University System News:
Savannah Morning News
The Links donates $5,000 to SSU
The Savannah Chapter of The Links Inc. donated $5,000 to Savannah State University on June 12, according to the chapter. This donation will fully endow the group’s endowment eccount bringing the account to $26,000. Linking Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) with local chapters is the goal of The Links Inc. HBCU Community College Initiative, using transformational programming to focus on addressing the critical needs of the community.
WGAU Radio
UGA SCHOLARSHIPS TO AID RURAL STUDENTS
By: Michelle Versfeld
The George W. Strickland, Jr. Foundation recently gifted $400,000 to the University of Georgia to establish four Georgia Commitment Scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded in fall 2019, prioritizing students from 16 rural Georgia counties: Evans, Tattnall, Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Liberty, Toombs, Emanuel, Jenkins, Screven, Burke, Appling, Wayne, Glynn, Long and Effingham. The Strickland Scholarships will impact students in rural Georgia, an area that had deep meaning to the foundation’s namesake, Evans County native George W. “Jack” Strickland, Jr., a United States Army veteran and business owner in Claxton.
Gainesville Times
How UNG summer program prepares high schoolers for college
Joshua Silavent
Friends Deborah Nsele and Ruth Akamba, both rising seniors at Gainesville High, are in the third week of a month-long summer academic program at the University of North Georgia. And the two students are old pro’s by now, having participated in the Steps to College program in the summer of 2018, as well. “I want to get ahead,” Nsele said. For Nsele, whose family, like Akamba’s, is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a chance to progress in the academic “off season” is precisely what the program offers by providing summer enrichment courses for English-learning local high school students. …The program is supported by the Goizueta Foundation, an educational philanthropic organization based in metropolitan Atlanta, as well as a state grant.
Albany Herald
Georgia Southwestern claims top spot on list of Georgia nursing schools
Georgia Southwestern State University nursing program offers baccalaureate, master’s degree and certificate opportunities
From Staff Reports
Georgia Southwestern State University has received the No. 1 ranking as one of the Top 10 nursing schools in Georgia according to www.nurse.org. The rank is based on the nursing program’s reputation, National Council Licensure Examination pass rate, tuition and acceptance rate. Only schools accredited through the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education were eligible for placement on the list. Officials said these factors were considered by a panel-reviewed selection committee consisting of five registered nurses. …The other top nursing schools in Georgia, in order, were the programs at Emory University, Georgia State University, Mercer University, Augusta University, University of West Georgia, Columbus State University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia College and State University and Georgia Southern University.
Georgia Trend
By Mary Ann Demuth
In a couple of years, the University of North Georgia’s Mike Cottrell College of Business in Dahlonega will have a new home. The 91,000-square-foot business and technology building is made possible by a $10 million donation from namesake benefactors Mike and Lynn Cottrell along with $2.3 million in state funds for planning and design. The Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation, as it will be called, will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs. It will consolidate faculty offices and classrooms that are currently housed in other campus buildings because of enrollment growth and increased demand for programs since 2013.
Savannah CEO
Staff Report From Savannah CEO
Twenty-five business and civic leaders from 10 southeast Georgia counties graduated from the 2019 session of Leadership Southeast Georgia (LSEGA), wrapping up with a session in Chatham County. “We’ve put this group through the paces, with sessions that ranged from tours of the nuclear submarine base in St. Mary’s to a working farm outside of Statesboro,” said Lee Beckmann, a Georgia Ports Authority official who has served as chairman of the leadership group for the past two years. “We had professionally led sessions on essential topics such as leadership styles and communication. Still, the most important opportunity was that of getting to know classmates, and the most powerful message was the overall interconnectedness of our coastal communities.” The five-month program, which is in its 20th year, is designed to connect and inspire engaged community leaders to improve the overall quality of life in Coastal Georgia. …The group’s fifth and final session included discussions of health and infrastructure, featuring tours of ongoing projects in Savannah, the Waters Professional Health Services Building on the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern University, …The LSEGA graduating class of 2019 includes: …Gloria Goosby, Georgia Southern University (Bulloch) …Ron Stalnaker, Georgia Southern University (Bulloch)
WALB
By Damon Arnold
Albany State University alumni want less talk and more action, which was the message that drove Tuesday’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Forum in Albany. The people attending said they want to protect HBCUs from a Senate bill that’s proposing change. Emotions ran high during the HBCU forum as the future of three South Georgia HBCU schools hung in the balance. “If you don’t have the power and courage to lead, sit down, get out of the way and give it to somebody that can lead because we are in trouble,” said alumna Sabrina Hayes. Passionate words filled the Albany Police Department headquarters as alumni of Albany State University gave a call to action Tuesday in hopes of saving three of South Georgia’s HBCUs.
