University System News:
WTOC
Georgia Southern University welcomes new president
By Zach Logan and Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University students began class on Monday, April 1 under a new leader. Kyle Marrero assumed his position as Georgia Southern University’s fourteenth president. He spent the day on campus walking around talking to people – especially students. “It was great to see them, particularly in each of the environments, whether it was the rec center working out or playing a little basketball, or in the library studying,” Dr. Marrero said. Students we spoke to say a university’s president helps set the tone for the university, and his leadership will be critical. They want him to be engaging and receptive.
Albany Herald
CARLTON FLETCHER: Albany State’s HBCU legacy will endure
OPINION: ‘Historically black college’ is part of ASU founder’s vision
By Carlton Fletcher
Come on up for the rising.
— Bruce Springsteen
When visionary Joseph Holley founded Albany State University as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute in 1903, there’s no way he could have hoped for or even dreamed that his little school alongside the Flint River would one day become the university that it is today. …Albany State could at some point in time become an all-girls Catholic university with field hockey on Thursdays and mass on Fridays. But it will always, as long as buildings stand alongside the Flint, be a historically black college/university. And to try and deny that vital element of ASU’s heritage is to deny its history. …Albany State is and always will be a historically black university. Not even an act of Congress or any sweeping change in the institution’s status will alter that. As someone who attended ASU — and was welcomed with open arms — when few whites considered getting an education there, I can personally attest to the fact that while the HBCU designation is a strong source of pride for institutions like Albany State … and Fort Valley State … and Savannah State … it in no way detracted from a non-African American’s desire to receive a quality education.
Albany Herald
ABAC scholars to be recognized
Honor, distinguished honor, superior honors earned
From Staff Reports
President David Bridges will recognize students who qualified for academic honors during Honors Day ceremonies on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s Gressette Gym. Bridges said students receiving distinguished honor status are those who have completed 45 or more academic semester hours at ABAC with an overall grade-point average of 3.75 or higher; superior honor students are those who have completed 15-44 academic semester hours at ABAC with an overall grade-point average of 3.75 or higher; and honor status goes to those who have completed 15 or more academic semester hours at ABAC with an overall grade-point average of 3.2 to 3.74.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA freshman starts business selling unique African products
By Sara Freeland / University of Georgia
Most students spend the first semester of their freshman year adjusting to campus and studying for exams. But after Ramatulai Jagne finished her homework, she worked on launching her business, Ramla Apparel. The online business sells protective hair bonnets from Gambia; shea butter and oil perfumes from Dubai; as well as wax print dresses, jewelry and accessories from a variety of places in West Africa like Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Ghana. It’s a blend of Gambian culture, African American culture and American culture, and many of the products are imported from Gambia. “The idea is finding things that remind you of Africa in a way that’s accessible,” she said. “That’s our slogan: Bringing the motherland to your doorstep.” Jagne, a first-generation college student from metro Atlanta, runs the business with her mom, Lala Jobe, who emigrated from Gambia in the 1990s.
Valdosta Daily Times
Cotton commission OKs research funds
PERRY – Georgia Cotton Commission board of directors approved $656,287 in research for the 2020 crop year and approved $25,500 in supplemental research for 2019. The money will go to fund 18 projects that will be conducted by researchers and extension specialists from the University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia, commission members said. Projects range from funding for the UGA cotton team, to research on resistant weeds, evaluating the economics of conservation production, monitoring water use efficiency, etc. The goal of the producer-funded research is to help a cotton producer’s bottom line by conducting research that can either raise yields, promote efficiency or open new markets, commissioners said. All projects are vetted by the board of directors and state support committee, made up of cotton producers from across the state, and the commission’s research review committee, which consists of researchers, crop consultants and local UGA extension agriculture/natural resource agents.
The Gainesville Times
High school students can learn Chinese and astronomy on the NSA’s dime – best summer camp ever?
Joshua Silavent
The University of North Georgia will host a unique two-week residential summer camp in July on the Dahlonega campus for high school students to learn about astronomy and Chinese languages.
