University System News:
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Ga. has succeeded with film and TV production, now state needs some homegrown talent
BY CHARLIE HARPER
The easiest way to kill success is to take it for granted. The growth in Georgia’s entertainment industry has been an unqualified success. Georgia’s leaders are taking steps to quantify where the industry currently stands in the state, as well as to prepare to anchor the industry for years to come. The Georgia House of Representatives currently has a study committee focused on the creative arts and entertainment industry. The groups second meeting, held last week at the Capitol, featured Lee Thomas, the deputy commissioner of Film, Music, and Digital Entertainment for Georgia’s Department of Economic Development. A veteran of the entertainment business, Thomas now shepherds the industry’s efforts on behalf of the state. …So what is next for the industry, given the documented success to date? State officials and industry leaders are working to grow the creative side of the business here at home. …To that end, the University of Georgia last week announced a master’s of fine arts degree in film, television and digital media. The program will train those who want a career in creating film content, with students spending one year on campus in Athens, and the second year the students will be based at Pinewood Forest, adjacent to Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville. Jeffrey Stepakoff, executive director of the Georgia Film Academy, told the Atlanta Business Chronicle that the state “doesn’t have a film and television industry, it has a film and television production industry.” “Production” is the key word there, as it is quantified by the number of studios, the crew jobs and respective salaries, and the spending on materials, meals, and other items that come from the local community when a film shoot comes to town.
Inside Higher Ed
By Doug Lederman
Kyle Marrero, president of the University of West Georgia, has been named president of Georgia Southern University.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Transitions: New Chancellor at CUNY, Monmouth College Names Provost
Appointments, resignations, retirements, awards, deaths
Compiled by Julia Piper
Appointments
Micheal Crafton, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of West Georgia, will become interim president of the university on April 1. He will replace Kyle Marrero, who left to become president of Georgia Southern University.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Former Georgia Tech president’s life comes full circle, back to his roots in Georgia
By Maria Saporta – Contributing Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
For Wayne Clough – a former president of Georgia Tech and secretary emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution – it is as if his life has come full circle to his youth growing up in south Georgia. When Clough was nearing his retirement from the Smithsonian, he embarked on a book-writing journey that led him to explore his family roots within the context of its natural and human history. The journey took him through all the various resources available through the Smithsonian’s 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoo and nine research centers as well as have access to its collections of nearly 155 million objects, specimens and works of arts. The result is a book – “Things New and Strange: A Southerner’s Journey through the Smithsonian Collections” – which is being published by the University of Georgia Press and will be coming out May 1. …“I was the kid who built tree houses and built boats. It was kind of in me. I wanted to build things,” said Clough, who explained he was the first in his family to go to Georgia Tech. “I loved nature because I grew up in south Georgia. I ended up becoming a geological engineer.” He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1964. Thirty years later, he became the first and only Tech alum to become president of the university – serving in that role until 2007. The next year, he was selected to become secretary of the Smithsonian, a job he held until October 2014 – when he already had begun the research for his book on south Georgia. Now Clough has returned to the Georgia Tech campus, where he is the senior advisor of the Global Change Program, a relatively new initiative designed to provide solutions and create economic opportunities at the intersection of global change, climate change and energy. Georgia Tech President Bud Peterson also asked Clough to strengthen the G. Wayne Clough Promise Program, which provides a debt-free degree to Georgia students from families with an annual income of less than $35,000.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Gwinnett College professor receives University System of Georgia’s highest faculty honor
From Staff Reports
Dr. Binh Tran, assistant professor of information technology (IT) in the School of Science and Technology at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), received a 2019 Felton Jenkins Jr. Hall of Fame Faculty Award at the 15th Annual Regent’s Scholarship Gala last week. The award, which is The University System of Georgia’s highest faculty honor, has been earned by seven GGC faculty members since the college opened in 2006. …GGC honored Tran last fall with its 2018 Outstanding Teaching Award.