The Red & Black
UGA students, alumni receive award for scientists and engineers, includes $34,000 annual stipend
Francisco Guzman | News Editor
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships awarded seven University of Georgia graduate students and six UGA alumni the NSF national award that recognizes emerging scientists and engineers. The winners will receive three years of financial support that includes $34,000 annual stipend, a $12,000 cost of education allowance, as well as networking and professional development opportunities. “The NSF Graduate Research Fellowships recognize the best and the brightest,” Graduate School Dean Suzanne Barbour said in a news release. “That so many UGA graduate students have been and continue to be recipients of the NSF GRF is a testament to the outstanding training environment that our institution provides at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UNG researchers take multilayered approach to combat bladder cancer
By Eric Stirgus
University of North Georgia assistant biology professor Shannon Kispert is on maternity leave, but she couldn’t resist the opportunity to return to her office a few weeks ago — with her infant son — to show a visitor some of her team’s bladder cancer research. Her team is using mice to test whether cigarette smoke can cause this form of cancer, and so far the results show there may be a link.Bladder cancer is the eighth-leading form of cancer and considered an aggressive form of the disease. It will kill nearly 18,000 Americans this year, according to the American Cancer Society. However, Kispert and others point out there is less research done on this form of cancer. Experts say they’re seeing more work in this area in the past five years, but need additional researchers like those at UNG.
Vegetable Growers News
Book recalls 100 years of history at UGA-Tifton campus
Before farm-to-table was trendy, scientists and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension personnel in Tifton were taking research from the lab to the farm. That work is documented in “A Century of Impact: From Experiment Station to Campus,” a book published in recognition of the University of Georgia Tifton campus’ centennial. The impact spans 100 years of agronomic research and history, including rescuing the Southeast peanut industry from the death knell of disease; moving livestock production from subsistence to abundance; providing blueberry varieties to Jackie Onassis; and breeding turf for global venues such as World Cup soccer games.
WTOC11
New voting precincts possibly coming to Chatham County
The next time some Chatham County voters head to the polls, it could be in a new location. New precincts may soon bring relief to people in Pooler who stood in crazy long lines during the Georgia governor’s race. Also, some Savannah college students could be able to vote on campus. The Chatham County Board of Elections says its job is to make voting as efficient as possible. They hope more locations make it easier when you head to the polls. …In Savannah, board of elections member Antwan Lang wants to make it easier for college students to cast a ballot. He’d like to add precincts at Savannah State University and Georgia Southern’s Armstong Campus for students. Right now, students at both colleges have to go off-campus polling places, but at Savannah State, students may not be voting in the same elections, depending on where they live.
13WMAZ
Former Fort Valley State employee, her lawyer respond to plea deal in prostitution case
Alecia Johnson says she’s working on a book titled ‘Will the Real Madame Please Stand Up’
Author: Kayla Solomon
After Alecia Johnson, a former Fort Valley State University employee, pleaded guilty to prostitution charges, her lawyer is calling it a victory. Johnson and her lawyer, Adrian Patrick, got her charges reduced to misdemeanors and one student says despite the latest development in the case, the buzz had died down on campus. “As far as the school is concerned, I think we’re having a great time. We’re doing great things and it was just that one bad apple out of the bunch. She’s gone,” said student Neddrick Nichols. Nichols is a rising junior at Fort Valley and he remembers back in October when the results of the sex scandal were announced because it was around homecoming.
