University System News:
www.ajc.com
Georgia Regents announce areas for new degree program
By Eric Stirgus
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced Tuesday the first two areas of study for its new “Nexus” degree program: blockchain technology and data analysis. The Nexus degree, announced in February, is aimed at working directly with leaders in high-demand industries to better prepare students for the workforce. Students must complete 18 credit hours to complete a Nexus degree, which they will receive in conjunction with their associate, bachelor’s or post-graduate degree. Students must spend at least one-third of those credit hours in an internship or some form of hands-on training. USG officials hope to begin offering Nexus courses as soon as this fall. Wrigley briefly discussed the areas of study during Tuesday’s Board of Regents meeting. Blockchain allows information to be stored and exchanged by a network of computers without any central authority.
www.ajc.com
University of North Georgia to offer cybersecurity degree
By Eric Stirgus
The Georgia Board of Regents on Tuesday approved the University of North Georgia’s proposal to create a cybersecurity degree program. The degree is part of an effort that could enhance the university’s credentials as a hub for cybersecurity. All 14 U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia signed a letter last month urging the House’s Armed Services Committee to put funding for a cyber institute at the university and five other colleges in the National Defense Authorization Act. …UNG is a federally designated Senior Military College and a federal center that specializes in cyber defense education. The university hopes the new degree will attract students who can analyze cybersecurity threats and investigate incidents in industry, government or the military.
www.bizjournals.com
Ohio college president sole finalist to lead College of Coastal Georgia
By Dave Williams – Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
A college president from Ohio has been named sole finalist to become president of the College of Coastal Georgia. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents selected Michelle Johnston Tuesday to take over the reins at the school in Brunswick, Ga. Johnston currently serves as the 22nd president of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College in Ohio, a position she has held since 2014. “Dr. Johnston’s experience in higher education will provide a strong foundation for the students, faculty and staff of the College of Coastal Georgia,” university system Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “I want to thank and commend the campus search committee for its efforts and the role it played in this search process. The College of Coastal Georgia and the Brunswick community will greatly benefit from Dr. Johnston’s leadership.”
www.thebrunswicknews.com
Michelle Johnston named as sole finalist for CCGA president
By LAUREN MCDONALD
The University System of Georgia announced Tuesday that Michelle Johnston has been named the sole finalist to become College of Coastal Georgia’s next president. Johnston currently serves as the 22nd president of the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. She has held that position since 2014. “I am honored and energized by this opportunity to join the College of Coastal Georgia faculty and staff, the University System of Georgia and the Golden Isles community to further the focus on student success and a compelling mission,” said Johnston, in a press release sent Tuesday afternoon.
www.savannahnews.com
Georgia Southern University President Jaimie Hebert resigns
http://www.savannahnow.com/news/20180516/georgia-southern-university-president-jaimie-hebert-resigns
Georgia Southern University President Jaimie Hebert announced today he will step down effective June 30, 2018, to pursue other opportunities. Hebert has served as president of Georgia Southern since July 1, 2016. “Dr. Hebert is a lifelong champion of higher education and contributed significantly to the creation of the new Georgia Southern University,” said University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “I thank Jaimie for his dedication and service and commend him for his staunch commitment to serving students and supporting faculty. On behalf of the University System, we wish him the very best.” In preparation for the transition, Wrigley has named Shelley Clark Nickel as Georgia Southern’s interim president. Nickel currently serves as USG executive vice chancellor for strategy and fiscal affairs and treasurer for the Board of Regents. Nickel’s 17-year career with the USG also includes serving as interim president at Gordon State College in Barnesville, Ga.
www.wtoc.com
Georgia Southern president to step down this summer to ‘pursue other opportunities’
By WTOC Staff
Georgia Southern University President Dr. Jaimie Hebert has announced he will step down from his position this summer to pursue other opportunities. His resignation will take effect on June 30, 2018. Dr. Hebert has served as GSU president since July 1, 2016. He was the 13th president in school history. Late last month, it was announced Dr. Hebert was visiting the University of Houston-Clear Lake as a finalist for the position of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. We’ve also learned from a newspaper in Louisiana that Dr. Hebert is a provost candidate at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, which is his Alma Mater. The University System of Georgia Chancellor, Steve Wrigley, has named Shelley Clark Nickel as GSU’s interim president. Nickel currently serves as USG executive vice chancellor for strategy and fiscal affairs and treasurer for the Board of Regents.
