USG eclips for April 1, 2019

University System News:

 

Statesboro Herald

Nickel hands over GS presidency to Marrero

New leader to start Monday

AL HACKLE/file

Statesboro Herald

After 10 months at Georgia Southern University as its interim president, Shelley Clark Nickel has handed over the office to Dr. Kyle Marrero, who officially starts Monday as the university’s new, regularly hired president. So Sunday is Nickel’s official last day, but Thursday was her planned last day in Statesboro when she gave an interview Wednesday. Friday, both Nickel and Marrero were expected in Atlanta for a meeting of University System of Georgia presidents from around the state. Chancellor Steve Wrigley had appointed Nickel to the interim role following the resignation of Dr. Jaimie Hebert as Georgia Southern president. Nickel’s core assignment was to solidify the consolidation that took effect Jan. 1, 2018, during Hebert’s two-year stay. That process absorbed Armstrong State University into the Georgia Southern brand, creating one university with three campuses, in Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville. …Since his appointment to be Georgia Southern’s next president was announced in January, Nickel has kept Marrero apprised of key decisions, and he took part in some GS meetings in person and others by internet conferencing, she said. Marrero comes to Georgia Southern from the University of West Georgia, where he was president for more than five years, through last week. He arrives at a new university poised to move forward, Nickel said.

 

The George-Anne

Georgia Southern invites community to welcome new president and family

By Matthew Enfinger, The George-Anne staff

Georgia Southern University community will hold welcome ceremonies for GS’ 14th president on Monday at both the Statesboro and Savannah campuses. Kyle Marrero, Ph.D., his wife, Jane and his daughter, Lily, are scheduled to arrive in front of the Marvin Pittman Administration building on the Statesboro Campus at 8:30 a.m., and in front of Burnett Hall on the Armstrong Campus at 2:30 p.m. “A cheering crowd would provide a fitting welcome for the Marreros,” Jennifer Wise, director of communications, said in an email sent out to GS’ faculty, staff and students. Attendees who arrive a few minutes before the event will be given a sign or pom-pom to hold throughout the celebration. Marrero’s first day will include walking tours of the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses with a student ambassador.

 

The George-Anne

Georgia Southern welcomes Kyle Marrero on his first day as president

By Kyle Clark, The George-Anne staff

Georgia Southern University started April by welcoming its new president Kyle Marrero. Marrero arrived at GS with his family at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Marvin Pittman Administration Building. The new president was greeted by a group of faculty and students who waited in the brisk 47-degree weather for him to arrive. “I think he’s going to be a wonderful leader for Georgia Southern and he has a lot of good ideas and experience to help the university moving forward and help us achieve our strategic goals,” Ken Gassiot, associate vice president for student engagement, said. Madison Damiani, junior public relations major, also shared her excitement for the new president. “I’m excited for Dr. Marrero to come in,” Damiani said. “He’s just very student oriented and very excited to be here. And I know that we’re going to have a president who cares about the students and their well being.” The Marrero family were cheered as they parked in front of Marvin Pittman for the first time and exited their car.

 

Coastal Courier

Georgia Southern University welcomes Dr. Kyle Marrero as its 14th president

Today, Kyle Marrero assumes his position as Georgia Southern University’s 14th president. Marrero brings extensive organizational and academic leadership to the institution and an enthusiasm for the University’s commitment to student success, academic excellence and regional impact. “I have been listening, learning and gathering information over the last few months in preparation for this day,” Marrero said. “I am coming to understand and appreciate the unique and cherished history of each campus, each community, and the value added to this unified Georgia Southern. I look forward to working together with the entire Eagle Nation — our faculty, staff, students, and the community — to embrace a unified vision that is focused on serving a region, developing talent and transforming lives.”

 

See also:

WTOC

Georgia Southern University welcomes new president

 

11Alive

Georgia Gwinnett College presidential search almost done

Dr. Jann Luciana Joseph has been named as the sole finalist in GGC’s presidential search.

On Thursday, The University System of Georgia named Dr. Jann Luciana Joseph as the sole finalist for the president of Georgia Gwinnett College. Joseph currently serves as interim chancellor of Indiana University South Bend. “The opportunity to lead GGC would be a dream come true,” said Joseph. “The path of my career in higher education intersects perfectly with the vision and goals GGC has for the future. My background and values also fit with the culture and priorities of the institution from the Board of Regents to the faculty, students, staff and community. I’m impressed with the accomplishments of GGC and believe that my experience and leadership would enable the institution to reach new heights.”