WGXA
Macon project awarded special grant from Georgia Tech
by WGXA staff
Georgia Tech and its partners on the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge announced the four winners of this year’s grants on Tuesday. It took place at the Macon-Bibb Government Center on Poplar Street. The winners are Columbus Smart Uptown, Macon Smart Neighborhoods, Milton Smarter Safer Routes to School, and Woodstock Smart Master Plan and Corridor Study. This is the second round of Georgia Smart Communities Challenge, a funding and technical assistance program for local governments in the state of Georgia.
Gwinnett Daily Post
GGC tennis player Madeline Bosnjak named Academic All-American
From Staff Reports
Georgia Gwinnett College sophomore tennis player Madeline Bosnjak has been named a Google Cloud At-Large Academic All-American, as selected among NAIA student-athletes by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Bosnjak becomes the third women’s tennis player to earn the Academic All-America achievement, joining Chiara Di Salvo and Valeria Podda from the 2017 season. She is the fifth GGC student-athlete to be recognized by CoSIDA during the 2018-19 athletic year – matching the amount from the 2017-18 season – and increasing the number of total honorees to 14 for the athletic department in its history. Bosnjak was named the Most Outstanding Player as the Grizzlies captured a NAIA championship this spring.
Augusta Chronicle
Ex-GSU star Adrian Peterson holds sports camp for kids
By Donald Heath
A few weeks away from his 40th birthday, a trim and fit Adrian Peterson is the first on the ground to lead the youths in push-ups at the Adrian Peterson All Sports Camp. They’re doing just 10 push-ups but Peterson, counting out the number, calls nine as if imitating a broken record. About 25 campers, between ages 8 and 13, groan as they hear “nine” for the fourth time. Peterson smiles. He likes to see kids push themselves. Self-motivation helped Peterson break tackles at Georgia Southern University before going on to an eight-year career with the Chicago Bears. …Few, if any, have ever had a four-year collegiate career like Peterson. He’s still the all-time Division I leader in career rushing yardage with 6,559 yards — 9,145 yards if you want to include playoffs. Peterson rushed for 100 or more yards in 36 straight games — 48 including playoffs. He’s the only sophomore to win the Walter Payton Award, symbolic of the division’s best player. Georgia Southern won two national championships and played for another during his career. …Peterson, who now works as the director of student-athlete development at Georgia Southern, will give a portion of the sports camp proceeds to Effingham County schools.
Higher Education News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Justice Dept. continues review of online lottery sales
By Eric Stirgus
Potential changes could impact Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship
Georgia officials must wait longer before the federal government determines whether the current online lottery here and in other states are legal. U.S. Justice Department officials have extended its deadline for issuing a ruling in the matter, according to a letter the Georgia Attorney General’s office shared Tuesday with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The deadline was June, but federal officials wrote last week they will wait until Dec. 31 or until a ruling in a New Hampshire court case before issuing an opinion. The opinion involves an interpretation of the federal Wire Act, which was enacted in the 1960s to hobble the mob’s gambling business. …The federal government’s prior opinion, if strictly interpreted, could outlaw lottery tickets sold online and prohibit popular multistate games like Powerball and result in less money to the popular lottery-funded programs in Georgia such as the HOPE college scholarship and pre-kindergarten education. Gov. Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr wrote a letter to the Justice Department several months ago seeking clarity on the matter.
