University System News:
www.myajc.com
Georgia university creates scholarship for hurricane-damaged counties
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia Southwestern State University announced a program Monday that will offer scholarships starting next fall for first-year students in 56 southwest Georgia counties impacted by Hurricane Michael. “Hurricane Michael devastated much of our state, with Southwest Georgia taking the brunt of the impact,” said the university’s president, Neal Weaver. “In restructuring GSW’s scholarship granting process, we wanted to develop a program that both prioritizes the students and families of Southwest Georgia and supports academic excellence. We believe the ‘Southwestern Promise’ scholarship program does just that.” …The scholarships will range between $1,000 and $2,000, Weaver said. Students must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average, SAT scores exceeding 1100 or ACT composite scores greater than 22 to be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA, SAT scores exceeding 1200 or ACT composite scores greater than 25 to be eligible for a $2,000 scholarship.
www.mdjonline.com
Kennesaw State recognized by Military Times
MDJ Staff
Kennesaw State University has been recognized among the nation’s top schools for veterans, according to Military Times magazine in its annual “Best for Vets: Colleges 2019” rankings. The University was one of only 137 four-year institutions of higher learning nationwide to be recognized by the publication. The Military Times “Best for Vets” rankings factor in the most comprehensive school-by-school assessment of veteran and military students’ success rates. Hundreds of colleges and universities are surveyed across the country each year. The distinction recognizes and rewards schools for their commitment to providing opportunities to America’s veterans.
www.newstage.com
Online-PhD-Degrees.com Releases List of Best Online Schools for Doctoral Degrees in Education Programs
Online-PhD-Degrees.com has recently released their list of the Best Online Schools for Doctoral Degrees in Education Programs, a comprehensive index of the finest distance education institutions offering degrees of this nature. …According to lead researcher and writer, Rowan Jones, “A Doctor of Education degree is an incredibly respectable line of work. The world is in constant need of compassionate and motivated instructors and teachers who can help others achieve their dreams in various fields and disciplines.” These twenty online institutions of higher education represent some of the most excellent schools in America. Students are highly supported by the administrations and faculty members at each school on this list and can count on challenging, yet rewarding, curricula that involve in-depth, real-world projects that approach current issues in today’s learning environments. Below you will find the schools that have made the Best Online Schools for Doctoral Degrees in Education Programs:
University of West Georgia–Carrollton, GA
www.albanyherald.cm
ABAC professor examines World War I consequences
Lecture focuses on WWI impact 100 years later
From Staff Reports
TIFTON – World War I was described as “the war to end all wars.” The conflict, which cost the lives of an estimated 9 million soldiers and 7 million civilians, ended on Nov. 11, 1918. James Galt-Brown will examine “The Great War” in an Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College lecture on Nov. 19 titled “Lasting Impacts: 100 Years After WWI.” The 7 p.m. lecture in Howard Auditorium on the ABAC campus is a part of the new ABAC History Lecture Series that began in September when Jess Usher addressed “An Examination of American Immigration History.” Galt-Brown said the ABAC History Lecture Series touches on how the events and decisions of the past resonate in every aspect of our lives. Each event in the series is open to the public at no charge. “This series explores issues both past and present and how those issues affect us each day,” Galt-Brown, a professor of history in the School of Arts and Sciences, said. The timing of Galt-Brown’s address almost coincides with Armistice Day, which signaled the end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. November 11 is recognized each year as Veterans Day. “We have arrived at the Centennial of World War I, a conflict so incredibly destructive that it remains difficult to comprehend,” Galt-Brown said. “The enormity of World War I was such that it often masks its own aftermath.
www.barnesville.com
Gordon observes Ethics Week
http://www.barnesville.com/archives/11306-Gordon-observes-Ethics-Week.html
Posted by Walter Geiger in Top Stories
The University System of Georgia (USG) and Gordon State College are committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct in pursuit of its mission to create a more educated Georgia. Accomplishing this mission demands integrity, good judgment and dedication to public service from all members of the USG community. Annually, the USG highlights this commitment through an Ethics Awareness Week which is scheduled this year for November 11–17. The purpose of this week is to remind employees of our commitment to an ethical culture and our shared ethical values and expectations. Chancellor Steve Wrigley has emphasized the importance of an ethical culture and how it is critical to the success of not only our institutions but our employees, students, communities and ultimately how Georgia is educated. Ethics Awareness Week is part of a comprehensive Ethics and Compliance Program. This Program includes a system-level Ethics Policy and Code of Conduct, on-board ethics training, periodic ethics refresher training, compliance audits, special reviews, and an Ethics and Compliance Reporting Hotline. In support of this effort, Gordon State College will be hosting activities to build upon our ethical culture by promoting activities related to our system-wide shared core values of integrity, excellence, accountability, and respect.