See also:
www.ajc.com
Georgia Southern University president resigns
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia Southern president stepping down
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/05/16/georgia-southern-president-stepping-down.html
www.statesboroherald.com
Hebert to step down as Georgia Southern president June 30
University System executive vice chancellor to serve as interim president
https://www.statesboroherald.com/local/hebert-step-down-georgia-southern-president-june-30/
www.thegeorgeanne.com
President Hebert announces resignation from Georgia Southern
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_274652c0-3f9c-514e-a6c5-b98b5a6c2c6b.html
www.bryancountynews.com
Georgia Southern University President Jaimie Hebert announced Wednesday he will step down effective
http://www.bryancountynews.com/section/101/article/53545/
www.seattletimes.com
Georgia Southern president leaving job after 2 years
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/georgia-southern-president-leaving-job-after-2-years/
www.myajc.com
Kennesaw State is running a gas leak drill on campus, so don’t panic
By Ben Brasch – The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If there’s a bunch of intense hazardous material trucks Wednesday on the Kennesaw State University campus, don’t freak out. KSU public safety officials, Atlanta Gas workers and Cobb County firefighters are holding a large gas leak drill on campus. Campus police didn’t give an exact time, but they said it’ll be going down in the morning.
www.valdostadailytimes.com
Camp Discovery returns June, July
Valdosta State University provides youth programs
By Kimberly Cannon
Valdosta State University will offer children opportunities to exercise their minds and bodies with Camp Discovery June 4 through July 27. Camp activities include art classes, theatre, horse riding, video game design, swimming, sports and more. The cost for each class varies, according to the VSU Camp Discovery catalog. …”The purpose of Camp Discovery is to provide enrichment opportunities for youth in the Valdosta area,” the VSU Camp Discovery catalog reads. “We strive to create a safe, caring environment where participants expand their horizons, make friends and achieve personal growth through age-appropriate activities. All classes are designed to be fun for participants, as well as to improve academic, artistic and/or physical skills.”
www.13wmaz.com
VERIFY: Is summer ‘brain drain’ real?
Is it possible for students to lose knowledge over the summer? And if so, how much?
https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/verify-is-summer-brain-drain-real/93-551457746
Author: Justin McDuffie
School is almost out for summer. For some it means graduation, while for others it means promotion to the next grade. Students spend almost 10 months in a classroom throughout the school year, but is it possible for students to lose some of that valuable knowledge over summer vacation? After a long day at school, Joseph and Ysabella Gordon come home to knock out their homework. As the school year draws to a close, they’re looking forward to being out of the classroom.. “During the summertime we usually take our annual trip to Disney as a family, and they look forward to that every year,” said their mother Jenny Gordon. While family time is great, she also worries about academics. “There’s this long period where there’s not any learning going on,” Gordon said. Middle Georgia State University education professor Shamani Shikwambi says parents should be concerned. “There is definitely a process of losing something,” Shikwambi said. “We need to find ways to retain what we’re teaching throughout the academic year.” …Shikwambi says middle class families are more likely to encourage their children to do other educational activities during the summer. He says some lower income families might not have the same resources.
www.onlineathens.com
Private plane perk for Kirby Smart worth six figures
http://www.onlineathens.com/sports/20180515/private-plane-perk-for-kirby-smart-worth-six-figures
By Marc Weiszer
There are some standard perks that can be found in high-profile major college sports head coaches’ contracts to sweeten a deal: monthly vehicle stipends, country club memberships, season tickets and athletic apparel. Kirby Smart’s new $49 million, seven-year agreement with Georgia has “as additional compensation,” something new for the third-year head football coach: the personal use of an airplane for Smart, his family or guests for non-business travel. Smart gets up to 25 hours of flight time a year on a light jet. … Georgia uses and is sponsored by Delta and Smart’s contract says the school will make available a light jet through Delta or a comparable carrier service. Delta spokesman Brian Kruse said specific rates for its light jets through Delta Private Jets are not published, but that hourly rates are based on aircraft type and the duration of the flight. Delta Private Jets offers card levels as low as $100,000, according to its website. Asked how the personal use of a jet came to be part of Smart’s deal, Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity described it as part of the “negotiation,” and termed it as common now in head coaches contracts.
www.13wmaz.com
Dublin amputee leads fight to save Georgia Tech prosthetic program
Georgia Tech officials say they are examining the future of the Masters of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program, which one student says could be a costly mistake.