Cision
OnlineMasters.com Names Top Master’s in Early Childhood Education Programs for 2019
OnlineMasters.com, a trusted source for unbiased college rankings and higher education planning, announced the release of their Best Online Master’s in Early Childhood Education Programs for 2019. The research identifies the top programs in the nation based on curriculum quality, program flexibility, affordability, and graduate outcomes. … 2019 Best Master’s in Early Childhood Education Degree Programs (in alphabetical order):
Albany State University
Georgia College
Georgia Southern University
Kennesaw State University
University of West Georgia
Valdosta State University
WGAU
UGA NEAR THE TOP IN SAVINGS ON TEXTBOOKS
The University of Georgia was ranked No. 2 by OpenStax on a list of top 10 schools that have saved their students the most money through adoption of OpenStax free college textbooks in the 2017-18 school year. These textbooks helped 42,245 UGA students, according to data from Rice University-based publisher OpenStax. Savings from these textbooks saved students around $3.9 million, according to UGA data. UGA, as well as the University System of Georgia, has made a concerted effort to move toward free online textbooks, especially for large-enrollment courses, to save students money and improve teaching. “At UGA, we are growing a culture of Open Educational Resources thanks to dedicated advocacy for affordable textbook alternatives by our students, faculty, staff and administrators,” said Megan L. Mittelstadt, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.
The George-Anne
Georgia Southern’s online master’s program in K-12 education ranked No. 14 in the nation
By Madeline Branch
Georgia Southern University College of Education’s online master’s program has been ranked number 14 in the BestSchools.org “30 Best Online Master’s in K-12 Education” list. TheBestSchools.org reviewed Georgia Southern’s M.Ed. elementary, middle and secondary programs.The requirement for the online M.Ed. degree programs require a complete total of 36 online credit hours within a span of 18 to 24 months. The site uses an algorithm that specifically ranks each school on criteria ranging from academic excellence, class size, financial aid, strength of faculty scholarship, faculty-student ratio and range of degree programs.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
12 Universites Awarded AAU Mini-Grants to Support STEM Education
by Monica Levitan
The Association of American Universities (AAU) has awarded “mini-grants” to 12 AAU member institutions to support their efforts of refining undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.The mini-grants are funded by a five-year, $1 million grant from the Northrop Grumman Foundation which supports maintainable and diverse national programs to improve STEM education and provide STEM instructors with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful, according to an AAU release. The grants were awarded to Brandeis University; Case Western Reserve University; Emory University; Georgia Institute of Technology;
Savannah Morning News
AWARDS/HONORS
Harvey awarded Sloan Research Fellowship
Elizabeth Harvey has been named the Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. It is awarded to early-career scholars representing the most promising scientific researchers. Harvey will receive $70,000 over two years, which may be spent on expenses supportive of her research. She is a scientist with UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography.
Peach Belt Conference
GSW’s Rhodes Appointed to NCAA Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
AMERICUS, Ga. — Georgia Southwestern women’s tennis player Alexandria Rhodes has been appointed to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as a representative of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Peach Belt Conference with her term starting immediately. “It’s a huge honor to have been chosen to represent the Peach Belt Conference as a National SAAC member,” Rhodes said. “I’m super excited to be able to participate and help enhance not only Georgia Southwestern State University but all the universities that are associated with the Peach Belt Conference.” Rhodes will serve on the National Council for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee where she will serve as the primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests in Division II affairs. Besides attending meetings, she will be in charge of making recommendations to the Management Council on matters that are deemed appropriate towards her committee.
Morning Ag Clips
UGA Extension Academy program graduates new leaders
Program is designed to teach leadership skills to UGA county Extension agents
Fifteen University of Georgia Cooperative Extension employees graduated this month from the 2018-19 UGA Extension Academy for Professional Excellence — an internal program aimed at developing the next generation of leaders. The program is designed to teach leadership skills to early- and mid-career UGA county Extension agents, state specialists and personnel from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Ultimately, the training is an effort toward fulfilling UGA Extension’s mission of helping Georgians become healthier, more productive, financially independent and environmentally responsible individuals. Extension Academy participants completed three leadership institutes offering intensive, three-day personal and professional development trainings facilitated by the CAES Office of Learning and Organizational Development (OLOD). Participants in the leadership program have been identified as potential leaders for the organization, or are current leaders, who are interested in enhancing their leadership skills.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Only one in 12 University of Georgia students is black. Why?
By Maureen Downey
Why are African-American students still underrepresented at the University of Georgia? How do we change that? Two guest columnists tackle that question today. Before retiring, Jerry Arkin was the University of Georgia Griffin Campus administrator and a UGA professor. Jack Bernard, a retired corporate executive, was a two-term county commissioner and former county Republican Party chairman in Jasper County.In talking to black students admitted to UGA but enrolled elsewhere, I’ve heard two frequent explanations for that decision. The first was UGA offered too little diversity. The second: The students chose private colleges that provided unique opportunities. The AJC’s higher ed writer Eric Stirgus delved into this issue in a great story last year.With that, here is the guest column.
The George-Anne
Clavelia speaking: The story of one of Georgia Southern’s first African-American students
Julia Fechter
She was one of the first African-American students to graduate from Georgia Southern University in 1970, then called Georgia Southern College. Clavelia Love Brinson, known by many of her fellow students and professors as “Sherry,” had made her career as a health and physical education teacher and a school administrator in Jacksonville, Florida. After moving back to Statesboro in 2011, she did not return to campus until 2013. “I didn’t come back to this campus until Soledad O’Brien was talking …I haven’t been on this campus, in this gym, since 1970,” Brinson said.
Her challenges during college
Brinson originally wanted to go to Tuskegee University, but her family didn’t have money for that, nor did she receive any scholarships from the Alabama university. “I said, ‘Well, I’m going to go to school, and I want that piece of paper that says that I can work and earn a decent living,’” Brinson said. She applied to GS in the summer of 1965, whereby she was accepted and started school in the fall quarter. Though she said that her mother felt fearful about Brinson’s safety at the college, Brinson was determined to go to school.
WALB
Dozens of college police chiefs attend conference in South Georgia
By Deneisha Pearson
Dozens of police chiefs from colleges and universities across the state came to Crisp County for a conference Thursday. It’s the 11th year of university police chiefs learning new methods and techniques. “It’s a joint venture between the University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia, and our private institutions and not for profit institutions,” said Bruce Holmes, Chief of Police, University System of Georgia. Sixty different schools came to Georgia Veterans State Park and Lake Blackshear Resort to learn new topics and share the best practices and tactics. One South Georgia college chief believes it helps him to deal with the challenge of going from the streets to college campuses.
Albany Herald
Georgia ag museum plans stargazing program
Celestial outing opens new ‘History After Dark’ program
From Staff Reports
Walk among the stars during the Victorian Stargazing program on March 8 from 7-9 p.m. at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village. Museum Historic Village Supervisor Gina Beckman said Victorian Stargazing opens the new “History After Dark” program series which provides guests of all ages the opportunity to experience the Museum after hours. The series will feature evening programs throughout the year on a variety of topics and immersive activities.
WFXL
ABAC celebrates Black History Month
by Shelby Williams
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is honoring Black History Month all month long. Tuesday, the Tifton Campus welcomed students to celebrate black history with a concert with old songs that were prevalent in black culture. The dean of students said it’s good for the students to learn about different backgrounds other than their own.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Simplifying Higher Ed Accountability — or Complicating It?
Senator Lamar Alexander wants to apply a single loan-repayment system to programs at all colleges, nonprofit and for-profit alike, drawing concerns about student access.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
The rules that hold most colleges accountable for the debt their students leave campus with are widely regarded as broken. A Government Accountability Office report last year found that colleges easily game standards applying to loan default rates. Policy shops and lawmakers, meanwhile, have spent years debating the right approach about the degree to which institutions should be on the hook for poor results on student loans. Senator Lamar Alexander, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate education committee, this month released the latest gambit to overhaul federal accountability for colleges. He proposed in a speech at the American Enterprise Institute that a single accountability system measuring students’ progress paying back their loans should apply to all colleges and majors. It’s a simple concept, but policy makers would quickly run into complications drafting such a rule, representatives of college groups say. So far, the proposal is getting tepid responses from those groups, who say it could hurt access and create new administrative challenges on campus. But they could be facing a tougher political environment to oppose accountability outright.