www.ksusentinel.com
KSU to hold annual Ethics Awareness Week
http://ksusentinel.com/2018/11/12/ksu-to-hold-annual-ethics-awareness-week/
Kennesaw State will host several events across both campuses during the University System of Georgia’s annual Ethics Awareness Week starting Nov. 11. The activities and events will include leadership presentations and student sessions about online behavior. The week will culminate with a presentation and Q&A from the featured guest speaker, Peter B. “Bo” Rutledge of the University of Georgia School of Law on Friday, Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m. in the Prillaman Auditorium. Rutledge is currently the dean and the holder of the Herman E. Talmadge Chair of Law at UGA’s School of Law as well as the author of several books and scholarly journal articles, according to KSU’s website. “Throughout the week, these activities and events will bring awareness to ethics, reinforce a culture that recognizes the hard work of all employees and promote the shared values of integrity, excellence, accountability and respect among our campus community,” according to KSU’s website. KSU President Dr. Pamela Whitten posted on her blog about the event, stating that “KSU is deeply committed to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct.
www.redandblack.com
Ethics Week reminds employees of their commitment to ethical culture, values and experiences
Victoria Swyers | Contributor
In order to highlight the value of an ethical culture the University System of Georgia is sponsoring Ethics Awareness Week, and the University of Georgia and other USG institutions will celebrate the week of Nov. 11-17. USG is committed to promoting the highest professional and ethical standards in a pursuit to create a more educated Georgia, according to the USG ethics awareness initiative press release. The USG Ethics Awareness Week material, provided to USG institutions, includes documents that underline costs of unethical behavior, both in revenue and personnel. … The purpose of the initiative is to remind employees of their commitment to an ethical culture, values and expectations, according to the press release. UGA hosted keynote speaker Ann E. Tenbrunsel, the David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Notre Dame, on Nov. 7 to prelude Ethics Awareness Week.
www.accesswdun.com
Children’s book celebrates history of UNG’s Dahlonega campus; Gainesville campus book ‘in the works’
By AccessWDUN Staff
University of North Georgia President Bonita Jacobs has written the first in a series of children’s books that will feature each of the university’s five campuses. Published by UNG Press, “UNG The Gold I See: The Legacy of UNG’s Dahlonega Campus,” tells the story of a young boy and his family during their visit to the campus. “UNG The Gold I See” engages readers of all ages through its multi-generational main characters. Benjamin Brown, daughter Jamie, and grandson Tommy each have a different goal during Visitors Day at the Dahlonega Campus. …”UNG The Gold I See” is the first in a series about the five UNG campuses: Dahlonega, Gainesville, Cumming, Oconee, and Blue Ridge. The book about Gainesville campus is already in development and will release in 2019. Among her many initiatives at UNG, Jacobs’ scholarship support for students has been a major priority.
www.middlegeorgiaceo.com
Middle Georgia State University Sees Second-Highest Enrollment Increase in University System
Middle Georgia State University News
Continuing an upward trend, Middle Georgia State University (MGA) this fall posted the second-highest percentage increase in enrollment in the University System of Georgia. MGA’s fall 2018 enrollment reached 7,802 students, according to the system’s official report released this week. That is a 6.36 percent increase over last fall. Only Georgia Tech, with a 11.4 percent increase, posted a higher gain. “This growth demonstrates that an increasing number of people have come to appreciate both the quality and the value of an education at Middle Georgia State, and are choosing to invest in their future by studying at our University,” said MGA President Dr. Christopher Blake. “We are excited to see that a growing number of students are seeking the benefit of a college education, and that the efforts that have gone into shaping our University and its programs to best fit the needs of not only our region’s students, but also the needs of our region’s business and community leaders, are paying dividends for so many in the Middle Georgia region.” In addition to the 6.36 percent overall enrollment gain, MGA saw a 19 percent increase in new student enrollment, including a 25 percent increase in beginning freshmen. The percentage of students in MGA’s graduate programs saw an increase of 81.7 percent. The latest numbers show MGA continuing an upward trend that began in summer 2018, when the University posted a 7.4 percent increase in enrollment over the same period last year.
www.ajc.com
Is Georgia overselling benefits of dual enrollment to teens?
