University System News:
www.wsav.com
Community Corner: Georgia Southern Interim President updates consolidation, presidential search
By: Kim Gusby
It’s been three months since new leadership took the helm at Georgia Southern University. It’s a new era for the institution that, at the beginning of this year merged with Armstrong State.
Shelley Clark Nickel is the interim president. She joins us with an update on the consolidation process, the presidential search, and more. Click the arrow in the video box above to watch the interview.
www.wtoc.com
Georgia Southern University holds forum to discuss president search
https://www.wtoc.com/2018/10/18/georgia-southern-university-holding-forum-discuss-president-search/
By Dal Cannady
STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) – A forum was held at Georgia Southern University Thursday night to discuss the search for the university’s next president. A large group packed the meeting on the Statesboro campus to let the presidential search committee know what they want in a new president. Some speakers said the person needs to understand the university’s role in economic development for the community and the region. Others want the committee to focus on someone with leadership experience. Some talked about what they consider to be a power struggle between Savannah and Statesboro over the campuses since the consolidation. They said the next president must be able to bring campuses together.
www.ajc.com
Savannah State planning cuts as tuition and revenue declines
By Eric Stirgus
Savannah State University administrators are considering budget cuts to deal with recent enrollment and revenue declines. University President Cheryl Dozier said in a recent letter to faculty and staff that enrollment has declined two consecutive years, which has resulted in a reduction in funding this fiscal year. Savannah State’s total budget declined from nearly $121 million from the fiscal year that ended June 30 to about $107 million this fiscal year, according to state data. The university expects a reduction in state funding the next two budget cycles, she wrote.
www.ajc.com
Breaking: Seven arrest warrants issued in Fort Valley State University sex investigation
By Eric Stirgus Ernie Suggs
Prosecutors announced Friday they’ve issued seven arrests warrants, including for a former Fort Valley State University official, for prostitution and sodomy that allegedly began a year ago. Warrants were issued Tuesday for Ernest Harvey, 47; Kenneth Howard, 56; Ryan Jenkins, 35; Charles Jones, 57, of Fort Valley; Devontae Little, 26, of Warner Robins; and Arthur James Nance Jr., 46, of Cordele, each are charged with pandering and solicitation of sodomy stemming from conduct alleged to have occurred in 2017 and 2018. Former Fort Valley State University executive assistant to the president Alecia Jeanetta Johnson, 48, of Fort Valley, is charged with six counts of pimping on allegations she arranged to provide a prostitute to the six men. The investigation was conduced by the GBI, with assistance from the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and at the request of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office. Officials announced in April they were investigating sexual misconduct and hazing at Fort Valley, about 30 miles south of Macon.
See also:
www.13wmaz.com
7 charged in Fort Valley State University sex scandal
The former executive assistant to the FVSU president is charged with pimping and prostitution
www.ajc.com
Kennesaw State, student group settle campus speech lawsuit
By Eric Stirgus
A Kennesaw State University student organization agreed Wednesday to a settlement ending a lawsuit it filed earlier this year that claimed officials intentionally restricted where and when the group could speak on campus. Ratio Christi, which describes itself as a club that attempts to strengthen the faith of Christian students and evangelizes to non-Christians, filed the lawsuit in federal court in February, arguing the university’s rules were unconstitutional. The students said KSU officials repeatedly rejected the club’s preferred space to post a pro-life display, putting the club on a smaller location on campus. KSU officials called the display “controversial,” the club claimed. Tyson Langhofer, an attorney representing the student group, said it agreed to the settlement after the university updated its Freedom of Expression policy, which now makes it easier for students to hold spontaneous activities on campus.
www.patch.com
Ga. Highlands Celebrates Cartersville STEAM Building
The college held a ribbon cutting ceremony this week for the 52,000-square-foot academic building.
https://patch.com/georgia/cartersville/ga-highlands-celebrates-cartersville-steam-building
By Kristal Dixon, Patch Staff
CARTERSVILLE, GA — More than 300 people were on hand this week to celebrate Georgia Highlands College cutting the ribbon on its new academic building in Cartersville. The 52,000-square foot building will provide STEAM-based — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math — areas of study and will have a full slate of classes starting in January. The building adds an art studio, computer labs, science labs and several classrooms to GHC’s site in Cartersville. “We always get excited about a new building, but the most important thing is what happens inside,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “And what will be happening inside that building is quality instruction from faculty to our students. That’s what ultimately makes the difference in our communities with respect to economic development and workforce, and that’s where our focus is. The investment is in the students.”