The George-Anne
$38,000 LED light upgrade approved for pedestrian walkway
By Aubrey Brumblow, The George-Anne contributor
The Center for Suitability recently approved a fee grant proposed by the Director of Facility Operations to add more LED lighting on the pedestrian on the Georgia Southern University Statesboro campus. “Most of the pedestrian lighting has been upgraded to LED,” Stephen Frawley, the mechanical superintendent at Facility Services, said. “The areas that have been upgraded have made a great impact in that they produce a well-lit and safe environment for our faculty, staff and students.” The proposal’s goal is to finish upgrading the lighting in order to result in better student safety, higher increase of light levels and energy efficiency, lower maintenance costs and better color rending index.
McDowell News
Former MHS hoops coach to enter hall of fame at Georgia college
By Marty Queen
A former McDowell High Titans basketball coach is being inducted into the athletic hall of fame of a Georgia college where he coached prior to taking over at MHS. Vann Brackin, who led the Titans to the state championship game in their first season as a 4A school in 1975-76, will be inducted into the hall of fame as part of the 1968-69 squad at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Friday evening in Tifton, Ga., according to a release from the college. Brackin’s 1968-69 ABAC team went 25-6 overall and won the championship of the Southern Conference of the Georgia Junior College Athletic Association with a perfect 12-0 league record. Perhaps more importantly, the club represented the first intercollegiate team at the school to include African-American players.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Columbus State coach moves on from NCAA Division II to Division I
BY MARK RICE
A Columbus State University coach has moved from NCAA Division II to Division I. Anita Howard, who led the CSU women’s basketball team to a 66-25 record in three years, was introduced Monday at a news conference in Statesboro as Georgia Southern’s new coach. Howard took over the CSU program in June 2016 after Jonathan Norton resigned to become principal of Wynnbrook Christian School and chief administrative officer of Wynnbrook Baptist Church in Columbus. The Cougars went 141-60 in seven seasons under Norton, including three NCAA Tournament berths, two Peach Belt Conference regular-season titles and two PBC tournament championships. …Howard came to Columbus from Division II Livingstone in Salisbury, North Carolina, where in two seasons the Blue Bears went 41-14 and earned the program’s first top-five ranking. During her first head coaching stint in college, Howard went 39-16 in two seasons at Division III Salem in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, including the program’s first Great South Athletic Conference championship and first NCAA Tournament berth. Now, she will try to improve a Georgia Southern program that went 32-86 in four seasons under Kip Drown, who was fired March 10.
MaconTelegraph
‘That falls on me.’ Kirby Smart speaks out after 6 Bulldogs players arrested in 1 month
BY JOSH MIXON
Normally, Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart is pretty hush on his players’ legal troubles. Normally, though, his Bulldogs wouldn’t have this many run-ins with the law in such a short amount of time. On Tuesday, Smart spoke to media about the recent slew of arrests, with two happening earlier that afternoon. Bulldogs linebackers Brenton Cox and Robert Beal were arrested Tuesday for possession of marijuana (less than one ounce). Both were released on $1,000 bond — Cox at 4:08 p.m. and Beal at 4:21 p.m. Those arrests marked the fifth and sixth for the Bulldogs in just over one month. For a time of year when teams work on getting better on the field, the Bulldogs have taken considerable steps backward. “We have policies and rules in place,” Smart said. “These guys violated those rules, and they’ll serve the punishment they deserve for it. I hate the decisions they’ve made. They’ve got to learn, as young men, that you can’t break the law.”
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BREAKING: Data breach exposes up to 1.3M Georgia Tech faculty, students
By Chelsea Prince, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Georgia Tech database breach has exposed the personal information of up to 1.3 million current and former faculty members, students, staff and student applicants, according to school officials. Georgia Tech announced Tuesday that a central database was accessed by an unknown outside entity through a web application. The school learned of the security breach in late March.While spokesman John Toon said Georgia Tech immediately corrected the application, personal information was likely exposed.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia Tech: Network hacked, exposing personal information of 1.3M people
By Eric Mandel – Digital Producer , Atlanta Business Chronicle
an hour ago
Personal information for more than one million people was exposed following a hack of Georgia Tech’s system late last month, according to an email from the university Tuesday. Georgia Tech Communications Director John Toon said that unauthorized access to a Georgia Institute of Technology web application has exposed personal information for up to 1.3 million individuals, including some current and former faculty, students, staff and student applicants. Toon said that a central Georgia Tech database was accessed in late March by an “unknown outside entity” and the school’s cybersecurity team is conducting a forensic investigation to determine what information was extracted from the system. That may include names, addresses, social security numbers and birth dates, Toon said. He added that the school “immediately corrected the impacted application.” “Georgia Tech information security officials are working to determine the extent of the access and to identify the individuals who may be affected,” Toon wrote.