By Maureen Downey
Is dual enrollment effective? Georgia is pushing more high school students to take college courses, but there are concerns about the value of the programs. Many top metro high schools advise their students to opt for Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes rather than dual enrolling in entry-level college courses. The high schools believe their accelerated classes better prepare students for the demands of college. But state leaders have great faith in dual enrollment. In 2014, Gov. Nathan Deal appointed a task force to recommend how to improve and streamline the dual enrollment process. The outcome was the 2015 “Move on When Ready” Act, which reduced barriers and removed financial disincentives to local schools to have their students participate. And it worked. In an audit earlier this year, the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts Performance Audit Division found:
-Between fiscal years 2013 and 2017, the number of students participating in dual enrollment increased by 212 percent from 11,484 students in 2013 to 35,862 students in 2017.
-The majority (86 percent) of dual enrollment credit hours were taken by students attending public high schools.
-Most (74 percent) dual enrollment courses are delivered at the postsecondary institution followed by 17 percent being delivered at the high school campus and 9 percent online.
-Technical College System of Georgia institutions were more likely than the University System of Georgia or private institutions to deliver dual enrollment courses to students at their high school campus. These courses may be delivered by TCSG instructors or by high school teachers certified by TCSG as having the necessary qualifications.
-Although state appropriations for dual enrollment programs have increased by 350 percent over the past five years, from $17.5 million in fiscal year 2014 to $78.8 million in fiscal year 2018, these appropriations represent only a portion of total state expenditures for dual enrollment. It is estimated that in fiscal year 2018 the state will spend approximately $172.3 million; including $78.8 million in dual enrollment appropriations and $93.5 million in enrollment-based formula funding at USG and TCSG institutions.
www.athensceo.com
UGA Six-Year Completion Rate Jumps to 86%
Sam Fahmy
An expanded slate of programs at the University of Georgia tailored to the needs and ambitions of students is helping them earn their degrees in record time. The university’s four-year completion rate has moved up two percentage points to reach a record 68 percent, and 75 percent of UGA students earn their degrees in four years plus one semester. For comparison, the average four-year graduation rate at UGA’s highly selective aspirational institutions is 69 percent, while the average four-year graduation rates for peer and SEC institutions are 53 percent and 49 percent, respectively. The university’s six-year completion rate moved up one percentage point to reach a record 86 percent, which is just one percentage point shy of the 87 percent six-year completion rate for the university’s aspirational institutions. UGA’s 86 percent six-year completion rate exceeds the 76 percent average for UGA’s peer institutions as well as the 72 percent average for Southeastern Conference institutions.
www.timesenterprise.com
Abraham Baldwin students organize sixth annual Manna Drop to feed local families
By Dalton Spangler
TIFTON — The sixth annual Manna Drop will feed families in need of Thanksgiving meals on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Charles Spencer Elementary School. One bag of food will be given to every family starting at 10 a.m. and continuing until there is nothing left. A team of five Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students organized and raised funds for the event this year. The Manna Drop began as a project by ABAC’s Stafford School of Business but has become a student program. Students organize and coordinate the donations received from businesses in the community to feed 400 families. Around $9,000 dollars will be spent on food this year according to Manna Drop veteran Lane Riley. Riley studies business at ABAC and this will be his fourth Manna Drop. “It’s a way to help people out,” Riley said, “I’d want somebody to do that for me, so it’s something I enjoy being apart of every year.” The team orders food through Publix. Publix donates reusable bags to distribute the food. Every bag will contain a five-pound ham, cornbread mix, rice, canned green beans and canned corn. ABAC’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries will help distribute the bags of food.
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
Pirelli intern lands full-time post quickly
Doug Walker
…“Pirelli has always believed in the potential of young people. For this reason, developing partnerships with local universities is fundamental for us to work with talented students that can then grow with the company,” said Michele Morris, HR director at Pirelli in Rome. “In the last months the Pirelli Rome factory has offered internships to four young students, all coming from local colleges, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University, the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, all with an engineering background.”
Higher Education News:
www.diverseeducation.com
Importance of Counselors Made Clear in College Admission Report
by Lois Elfman
The latest report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) details the various factors considered when colleges and universities build their freshmen classes. Grades, high school curriculum and test scores are the top factors in admission decisions according to the State of College Admission report issued last week by NACAC. Now in its 15th year, the report continues to spotlight the importance of academic performance in the admission process, but notes that other factors are also relevant as admissions committees select graduating high school students to attend their institutions. In May 2018, NACAC distributed its Counseling Trends Survey (CTS) for the 2017-18 academic year to counseling office staff members at 16,252 secondary schools and received 2,251 responses. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents were from public schools, 18 percent from private non-parochial schools and 14 percent from private parochial schools. While the surveys don’t specifically indicate issues of racial or ethnic bias, Melissa E. Clinedinst, NACAC associate director of research and lead researcher on the report, noted that when examining factors in admission decisions, the high school that an applicant attends can be a factor and access to courses is considered.
www.insidehighered.com
New Data on Admissions: Criteria That Matter, Early Decision and More
“State of College Admission” finds colleges focus more on academics than personal characteristics and value first-generation status over race/ethnicity.