 

See also:

accessWDUN

Sole finalist named for president of Georgia Gwinnett College

Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Dr. Jann Luciana Joseph Named Sole Finalist for Georgia Gwinnett Presidency

 

Atlanta Business Chronicle

2019 rankings of U.S. public colleges

By G. Scott Thomas  – Projects Editor, Buffalo Business First

Below are Business First’s top-to-bottom 2019 academic rankings of 505 U.S. public colleges. The first 250 schools are listed in numerical order, followed by the lower echelon of 255 schools in alphabetical order. (You can also follow separate links for rankings of the best public colleges in the East, the South, the Midwest and the West.) Click on any of the top 100 colleges to see its statistical profile. Each college’s state is shown in parentheses.

TOP 250 (national ranks 1-250)

  • 11. Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia)
  • 28. University of Georgia (Georgia)
  • 175. Georgia State University (Georgia)
  • 194. Georgia College and State University (Georgia)
  • 202. Georgia Southern University (Georgia)

LOWER ECHELON (national ranks 251-505, listed alphabetically)

  • Armstrong State University (Georgia)
  • Augusta University (Georgia)
  • Clayton State University (Georgia)
  • Columbus State University (Georgia)
  • Dalton State College (Georgia)
  • Fort Valley State University (Georgia)
  • Georgia Southwestern State University (Georgia)
  • Kennesaw State University (Georgia)
  • Savannah State University (Georgia)
  • University of North Georgia (Georgia)
  • University of West Georgia (Georgia)
  • Valdosta State University (Georgia)

 

The Brunswick News

Coastal Georgia sisters chosen for competitive summer research program

By LAUREN MCDONALD

The Garner sisters, juniors at the College of Coastal Georgia, do not plan to have the typical relaxing summer vacation. Rather than chill at the beach or pass their time with a summer job, Julia and Madeline Garner will be studying noise-induced stabilization of Hamiltonian systems and recording biosignatures in the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Julia and Madeline Garner have been chosen for two separate Research Experience for Undergraduates summer programs. REU is a highly competitive program offered by colleges and universities around the country to provide undergraduates with experience living and working like graduate students.

 

WALB

Americus holds 15th Spring Special Olympics

Georgia Southwestern athletics took part in helping with this year’s event

By John Barron

Americus has been the proud home for the Area 11 Special Olympics for over 15 years. This event brings together all of the community. All of the Georgia Southwestern athletics took time to help with this event, along with many of the Americus-Sumter teams. Four of the local counties participated in this year’s event, featuring close to 200 kids. “It really allows an opportunity for the community as well as the school to kind of come together and provide an event for the student athletes,” said program director Gavin Bernstein. “Not only our local community but our regional community as well.”

 

The George-Anne

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes returns to Georgia Southern campus Tuesday

By Anthony Belinfante, The George-Anne staff

Georgia Southern University will be hosting its 7th annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes on Tuesday. Walk a Mile In Her Shoes is an international program that aims to raise awareness and encourage communication about gender relations and sexual violence. Starting at the Rotunda, men will walk across the GS campus in red high-heeled shoes to raise awareness on these issues.

 

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

2 Fort Valley State University students killed in fiery wreck

By Breaking News Staff, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three women, including two Fort Valley State University students, were killed in a fiery weekend crash in Middle Georgia. Students Precious Waters, 20, and Kearsten Robinson, 19, were in a Honda Accord on Woolfolk Road about 10 p.m. Saturday when a tractor-trailer hit them on Ga. 49, the Georgia State Patrol said. Both vehicles burst into flames, killing the students and the driver of the big rig. Peach County coroner Kerry Rooks identified the truck driver as Georgia Harris, 55, of Macon.