See also:
FOX 5 Atlanta
Georgia Tech data breach exposes information of up to 1.3M people
CBS46 News
Data breach at Georgia Tech affects nearly 1.3 million
Patch.com
More Than 1 Million People Exposed In Georgia Tech Data Breach
WSB
Georgia Tech says data breach exposed info of 1.3 million people
WGAU Radio
UGA’S SKIDAWAY, MARINE SCIENCES JOIN CONSERVATION CONSORTIUM
UGA’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography and department of marine sciences are joining other leading ocean science and engineering institutions to create Ocean Visions, an initiative meant to foster collaboration between top researchers, conservationists and entrepreneurs committed to solving some of the biggest challenges facing ocean health. The endeavor’s first summit, OceanVisions2019 – Climate, is being held April 1-4 at Georgia Tech, highlighting ocean-based science and engineering successes that address human, climate and ecological pressures. “Ocean Visions provides a much needed boost to advancing technological solutions to ocean problems,” said Clark Alexander, director of Skidaway (pictured above). “It establishes a framework and mechanism to bring together the best minds in ocean research, entrepreneurship and industry to address the most pressing concerns facing the world’s oceans.” In addition to the Skidaway Institute and department of marine sciences, other Ocean Visions participating organizations include Georgia Tech, The Smithsonian Institution, Stanford University, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Georgia Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium and Birch Aquarium at Scripps, all of which agreed to collaborate on scientifically sound, scalable, impactful and viable ocean conservation solutions.
Gamasutra
Fitness Experts to Speak at Georgia Esports Championship
Fitness and activity are critical in competitive video gaming, or esports. Three of Atlanta’s leading health experts will share esports player fitness tips during the Southeast’s largest intercollegiate esports tournament April 6 in Atlanta at Georgia State University’s Sports Arena. Dr. Matt Lopez, a sports physical therapist; and Brian Finn, lead Athletic Trainer and Strength Coach for Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network; will serve on the panel with Lauren Cicinelli, licensed dietician and nutrition expert. Andrew Greenberg, commissioner of the Georgia Esports League and executive director of the Georgia Game Developers Association, organized the panel for players to learn how to prepare themselves for competition by staying in shape. … Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University, Jacksonville State University, Lee University, Oglethorpe University, Savannah College of Art and Design, University of North Georgia, University of Tennessee at Martin and University of West Georgia all have fielded teams, demonstrating the rapid growth of esports across the region.
Georgia State’s varsity esports team was founded in 2017, and is among the more than 30 colleges and universities nationwide participating in the National Association of Collegiate Esports and other Georgia academic institutions in the Georgia Esports League. Esports at Georgia State are administered through the university’s Creative Media Industries Institute.
Higher Education News:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The future of nursing: Where are we now?
By Fiza Pirani
In October 2010, the Institute of Medicine released the first “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” report with recommendations “for an action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing,” the single largest segment of the health care workforce. “Working on the front lines of patient care, nurses can play a vital role in helping realize the objectives set forth in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, legislation that represents the broadest health care overhaul since the 1965 creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” according to a statement from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.However, the agency noted that a number of barriers exist preventing nurses from offering the most effective, rapid response to the changing health care settings and an evolving health care system. For the Future of Nursing report, a two-year IOM initiative launched in 2008 with the help of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, researchers focused on six major categories for recommendations to be met by 2020. These suggestions included improving access to health care; fostering inter-professional collaboration; promoting nurse leaders; transforming nurse education; increasing diversity in the profession and collecting workforce data.
Inside Higher Ed
Report: No ‘Crisis’ in Free Speech
A new analysis from PEN America disputes lawmakers’ characterization that free expression on college campuses has reached disaster level.
