University System News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do we send kids to college for education or maturation?
By Maureen Downey
I was talking with a Georgia college professor about recent suicides on his campus. He made an interesting observation: Parents once sent their children off to college for an education. Now, parents expect colleges to provide maturation. Yes, parents want their kids to learn calculus and finance or whatever is likely to land them a job. But they also count on colleges to turn their kids into responsible adults by bolstering their social and emotional capital and addressing any mental health problems. Colleges have complied with this broader — and, in many ways, much harder — agenda and now supply a growing menu of non-academic services as enticements to students. But are colleges capable of delivering on these promises to not only teach students some useful stuff, but also transform vulnerable and confused teens into capable and mentally healthy adults? “Just because schools say they provide these services doesn’t mean they do it well,” noted the professor. The rise in youth suicide is placing greater focus on college mental health offerings. In the wake of two apparent student suicides in a week’s time, Georgia Tech is in the midst of both soul-searching about its competitive ethos and figuring out ways to prod more troubled students to seek help.
Clayton News-Daily
USG study: Clayton State generates $274 million economic impact in Clayton County
From Staff Reports
Clayton State University generated more than $274.6 million in local economic impact in the surrounding region for fiscal year 2017, according to a report released by the University System of Georgia. Clayton State continues to rank fourth highest among institutions classified as “State Universities” with the largest economic impact, according to the study. The top five “State Universities” include:
- University of North Georgia, $620 million
- Georgia College and State University, $284.5 million
- Columbus State University, $283.9 million
- Clayton State University, $274.5 million
- Middle Georgia State University, $253.8 million
The largest portion of Clayton State’s “output impact” is student spending. The report finds that spending among Clayton State’s students reached $140.1 million for the fiscal year, up from $135.5 million the previous year.
Inside Higher Ed
Hey, Google, Alexa, Siri and Higher Ed
The growing use of voice search and virtual digital assistants will have an increasing impact on how we deliver, search for and market higher education.
By Ray Schroeder
I watch the many ways in which my 7-year-old grandson engages with Google Home when he drops by the house. Whenever a question of history or fact arises, I pull out my phone or walk to my open laptop, but he always beats me to the answer by simply speaking out: “Hey Google …” This is just a seed of a rapidly growing phenomenon in human-computer interface that will enable far greater personalization and reach. Voice recognition and artificially intelligent interpretation are at the core of these technologies. As this rolls out into a pervasive interface, we are seeing changes in the way in which higher education is conducted. Georgia Tech, Northeastern University and Arizona State University are among the universities leading the way in embracing voice assistants in supporting students and faculty members. …Outside the classroom, voice-search technologies are affecting the way in which prospective students learn about our universities, degrees and programs. Increasing numbers of students are asking Alexa, Google and Siri, “Which university in this state has the highest ranked M.B.A.?” or “What is the average starting salary for a blockchain developer?” and “What universities offer certificates in blockchain development?”
Savannah Business Journal
Dec. 18 – Georgia Southern professor appointed to U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
Savannah Business Journal Staff Report
Nandi A. Marshall, DrPH, assistant professor in the Georgia Southern University Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH), has been selected to serve on the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC). Specifically, Marshall will sit on the CRASH Committee, formed by the USBC board of directors in 2013 to enhance USBC governance, membership, personnel and coalitions’ ability to build structures, systems, and a culture of inclusiveness, and mutual support for all peoples in regards to breastfeeding. “CRASH” is a mnemonic for the following essential components of culturally competent health care: consider Culture, show Respect, Assess/Affirm differences, show Sensitivity and Self-awareness, and do it all with Humility. “I am honored to have been appointed to the CRASH committee for the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee,” said Marshall. “I am looking forward to continuing the national dialogue around not only normalizing breastfeeding, but also addressing diversity, equity and inclusion, which are all cornerstones of the CRASH committee.”
WGAU
UGA AG DEAN TO FORECAST FARM ECONOMY
By: Clint Thompson
Sam Pardue, dean of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, will serve as the keynote speaker at the upcoming Georgia Ag Forecast seminar series Jan. 22 through Feb. 1. The annual meetings allow UGA agricultural economists to address Georgia’s farmers, lenders and agribusiness leaders about the latest trends and economic conditions in Georgia’s No. 1 industry — agriculture. At the seminar’s six locations across the state — Bainbridge, Carrollton, Lyons, Macon, Tifton and Watkinsville — Pardue will discuss how CAES works with Georgia’s agricultural leaders and how the college works to help solve the issues facing rural Georgia.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Selective Colleges Enroll More Low-Income Students
By Ashley A. Smith
Since the American Talent Initiative started two years ago, more than 100 flagship universities, selective liberal arts colleges and Ivy League institutions have increased enrollment of low- and moderate-income students by nearly 7,300, a modest 3.5 percent, according to a report released Monday. The initiative started in 2016 with 30 institutions around a collective goal of enrolling and graduating an additional 50,000 low-income students by 2025. Since the initiative began, Pell-eligible enrollment at the universities increased by about 3.5 percent, from 210,250 to 217,541.
Inside Higher Ed
Report Shows Lack of Diversity in Engineering
By Scott Jaschik
A new report from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities shows that while the numbers of black and Hispanic students in engineering are going up, they still lag significantly in enrollments at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Inside Higher Ed
Lamar Alexander Calls It Quits
The chairman of the Senate education committee, planning retirement in 2020, could step up efforts to pass a new higher ed law in the next Congress.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
Senator Lamar Alexander, the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee, said Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2020. His decision could have big consequences for a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act as well as congressional approaches more broadly on issues like student loans and college accountability. Alexander, 78, said earlier this year that he hoped to make quick progress on a new higher ed law. But even after a series of detailed hearings, talks with Democrats in the Senate never got serious. He was already facing a term limit as committee chairman in two years. Now Alexander’s retirement plans may add more urgency to reach a deal on the renewal of the key law governing financial aid and many other higher education programs and add another signature accomplishment he’s long targeted as chairman. “I will not be a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate in 2020,” he said in a statement. …His biggest legislative achievement was the 2015 passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, a “fix” to the No Child Left Behind law, which he co-wrote with Senator Patty Murray, his Democratic counterpart on the HELP committee. More recently, he helped restore year-round Pell Grants last year.