 

WXFL

Georgia mother hopes to put an end to hazing

by Danielle Ledbetter

After a Louisiana State University student died from a hazing incident, his mother made it her purpose to put an end to hazing. Rae Ann Gruver remembers her son, Max Gruver. “A sweet soul, he had a big smile and an even bigger hug and he was someone who always took care of the people around him,” she said. When she dropped him off for school in August 2017. She had no idea that’d be the last time she’d see her son. …Max Gruver died after an alcohol ritual to become a part of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. …On Friday afternoon, Rae Ann Gruver spoke at Georgia Southwestern to share the dangers of hazing. After hearing her speak in Atlanta, Georgia Southwestern student Ian Grimsley says he wanted more people to hear her story. “Her story moved me and my guys, so we picked them for our philanthropy cause and one of the big things, we wanted her to come and speak to the student body,” said Grimsley. Grimsley says hearing Gruver’s presentation is important for all students. “It doesn’t happen at Southwestern, but there are actions we, as students, can take to prevent it from happening across the state,” said Grimsley.

 

Athens CEO

Danielle Fields Appointed President to State Jaycees Executive Committee

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Danielle Fields, a resident of Gray, Ga. and a member of the Milledgeville Jaycees, has been elected to the Georgia Jaycees’ state executive committee, where she will serve as President. She is joined on the executive committee by Katie Harris, Vice President of Community Development; Allen Farley, Vice President of Membership; Cynthia Cradduck, Vice President of Communications; and Chad Brown, Chairman of the Board. Fields is currently employed by the University System of Georgia Shared Services Center as an HRIS Analyst. …She graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2004 with her Bachelor’s Degree and in 2017 with a Masters in Management Information Systems.

 

WTVM

Project Launch hosts 2-day literacy forum at CSU

By Olivia Gunn

The second day of Project Launch’s literacy forum was held at Thursday at Columbus State University. During the forums, parents and leaders from the community discuss ways to help children with reading and speech. The panel also discussed the importance of early literacy the significance of reading at an early age.

 

WJCL

Georgia Southern teaming up with Nine Line to help veterans

The school signed an MOU with the organization Friday

Sharon Johnson, Reporter

Georgia Southern is partnering with a nonprofit organization to help homeless veterans. Friday, the school signed an agreement with the Nine Line Foundation. Homeless veterans will now get the chance to learn marketing, farming, and other greenhouse skills from Georgia Southern’s instructors. This is a part of the Nine Line Foundation’s ongoing effort to get homeless veterans back on their feet. “By enrolling the veterans in college, where they will have a certificate program and will learn the art of farming, and also learn marketing, they will get the counseling they need to re-engage in society, and become productive members, and move on to a better life,” said Megan Hostler, Nine Line Foundation president.

 

FreightWaves

Georgia Tech and Puerto Rico students win first-ever FreightTech Case Challenge

Clarissa Hawes

College students interested in supply chain and logistics from 14 schools across the country competed in the first-ever FreightTech Innovation Case Challenge Competition this weekend in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Approximately 60 students from 14 different schools across the country competed in the 24-hour case challenge out of more than 130 who applied.  The students were tasked with finding transportation and logistics solutions based on a fictitious customer looking to expand its operations throughout the Southeast. The first-place team, consisting of four students from the Georgia Institute of Technology and one from the University of Puerto Rico, was awarded a cash price of $5,000 for their innovative transportation and logistics solutions based on a case they received 24 hours earlier.

 

Albany Herald

Centennial Garden will celebrate history of UGA Tifton campus

2-acre site will re-create former on-campus garden

By Bryce Ethridge

The addition of the Centennial Garden will celebrate the history of the University of Georgia Tifton campus while breathing new life into the heart of the campus, according to Joe West, assistant dean of the campus. The 2-acre garden, which is under construction behind the Tift Building at the center of campus, is a re-creation of a garden that existed in an earlier era when the campus was known as the Coastal Plain Experiment Station. The new garden is slated for completion by May 3, when it will be dedicated as the campus and the community celebrate UGA Tifton’s centennial. “It just seemed very appropriate to recreate the garden at this time. It’s part of our history and will continue to be as we move forward with the campus’ next 100 years,” West said. “I think our faculty, staff and students are very excited to see what the garden will look like when it is completed.”

