University System News:
Albany Herald
ABAC transitions honors program to four-year status
The Honors Program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is transitioning from a two-year to a four-year program. Cynthia Hall, director of the ABAC Honors Program, said the curriculum is designed for those students who excel academically and are ready to take more rigorous versions of their courses. Hall said that in the past, these honors classes were offered only in lower-level courses such as freshman and sophomore English, history and communication classes.
WGAU Radio
UGA school offers online degree
The University of Georgia School of Social Work now offers the first fully online Master of Social Work degree in Georgia. All coursework, with the exception of a required field internship, can be taken online. Applications are being accepted for the inaugural cohort, scheduled to begin Fall 2020. The Master of Social Work online program extends program access to people interested in earning an advanced degree in direct social work practice while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The program also addresses the growing demand for social workers in rural and medically underserved areas. “This fully online program should provide access and flexibility to earn an advanced degree in social work and eliminate barriers such as travel time to get to campus or not being able to access a campus because of distance,” said Javier F. Boyas, director of the social work master’s degree program
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Building a University for the Future
New R2 designation helps KSU leadership set a roadmap for change
As a child, Chris Roper was drawn to anything that flew – planes, rockets and satellites. It was around that time he knew his future would involve aerospace engineering studies. “The big goal was always to become a rocket scientist,” Roper said. Roper leveraged his classroom experience to bolster his research on propulsion and combustion for turbofan engines. The results of his studies have been presented at conferences hosted by the American Society of Engineering Education and the Council of Undergraduate Research, among others. Reflecting on one of his favorite classes at KSU – aircraft propulsions – Roper said, “Every day was interesting, and every day we were learning something new. That’s when I realized how cool and different it was to take what you learned in the classroom and apply it to something tangible.” Following his graduation last year with a degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in aerospace engineering, Roper completed a three-month fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a six-month co-op, ultimately gaining admission into a highly competitive Ph.D. program. Like Roper, there are more than 36,000 students at Kennesaw State today discovering their own potential, daring to climb higher, and the University stands ready to deliver.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oh baby! Georgia professor cares for student’s child in class
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia Gwinnett College assistant biology professor Ramata Sissoko Cissé got a call from one of her students a couple of weeks ago who had a problem. The student couldn’t find a babysitter for her infant son and asked if it would be okay to bring the child to class. Cissé not only agreed, but held the baby for nearly her entire three-hour lecture. Cissé is being lauded on social media after a student posted a picture of the professor holding the baby on her back, which is done by many African mothers. Cissé, a mother of three, is from the west African nation of Mali. Cissé’s actions were an easy, instinctive decision, she said.
Emanuel County Live
EGSC’s President delivers State of the College Address
by HARLEY STRICKLAND
On Tuesday, September 24, 2019, East Georgia State College’s President, Dr. Bob Boehmer, held the yearly state of the college address. Students, faculty, staff and members from the community all gathered in the Luck Flanders Gambrell Center auditorium for the event. Dr. Boehmer began the address by stating higher education in the United States is currently undergoing a period of rapid transformation and change. Across the United States, students in rural high schools are doing quite well but after high school, fewer rural students are choosing college. “It is East Georgia State College’s mission to understand why this is happening, provide college access for more students in our region and then graduate them at higher rates,” said Dr. Boehmer. “This is a complex and difficult question. However, it is critical to the economic and social viability of our region and to the life success of our amazing students.”
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
CSU students looking for those with family connections to Liberia for upcoming project
BY MARK RICE
Columbus State University geography students and a local filmmaker are seeking help for an oral history project and documentary film envisioned to air on public television. Billed as the “Liberia Migration Project History Harvests,” two opportunities will be available Saturday: …They are looking for anyone related to the approximately 450 people who are part ofthe more than 100 families who migrated from the lower Chattahoochee Valley to the west African nation of Liberia between 1850 and 1900. McDaniel learned about the Columbus area’s connection to Liberia while attending Louisiana State University a decade ago.
Emanuel County Live
EGSC kicks off Second Annual Student Leadership Program
by HARLEY STRICKLAND
As part of East Georgia State College’s efforts to serve as the model affordable, innovative, high-quality rural access institution in the United States, the college is hosting their Student Leadership Program for the second year. The Student Leadership Program is a collaboration between EGSC and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service to provide an opportunity for students to further develop the skills and leadership qualities needed to become effective campus and community leaders.
