University System News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp proposes budget increases for Georgia’s public colleges
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s new governor wants to increase the budget for the state’s public colleges and universities. Brian Kemp’s proposal would raise general spending for the University System of Georgia from more than $2.4 billion to nearly $2.6 billion, a six percent increase of about $147 million … The University System has more students and includes the state’s largest schools, such as the University of Georgia, Georgia State University and Georgia Tech … Much of the additional money for the University System will go toward growth in enrollment, which is at a record high.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On Campus: Super studies, new leaders and changes at the AUC
By Eric Stirgua
With more than a half-million students attending colleges and universities in Georgia and billions of dollars spent annually on higher education, there’s plenty of things happening on the state’s public and private campuses. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is committed to telling you about it with our weekly campus round-up. Look for it on Tuesdays. Here’s a look at what happened on the higher education front in the last week on some metro Atlanta and Georgia campuses:
Who will be Bud Peterson’s replacement at Georgia Tech?
The guessing game began minutes after George P. “Bud” Peterson announced earlier this month he’s retiring as Georgia Tech’s president. We interviewed experts and reported on what state leaders will consider in the job search and who could be president. Click here to read more.
A familiar face picked to lead Georgia Southern
Speaking of college presidential searches, the state’s Board of Regents announced last week it has selected Kyle Marrero, who’s been president of the University of West Georgia since 2013, to lead Georgia Southern. It’s a big appointment since Georgia Southern, which has the largest student body south of I-20, is growing in size and scope. The Regents will now begin a search for a new president at UWG. While state officials celebrated Marrero’s hiring, some said the selection process at Georgia Southern warranted greater transparency.
Super studies
There’s a pretty big football game coming to Atlanta in a couple of weeks and several Georgia campuses are planning discussions about sports, its impact on the economy and social justice. Kennesaw State University is planning a symposium on its Kennesaw campus Friday morning on whether the Super Bowl’s estimated $400 million to Atlanta is “Super (Hyper)Bole.”
Cybersecurity partnership
The University System of Georgia announced a partnership Friday with the U.S. Army where active duty military and reservists stationed at Fort Gordon can pursue degrees by taking cybersecurity courses at Augusta University, Columbus State University, Kennesaw State University, Middle Georgia State University and the University of North Georgia.
Valdosta Today
Local Nurse Practitioner Receives Prestigious Award
Zakiyyah Weatherspoon has been named recipient of the 2019 American Association of Nurse Practitioners® Georgia State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence. This prestigious award is given annually to a dedicated nurse practitioner (NP) and NP advocate in each state. Recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony and reception held during the AANP 2019 National Conference, June 18—23, in Indianapolis. The State Award for NP Excellence, founded in 1991, recognizes an NP in each state who demonstrates excellence in practice. In 1993, the State Award for NP Advocate Excellence was added to recognize the efforts of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward increasing awareness and recognition of the NP role.
Athens CEO
9th UGA Idea Accelerator Program Culminates in New Athens Startups
Staff Report From Athens CEO
The Fall 2018 Idea Accelerator cohort completed its eight-week program with a pitch competition in front of a distinguished panel of judges on November 12th. Spark Women, a company aimed at increasing female participation in the construction industry, walked away with the top prize of $5,000. The teams pitching their business ideas spent the previous eight weeks refining their concepts and working on customer discovery, financial literacy, and investor readiness. Over 50 teams began the program which culminated in 6 teams pitching their ideas. Conducted by the UGA Entrepreneurship Program with support from the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), the program is in its fourth year and 9th cohort. This program is the precursor to the Summer Launch Program which helps teams which validated a customer need during the Accelerator process get to revenue generation.
Business Insider
Mark Abadi
Technology is constantly shaping the way young people learn, and educators are always on the lookout for ways to use technology to better serve their students. One college is taking that to its logical extreme by removing almost all the physical library books on campus. Earlier this month, Georgia Tech put the finishing touches on the first phase of its Library Next project, an ambitious four-year plan to renovate the Georgia Tech Library with more seating space, rooms for student collaboration, multimedia studios, and computer labs. To make room for the additions, the university has cleared out most of the library’s book stacks and moved more than 95% of the physical books it housed — around one million items — to an off-campus storage site shared with Emory University.
The Red & Black
UGA’s Memorial Hall’s ‘Tribal Lounge’ soon to be renamed
Sarah Henry | Contributor
Memorial Hall was built in the 1920s to memorialize University of Georgia students who died in World War I. Until the Tate Student Center’s opening in 1983, it served as UGA’s student gathering area. While it may not receive as much foot traffic as the Tate Center now, Memorial Hall still harbors several organizations and events year round. Most of these organizations have offices in what is unofficially called the “Tribal Lounge.” However, as of Sept. 28, UGA Student Affairs adopted an initiative to change the unofficial name. Submissions for new name suggestions ended October 31.
