University System News:
www.savannahnow.com
Savannah businessman Don Waters elected Regents chairman
https://www.savannahnow.com/news/20181113/savannah-businessman-don-waters-elected-regents-chairman
By Ann Meyer ameyer@savannahnow.com
Savannah businessman Don Waters was elected chairman of the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia on Tuesday. Waters, who earned a bachelor’s degree from Armstrong State and a law degree from the University of Georgia’s School of Law, is CEO of Waters Capital Partners, a family investment office. The current vice chair was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2013 and reappointed in 2017 for a seven-year term. “I couldn’t think of a better person. I couldn’t think of anyone more dedicated than Don Waters,” said Roger Moss, executive director of Savannah Children’s Choir who worked with Waters in launching Savannah Classical Academy, a charter school in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. “Don for all of his energy that he has poured into education, from Savannah Classical Academy to the Georgia Regents, he is a man of action. He truly believes in great education for all. I can’t wait to see what he does.”
www.albanyherald.com
Waters, Wade named Regents officers
Chairman, vice chairman will begin one-year terms on Jan. 1
From Staff Reports
ATLANTA — The Georgia Board of Regents, the 19-member governing body for the University System of Georgia, elected Regent Don L. Waters to a one-year term as the board’s chairman Wednesday and Regent T. Rogers Wade to a one-year term as vice chairman. Waters will serve as board chair from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 31, 2019. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed Waters in 2013 to the Board of Regents to represent the First Congressional District. He is the CEO of Waters Capital Partners LLC, an investment company and family office. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as chairman and lead the board in support of our 328,000-plus students working toward earning a college degree,” Waters said in a news release. “I look forward to continuing to work with the board on behalf of the faculty, staff and students of the 26 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia to provide an educated work force throughout the state of Georgia.”
See also:
www.northwestgeorgianews.com
Waters, Wade named Regents officers
www.kpvi.com
www.mcduffieprogress.com
www.savannahnow.com
Editorial: Local community leader great choice to chair Board of Regents
Higher education today evolves at a rate similar to that of digital technology: dizzying. Savannahians are fortunate to call one of the men and women controlling the merry-go-round their own. On Tuesday, local businessman and attorney Don Waters was elevated to chairman of the Board of Regents, which governs and manages the 26 public institutions that make up the University System of Georgia. This includes two schools essential to the fabric of this area, Georgia Southern and Savannah State. Those two universities are in the midst of transformations. Georgia Southern continues to adjust and align itself as a multi-campus regional education hub, with a presence in Statesboro, the former Armstrong State University here in Savannah and a third site in Hinesville. Savannah State, meanwhile, is engaged in addressing enrollment challenges that are almost sure to lead to staffing changes Having a native Savannahian and respected community leader like Waters chairing the Board of Regents should ensure our area schools remain top of mind within the University System of Georgia. Waters is an Armstrong graduate who made his professional career here, as an attorney, an entrepreneur, and now as a capital investor. He can’t play favorites, not with 24 other institutions located beyond southeast Georgia, but even he acknowledges the value of the chairman calling somewhere other than the Atlanta metro area home. Three of the four largest schools in the system — Georgia State, Kennesaw State and Georgia Tech — are located in or around our state’s capital city, while the fourth, the University of Georgia, is nearby.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
GGC’s middle grades education program approved
By Trevor McNaboe
Georgia Gwinnett College announced Wednesday it’s proposal for a new bachelor’s degree program in middle grades education was approved by The University System of Georgia Board of Regents. “This program will fill a critical need for middle grades teachers in Gwinnett County Public Schools, as well as the Atlanta region and elsewhere in Georgia,” Cathy Moore, dean of the School of Education, said. “We will be excited to begin accepting students into this program once it has been approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.” GGC currently has programs for elementary education and special education. The middle grades program will include field experience as well as in classroom lectures. Part of the curriculum will have students in the program complete a full year of student teaching. According to the college, Georgia Gwinnett collaborates on student teacher field experiences and placements with GCPS, the largest employer of the college’s graduates in education. GGC officials said the addition of the program supports USG efforts to provide qualified new teachers for the state’s school systems as well as in Gwinnett County.
www.wsav.com
Two Statesboro schools could soon share one same campus
By: Khalil Maycock
STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV)- Plans to relocate the Statesboro campus of East Georgia State College are in the works. The new location would be down the road on the grounds of Georgia Southern University. The president of EGSC, Bob Boehmer, said talks to move the campus have been brought up since he became president of the school in 2011. He said the potential move would be helpful to EGSC students since 75 percent of their classes are at EGSC, and the other 25 percent are at Georgia Southern University. “Putting our students physically on Georgia Southern University campus where those key services are located is the most efficient thing to do. But, most importantly it is the the thing that is most likely to result in those students being academically successful,” Boehmer said.
