University System News:
Albany Herald
A committee will conduct a national search to replace retiring Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson
From Staff Reports
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has named the members of the Georgia Institute of Technology Presidential Search Committee, which will conduct a national search to fill the position of Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson following his retirement this summer. “President Peterson has set records in research, enrollment and fundraising while leading Georgia Tech for the past decade,” Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “I’m grateful for the members of the search committee who are dedicating their time and energy towards securing a bright future and talented leadership for Georgia Tech. We expect Georgia Tech’s next president to lead its world-class faculty, staff and students to even greater heights.”
The West Georgian
Kyle Marrero: Gone West, Going South
By Tiffany Maynard
The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents named Dr. Kyle Marrero the President of Georgia Southern University on Jan. 17, 2019. Marrero has served as UWG’s President since 2013, bringing new updates and record-setting graduation numbers throughout his presidency. Reflecting back on his time at UWG, Marrero says that he feels his impact has been made here. “We knew this was coming,” said Marrero. “As I look from the outside in, knowing UWG, with the leadership in place and the great strides being made, this might just be the best opportunity for me to see if I can make an impact somewhere else.”
The Spectator
African American Male Initiative aims for student success
Blacks and Native Americans are tied for the lowest post-secondary graduation rates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) hopes to change that. Aimed at minority groups, the organization recently came to fruition at VSU, thanks to Dr. Tameka Hobbs, coordinator of AFAM studies on campus. Through her work, the program has begun this semester and has offered keynote events and conferences. Most notable, however, is its hands-on, personal approach to increasing graduation rates among minorities. Leafus Thomas, leader and student coordinator of the AAMI, said the organization “works to build a relationship with its members” and find “the strengths and weaknesses of the group members.” “It’s more than just a tutoring session,” he said. The AAMI’s main goal is to empower, support, and assist students in gaining an undergraduate degree in four years. However, it’s limited to six years depending on the major and class structure.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State named No. 1 Military Friendly school in nation
By Pamela Miller
For the nation’s military forces, Georgia State University may be their best bet for higher education says MilitaryFriendly.com, according to a press release. The website, which measures organizations’ commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunity for the military community, ranked GSU the No. 1 military friendly school in the nation for the 2019-2020 school year.The university was among more than 8,800 schools surveyed in the United States and was chosen as the No. 1 school in the top tier of universities that were ranked. Other top schools included Cornell University, University of Southern California, Columbia University and the University of Georgia.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
South Georgia university to start Jimmy Carter Leadership Program
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia Southwestern State University announced Thursday it is starting a leadership program this fall named after Jimmy Carter and the former president may be involved in advising students in the program. University spokeswoman Chelsea Collins said in an email it anticipates Carter, 94, who studied there in the 1940s, “will record interviews discussing his leadership philosophy and experiences, and the students will have opportunities to engage with Carter scholars/fellows from across the country.” Carter said in a statement his close attachment with the university and desire to help students in southwest Georgia encouraged him to support the program. “They invested in me as a student over 75 years ago, and I want to do the same for the future leaders in our region. I’m very proud of the partnerships that continue to be made at my favorite college,” Carter said.
Savannah Business Journal
Georgia Southern economics students top performers in national trading competition
Savannah Business Journal Staff Report
A team of four economics majors at Georgia Southern University’s Parker College of Business recently took fourth place at TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim Challenge, a real-world cash trading experience, after going head-to-head with 500 college teams from around the country. “This competition enhanced students’ critical and analytical thinking skills,” said Omid M. Ardakani, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics. “They learned how to connect theoretical concepts with practice, which bridges the gap between theory and the real world. The skills they developed during this challenge will help them in their future career.” Handed a portfolio with $500,000 in virtual dollars to trade stocks, options and exchange-traded funds, teams were challenged to put classroom theories into practice and see who could earn the most money with professional-level technology using the paperMoney trading simulator.
