University System News:
Inside Higher Ed
Measuring the Effects of Loan Forgiveness
Borrowers whose private student loans were discharged in court earned more, paid off other debt and were more likely to move for work, new research shows.
By Andrew Kreighbaum
The impact of student loan forgiveness goes far beyond a reduced debt balance for borrowers, according to a new study. Researchers from Harvard Business School, Indiana University and Georgia State University examined the effects of debt cancellation for borrowers whose private student loans were tossed out in court after their creditor, National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts, couldn’t prove the chain of title. In recent years, judges have tossed out numerous lawsuits against student borrowers because National Collegiate couldn’t establish in documents that the company actually owned the debt. The study found that the borrowers saw a boost in income, were more likely to move and lowered their debt balance outside of student loans. Private student loans typically are taken out by students at private institutions, and the researchers focused on borrowers in default.
WJCL
Georgia Southern University refocusing sustainability efforts
Dave Williams
If you’ve watched the news lately, you can’t help but see issues over climate change taking center stage. And although, not in direct response to the latest issues, Georgia Southern University is taking steps to do its part to help the environment, even more than it’s already doing. Georgia Southern University considers itself a leader when it comes to protecting the environment. It’s Sustainability program has been recognized by the US Department of Education as a 2018 Green Ribbon School for those efforts. But now, the university is taking steps to be even better in that area. They’ve organized a transition team to come up with ways to refocus their sustainability efforts.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Campus Mental Health Care Demand On the Rise
by B. Denise Hawkins
Getting in the groove with the rigors of college classes, managing newfound freedoms and relationships and jostling to fit into campus life are among the rites of passage for most freshmen. At Fort Valley State University in Georgia, these experiences were no different for Jacqueline L. Caskey-James. They were also among the lessons she and her classmates at the historically Black institution struggled to learn if they were going to make it academically — and be well mentally, in the process. “People were struggling with so many issues and behaviors, but we just didn’t talk about them. We didn’t know how,” she says. That was in 1979, when Caskey-James was a first-time college student and mental illness was real to most, but hushed, even if what ailed you didn’t have a diagnosis or there was no one to help a young, Black person cope. …Today, Caskey-James, Fort Valley State’s director of Student Health and Counseling since 2010, says that roommate likely suffered from chronic sadness and depression that accompanied her to college like her trunk. She knows now that there were indicators, but no one to diagnose and treat them. Now, Caskey-James, the professional mental health counselor and often the first line of response to a wave of students in need of support, would do for that roommate what she does every day — comfort and cradle her like a caring dorm mother, get her to the campus in infirmary, contact her parents, deliver mental health counseling, connect her to treatment, sit bedside, see her through a crisis and more.
The Red & Black
Georgia College of Engineering unveils new renovation, plans second phase
Luke Guillory | Contributor
Fresh from a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of major renovations to the Driftmier Engineering Center on Sept. 13, the University of Georgia College of Engineering announced plans to further renovate the center starting next semester. Completed in time for the beginning of fall classes, the first phase of the renovation project transformed the 1960s-era classrooms, laboratories and office spaces into “state-of-the-art,” instructional labs and classrooms, according to a news release from UGA.
Albany Herald
Horticulture student builds website to introduce new generation to UGA campus arboretum
The UGA Campus Arboretum has been a part of the campus for many years
By Chad Cain CAES News
Usually, visitors to the University of Georgia associate trips to the Athens campus with the hedges and ball fields, but UGA horticulture student Kendall Busher wants them to consider the trees. Busher, a horticulture major in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is on a quest to introduce students and visitors to one of the university’s best-kept secrets, the UGA campus arboretum. An arboretum can be thought of as a zoo or a gallery for trees.
13WMAZ
‘We’re here for her:’ UGA cheerleader undergoes six surgeries in one year
Central Georgia native Meredith Hunnicutt cheered on the Dawgs for three football seasons until the first game of her senior year.
Author: Ensley Nichols
The Mary Persons varsity cheerleading squad work to perfect each step of their routine. Madlynne Scott says a lot of her skills came from summer cheer camp. “Our head coach always brings in outside people to help us get better and grow,” says Scott. That outside influence was Meredith Hunnicutt, a University of Georgia cheerleader. “She’s probably one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet — she’s so genuine, she loves Jesus, she knows anything in the cheerleading world,” says Scott. Hunnicutt cheered on the Dawgs for three football seasons until the first game of her senior year. She had a seizure on the football field. Doctors told Hunnicutt that she had a condition called “pseudo-tumor,” or false brain tumor. The symptoms are similar to having a real tumor. It causes a fluid build up around the brain, and you need a shunt to drain the fluid. “It’s gotten infected and progressively gotten worse, and she’s still tried and continued to finish senior year, and has come to this camp and has been so dedicated, and it’s been so sad to see someone so sweet have to go through this so many times,” says Scott. She has had six brain surgeries in just one year. …Hunnicutt missed most of her senior year of cheering at UGA because of her health, but since she has one more year of school to complete, the team still invited her to be on the sidelines when she recovers.