See also:
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
GHC’s opens new academic building in Cartersville
www.accesswdun.com
UNG officials break ground on new Blue Ridge campus
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/10/725301/ung-officials-break-ground-on-new-blue-ridge-campus
By AccessWDUN Staff
The University of North Georgia (UNG) broke ground Oct. 17 on a new stand-alone Blue Ridge Campus facility. Some 150 people attending the ceremony, including state officials, community members, university representative and UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs. Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston, a UNG alumnus who represents Georgia District 7 – which includes Fannin County – in the General Assembly, helped secure $5.5 million for the new Blue Ridge Campus in 2019 fiscal year budget. He said Gov. Nathan Deal’s trek to Blue Ridge in May to sign the budget was the city’s first time hosting such a visit. Ralston called the new campus “a dream come true.” “This new, permanent campus in Blue Ridge will open doors to both a college education and better job prospects for generations to come in our north Georgia mountains,” Ralston said. “UNG’s role to provide greater access to quality education will continue to expand, and I am proud to support that noble mission.” Jacobs presented Ralston with a commemorative shovel as a gift for his efforts in securing the new facility.
www.albanyherald.com
Michael forces scaled-back homecoming at ASU
Albany State continues homecoming celebration despite cancellations, rescheduling due to Hurricane Michael
By Gypsy Crow
The Albany State University campus was quiet on Thursday. Students came back to campus on Wednesday, a week after being forced to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Michael, and campus life has taken a slow turn toward normalcy. There was nothing normal, though, about the absence Thursday of on-campus pageantry, which has long been a part of homecoming week at the university. Citing recovery efforts on the ASU campus and, indeed, throughout the city, President Marion Fedrick announced earlier this week that Albany State would significantly scale back the weeklong celebration. Removed from the schedule were a fundraising gala, a downtown street party and the homecoming parade, which annually draws thousands to the city’s downtown district. …“Our local hotels will need to cancel many of the current homecoming reservations in order to accommodate the sheer number of heroes arriving to Albany to help restore the Good Life City. As president of ASU, I back those cancellations 100 percent. We must get our community back in shape. We are one Albany, and we support this community, which is the ASU community.” Even with the scaled-back homecoming celebration and reminders of Michael’s wrath all over the campus and in the city, the mood on the university’s campus Thursday was upbeat.
www.thebrunswicknews.com
“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event brings attention to sexual assault
By LAUREN MCDONALD
Lining the sidewalks at the College of Coastal Georgia, 149 shoes marked the path for the college’s inaugural “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event. Each shoe represented a person who died in Georgia in 2017 due to domestic violence. A group of nearly 100 people — including students, college faculty, community leaders and law enforcement officers — followed the trail of shoes Thursday in a winding path around the campus in a march to bring awareness to sexual assault, domestic violence and sex trafficking. “We are here today to walk for women — women who have lost their lives or are survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault,” said Thearon Filson, administrative assistant in the college’s Student Health Center and organizer of the walk. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” is an international event that aims to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Men around the world often take part in the walk while wearing a pair of high heels. Many men embraced this challenge at Coastal Georgia’s walk. They hobbled slowly along in pairs of extra-large red heels, alongside students who carried signs and community members who came on campus for the event.
www.onlineathens.com
PHOTOS: The University of North Georgia’s Oconeefest
http://www.onlineathens.com/photogallery/GA/20181018/NEWS/101809993/PH/1?start=2
The University of North Georgia hosted its fifth annual Oconeefest on its Oconee campus in Watkinsville, Ga., Thursday. The event is a fundraiser for scholarships for students from Oconee County who attend UNG.
www.jbhe.com
Georgia Tech Partners With the Morehouse School of Medicine to Offer Dual MD/MBA Degree
The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Morehouse School of Medicine have partnered together to offer a joint, five-year MD/MBA degree. Students will complete three years as medical students at Morehouse followed by a one-year, three-semester MBA program at Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business. The final year, they will return to Morehouse to complete their fourth year of medical school. By offering this dual degree, both institutions have committed to preparing students to provide high-quality healthcare in a smart and efficient way.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
GS Alumna dedicates her time to improve education of low-income kids
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_f81ca763-5415-58ff-aeeb-990b7c43a939.html
By Bisola Oke, The George-Anne staff
A Georgia Southern University alumna has started a tutoring program with the aim of helping low-income families. Shunda Williams began tutoring camp June 2018 to improve the education of economically disadvantaged kids. William, a graphics design major, said that she was inspired by her son to start the Williams Event MOVE! Tutoring Camp and Summer Fun. …”That’s when the idea of the Summer Camp hit. Somehow, in 30 days, the entire camp manifested, site coordinator, transportation, sponsors and all!” Williams said that the purpose of the program is to provide customized tutoring service to each child according to their academic ability in a way they are able to retain it. “Our goal is to take the child who does not learn by “traditional methods,” observe their challenges, interests and strengths and then bring creative and hands-on activity to their learning experience,” Williams said. Volunteer tutors from GS hold tutoring sessions with their students for about two hours in the library from Monday to Thursday. On Friday, the kids are taken to Mill Creek Park to have some fun and then to the Statesboro library. Williams explained that working with students comes as a second nature to her because she has had various experiences with them from when she was a student and when she worked at GSU. “I’m a former GSU student, I’ve worked as staff on GSU’s campus, as a student, and after as staff at Continuing Education and, now, with the College of Business. Working with students is second nature,” Williams said.