Savannah Morning News
Savannah’s Fiesta Latina celebration promotes unity and culture
By Nick Robertson
Twirling dresses and spicy specialties enlivened Savannah’s riverfront during Saturday’s Fiesta Latina celebrations, where diverse crowds gathered to enjoy live entertainment and food-truck feasts. Held for the 14th time on Saturday, Savannah’s annual Fiesta Latina event brings together community members with roots from numerous Hispanic nations. …Alongside assorted vendors, a variety of regional organizations set up information booths at Fiesta Latina. Chatham County Human Resources encouraged Hispanic locals to apply for government jobs, while Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University had recruitment representatives on hand, and the Savannah Undocumented Youth Alliance encouraged unauthorized immigrants to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census
Americus Times Recorder
GSW to roll out Day of Giving on Oct. 10
By Beth Alston
AMERICUS — The Georgia Southwestern State University campus and surrounding community will come together to raise money and awareness for university projects on the Day of Giving, Oct. 10.
Washington Examiner
Do not take general education for granted
by Nathaniel Urban
College graduates still earn more than high school graduates over the course of their careers. But a recent PayScale survey found that managers increasingly say recent grads lack basic writing, speaking, and problem solving skills. Traditionally, students have developed these skills through general education programs, which make up roughly one-third of most students’ academic programs. As students begin the new academic year, they are well-served to remember that general education programs are not a burden, but opportunities to develop high-demand skills through courses in the liberal arts. …A number of reputable schools understand the value of general education programs in the liberal arts. The University of Georgia requires undergraduate students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences to take foundational courses in composition, literature, mathematics, and the physical and life sciences. The school also requires a course on the United States Constitution and a survey course in American history.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dozens of Georgia State students relocated after mold found in dorms
By Shaddi Abusaid
More than 60 Georgia State University students have been relocated after mold was discovered in their dormitory rooms, school officials said. Shannon Corey, GSU’s interim director of University Housing, said some students living in the Piedmont North dorms reported finding mold shortly after moving in this summer. The building was an old hotel that was purchased by the university and repurposed into student housing, a university spokeswoman told AJC.com. The mold, found in the closets and bathrooms of about two dozen units, was first reported by Georgia State’s student-run newspaper, the Signal.
The West Georgia
Mental Health:Suicude Prevention at UWG
by Nicole Kirkman
In light of Suicide Prevention Day this month, the University of West Georgia Counseling Center has put out information for students looking for help when things start to seem hopeless. The Counseling Center at UWG has listed the different programs students can participate in to promote healthy mentality among the campus. The UWG’s clinical coordinator, Jeff Davis, believes good things are coming from the counseling department from the university.
Savannah Morning News
By Ann Meyer
In less than a year, the Savannah Exploratory Charter Academy is expected to open its doors to 252 students in kindergarten through grade three. How to get it done by August was the topic of discussion Tuesday evening when board members gathered at the Collegiate Church of St. Paul the Apostle on Abercorn.
At the top of the board’s checklist was selecting a domain name that will be the face of the school’s online presence. Director Roger Moss, the co-founder of Savannah Children’s Choir and Savannah Classical Academy who came up with the concept of the new project-based learning charter school, suggested SECAwisdom.org. …The board will explore opportunities to work with Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus, particularly if it moves forward to secure a lease for a site on Middleground and Shawnee Street, across from the main Armstrong entrance. “We chose it because of the proximity to the Georgia Southern Armstrong campus,” said board member Jim Goodlett, chief executive of Morris Technology. Julie McBrayer, assistant professor of leadership, technology and human development at Georgia Southern and a SECA board member, said the Middleground site could allow the charter to tap the talent of Georgia Southern’s teaching and leadership program. “If we could get this together, we could possibly write a grant,” McBrayer said by phone during the board meeting. “A strong nexus with Georgia Southern would be the biggest benefit we could have,” said board member Patrick Connell, partner at Boyd & Jenerette.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA looks to explore its history of slavery
By Eric Stirgus
University of Georgia leaders say they want to know more about the school’s history concerning slavery and are committing $100,000 for faculty to submit research proposals. The deadline for proposals is Monday. UGA was founded in 1785, and it wants research from that year to 1865, when the Civil War ended. Some students, faculty, alumni and community leaders say the school needs to commit more money for the work and extend the time period of research past the Civil War. “It’s not a lot of money for this sort of research, but it’s a beginning,” said UGA associate history professor Chana Kai Lee, who is part of a team working on a proposal to investigate that history.