By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
A spike in campus activism — some of it directed against speakers whose views offend — has complicated free speech, says a new report. But the landscape is far from disastrous, as politicians, particularly in the Trump administration, depict it. The 100-page compendium “Chasm in the Classroom: Campus Free Speech in a Divided America” from PEN America, a group of literary writers and editors, largely offers an encyclopedic look at the battles of free expression that have been waged on college campuses since the 2016 election. Coinciding with President Trump taking office, many students have called for administrators to punish speech that they believe targets minorities in harmful ways. In some cases, most recently at Beloit College, students have blocked some speakers whose views they find objectionable. These actions fueled Trump’s argument — one supported by many other conservatives — that universities are liberal bastions intent on squashing conservative perspectives. To address this perceived “crisis,” Trump last month signed an executive order that would cut federal research funding to institutions that do not comply with either First Amendment obligations — for public universities — or in the case of private colleges, their own stated policies.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Experts: Collaboration Needed to Diversify Tech Workforce
by LaMont Jones
WASHINGTON – America’s tech industry needs greater diversity, equity and inclusion, and achieving those goals depends in large part on the ability of educational institutions, governments, and philanthropies to work collaboratively and consistently. That was a key point made during panels and keynote speeches Tuesday at “Building a Diverse and Skilled Tech Workforce,” an event presented by Verizon Foundation and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE). There’s a need to diversify not just corporate offices, but the ranks of venture capitalists and other tech entrepreneurs who contribute to job creation, wealth development and upward social mobility, speakers said.
KTVN
New Policy Toolkit Looks Beyond Financial Aid to Support Shifting Student Demographics
Higher Learning Advocates today released its latest policy toolkit-a fresh set of recommendations for how to make federal policy work better for an increasingly diverse population of students. As policymakers consider renewal of the Higher Education Act, the “Policy Toolkit for Today’s Students” outlines high-impact changes that would address barriers to college access and success-including an increasing number, such as food insecurity and child care costs, that fall outside of the scope of traditional federal higher education policy. “The needs and experiences of today’s students are vastly different from what we saw even a decade ago,” said Julie Peller, executive director of Higher Learning Advocates and a former deputy staff director for the Committee on Education and Labor in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Our latest recommendations reflect the increasingly complicated lives of students and the need to employ every available policy tool to empower and support students.” …The new package puts forward specific proposals that respond to the shifting demographics of today’s students, who are increasingly working full- or part-time, raising children or caring for family members, or attending college as first-generation students.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Congress Wants a Say in the Title IX Debate. What Might That Look Like?
By Sarah Brown
Campus sexual assault should be addressed in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, U.S. senators emphasized during an education-committee hearing on Tuesday. The question is how legislation might complement the Title IX regulations that Betsy DeVos, the secretary of education, has proposed — and, given how controversial the draft rules are, whether lawmakers can agree on what that legislation should look like. Most of the hearing was spent discussing three of the most hotly debated components of the proposed rules: the requirement for cross-examination in live hearings, the fact that colleges would no longer have to investigate many off-campus assaults, and the narrower definition of sexual harassment. DeVos’s new regulations, as well as Education Department guidance documents, will continue to do much of the work of interpreting Title IX on campus, said Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican of Tennessee, who is the committee’s chair. “But as Congress seeks to reauthorize the Higher Education Act this year, we should do our best to agree on ways to clarify these three issues,” Alexander said. “The more we do that, the more certainty and stability we will give to the law governing how institutions of higher education should respond to accusations of sexual assault.”
Inside Higher Ed
Hottest field for new faculty hires over the past year is health professions, as some 1,410 new assistant professors picked up jobs, according to new data from CUPA-HR.
By Colleen Flaherty
Full-time faculty members saw an overall median salary increase of about 1.7 percent over the past year, according to the “2019 CUPA-HR Faculty in Higher Education Report.” Pay for full-timers off the tenure track increased by 1.8 percent. Tenured and tenure-track professors saw a 1.6 percent pay bump. The American Association of University Professors will release its annual faculty salary survey data later this month. (Inside Higher Ed is the exclusive publisher of AAUP’s full salary database.) Early AAUP data indicate that the average year-over-year increase for full-time faculty salaries is slightly higher than what CUPA-HR found. AAUP’s data pertain to 952 colleges and universities, including community colleges. Unlike CUPA-HR’s data, which is anonymized, AAUP’s report includes professor pay by institution.