By Scott Jaschik
The annual “State of College Admission” report is important for several reasons. One is that it dispels the myth — propagated by many who write about college admissions — that it’s impossible to get into college. You know the articles about how one is more likely to be struck by lightning than to be admitted to Stanford. Perhaps true for Stanford. But as the report — issued by the National Association for College Admission Counseling — demonstrates, it’s actually not hard to get into college. The average four-year college admits nearly two-thirds of those who apply, and this is true from year to year in the study, going up or down by a point or so. For fall 2016, the year covered by the report (for those data), the figure was 65.4 percent, down slightly from 66.1 percent the year before. And this doesn’t count community colleges, which are open admissions. Sadly, the public seems to ignore that finding every year. But there are other data points (based on surveys of college admissions officers and high school counselors) that may be of particular importance this year because of various debates in the policy world. (Inside Higher Ed also surveys these groups but focuses on questions not asked in the NACAC survey.)
www.insidehighered.com
Universities Team Up on Completion
Public university group brings together 130 universities and systems in 16 “clusters” that will seek to improve student access and completion while curbing equity gaps.
By Paul Fain
A growing number of universities are trading notes on how to improve student success rates. And the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities wants to take this cross-institutional collaboration to the next level. Over the weekend the group released details on an ambitious project involving 130 universities and systems that have pledged to work together in 16 “clusters” to boost their student access and completion rates while also curbing equity gaps. “These are burning issues for everybody,” said Rick Miranda, provost and executive vice president of Colorado State University, which is part of the effort. “Working together is a way to do it better.” The APLU and participating universities helped shape the clusters, each of which includes four to 12 universities grouped around geographic and other characteristics. For example, the project features an urban cluster, a group of technology-focused institutions, a cluster of universities with high percentages of Pell recipients and one that will seek to integrate data collection systems across six universities. The 130 participating institutions collectively enroll three million students, one million of whom are eligible to receive Pell Grants. Under the project, which is dubbed Powered by Publics: Scaling Student Success, the universities are seeking to graduate several hundred thousand additional students over the next five years. APLU, which is holding its annual meeting in New Orleans, said specific completion targets are in the works. Data sharing will be a key part of the effort, said Julia Michaels, deputy executive director of APLU’s Center for Public University Transformation, which receives funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is overseeing the initiative. She said the clusters will use standard metrics on student completion, retention and credit accumulation.
www.insidehighered.com
Study Abroad Numbers Grow
The number of Americans studying abroad continues to increase and grow more racially diverse. Participation in short-term programs is booming, while the number of students studying abroad for a full year is decreasing.
By Elizabeth Redden
The number of American students studying abroad continues to steadily increase, growing by 2.3 percent in academic year 2016-17 compared to the previous year, according to new data from the annual Open Doors report released today by the Institute of International Education. A total of 332,727 students studied abroad for credit in 2016-17. IIE estimates that about 10.9 percent of all undergraduate students — and 16 percent of those earning bachelor’s degrees — study abroad at some point in their undergraduate careers. The profile of study abroad students continues to become more racially and ethnically diverse, though is still a long way from reflecting the diversity of enrollment in U.S. higher education, which is about 42 percent nonwhite. About 29.2 percent of students who studied abroad in 2016-17 were nonwhite, compared to 18.1 percent a decade earlier.
www.insidehighered.com
New International Enrollments Decline Again
The number of new international students fell by 6.6 percent at U.S. universities in fall 2017, and the decline appears to be continuing this fall, according to new data.
By Elizabeth Redden
New enrollments of international students fell by 6.6 percent at American universities in academic year 2017-18 compared to the year before, marking the second straight year in declines in new enrollments, according to new data from the annual Open Doors survey. New enrollments fell 6.3 percent at the undergraduate level, 5.5 percent at the graduate level and 9.7 percent at the nondegree level from 2016-17 to 2017-18. A separate survey of institutions found that the decline in new international enrollments is continuing this fall, though the drop was less severe than that reported last year. Institutions that responded to this fall’s enrollment survey reported on average a 1.5 percent continuing drop in new international enrollments, a drop that comes on top of last year’s declines. However, while about half (49 percent) of respondents reported declines in new international enrollments this fall, another 44 percent reported increases, and 7 percent said their numbers were stable.