WSAV
A Georgia Southern University spokesman gives an update on graduation ceremony changes
By: Khalil Maycock
Earlier this month we told you how some Georgia Southern students became concerned after finding out they may have to attend two separate graduation ceremonies. One in Statesboro and the other in Savannah. News 3 spoke with a university spokesman to find out if there are any updates for Spring 2019 commencement. Since Georgia Southern announced there would be a change to the way graduation was held in the past some students have expressed their dislike with this change. One student told us her intial response was anger, while another said when she found out she broke down. However, other students have even signed a petition to try and reverse the university’s decision to hold separate graduations on different campusues. The university spokesman John Lester, said the Student Government Association on the Armstrong campus proposed giving a formal request to the university. “It would be basically a way for the student government to submit a unified voice or concern to the administration” Lester said. Lester added the administration welcomes students speaking out against this change. However, he said the university likely won’t reverse their decision. He said the dates have already been set and the changes that are happening, are because of input from some students and faculty.
Black News Global
Georgia Southern celebrates Black Heritage Month – WSAV-TV
Georgia Southern University is celebrating Black Heritage Month with a series of panels, performances and more. Throughout February, events will be taking place on the Statesboro, Armstrong and Liberty Campuses. All are free and open to the public.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA clinic improves lives of children with disabilities
By James Hataway / University of Georgia
Posted at 6:00 AM
When Madison took her first tentative steps as a 1-year-old, her parents noticed she seemed to favor her right side and tended to swing her left leg around as she ambled across the floor. It’s not uncommon for children to struggle a bit when they’re first learning to walk, so Madison’s pediatrician suggested they wait to see if she improved. But the problem persisted for months, and she was eventually sent to a specialist. That’s when her parents learned that Madison had cerebral palsy. “When we got the diagnosis, it honestly hit me like a ton of bricks,” said Courtney Brown, Madison’s mother. “You have all the hopes and dreams for your child, and now you wonder what the future holds.” But Madison’s parents were not going to let this diagnosis define their child. … Madison’s teacher suggested that the family contact the University of Georgia’s Pediatric Exercise and Motor Development Clinic, which helps children with disabilities lead a more active life.
Athens Banner-Herald
Cutting edge UGA water tunnel aids engineering research
By Saleen Martin
A newly installed 35-foot water tunnel at the University of Georgia’s College of Engineering will help researchers develop new methods of generating electricity and more efficient space and marine vehicles like rockets and drones. Construction of the massive device began in 2016, and the water tunnel took about a year-and-a-half to complete. Built by Lewis Fortner, manager of UGA’s Instrument Shop, the stainless-steel tunnel can hold about 2,800 gallons of water. “What the water tunnel allows us to do is to put submerged structures in high-speed flow,” said Ben Davis, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering. “These are flexible structures that will vibrate in response to the flow going past them.” These experiments can help researchers discover new ways to build lighter rockets for space exploration, build marine vehicles that capture energy, and convert high-speed water flow into electricity and power other devices.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Expectations Build for College Transparency Legislation
With Democrats in charge of the House education committee, supporters of a student-level data system hope to see progress in Congress on transparency for college outcomes.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
When California governor Gavin Newsom offered his inaugural state budget, it included a proposal that was familiar to participants in one of the longest-running debates over higher ed policy in Washington. Newsom, who was elected in November, called for investing $10 million in a data system that would track outcomes in K-12, higher education and the work force. Such a system would allow the state to monitor the success of individual schools in getting students to and through college and into well-paying jobs. His proposal was the latest illustration of how state leaders are looking for workarounds for the current federal ban on collecting student-level data — a prohibition that has a strong chance of being overturned in the new Congress. “This proposal out of California is another demonstration of the hunger for higher-quality data to improve decision making and to help students make better choices,” said Mamie Voight, vice president of policy research at the Institute for Higher Education Policy. Voight and other supporters of a federal student data system to track college outcomes say that demand should inform members of Congress. And after Democrats took the House in November, the prospects of undoing the ban appear much stronger. Some key lawmakers and college groups still have reservations that could create other roadblocks for legislation. But the most influential opponent of a federal data system, Representative Virginia Foxx, is no longer running the House education committee after holding the gavel for the past two years. In 2008, it was Foxx, a North Carolina Republican, herself who wrote the current ban into federal law.