University System News:
www.athensceo.com
UGA PREPares Aspiring Doctoral Students to Succeed
Staff Report From Athens CEO
As an undergraduate student in Maryland, Ian Liyayi planned to major in nursing but got lost on the campus tour and found himself in the biochemistry department. He liked that even better. When it came to preparing for graduate school, Liyayi didn’t want to get lost along the way, so he applied for the University of Georgia’s competitive PREP@UGA Scholars program to give him more experience before he began applying to doctoral programs. “This program gets you fully ready for grad school because you get a ton of time in the lab,” said Liyayi, a current scholar who said he enjoyed research experiences in his undergraduate years at Stevenson University but didn’t gain much hands-on laboratory experience on long-term projects. “I knew I wanted to do graduate school, but I didn’t feel like I was completely ready,” said Liyayi, a native of Kenya who grew up in Baltimore. “This program seemed like a perfect fit.” With funding from a National Institutes of Health grant, the PREP@UGA Scholars program was created five years ago. Earlier this year, co-directors Erin Dolan and Mark Tompkins received a $2.1 million, five-year grant renewal, which will continue to fund a cohort each year of six to eight scholars from underrepresented groups or with limited opportunities in the STEM fields at their undergraduate institution.
www.ksusentinel.com
KSU places pause on curriculum change review process
http://ksusentinel.com/2018/10/01/ksu-places-pause-on-curriculum-change-review-process/
SABRINA KERNS
Kennesaw State Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Linda Noble placed a strategic pause on the curriculum change review process at the university. Noble first announced the strategic pause in an email to faculty and staff in late August, stating that she had heard repeatedly from faculty members that the curriculum review process does not allow enough time to review curricula or incorporate any curriculum changes into KSU’s system. Noble said in the email that KSU has an extensive review process for any curriculum changes requested by university faculty members. “We want to ensure that each proposal is given the appropriate level of attention, complying with both the spirit and letter of the review process,” Noble stated in the email. Noble later said that there are six steps involved in the curriculum change review process. The change is reviewed by the department’s curriculum committee, the department chair, the college’s curriculum committee, the college’s dean, the university’s curriculum committee and finally, the Provost. After a curriculum change receives final approval, the change is published in KSU’s catalog, Noble said.
www.barnesville.com
Food pantry up and running at Gordon
http://www.barnesville.com/archives/11213-Food-pantry-up-and-running-at-Gordon.html
Posted by Walter Geiger
Harry’s House, Gordon State’s food and necessities pantry, officially opened Tuesday with a shout of “Highlanders Forward” and the snip of a ribbon. What was once a storage closet on the second floor of the Student Center has been converted into a pantry of shelves that contain easily prepared food, hygiene products, school supplies, and other items. Harry’s House also contains a professional clothes closet supported by GSC Career Services for students in need of clothing appropriate for a job interview. Since its soft opening in late August, Harry’s House has served 115 students. With its official opening and word spreading across campus, many more students are expected to seek assistance.
www.ajc.com
John Legend to visit Atlanta college campuses Tuesday
By Eric Stirgus
Singer-songwriter John Legend is scheduled to make stops at a few college campuses in Atlanta on Tuesday, but he’s not here to perform. The EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) award-winning performer has been invited by student groups to encourage students to register to vote and cast their ballots for Democrats. Georgia Democratic Party officials said Legend will make stops at the Atlanta University Center, Emory University, Georgia State University and Georgia Tech.
www.ajc.com
UGA investigating baseball player for racial slur
By Chip Towers, DawgNation
ATHENS — A Georgia baseball player is under investigation by the UGA Equal Opportunity Office for allegedly yelling racial slurs while watching the Bulldogs’ football game against Tennessee at Sanford Stadium this past Saturday. The alleged remarks, which were reportedly directed at quarterback Justin Fields, were overheard by a group of students sitting nearby, who confronted him about using racially insensitive language at a school event. The baseball player allegedly dismissed their complaints and continued to use the offensive language. On Monday, a UGA student who witnessed the incident took to social media with her complaints. Using a Facebook public group page called “Overheard at UGA” as a forum, the student detailed what she allegedly had witnessed. The student said the initial post was deleted by page moderators and posted it a second time and also shared it on Twitter. The second post remains on the page.
www.thisisinsider.com
18 US colleges where students have the most fun
Sarah Fielding
Heading south, the University of Georgia at Athens comes in third.
The acceptance rate is 54%.