www.ajc.com
Georgia Southern gets record $5 million donation
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia Southern University has received its largest donation ever, $5 million from a local business leader that will be used for its business college. The state’s Board of Regents on Tuesday approved the name of the Gregory M. Parker College of Business at Georgia Southern University after the donor, the founder and CEO of Savannah-based Parker Companies. The money will be used to create the Parker Business Scholars Program, the Parker Business Scholarship Fund and the Parker Faculty Support Fund, officials said. The Scholarship Program, which will start next fall, will provide personalized professional development to some business students. The Support Fund will be used to assist faculty research. “By making this gift to the College of Business at Georgia Southern University, I hope to make a lasting impact on the business community in coastal Georgia,” Parker said in a statement. “I truly believe in education’s power to transform lives and have a strong commitment to giving back to the community.”
www.wtoc.com
Board of Regents responds to SSU Alumni concerns
http://www.wtoc.com/2018/11/14/board-regents-responds-ssu-alumni-concerns/
By Elizabeth Rawlins
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) – WTOC has learned 26 Savannah State University employees have been told their contracts will not be renewed next year. This comes following President Dozier’s announcement last month that they were considering making cuts due to declining retention rates. In addition to cuts, WTOC also found out that the Board of Regents Chancellor is sharing concerns about the current state of the University. Savannah State’s graduation rate sits at about 27 percent, falling behind colleges like Georgia Southern with a 51 percent rate and UGA with an 85 percent rate. That’s according to data collected by the U.S Department of Education. Data also shows SSU is falling behind on its retention rates as well.
www.thegeorgeanne.com
Georgia Southern professor received demotion for racial harassment allegations years prior to using N-word in class
http://www.thegeorgeanne.com/news/article_ec6b3fe3-81ae-5a69-b1df-90b1968b294b.html
By Tori Collins, The George-Anne staff
Georgia Southern University Professor Karen McCurdy received a demotion in 2013 as a result of a complaint filed accusing McCurdy of racial harassment. McCurdy was recently accused of using the N-word in class in October, however on April 26, 2012 Latoya Jenkins, the then assistant director of the political science department, filed a complaint with GS’ Diversity Services Office accusing McCurdy, the then supervisor of the political science department, of racial harassment, according to open records. In the complaint filed, Jenkins said McCurdy created a hostile environment for the African American student workers in the office. “She makes comments like ‘When you think of prisons you think of blacks,’” Jenkins said in the complaint. In the complaint Jenkins said McCurdy was being verbally abusive and discriminatory towards staff members.
www.georgia.growingamerica.com
ABAC Students Win National Competition
http://georgia.growingamerica.com/news/2018/11/abac-students-win-national-competition
By: ABAC
Two students from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College recently claimed the top prize in a national research grant competition from the Beta Beta Beta Biological Society Research Foundation. Michele Moncrief, a senior biology major from Bogart, and Corey Brooke, a senior biology major from Sycamore, won the national competition open to TriBeta students conducting mentored research from all participating chapters. Their research proposal was titled, “The effects of nicotine and niacin on chemoreception in fall army worms, a major pest of sweet corn in the Southeastern United States.” Dr. Joanna Gress, an assistant professor of biology at ABAC and the advisor for the TriBeta Biological Honor Society, mentored the two students. “This is the first time that ABAC students entered this competition, and we won,” Gress said.
www.gwinnettdailypost.com
Local athletic trainer receives trainer of the year award
By Madison Greer
James Williams, a Gwinnett Medical Center and Georgia Gwinnett College athletic trainer, was recently honored as the Association of Independent Institutions’ 2017-2018 Athletic Trainer of the Year. The award, which is given by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, is determined by other collegiate level athletic trainers. “We value James’ contributions and knowledge he brings in this role and are proud of this recognition,” said Nish Patel, vice president of operations at GMC-Duluth. “As a not-for-profit hospital, it’s important that we remain relevant to the community in which we serve. Based on that and the role that athletics play in our community, it’s paramount that we continue to place certified, skilled trainers such as James into local and college settings to empower young athletes.” Williams, a first-time recipient, has more than 19 years of experience in his profession and served as the assistant athletic trainer for both the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons before joining the GGC athletic department in 2012.
