University System News:
The Augusta Chronicle
More than 1,000 Augusta area students attend College and Career Expo
By Amanda King
The inaugural College and Career Expo exceeded all expectations with more than 1,200 middle and high school students across the Augusta area pre-registering for it and more registering at the door Tuesday. Organized by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia County School District, the expo featured 71 colleges in the Southeast and 50 businesses from a wide range of area industries giving students a preview of their options following high school. Chamber President and CEO Tammy Shepherd said a second expo will be held after the response from the community. “It’s been tremendous, so obviously there is a need,” she said. A goal for the event is to attract students to the area after high school or college graduation to build the workforce. …Katherine Krusckow, a junior at Lakeside High School, confessed that her mom encouraged her to attend but said she enjoyed the experience. She plans to pursue agriculture and found Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College while perusing through the options at the expo. She said the college might be a good fit for her future plans.
Gainesville Times
How TomeCon ignites a stronger passion for reading in young minds
Kelsey Richardson
Kids eagerly rushed up to meet their favorite authors at TomeCon 2019, grabbing autographs and expressing their undeniable fondness for the worlds and plots the writers created. The conference attracted nearly 2,100 students, parents and volunteers to the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville campus on Tuesday, March 12. “I love seeing their eyes light up over the books, and talking to each other and meeting an author in person,” said Rebecca Hamby, executive board member of the Tome Student Literacy Society. “Authors are rockstars at TomeCon. It’s just a fun day helping the community.” The students immersed themselves in a plethora of literacy-themed sessions presented by authors, editors, storytellers and other experts in the field.
Valdosta Daily Times
Anderson a Georgia Southwestern outstanding alumni
The Wiregrass Georgia Technical College president was recently named a Georgia Southwestern State University outstanding alumni during its Third Annual Outstanding Alumni Awards Dinner. Dr. Tina Anderson, Ed.D., 1987 and 1992, School of Business Administration, was one of eight people named outstanding alumni by GSW. At the event, which had been rescheduled due to Hurricane Michael back in October, one graduate from each GSW college/school was recognized, one former student-athlete was inducted into the GSW Athletics Hall of Fame and the Leewyn Finklea and Aeolian Alumni Award recipients were also recognized. GSW President Neal Weaver told awardees their stories are inspiring and keep faculty and staff motivated hearing of the impact that Georgia Southwestern made on their lives.
Albany Herald
Book release planned for ABAC Bainbridge faculty member
Law enforcement retiree pens how-to book on criminal justice writing
From Staff Reports
A first book is on the launching pad for Steven Hougland, an associate professor of criminal justice at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Bainbridge. Hougland, a 30-year veteran of local and state law enforcement, said “The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice” is scheduled to be released on March 12. After retiring from law enforcement in 2010 to begin an academic career, Hougland’s research interests have included law enforcement accreditation, police misconduct, use of force, and preparing students for criminal justice careers and career advancement.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
UGA law school leads the way in higher grad school rankings
By Dave Williams – Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
Six University of Georgia schools and colleges rose in U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings of the nation’s best graduate schools – one of the strongest showings by UGA in the history of the magazine’s rankings. The rise of the Terry College of Business; the schools of Law, Public and International Affairs, and Social Work; and the colleges of Education and Engineering reflect the university’s growing national and international reputation for academic excellence, UGA President Jere Morehead said. “Outstanding graduate and professional education is a hallmark of a world-class public research university,” he said. “Congratulations to the faculty, staff and students whose dedicated efforts continue to elevate the reputation of The University of Georgia.” The rankings, announced Tuesday, appear in the 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools guidebook. The School of Law rose five spots to No. 27 – one of the largest jumps of any law school in this year’s rankings.
WRBL
CSU Cybersecurity Team Takes 2nd Place at Competition
By: Samuel Sachs
Feb. 23, Columbus State University’s cybersecurity team came in second place at the Southeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition Qualifiers, held at Kennesaw State University. The team’s victory at the qualifiers allows CSU’s team to compete in the regional competition on March 9-10. The team, coached by Professor Yesem Peker from CSU’s TSYS School of Computer Science, is co-captained by James Ericsson and Tyler Staut, with team members Brandon Corn, Matthew Bowen, Eloghosa Obasuyi, Justin Sewell, Mathew Warner-McKinley, and Christopher Wilson. “I am very happy about the win because our students got rewarded for their hard work,” said Peker, “These types of extracurricular activities are great learning experiences for our students. They get to apply what they learn in academic classes and build, not just technical, but professional skills such as team work, communication, and time management.” The SECCDC has been held by KSU since 2006 and is currently organized and operated by Mike Whitman, Ph.D., CISM, CISSP, Herb Mattord, Ph.D., CISM, CISSP, and James Blanton through the Coles College of Business Center for Information Security Education.
Savannah Business Journal
Savannah Business Journal Staff Report
In recognition of the new partnership between Georgia Southern University and entrepreneur and philanthropist Greg Parker, the University hosted a naming celebration last week for the newly named Parker College of Business. Community members and business leaders joined University students and officials to formally usher in a new chapter of academic excellence and student opportunities in the University’s growing business programs. “The essence of opportunity is will. One has to be willing to help others like Mr. Parker,” said Logistics/Intermodal Transportation major and Parker Scholar Mohammad Abdallah. “The impact of Mr. Parker’s generous donation will not only give us an opportunity, but it will allow us to enhance research studies, student feedback, and network capabilities.” In November, the Georgia Southern University Foundation, Inc. announced the $5 million gift from Parker, the founder and CEO of The Parker Companies in Savannah. It is the single largest gift in University history.
Valdosta Daily Times
NCNW Day at the Capitol unites members
The State Capitol hosted the “Georgia NCNW Day” at the capitol. National Council of Negro Women sections throughout the state of Georgia were represented in high numbers. Collegiate section members from Spelman, University of West Georgia, Georgia State and Kennesaw State University showed up in large numbers along with community-based sections from Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan, Greater Atlanta, Rockdale-Newton, Henry-Clayton and DeKalb, members said. The Day at the Capitol was chaired by DeKalb member Tiara Chambliss and Greater Atlanta member Darlene Kimes. Sen. Tonya Anderson, Sen. Nikema Williams and State Rep. Sheila Jones sponsored the event. Jones presented Sharah Denton of Valdosta, State of Georgia NCNW president, with a proclamation.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Bribery Scandal Reveals ‘Weak Spots’ in the Admissions System. Don’t Look So Shocked.
By Eric Hoover
When Beverly Low read the news on Tuesday, she felt her blood pressure spike.
The Justice Department had just charged 50 people in an admissions-bribery scheme that got dozens of privileged applicants into big-name colleges over several years. The perpetrators’ alleged crimes included cheating on the ACT or SAT, and paying college coaches to falsely designate some applicants as athletes, all but guaranteeing them a spot. Low, director of guidance and college counseling at Manchester Essex Regional Middle/High School, in Massachusetts, spends a lot of time demystifying the admissions process, trying to calm anxious families and help them feel as good about the nerve-racking ritual as they possibly can. Then federal authorities unveiled a trove of evidence describing how a college consultant and wealthy families had rigged that process to their own benefit — through fraud. …The details angered Low, who used to work in admissions, but they didn’t really surprise her. “I wanted to be shocked,” she said, “but I wasn’t.” Many other experts had similar reactions. Nearly a dozen admissions officials, college counselors, scholars, and independent educational consultants all described the incident as a troubling exaggeration of a well-understood fact: In the relentless chase for status and prestige, some people will do anything to get their kids into elite colleges, throwing all their resources at a system that, in one way or another, so often rewards the wealthiest participants.