Gainesville Times
Dorms at UNG in Oakwood? It’s possible. Here’s details
Jeff Gill The Times
Dormitory-style housing may be coming to the University of North Georgia in Oakwood. A private developer’s plans for a 488-bedroom complex — or 122 four-bedroom “pods” spread over four five-story buildings — was recommended for approval Tuesday, Jan. 22, by the Oakwood Planning Commission. Suwanee-based GAH Holding LLC’s proposal, which involves annexation and rezoning of 6.82 acres off Atlanta Highway/Ga. 13 and Frontage Road, now goes to the Oakwood City Council for final consideration. “We believe that this proposed student housing is definitely a much-needed project with the ever-growing (UNG) campus,” said Eric Johansen, spokesman for the project, to the commission.
Marietta Daily Journal
Open house Wednesday at KSU to provide input on student housing overlay district
MDJ Staff
The Cobb County Community Development staff recently completed a purpose-built student housing analysis. As a result of the findings, the Cobb Board of Commissioners has directed the creation of an overlay ordinance for this kind of development. Purpose-built student housing is an apartment community designed for residents in higher education. These communities offer amenities tailored to college students, such as individual leases, study areas, fully furnished units and roommate matching. Residents can provide their input on this overlay district draft by attending an open house Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kennesaw State University’s Siegel Student Recreation and Activity Center, 290 Kennesaw State University Road in Kennesaw.
FOX5
Georgia Tech students kidnapped, robbed
By: Marc Teichner, FOX 5 News
A late night doughnut run turned four Georgia Tech students into kidnapping victims. Atlanta Police told FOX 5 Monday night the male students decided to get something to eat at the Krispy Kreme on Ponce De Leon Avenue. They were approached by two men who were panhandling near the doughnut shop around 11 p.m. One of the students gave the panhandlers $5, but that apparently wasn’t enough because at least one of the men begging for money then pulled a gun. The suspects stole the students’ cellphones and forced them into a car … The kidnappers continued to drive around with the students still in the vehicle. Police said when the car got near Mercedes Benz Stadium, the students managed to jump and run for safety. None of them suffered any injuries.
11Alive
Georgia Tech officer arrested on battery charges
He also faces a third-degree child cruelty charge since a young boy was present.
Author: Christopher Buchanan
A Georgia Tech officer has been arrested following a domestic violence incident one county over. Patrick Francis Baxter is accused of slapping a woman, shoving her and kicking her in the leg during an argument in Smyrna, Georgia. According to a criminal warrant filed against him the Magistrate Court of Cobb County, Baxter was charged with battery and also faces a charge of cruelty to children in the third degree since a child was present during the crime. Baxter was later booked into the Cobb County jail on Monday. Georgia Tech released a statement on Friday confirming Baxter’s employment with the department since 2014. He’s also been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA assistant under fire for racially charged comments about whites
By Eric Stirgus
The University of Georgia has condemned comments made by an African-American teaching assistant on social media about “fighting” white people that some have described as racist. “I got people in their feelings saying fighting white people is a skill,” Irami Osei-Frimpong, 40, said at the beginning of a 45-minute video posted Friday on YouTube. The video was in response to conservative bloggers’ reaction to a recent Facebook post. That post about race relations, which ignited a social media firestorm, said that “some white people may have to die for black communities to be made whole in this struggle to advance to freedom.” UGA said in a statement it “has been vigorously exploring all available legal options. Racism has no place on our campus, and we condemn the advocacy or suggestion of violence in any form. We are seeking guidance from the Office of the Attorney General as to what actions we can legally consider in accordance with the First Amendment.” A spokeswoman for the attorney general’s office said Tuesday afternoon the matter is under internal review.