WGAU Radio
Grant helps UGA Law School set up First Amendment Clinic
By: Lona Panter
The University of Georgia School of Law will create a First Amendment Clinic thanks to a $900,000 gift from the Stanton Foundation, an organization established by former television broadcasting executive Frank Stanton. The clinic will support First Amendment rights by focusing on regional cases involving free speech, freedom of the press and freedom of assembly and petition. It will also enhance law students’ understanding of the First Amendment and serve as a resource for organizations, students, journalists and citizens defending and advancing First Amendment issues.
Multibriefs
Simulation allows practice of ‘Code Blue drill’ in large health center at the University of Georgia
Len DeRamus
In just about every healthcare facility, announcements exist to let the staff know of emergency events. Even family members or visitors are aware that a crisis exists when they hear these announcements and can sense the hairs rise on the back of their neck. Several factors, including training (knowledge), skill, experience and practice, help mitigate this autonomic reaction in healthcare providers. How does one hone their skills, and gain experience and practice without placing actual patients at risk of harm? On Aug. 9, The University of Georgia Health Center practiced “Code Blue” drills. These drills were simulation-based and reviewed medical emergencies. The exercise was a collaborative inter-institutional and inter-disciplinary training drill involving The Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership (Medical School) and the Partnership Simulation Center, under the direction of Dr. Aimee Martin, Campus Director of Simulation; Leonard DeRamus, MPAS, PA-C, Instructor of Emergency Medicine and Simulation Operator; and Sarah Gibbs, MS, Simulation Laboratory Coordinator.
The Ticker
YouTube makes money from deceptive cancer cure videos
YouTube is the world’s largest source of free video streaming and lately, its recommendation system has been filled with fake cancer cure videos, according to an article published by the BBC. After watching 80 videos in over 10 languages, BBC contacted a medical expert, led by Professor Justin Stebbing from Imperial College London, to debunk the videos’ claims. Many of the claims in the videos consist of eating foods like vegetables and donkey’s milk. In a video with Professor Stebbing, he states that there is not sufficient data to prove the videos’ claims. In fact, baking soda seems to be commonly connected as a “cure” in the videos but Stebbing states that in reality, it can actually be harmful. The videos themselves claim that sources of cancer cures can be juicing foods, donkey milk, baking soda, vegetables and exotic foods. …A solution proposed by Hai Fung, a professor at Georgia Southern University, was the inclusion of informative videos by professionals available to the public masses. These educational videos could clear any misconception present in people searching for cures for cancer.
WJCL
Stacey Abrams hosting voter registration events in Southeast Georgia on Tuesday
Former Georgia gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams will be in Statesboro and Pooler on Tuesday as part of National Voter Registration Day.
On Tuesday, one-time gubernatorial hopeful and Fair Fight founder Stacey Abrams will host two voter registration events in southeast Georgia.
During both events, Abrams plans to highlight the importance of registering and exercising the right to vote, fighting voter suppression, and the work Fair Fight is doing in Georgia and across the country to advocate for fair and secure elections.
Times Free Press
Sanford Stadium dazzled in Georgia’s latest win
by David Paschall
ATHENS, Ga. — Quarterback Jake Fromm was accurate, running back D’Andre Swift was effective and safety J.R. Reed was a defensive menace during Georgia’s 23-17 victory over Notre Dame this past Saturday night inside Sanford Stadium. Yet the star of the show was the new LED lighting system that dazzled the record audience of 93,246. …”At the end of last football season, we knew our lights were at the end of their life cycle,” McGarity said Monday, “and we received approval to move forward after the spring game to install new LED technology that you’ve seen at SunTrust Park, and we have LED lights at Stegeman Coliseum. We knew there was an opportunity to create something really magical in certain situations at Sanford Stadium. …There were moments before kickoff and before the start of the fourth quarter when the overhead lights were turned off, leaving a red glow throughout the stadium that resulted in a roar from the Sanford audience.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
More SAT Test Takers but Lower Scores
Despite more programming to prepare students for the SAT, underrepresented groups continued to fall behind in 2019.
