the Center, to one, maybe two such institutions in the state, and only one being located in rural Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. That ABAC is one of the nation’s premier agricultural research and natural resource management colleges is beyond question. Moreover, its recent merger with Bainbridge State College allows it to enhance and expand that reputation and role. And while ABAC’s credentials certainly qualify it as a venue for the CRPI, it might be unwise to conduct that consideration in a vacuum.

www.ledger-enquirer.com
How Piedmont’s dispute with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia impacts Columbus
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/business/health-care/article204380304.html
BY CHUCK WILLIAMS
A potential contract dispute between Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia has created some confusion in the Columbus market, according to a Piedmont spokesperson. Columbus Regional Healthcare went under Piedmont control on March 1, just as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia was notifying those it insures that the Piedmont agreement expires on April 1 and there is not a new deal to provide services for Piedmont’s hospitals and physicians. The former Midtown Medical Center and Northside Hospital on Veterans Parkway are now under the Piedmont umbrella. …Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia insures state workers, those in the University System of Georgia, including Columbus State, and even the employees of Columbus Regional.

www.fox5atlanta.com
Police arrest Georgia Southern University student over threats
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/police-arrest-georgia-southern-university-student-over-threats
STATESBORO, Ga. – A Georgia Southern University student was charged with making terroristic threats against his school. Emmanuel Pham was arrested after university police said he texted the threat on a group text conversation. According to investigators, the text read: “if you value your life, don’t be on campus tomorrow.”

Higher Education News:
www.chronicle.com
College Students Want Free Speech — Sort Of
https://www.chronicle.com/article/College-Students-Want-Free/242792?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=ae6d5f9157f644b6a102586b5f0bfc50&elq=d8a7fbefb2a24f029c59dde75e800824&elqaid=18145&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8088
By Emma Kerr
Though most college students say they value freedom of expression, a new Gallup poll shows they are more committed to free speech in the abstract than in reality. Fifty-six percent of college students say protecting free-speech rights is extremely important to society, according to the poll of 3,014 college students that was conducted in the fall of 2017. They also say they overwhelmingly favor an open learning environment that allows all types of speech on campus over one that imposes limits on words that might be considered offensive. But respondents’ commitment to open debate was inconsistent: Nearly half of students say they favor campus speech codes; nearly two-thirds do not believe the U.S. Constitution should protect hate speech; 73 percent support campus policies that restrict hate speech like racial slurs; and 60 percent say the same about those that discourage stereotypical costumes. The survey, sponsored by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, reveals an inner tension surrounding college students’ values when it comes to the First Amendment, said Sam Gill, an executive at the foundation. Students desire both free expression and the promotion of a diverse society. Their opinions on free speech are changing rapidly. Support for campuses that allow all types of free speech, over those that limit offensive speech, dropped from 78 percent to 70 percent since the survey was conducted in 2016.

www.chronicle.com
Loss of Global Prestige
The United States’ appeal as a study-abroad destination may be waning
https://www.chronicle.com/article/More-International-Students/242673?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en&elqTrackId=c0d4007d8717492aa2bcef3fa62f4b04&elq=d8a7fbefb2a24f029c59dde75e800824&elqaid=18145&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=8088
By Nell Gluckman
For international students, studying in the United States may be losing some of its luster. While there were more international students here in the 2016-17 academic year than ever before, there are signs that the growth has begun to slow. For the first time in years, enrollment of new international undergraduates declined in 2016-17. Applications and first-time enrollments of graduate students also declined, according to data from the fall of 2017. compared with the previous year. President Trump’s “America First” mantra has contributed to the trend, but other factors, such as aggressive recruiting by other countries, the cost of U.S. tuition, and global economic and political turmoil, began affecting international enrollment even before the 2016 election.