www.tiftongazette.com
Bridgett Mobley: Positive and focused on beating cancer
By Joshua Clements
While nursing her six-month old daughter, Bridgett Mobley found a lump in her breast. Mobley was 33 at the time, younger than 40, the suggested age to start getting a yearly mammogram. Thinking it was just a blocked milk duct, she rode it out for a few weeks until her husband Marty made her go to the doctor. If having an infant at home wasn’t hard enough, the next year of Mobley’s life was going to be difficult in a way she never imagined. After giving in and going to see a doctor, Mobley was diagnosed with invasive ductal triple positive breast cancer Nov 10, 2017. In short, the disease was in a milk gland that had busted. The biopsy also showed that she was positive for HER2, a protein “called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, which promotes the growth of cancer cells.” According to the American Cancer Society, “these cancers tend to grow and spread faster than other breast cancers.” Luckily, all of the cancer was contained to one breast with no lymph node involvement. …In spite of the setbacks, Mobley has remained positive and focused on beating cancer. Her motivation was a checklist. She stayed on top of the treatments and continued to work as the logistics and operations manager at the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. After a cancer diagnosis, some people shut the world out, but Mobley encourages finding groups or others who have been through a similar experience.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Georgia Gwinnett College to unveil official fight song
By Trevor McNaboe
Saturday’s homecoming at Georgia Gwinnett College is seven years in the making for Doug Court, the school’s assistant athletics director for facilities and operations. During the school’s homecoming festivities, which take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., school officials are unveiling the official fight song created by Court dating back to 2011. Shortly after interviewing for a position with the GGC athletic department, Court said he went home and contemplated writing a fight song for the school. “The school doesn’t have a band so I just went home and sketched out the ideas that I had for it,” Court said. “It came together really quickly and I sent to them during my first meeting.” Court said the lyrics of the fight song express the idea of moving forward and everyone uniting in the same direction. …Athletics at GGC officially began Fall 2012 and has grown in popularity and success on the field, boasting a combined nine NAIA national championships between its men’s and women’s tennis teams and appearances in the in the NAIA world series by its softball and baseball teams. …According to Dale Long, director of sports information at GGC, there are plans for the fight song to be played at all six of the schools intercollegiate sports.
www.tiftongazette.com
Trick-or-Treat at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture October 27
TIFTON — Children both young and old can have an “unBOOlievable” time at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village on Oct. 27 with Trick-or-Treat in the Village from 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. The Museum invites children to don their favorite woodland creature costume and trick-or-treat their way around the historic village. Museum interpreters will welcome all the little costumed trick-or-treaters with candy in the homes and buildings throughout the historic village. A costume contest will be held at 1 p.m. on the porch of the Historic Village Drug Store.
www.ajc.com
Breaking down Michael’s estimated $3 billion hit to Georgia agriculture
State numbers put loss to timber industry alone at up to $1 billion; pecan, peanut and other crops hard hit as well
By Jennifer Brett
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Losses to Georgia’s agriculture industry from Hurricane Michael damage could reach nearly $3 billion, according to state assessments. Here’s a detailed breakdown of those estimates, provided by the Georgia Department of Agriculture using numbers compiled by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and Georgia Forestry Commission.
Higher Education News:
www.diverseeducation.com
Petition for Potential Freeze on SC College Tuition Receives Warm Reaction
by Monica Levitan
A bill that would briefly stop increases in South Carolina college tuition was recently presented to the Joint Education and Finance Study Committee and received warm reactions from committee members. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Vincent Sheheen and states that if passed, it would establish a $125-million trust fund to increase state funding of colleges to admit in-state students, according to Greenville News. “It seemed to me, it was time for a grand bargain,” said Sheheen. “South Carolina has the highest tuition rates in the Southeast and, last time I checked, the seventh-highest in the nation.” South Carolina colleges would have to freeze tuition for a year and not be allowed to increase tuition more than 2.75 percent annually afterwards.
www.insidehighered.com
A Boost for Graduates of U.S. Universities in H-1B Visa Pool?
By Elizabeth Redden
The Trump administration plans to publish a proposed rule this month that would increase the probability that holders of advanced degrees from U.S. institutions would be selected for one of 85,000 H-1B skilled worker visas available in the annual lottery, Politico reported.