Albany Herald
UGA student creates virtual tour of arboretum
Chad Cain
As part of Kendall Busher’s internship in the Office of Sustainability, she has created an online map and virtual tour of 115 of the campus arboretum’s most unique trees. Using GIS technology and software called Storymap, Busher, a horticulture major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, developed three different virtual walking tours, one for the northern, central and southern sides of campus. The tour allows participants to engage in an in-depth tour of trees on campus without having to wait for a physical guide
WPDE
Second mass stranding of pilot whales on the Georgia coast leaves 15 dead
by Marah Brock, WTGS
St. Catherines Island, Ga. (WTGS) — A second mass stranding of pilot whales of the coast of Georgia has officials baffled. On Wednesday, around 26 pilot whales stranded themselves on or near St. Catherines Island, according to the Wildlife Resources Division, a portion of Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). …Georgia Southern University students monitoring sea turtle nesting on St. Catherines found 11 to 13 whales stranded on the remote island Wednesday morning, according to island director of operations Mike Halderson. Five were alive.
WLTZ
Isaacs Named USPTA College Coach of the Year
LAS VEGAS – Columbus State University tennis coach Evan Isaacs was named as the 2019 Steve Wilkinson College Coach of the Year by the United States Professional Tennis Association. The awards luncheon was held at the USPTA World Conference in Las Vegas. Isaacs is in his 19th season at Columbus State serving as the head coach for both the men’s and women’s teams. He has transformed CSU into a national powerhouse, including leading the men’s team to the 2018 NCAA Division II national championship.
Americus Times Recorder
Norman named PBC Golfer of the Week
By Ken Gustafson
AMERICUS – Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) senior golfer Vincent Norman earned his first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Golfer of the Week honor this season.
Savannah Morning News
Tyler Perry says he can’t ‘up and leave’ filming in Georgia
By Jonathan Landrum Jr. / AP Entertainment Writer
Tyler Perry said he cannot “just up and leave” filming in Georgia despite Hollywood’s backlash against the state’s “heartbeat” abortion law. The actor-director-writer made the remarks to The Associated Press on Friday while discussing the upcoming opening of his massive Atlanta-based studio. Some celebs have urged TV and film companies to abandon the state after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the restrictive abortion bill in May. But Perry, whose hits include the “Madea” franchise and “Why Did I Get Married” films, said he is committed to staying put. “Atlanta has been the dream. It has been the promised land,” he said. “So when I got here, this whole state and city has been amazing to me and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
‘Welcome to the Wild West’: The Competition for College Applicants Just Intensified
By Eric Hoover
They did it despite their reservations. They did it because they saw no other choice. Under pressure from the Justice Department, admissions officers and college counselors on Saturday voted to delete portions of their ethics code. And just like that, the rules of competition among colleges changed. Previously, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, known as NACAC, barred colleges from offering incentives, such as special housing or better financial-aid packages, exclusively to applicants who apply under binding early-decision programs. The organization’s “Code of Ethics and Professional Practices” also said colleges must stop recruiting a student once he or she has submitted a deposit to another institution. And the code said colleges can’t solicit transfer applications from a previous applicant or prospect unless that student inquires about transferring. Now all three provisions are gone.
See also:
Inside Higher Ed
NACAC Agrees to Change Its Code of Ethics
Move is designed to end pressure from Justice Department, but what will the impact be on the admissions landscape?
Inside Higher Ed
A look at last week’s NACAC National Conference as expressed through the stages of grief.
By Rick Seltzer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2019 National Association for College Admission Counseling National Conference in many ways represented the end of an era for college admissions. As such, the meeting and the weeks leading up to it looked a lot like a group of people moving through the five stages of grief. The most-anticipated change at the conference was a package of deletions from NACAC’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practices. The CEPP was stripped Saturday of sections restricting colleges’ ability to offer early-decision incentives, recruit first-year undergraduates and recruit transfer students. NACAC made the cuts because the U.S. Department of Justice believes they restrain competition. It’s not yet clear how the changes will affect colleges’ admissions behavior, although they have the potential to supercharge competition for some students. Even if colleges don’t change their behavior at all, the vote is a break from the past because it is being prompted by an antitrust investigation by the Justice Department.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
New Coalition Highlights the Need For Student Voices in Higher Education Policy
by Sara Weissman
The last time the Higher Education Act was reauthorized, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” was the number one song, said Emily Bouck West, deputy director of Higher Education Advocates. It’s been 11 years, and “a lot in our world has changed,” she said. “We’re excited policymakers are continuing to talk about Higher Education Act reauthorization, and we think it’s necessary to update policies to better meet today’s students.” Bouck West is a part of Today’s Students Coalition, a group of higher education advocacy organizations born in August. The coalition consists of twelve different groups, including Higher Learning Advocates, Veterans Education Success, Young Invincibles, the National College Access Network and others. The goal is to advocate for policies that expand supports for nontraditional and underrepresented students.