Author: WMAZ
About eight years ago, Brian White lost his leg in a work accident. “The machine basically caught my boot and started pulling me into the machine. It didn’t stop until it had completely taken my leg off,” he says. “There was so little muscle left in my residual limb that I would probably never walk again.” He did walk again, and now he wants to help others do the same. “I was very depressed at the time,” he says. “I could have easily given up and been in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I think meeting a good practitioner and him working hard with me to achieve my goals is the reason I’m doing every thing I am today.” That inspired him to go back to school at Middle Georgia State University. He is now in the Masters of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program at Georgia Tech and will graduate next May. It will be his latest accomplishment in a journey with many hurdles, but he says now the program giving him this new direction in life is the one in need of support. “They just kept repeating that it was deactivation, not termination,” he said. Georgia Tech officials recently notified students that the program would no longer accept new applicants for the next two years, while they decide on its future. … They’ve created multiple social media accounts and written emails to the college asking them to reconsider.
Higher Education News:
www.wsj.com
Where Graduates Move After College
Which cities have the most drawing power among college grads? Small metros lose out to big ones in gaining graduates, but some buck the trend. Our database of 445 schools shows where the alumni of each one wind up.
http://www.wsj.com/graphics/where-graduates-move-after-college/
By Danny Dougherty, Brian McGill, Dante Chinni and Aaron Zitner
A college education is often a ticket to the best career opportunities. For most graduates, that means moving to the nation’s biggest metropolitan areas, boosting the intellectual capital that helps those cities thrive. But the patterns vary widely by city and by institution. Working with EMSI, a labor-market research firm, we’ve gathered data for 445 prominent research universities and liberal arts colleges, as well as NCAA Division I schools, detailing where their alumni move after college. The maps below show their movement to 70 big metropolitan areas, as well as the share who move to smaller communities.
www.myajc.com
The five rules to succeed in the college and career game
By Maureen Downey
Despite the current debate about the value of a college degree, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says more education usually pays off.
Sifting through its wealth of research and data on how education impacts jobs and earnings, the Georgetown Center compiled five rules of the college and career game that students, their families, and educators need to learn. And, the center acknowledges sometimes those rules are contradictory. Rule 1: More education is usually better. Median earnings increase with each additional level of educational attainment. The median earnings of a high school diploma holder are $36,000, while a BA holder makes $62,000, and a graduate degree holder earns $80,000, on average. …
www.bizjournals.com
Korn Ferry study: College graduate salaries lagging in Atlanta (Slideshows)
By Eric Mandel – Digital Producer , Atlanta Business Chronicle
A new study finds that while the job market is at the hottest it’s been this century, salaries for newly minted college graduates in major cities are virtually flat from 2017, which means Atlanta still sits at the bottom. In consulting firm Korn/Ferry International’s (NYSE: FY) 2018 study, researchers analyzed salaries of 310,000 entry-level positions from nearly 1,000 organizations across the United States. Based on the analysis, 2018 college grads will make, on average, $50,390 annually. That is 2.8 percent more than the 2017 average ($49,000). “With the 2018 U.S. inflation rate hovering just over 2 percent, real wages for this year’s grads are virtually flat,” said Maryam Morse, Korn Ferry senior client partner. “However, with competition for top graduate talent so fierce, it’s critical that companies pay competitively, create an engaging culture and provide clear paths for advancement. …That isn’t to say there aren’t high-paying jobs to be had in the relatively affordable Big Peach. A recent report from professional-level job search Ladders put together a list of the 15 cities hiring the most $100,000-plus jobs using data from a continuously updated database. Ladders placed Atlanta at No. 9 in that category, with 7,724 jobs. San Francisco and New York were at the top, with more than 25,116 and 22,648 available jobs, respectively.