By Greta Anderson
Students from all underrepresented minority groups were less successful on the 2019 SAT exam than the previous year, but there were notable increases in the number of African American, Latino and American Indian students who took the exam during the 2018-19 academic year, according to recently released data. In a continuing trend of lower scores among minority groups over the past decade, more African American and Latino students in the Class of 2019 failed to reach SAT benchmarks for college readiness than on the previous year’s test. While 31 percent of Latino and 21 percent of black test takers last year achieved at least a 480 out of 800 for evidence-based reading and writing and 530 out of 800 for math, those numbers dropped to 29 percent and 20 percent in 2019, according to the College Board’s most recent test results, published today. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, also known as FairTest, which believes standardized tests have racial, class, gender and culture barriers, noted that mean SAT scores of students whose parents did not attend any college decreased 12 points from 2018 to 2019
Inside Higher Ed
2019 Survey of Admissions Leaders: The Pressure Grows
By Scott Jaschik
Last year, in response to suggestions of admissions counselors, Inside Higher Ed changed the question it asked of admissions directors about when they filled their class. In addition to asking if they had filled their class by May 1 (the traditional date), we asked if they had filled the class by June 1. Only the public doctoral universities category showed a majority filling their classes by May 1, and asking about June 1 resulted in majorities for private institutions. This year we asked if admissions leaders filled their classes by July 1 (in addition to the earlier deadlines). Administrators at a majority of institutions answered no. That’s one of the findings of the 2019 Inside Higher Ed Survey of College and University Admissions Officials, conducted by Gallup.
Inside Higher Ed
Cut Too Deep? Tuition Discounting at a Crossroads
By Scott Jaschik
Inside Higher Ed today is releasing our newest special report, “Cut Too Deep? Tuition Discounting at a Crossroads.”
For years, college administrators and board members have closely monitored tuition discount rates at their institutions. But they haven’t always been comfortable with high and often-rising discount rates. Nor have they had easy access to important context explaining why colleges and universities discount the way they do. These issues are likely to come to a head in today’s rapidly changing higher education market. For all the attention tuition discounting receives from campus leaders and higher education experts, many report the practice causes consternation, misunderstanding and reflexive apprehension. Even those who historically have touted discounting’s benefits worry that ever-rising discount rates are starting to squeeze margins, diminish returns and bankrupt institutions. This question is being asked with increasing frequency: How long can sticker prices and discount rates keep climbing before the model reaches its breaking point?
Inside Higher Ed
Choosing Employers Over College for More Education
By Paul Fain
Roughly half of American adults without a college degree (46 percent) said they need additional education to advance in their careers, according to new survey data from the Strada Education Network and Gallup. Employers were the first-choice providers for this group, with 33 percent saying they are most likely to participate in additional education and training from employers. Community colleges were next (23 percent), followed by trade schools or programs (21 percent), and traditional four-year colleges (17 percent). Slightly more than half of respondents (53 percent) without a degree said they were likely to enroll in courses or training within the next five years. The survey found that 44 percent of respondents without degrees said they were likely to enroll in courses or training from a work-based setting, compared to 38 percent from a traditional educational institution and 15 percent from an online academic provider.
Inside Higher Ed
Racial Equity and Workforce Development
By Paul Fain
Only 15 percent of Latino adults have earned at least an associate degree, compared to 27 percent of black adults who were born in the U.S. and 45 percent of U.S.-born white adults, according to the National Skills Coalition. Amid that backdrop, the nonprofit group last week published a “road map for racial equity” in workforce development. The report features nine policy solutions, including to adopt racial equity goals in postsecondary education and workforce development plans; to allow incarcerated people to access Pell Grants for college programs; to invest more in apprenticeships; and to invest in support services such as childcare, food and transportation assistance for students who are enrolled in education and training programs.
The Heartland Institute
University Of Alaska Consolidates Campuses After Budget Cuts
By Jane S. Shaw
The state’s university system has “extensive duplicative programs,” including two engineering schools and two business schools.
The Alaska public higher education system is consolidating its three separate universities into one in the wake of a 41 percent cut in state taxpayer funding. Gov. Mike Dunleavy stunned the university world by cutting annual expenditures for the University of Alaska by $130 million, adding to earlier cuts by the legislature. Alaska spends $16,391 per higher-education student, more than double the national average of $7,642, Dunleavy noted in a June 29, 2019 budget memo. The state’s university system has “extensive duplicative programs,” including two engineering schools and two business schools, Dunleavy stated. More than half the university staff are “administrative or support in nature,” instead of teaching or conducting research. Dunleavy made the cut to ensure substantial payouts from the Alaska Permanent Fund, which gives a stipend to every Alaska resident, but he did not hesitate to say the university system was overspending.