See also:
WSB-TV
‘Some white people may have to die’: UGA teaching assistant under fire for post
Higher Education News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Study urges Pell grant funding for prison education programs
By Eric Stirgus
A study released Wednesday is urging the federal government to end a quarter-century old ban on prisoners receiving federal Pell Grants to help pay for college education programs. Lifting the ban on Pell Grant funding could help nearly 500,000 incarcerated people, including nearly 11,000 Georgians, according to the study by the Vera Institute of Justice and the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. The ban on grants to prisoners was part of the 1994 crime bill. The grants previously served as the primary funding source for college programs in prison, researchers said in the 64-page report. Access to such programs would result in higher earnings for inmates once they’re released and those former inmates would be less likely to return to prison, researchers said.“ Expanding access to postsecondary education in prison, through state and federal action, is a step we can take that can truly disrupt mass incarceration and break the cycle of poverty that comes with it,” the report said.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Buoyed by Solid Economies, Most States Spend More on Higher Education
By Eric Kelderman
State spending on higher education this fiscal year grew almost 4 percent over 2018, according to the results of an annual survey released on Monday. The “Grapevine” survey, compiled by the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University and the State Higher Education Executive Officers, found wide variations in states’ support for their colleges during the current fiscal year. But over all, the increase in money for higher education follows a strong year for many state economies, which are projected to grow more than 4 percent in the 2019 fiscal year. Half of the states reported increasing higher-education spending by more than 3 percent for the current fiscal year, with Colorado showing the largest gain, at 12 percent, according to the survey. Eighteen other states had increases in spending of less than 3 percent, according to a report on the survey. …5 States Accounted for Most of the Growth in Higher-Ed Spending This Year
California, Florida, North Carolina, Illinois, Georgia
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Colleges Lose a ‘Stunning’ 651 Foreign-Language Programs in 3 Years
By Steven Johnson
Colleges closed more than 650 foreign-language programs in a recent three-year period, according to a forthcoming report from the Modern Language Association. The new data, which the MLA shared with The Chronicle, suggest that it took several years for the full effect of the recession of 2008 to hit foreign-language programs. Higher education, in aggregate, lost just one such program from 2009 to 2013. From 2013 to 2016, it lost 651, said Dennis Looney, director of programs at the MLA.
Inside Higher Ed
Rethinking State Authorization, Again
The U.S. Department of Education is contemplating going back to the drawing board on complex rules governing authority to operate online programs in multiple states.
By Lindsay McKenzie
Controversial regulations requiring online institutions to be authorized to operate in multiple states were up for debate last week as part of the Trump administration’s planned overhaul of higher education rules. For online learning leaders, it was a case of déjà vu. Last week’s discussion at the U.S. Department of Education represents the third time in a decade that department officials have moved to reshape state authorization rules for distance education through a process known as negotiated rule making. After almost 10 years of discussion, one thing is clear: state authorization is complex. Few groups agree on exactly how it should be done, or even if it should be done at all. Yet Education Department officials are optimistic they can find a way forward that will make the rules simpler for colleges. The test will be whether they can do so without significantly reducing consumer protections for students.
Forbes
Four Predictions For Higher Education In 2019
James Kvaal, Contributor
Only two weeks into 2019, and already Capitol insiders are buzzing about new higher education laws, presidential hopefuls are heading to Iowa, and governors across the country are rolling out new ideas. To make sense of it all, I polished my Magic Eight Ball to hazard four predictions about the next 12 months.
1.Congress will advance higher education legislation. …2. States will invest more in college affordability. …3. Student debt for graduates will grow slowly, though millions will continue to struggle …4. The bloom will come off income-share agreements.
Inside Higher Ed
For Provosts, More Pressure on Tough Issues
By Scott Jaschik
Nearly half (46 percent) of provosts of American colleges and universities report that at least one faculty member at their institution has faced allegations of sexual harassment in the last year. The percentage was highest (90 percent) at public doctoral institutions and lower in other sectors. The results are from the 2019 Inside Higher Ed Survey of Chief Academic Officers, conducted by Gallup and answered by 475 provosts or chief academic officers. This is the first time the annual survey of provosts included a series of questions related to the Me Too movement as it has become a force in higher education. The results indicate that provosts (as has been the case on many issues on which college administrators are surveyed) are more confident that their own institutions handle these issues correctly than they are of higher education as a whole. The survey, released today as many provosts and other academic leaders head to Atlanta for the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, comes at a time of intense pressure on chief academic officers.
Inside Higher Ed
Student-Centered Learning and Student Buy-In
Study finds that student resistance to curriculum innovation decreases over time as it becomes the institutional norm, and that students increasingly link active learning to their learning gains over time.
By Colleen Flaherty
Faculty buy-in is a common challenge to curricular innovation. But what about students? What hurdles, if any, do they represent when it comes to adopting a more student-centered pedagogy. After all, taking notes during a lecture is arguably less demanding than engaging in more active learning. That question is at the heart of a new study published in PLOS ONE, called “Knowing Is Half the Battle: Assessments of Both Student Perception and Performance Are Necessary to Successfully Evaluate Curricular Transformation.” Hypothesizing that student buy-in would increase as the share of students who completed a revised course grew within a given student population — due to a new sense of “community,” and not just teacher efficacy — the authors of the study measured learning gains and attitudes during a course transformation at a small liberal arts college.
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