“This university is perfect for students hoping to have fun while at college. There are multiple avenues for one to de-stress, whether it be the exciting football games in Sanford Stadium or having a good time with friends at a Dawgs After Dark event. Academics meld well with the multitude of things to do in Athens. There is always something to do and always something that fits your taste. There are so many new faces on campus and you will for sure make lifelong friendships while at UGA! Overall, this university was perfect for someone like me: someone who wanted to focus on her studies but still have the opportunity to socialize and just have fun!” – University of Georgia at Athens student
www.moultrieobserver.com
Matney among 4 chosen for Center for Rural Prosperity
By Kevin C. Hall
MOULTRIE, Ga. — Gov. Nathan Deal has announced four of the six members of the new Center for Rural Prosperity and the Georgia Rural Development Council, and one of them is a prominent Moultrian. Two other people with Moultrie ties have also recently been appointed to other state boards. The appointment of Jim Matney, president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center, to the Center for Rural Prosperity was announced in a Sept. 21 press release from the Office of the Governor. Other appointments to the center announced at the same time were Marjorie J. “Betts” Berry, owner and operator of Huntland Farms in Chickamauga; Jim Pannell, an attorney with Gray Pannell and Woodward LLP in Chatham County; and Dr. Stuart E. Rayfield, vice chancellor for leadership and institutional development for the University System of Georgia, who lives in Columbus.
www.albanyherald.com
SANFORD BISHOP: Proposed moves not in best interest of agriculture
GUEST COLUMN: Congressman says comments do not slight Fort Valley
By Sanford Bishop
In a recent letter to the editor of a local newspaper, my commitment to Fort Valley State University was questioned. Representing FVSU, and getting to know, work with, and advocate for its students, staff and programs, has been one of the great privileges of serving in Congress. FVSU, led by President Paul Jones, is an invaluable resource to our state, providing much-needed agricultural leadership and research. My staff and I meet regularly with President Jones and his staff – most recently a couple of weeks ago. Over the years, my office has provided unwavering support to ensure FVSU’s continued success and prominence in the region, including millions in grants and appropriations. …Similarly, I am proud of my relationship with the University of Georgia and its College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and of the support I have been able to provide over the years through my position on the House Agriculture Committee and now the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. Just as I am a proud and vocal supporter of FVSU and UGA, I am also an unequivocal supporter of our farmers, ranchers, producers, consumers and agribusinesses. As a member of Congress from a large agriculture producing district, and as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to ensure these constituencies are served effectively and efficiently by the federal government.
www.albanyherald.com
ABAC’s Bridges: Focus on finish line
ABAC president offers state of college address to largest enrollment
From Staff Reports
TIFTON — It’s safe to say that no one has ever compared the operation of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to a NASCAR race. Count on ABAC President David Bridges to break from the pack. “At the end of a NASCAR race, nobody is really interested in who started the race,” Bridges said at his recent state-of-the-college address to the faculty and staff. “Everybody is interested in who finished the race. “I’m excited about the fact that ABAC has the highest enrollment in our 110-year history. I think it’s wonderful. But what really matters is getting these students to the finish line, seeing them walk across that graduation stage. That is our goal.” Bridges, who began his 13th year as the ABAC president on July 1, touched on the past, present, and future of ABAC in his Howard Auditorium address.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
A rundown of Georgia Southern’s sustainability resources compared to other campuses
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_da0cb518-1f81-5c9c-9808-f222c90bd72d.html
By Rachel Adams, The George-Anne staff
Colleges across the country are working hard to become more green, adding a variety of sustainability resources to their campuses. Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University and The University of Georgia share several resources, but some are exclusive to Georgia Southern. Only Georgia Southern has separate containers for approved materials, such as mixed paper, aluminum cans, cardboard and mixed metal and plastic. Georgia State and UGA use the same bins for all recyclable materials. Georgia Southern also participates in GreenFest, which is a sustainability celebration held every year in downtown Statesboro that highlights the importance of sustainability and educates visitors about going green. …Georgia Southern also has numerous ways students can get involved with sustainability and going green. …Georgia Southern and UGA are certified Green Ribbon Schools.
www.emanuelcountylive.com
EGSC VP for Academic and Student Affairs has article featured in NISOD publication
by KATELYN MOORE
Recently, Dr. Deborah Vess, East Georgia State College’s Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, had an article, “Interdisciplinary Studies Then and Now: Expanding Concepts of Integrative Teaching and Learning,” published as part of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) 40th Anniversary. The article, titled “Promoting Interdisciplinary Studies,” was originally published in Innovations Abstracts Volume XVI, No. 19 in September of 1994, and has been updated to catch up with current trends in education. It was published in the September 27, 2018 (Volume XL, No. 31) Innovation Abstracts: Legacy Edition. In the article, Dr. Vess describes how innovative approaches in colleges have evolved over the past 20 years.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
Construction of Hanner Health and Kinesiology Research Center begins
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_17c03bfd-9d9e-5498-ae22-503f44e04d7d.html
By Rachel Adams, The George-Anne staff
Construction of the new Hanner Health and Kinesiology Research Center began on Sept. 24 at the Hanner Complex, with the old pool building in the complex being renovated to make room for the center. The center is being built to provide more space for labs and research. “We have some space limitations with our current labs. The new labs allow us to expand opportunities for faculty and students,” Barry Joyner, dean of the Waters College of Health Professions, said. “Additionally, the current biomechanics laboratory is located in a gym that could be better utilized by academics and athletics if we could convert back to a gym.” According to an email from Matthew Shingler, director of facilities, planning, design and construction for Georgia Southern University, the completed center will be 10,000 square feet.