www.ajc.com
Georgia Tech collaborating with students for technological innovations
By Ken Sugiura
Given 24 hours and the expanses of their expertise and imagination, four Georgia Tech students and a fifth from Georgia State developed software for the Yellow Jackets volleyball team to better monitor its jumping performance. Other teams of students designed computer applications to free Tech’s softball coaching staff from hours of labor, improve fan experience at games and provide instant digital feedback for pole vaulters. The cost for Tech’s athletic department to tap into some of the brightest minds on campus? Primarily, the efforts of an assistant athletic director to bring Tech’s first-ever “Sports Innovation Challenge” to life and, thanks to sponsorship, not a whole lot more. The event, held two weekends ago, was an expression of the vision cast by athletic director Todd Stansbury for Tech to become a center for sports innovation.
www.ajc.com
On armistice centennial, a Georgia Tech star who never came home
By Ken Sugiura
On Sunday, on a pristinely landscaped 40.5-acre plot of land in the east of France, the memories of 4,135 men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country were to be honored. The day marks the centennial anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, and at St. Mihiel American Cemetery in Thiaucourt, France, a ceremony was to begin at 11 a.m. local time. Among those who rests there beneath a white marble headstone in the shape of a Christian cross is a Georgia Tech legend. Tommy Spence was a fullback in the John Heisman era. From Thomasville, Spence scored five touchdowns in the famous 222-0 win over Cumberland in 1916. He was selected to the All-Southern team the same year. He also played basketball, baseball and ran track. He was posthumously inducted into Tech’s sports hall of fame in 1976.
Higher Education News:
www.ledger-enquirer.com
Columbus Tech enrollment decreases while Technical College System of Georgia increases
https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/education/article221653505.html
BY MARK RICE
The enrollment at Columbus Technical College has decreased for the second straight year while the enrollment in the Technical College System of Georgia has increased during the same time period. Comparing 2018 to 2017, Columbus Tech’s enrollment dipped by 1.5 percent, from 4,676 in 2017 to 4,607 in 2018. The decline was much steeper the previous year, by 10.6 percent, from 5,231 in 2016. Columbus Tech’s enrollment was 5,041 in 2015 and 5,438 in 2014. The state system’s enrollment increased by 1.9 percent, from 134,630 in 2017 to 137,208 in 2018. It’s the second straight year TCSG gained enrollment after losing students the previous two years, falling from 143,658 in 2014. Columbus Tech is one of six institutions out of the 23-college system with enrollment declines during the past year. The other five are Bainbridge State College (from 1,550 to 1,051), Georgia Northwestern Technical College (from 7,750 to 7,499), Georgia Piedmont Technical College (from 6,020 to 5,799), North Georgia Technical College (from 3,779 to 3,660) and Savannah Technical College (from 5,846 to 5,752). …The Ledger-Enquirer reported last week that Columbus State University’s enrollment declined while the University System of Georgia’s enrollment increased this past year.
www.insidehighered.com
Racial Inequality in College Enrollment Patterns
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/11/14/racial-inequality-college-enrollment-patterns
By Ashley A. Smith
A report released Tuesday by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce is warning that admission practices and inequality in state education funding are creating two separate and unequal tracks to public colleges and universities. The report concludes that white students are disproportionately represented at selective public colleges and make up 64 percent of freshman enrollment despite only being 54 percent of the college-age population. Meanwhile, only 7 percent of black freshmen and 12 percent of Latino freshmen attend selective public colleges, despite making up 15 percent and 21 percent of the college-age population respectively. The report notes that more than 340,000 black and Latino students score above average on standardized admission exams, but only 19 percent of these high-scoring students attend a selective college. Meanwhile, 31 percent of white students who score above average on the SAT attend a selective college.
www.insidehighered.com
An About-Face for House Science Committee
Democratic takeover promises sharp change in direction for science committee, whose GOP leaders had promoted climate change denialism, meddled in federal grant making and badgered researchers.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
Over the past eight years, the House science committee became a home to climate change denialism and attacks on the federal process for doling out research grant awards. That promises to change in January when a Democrat takes up the committee gavel for the first time since 2010. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, the current ranking member, has already announced an about-face for the direction of the committee. She’s outlined an agenda that includes addressing climate change, supporting STEM education and restoring the credibility of the committee on science issues. Johnson has also introduced legislation to deal with sexual harassment in science and has called for federal science efforts to be more inclusive of minority scientists and those who work at historically black institutions.