 

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Opinion: Roll back Georgia’s ‘temporary’ fees on college students

Georgia Tech prof warns degrees could become cost-prohibitive

Get Schooled with Maureen Downey

Joshua S. Weitz is a professor of biological sciences at the Georgia Institute of Technology and founding director of the Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. program at Tech. In this guest column, he urges the state to eliminate the temporary fees imposed on graduate students by the Board of Regents to compensate for decreases in state funding. Not only have those fees never been eliminated, Weitz says they have increased, placing what he considers an unreasonable burden on the ambitious and smart students we are counting on to lead innovation in Georgia. By Joshua S. Weitz Monday marks the start of “Graduate Student Appreciation Week” at Georgia Tech. The week is intended to celebrate the critical contributions of master’s and doctoral students who come from Georgia and other states and from across the globe to develop the next algorithm, device, drug, or material that could change our world for the better.  As a professor and founding director of the Quantitative Biosciences Ph.D. program at Georgia Tech, I fully support this initiative. Indeed, our graduate program faculty recognize that little things – like this appreciation week – can make a difference in the long-term satisfaction and productivity of students.  But little things are not enough.

 

 

Higher Education News:

 

Inside Higher Ed

Achieving the Dream Acquires Gateway to College

By Ashley A. Smith

Achieving the Dream, a national network that promotes community college reform, and Gateway to College, which helps high school dropouts get their diplomas and earn college credits, announced today that they are merging into one organization. The Portland, Ore.-based Gateway to College will become ATD’s West Coast office. ATD has more than 200 community college partners. Gateway to College partners with more than 30 colleges and 200 public school districts. The merger will help both organizations serve socially disadvantaged students, expand dual-enrollment options in community colleges and connect ATD community college members with disconnected youth. “The Gateway to College initiative enables us to help colleges create a robust pipeline from K-12 through community college and into a four-year degree program that students successfully complete,” ATD president and CEO Karen A. Stout said in a news release.

 

Edsurge

Higher Education Needs an Audit

By Michael B. Horn (Columnist)

In the fallout from the college admissions scandal, one striking element has been the absence of checks and balances in the system. As Jon Reider, a former Stanford admissions officer from 1985–2000, said on the To The Point podcast, “There is a surprising amount of trust in the whole admissions world.” Surprising indeed. Reider said that while he was an admissions officer, they would catch someone fabricating significant details about themselves in an effort to gain acceptance once every two years or so. But as Jeff Selingo wrote in The Atlantic, “Admissions counselors are not hired to be detectives.” At some elite colleges, applications are reviewed in eight minutes or less. The chances of catching larger problems are scant.

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education

How International Education’s Golden Age Lost Its Sheen

By Karin Fischer

On a Sunday in May 2014, 140 students from 49 countries, some in hijabs, some with hair tinted purple to match their graduation robes, walked across the stage to collect the first diplomas awarded at New York University Abu Dhabi. Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker. But the day really belonged to John E. Sexton, NYU’s president. He greeted every student – many of whom he knew from the 14,000-mile round trip he made from New York every other week to teach – with a fist bump or a hug. In a way, Sexton was celebrating his achievement as much as theirs. He had shepherded NYU’s Emirati outpost from pie-in-the-sky vision to anchor in a network of global campuses. Another branch campus, in Shanghai, had opened in the fall of 2013. Speaking to an audience of graduates, parents, and assorted sheikhs, he argued for the importance of internationalizing education. “The world you have entered has become miniaturized,” Sexton said. “Events around the globe affect us all, no matter how isolated we seek to be.” In hindsight, that commencement, held on NYU’s campus, not far from the Abu Dhabi branch of the Louvre, came at the height of what was a golden moment for international education – and one that would soon dim.

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education

California Lawmakers Propose Reforms in Admissions Process. Other States Could Follow.

By Nell Gluckman

The news that dozens of parents, coaches, and test administrators had been charged in a bribery-based admissions scheme has captivated and horrified the country and involves students at colleges in multiple states. But much of the drama has taken place in California. That’s where many of the implicated families live and where the organizer of the alleged scheme, William (Rick) Singer, was based. Seeking to solve some of the problems exposed by the scandal, a group of California legislators has proposed reforms in the college-admissions process. Some of the bills would apply only to the state’s public-university systems, while others would touch any college that accepts Cal Grants, a state student-aid program. …But the scandal has also brought to the fore some perfectly legal practices that benefit wealthy students. Singer allegedly told parents about a “back door,” in which they could donate millions of dollars to a university to give their kids a boost in the admissions process. (He was allegedly offering a “side door” that used bribes but was less expensive and offered more of a guarantee.) And the scandal has renewed debate over preferences that the children of alumni receive in the admissions process. The bills in California will probably be watched by legislators in other states. Here are some ideas in those bills: