University System News:
EAB
How Georgia colleges support adult learners
As part of the University of Georgia System’s goal to ensure 60% of Georgia’s adults have some sort of postsecondary degree by 2025, the state is turning its attention to adult learners, reports Martha Dalton for WABE. Right now, just 42% of adults in Georgia hold a postsecondary degree, according to Complete College Georgia. And the state can’t count on younger students to close the gap, says Tom Harnisch, the director of state relations and policy analysis for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. “Adults have to be part of the equation,” says Harnisch. “The math just doesn’t work. There’s just not enough traditional-age students out there for states to educate that will help them reach those ambitious attainment goals.” Non-traditional students currently account for about 15% of all students enrolled in the University of Georgia System, and many of these students face more barriers to graduation than their peers.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three Georgia schools make prominent best online colleges rankings
By Eric Stirgus
Three Georgia schools cracked the top 25 in various categories of U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the nation’s best online colleges. The University of Georgia tied for fifth in online education courses, tied for 17th among non-MBA business programs and was tied for 25th in online bachelor’s programs. Georgia College & State University was tied for 15th among non-MBA business programs. Kennesaw State University tied for the 21st best online MBA program.
See also:
U.S. News & World Report
10 Low-Cost Online Colleges for Out-of-State Students
Out-of-state students pay an average of $180 per credit – $21,716 total – for these online bachelor’s programs, U.S. News data show.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
A Change in Leadership Is Coming at Savannah State University in Georgia
The University System of Georgia announced that Kimberly Ballard-Washington will serve as interim president of Savannah State University, effective July 1. Savannah State University enrolls about 4,200 undergraduate students and nearly 200 graduate students, according to the latest data supplied to the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 83 percent of the undergraduate student body at the historically Black university. Ballard-Washington currently serves as associate vice chancellor for legal affairs for the University System of Georgia. She is the former associate director of legal affairs for the flagship campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. Earlier, Ballard Washington was assistant to the president for legal affairs and director of equal opportunity programs at Valdosta State University in Georgia. She has previously served as interim president at Fort Valley State University and Albany State University, both in Georgia.
Albany Herald
Kyle Marrero named as new president of Georgia Southern University
New Georgia Southern University president to assume role on April 1
From Staff Reports
The Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia has named Kyle Marrero president of Georgia Southern University effective April 1. “Dr. Marrero is the right person to lead Georgia Southern University as it continues to expand its footprint in Southeast Georgia,” USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “Kyle’s higher education experience, combined with his focus on strengthening academics and building community partnerships, will be an asset to Georgia Southern’s campus community and the region as a whole. On behalf of the Board of Regents and USG, I’m excited to welcome Kyle in his new role. “At the same time that we welcome Kyle, we must also bid farewell to interim President Shelley Nickel. She’s worked tirelessly on behalf of Georgia Southern’s students, faculty, alumni and staff. I’m grateful for her service to USG and proud to call her a friend.”
All on Georgia
Georgia Southern professor honored with Georgia Medical Society Health Care Hero Award
eorgia Southern University Professor of Health Sciences Janet Buelow, Ph.D., was recently honored with the Health Care Hero Award in the Community Outreach category at Georgia Medical Society’s 18th annual Health Care Heroes Awards banquet. The event recognized individuals for their involvement in making health care better in the community. Buelow was awarded for her leadership and planning efforts for the Department of Defense’s 2018 Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) exercise, Operation Empower Health-Greater Savannah. A vast operation that included coordination with the City of Savannah, Garden City, Savannah State University and the military, the public-private initiative served more than 9,000 individuals with 26,000-plus free primary care services, including dental and vision procedures, and veterinary services for almost 3,000 animals. The event exceeded $4.5 million in cost.
WALB
South GA college student awarded broadcasting scholarship
By Bradford Ambrose
AMERICUS, GA (WALB) – An Americus college student was one of six to receive the 2018 Lanier Finch Scholarship given by the Georgia Association of Broadcasters. Georgia Southwestern State University’s Hallie Turner won a $1,500 scholarship. Turner said she didn’t think she would get the scholarship, but is happy she did. “So I was like, ‘OK, I’ll apply for it.’ Didn’t think I would get it. You know, just coming from a small town and everything. So, I applied for it, sent in my essay and everything and I got an email maybe three weeks later saying I had received it,” said Turner.
WTOC11
GSU Seniors in Statesboro upset after graduation changes announced
By Dal Cannady
STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) – Graduation is supposed to be one of the happiest days of college, but hundreds of Georgia Southern University seniors in Statesboro learned of major changes to the ceremony that leave them dreading it. Since the consolidation, students who’ve attended Statesboro campus or Armstrong campus have graduated there. Starting in May, your degree will dictate where you get the diploma. That has hundreds of seniors thrown for a loop and not happy with where they’re supposed to celebrate. Seniors went from anticipating commencement to dreading it, all in one e-mail. Many learned on Wednesday they won’t get their diploma at Paulson Stadium like they’ve expected for years. The university will split up ceremonies based on the students’ major. “My cousin and I both graduate the same day. As of right now, our ceremonies are the same day, same time, but hers is in Statesboro and mine is in Savannah,” said GSU Senior, Caroline Murphy. It’s part of the consolidation with Armstrong State University. Three of Georgia Southern’s 13 colleges will hold their diploma ceremony in Savannah. One of them is the College of Education.
See also:
The George-Anne
Students react to commencement ceremony changes
Savannah CEO
Savannah State Adds Certificate in Virtual Forensic Science
Staff Report From Savannah CEO
Savannah State University is adding a certificate in Virtual Forensic Science: Evidence Processing, Documentation and Analysis. Building upon the forensic sciences degree, this certificate will be open to students in any major as well as those employed in law enforcement, military or an associated area of forensic science, criminal justice or homeland security.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia Southern re-working football coach Chad Lunsford’s contract
By Travis Jaudon
Georgia Southern University and head football coach Chad Lunsford have reached an agreement in principle to a re-working and extension of the coaching contract that will keep Lunsford in Statesboro through 2023, pending approval from the Board of Regents. “I am very thankful for the opportunity and this platform at Georgia Southern,” Lunsford said in a statement. “God has blessed my family and I’m honored to represent Georgia Southern University. Being the head football coach at Georgia Southern is something that I don’t take lightly and look forward to continuing to work to help our team and university go from good to great. “It’s a dream to work with a program that has so much tradition and a fan base with so much passion. …I’m so fortunate to have a great staff and awesome players around me and I can’t wait to work with them for years to come. Hail Southern and No Place Else!” …Financial terms of the new agreement will be disclosed upon approval from the Board of Regents.
Politico
The ‘Moneyball’ solution for higher education
It’s a lot easier to start college than to finish. Can ‘big data’ help?
By KIMBERLY HEFLING
On a blistering hot June day, Georgia State University incoming freshman Jaila Heathman found herself feted inside the football stadium by cheerleaders, football coach Shawn Elliott, grilled chicken sandwiches and the booming sound of “Uptown Funk.” The academic year wouldn’t start for two months, and Heathman wasn’t a handpicked athletic recruit or an academic star. In fact, she was someone who Georgia State’s computer system decided was just a bit underprepared for college. Heathman had been invited to the stadium party by an algorithm. For the past seven years, Georgia State has been feeding student data into a “Moneyball”-style predictive analytics system, a custom piece of software designed to figure out who is ready to succeed in college, and how to keep them enrolled.
WALB News
GA Southwestern State University celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
By Bradford Ambrose
AMERICUS, GA (WALB) – One south Georgia university celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Wednesday. Georgia Southwestern State University held its 39th Annual MLK Convocation. The ceremony was filled with motivational speeches, a poem and music by local choirs. Marc Arnett is a GSW alumnus and was the motivational speaker during the event.
Growing Georgia
Apron Strings Exhibit Opens at ABAC’s Museum of Agriculture Gallery January 29
Fifty-one contemporary and vintage aprons will occupy the spotlight beginning Jan. 29 in a unique exhibition titled “Apron Strings: Ties to the Past-Classics” on display at the Gallery of the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. A program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts, the exhibit brings nostalgia back to Tifton through some iconic textiles and recognizable patterns. Museum Curator Polly Huff said the exhibition runs through March 16.
Atlanta Curbed
The refurbished tower completes phase one of the school’s Library Next project
By Karon Warren
After three years, Georgia Tech Library has finally reopened in Crosland Tower, an eight-story complex with archives, classrooms, and study and studio space. Built in 1968, Crosland Tower originally sported a brick façade, seven-foot-high, reinforced floors, and little to no sunlight inside. Today, everything has changed. Gone are the bricks, replaced with multi-floor atriums, glass windows, and lots of wood finishes, from stairs to walls to desks. The midcentury-modern architecture reflects that of the college’s Price Gilbert Memorial Library, now under renovation as the next phase of the Library Next project continues.
WALB News
Sumter Co. historical site feels impact of government shutdown
By Bradford Ambrose
SUMTER CO., GA (WALB) – The partial government shutdown is continuing to impact South Georgians. Most of the Andersonville Historical Site in Sumter County is closed. However, the national cemetery is still open to the public, but you enter at your own risk. A sign greets visitors as they enter the gates of the cemetery. It states, in part, “Any entry onto NPS property during this period of federal government shutdown is at the visitor’s sole risk.” A history professor at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), who has worked at the Andersonville National Historic Site, said the park’s closure impacts much more than its employees. “I think the key is to think about this as going beyond just the number of employees that are there,” said Dr. Evan Kutzler, an assistant History professor at GSW. “There’s 20 or so employees but there’s also visitors, we have tens of thousands of visitors who come to Southwest Georgia each year because they’re coming to Andersonville because they’re coming to Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. Or there’s school groups who come and they’re affected as well.”
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Giving a Hand to Students During Shutdown
Many college students rely on income — whether a parent’s or their own — from closed federal agencies. Some colleges are trying to help.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
The College of Southern Maryland is located about an hour’s drive from Washington, and it’s midway between two U.S. Navy bases. That means the area served by the community college is home to thousands of federal employees — and the impact of the ongoing federal shutdown on its students is unavoidable, said Maureen Murphy, the college’s president. “The ripple effect is significant. There are very few people who are untouched,” she said. The college is one of a handful of institutions that are offering emergency aid to students who are suddenly facing challenges paying for college because they or their parents are furloughed or not being paid. At the College of Southern Maryland, more than 100 students by last week had taken advantage of options such as deferred payment plans to deal with those unexpected challenges.
Politico
DeVos in wheelchair after breaking her pelvis and hip socket in bicycle mishap
By MICHAEL STRATFORD
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is recovering in a wheelchair from a recent bicycling accident, calling the ordeal “very painful.” In her first public appearance since the accident, DeVos said Thursday that she broke her pelvis and hip socket. She underwent surgery earlier this month. “Very painful,” she said. “But it will heal. I just have to stay off of it for quite a few weeks, so I’m getting around with other means.” The Education Department had said earlier only that she had broken a bone while road biking and would rest and recover at home while staying in touch with the office, without offering more details.