Info Security Magazine
Oregon State Uni Attack Exposes Data on Hundreds
Phil Muncaster
Another US university has been hit by a successful cyber-attack, this time potentially compromising personal information (PII) on hundreds of students and family members. Oregon State University (OSU) issued a public notice on Friday after one of its employee’s email accounts was hacked last month and used to spam others with phishing emails. Forensic investigators found several documents in the breached inbox which contained the PII of 636 students and their relatives, a statement from the university noted. Universities are an increasingly popular target for both financially-motivated cyber-criminals and even state-sponsored hackers – who are looking for large troves of personal data on students and staff to monetize sensitive IP in ground-breaking research. Earlier this year, Georgia Tech suffered a breach of 1.3 million staff and student records after a web app vulnerability was exploited by attackers.
CNBC
Graduating in 4 years or less helps keep college costs down—but just 41% of students do
Abigail Hess
Many factors contribute to growing student debt. One that’s mentioned less frequently than others is the time it takes to complete a degree — and it can significantly impact the amount a student ends up owing. In 1989 it cost about $17,010 a year to attend a private four-year college and $3,360 a year to attend a public four-year college, according to the College Board. Today, those prices are closer to $35,830 and $10,230, respectively. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 41% of first-time full-time college students earn a bachelor’s degree in four years, and only 59% earn a bachelor’s in six years, driving up the cost of attending college significantly. Many of these students are left with the debt of a college education without the degree.
Inside Higher Ed
Preparing Freshmen for Crime Prevention
Campus security departments across the country are hoping to help freshmen be mindful of crime prevention by integrating information sessions into orientation.
By Nick Hazelrigg
Living on campus and away from home for the first time, many college freshmen are susceptible to crimes like burglary and theft. But on some campuses, security personnel are trying to help students learn crime-prevention tactics early on. In recent years, many campuses have started or expanded programs to prevent sexual assault of students. But the crimes many will experience relate to theft, which is why some colleges are stepping up programming on the issue.
Inside Higher Ed
States Wade Into Title IX Debate
In departure from Trump administration’s approach, Texas Legislature votes to require college officials to report campus sexual misconduct or face criminal penalties. But civil libertarians and some survivor advocates criticize the legislation.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
Last fall, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos released a proposed Title IX rule that many observers said would lead to fewer reports of sexual misconduct on college campuses. The state Legislature in Texas, however, has taken a starkly different approach. In the legislative session that wrapped up last month, lawmakers passed a flurry of bills that will put new pressure on colleges to address campus-based sexual harassment and assault. One demands that colleges provide more resources to students and survivors of sexual assault. Another requires institutions to annotate a student’s transcript if they are asked to leave campus for a nonacademic reason. The third, and perhaps most consequential, would add new criminal penalties for campus officials who fail to report sexual harassment or misconduct to their institution’s Title IX coordinator — to the consternation of civil libertarians and some survivor advocate groups. They would face a misdemeanor and termination by their institution. Colleges would also have to compile and publicly disclose those reports. Institutions that fail to do so could also face fines of up to $2 million from the state’s higher ed coordinating board. …No state has gone so far as to demand reporting of sexual misconduct on campuses. And lawmakers in other Republican-dominated states have advanced bills over the past year to restrict colleges’ response to sexual assaults or to reflect the proposed Trump administration rule.
Inside Higher Ed
Bills Target Academic Espionage
Congress is paying increasing attention to risk of foreign actors stealing American research. Two new bills take very different approaches to addressing the threat — and universities much prefer one approach over the other.
By Elizabeth Redden
Two bills introduced within the last month seek to address foreign espionage targeting academic research as Congress continues to pay more attention to this issue and collaborations involving China and Chinese nationals in particular have come under increased scrutiny. The Protect Our Universities Act, introduced Tuesday by Senator Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican, would require students from China, Iran and Russia to undergo background screening before participating in designated “sensitive research projects.” An interagency task force led by the Department of Homeland Security would be charged with maintaining a list of sensitive research projects funded by the member government agencies. Hawley plans to introduce the bill as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is currently being marked up in the House and Senate. He said in a statement that American universities are “key targets of espionage and intellectual property theft by not only China, but Russia and Iran.”