University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC ON CAMPUS: System studying student fees; Emory president to retire
By Eric Stirgus
It has been a difficult week for the higher education community in these parts. The search for Clark Atlanta University student Alexis Crawford ended tragically with police finding her body in a DeKalb County park. Crawford’s her roommate and the roommate’s boyfriend were charged with her murder. On Tuesday, Georgia’s Board of Regents held a moment of silence in memory of former Regent Rutledge “Rusty” Griffin, 75, who died last week. In between, there’s been a lot of additional news, such as the data leak at Georgia Tech and Emory University’s president had a major announcement about her future there. Here are some other items of note in this week’s AJC On Campus: University System to review student fees There’s been increasing attention, and criticism, of mandatory fees on University System of Georgia students for athletics, health, transportation and other costs. On Tuesday, University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced a group is looking into those costs.
Enrollment up again at Georgia’s public universities The University System of Georgia released a report at its Board of Regents meeting Tuesday that shows student enrollment slightly increased again. Read more about the increase here.
University of West Georgia enrollment troubles The University of West Georgia had a decline of about 500 first-year students there this fall. The decrease is the main reason for a $3 million budget gap, officials say. The university discussed the situation Monday with students and faculty.
Tuition revenue growth weakening nationally Speaking of tuition revenue troubles, Moody’s Investor Service released a report Monday that shows tuition revenue is not expected to grow at last year’s pace.
Regents approve $80 million UGA athletics facility expansion
Atlanta Metropolitan State’s new president The Georgia Board of Regents voted in executive session Tuesday to permanently hire Georj Lewis as president of Atlanta Metropolitan State College.
South Georgia minority STEM initiative A group of South Georgia colleges and universities are working to encourage more minority students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.
Savannah Morning News
Savannah State enrollment drops, state regents name new chair
By Ann Meyer
Sachin Shailendra, a business owner from metro Atlanta, will take the reins of the Board of Regents of University System of Georgia in January, succeeding Don Waters of Savannah as the board chair for 2020. The University System of Georgia made the announcement the same day it released record fall enrollment numbers for the university system but declines at Georgia Southern University and Savannah State University. Shailendra, a Georgia Tech alum and president of SC Contracting Inc., said, “I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve the citizens of Georgia, my fellow regents and the 333,000 students who are working to improve their lives and the world by studying at institutions in the University System of Georgia,” Shailendra said. While the University System of Georgia’s fall enrollment hit an all-time high this fall, rising 1.5% from a year ago to 333,507, Savannah State and Georgia Southern universities both saw enrollment decline.
WFXL
University System of Georgia sees state-wide enrollment gains, local drops
by FOX 31 Staff
The University System of Georgia has seen a 1.5% growth in enrollment over Fall 2018, but how did colleges and universities in Southwest Georgia fare? Of the colleges serving the area, Georgia Southwestern State University and Valdosta State all saw their enrollment numbers increase, while Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Albany State University, Georgia Southern University, and South Georgia State dropped. However, every college saw their full-time enrollment drop year over year.
WSB-TV
Enrollment at Georgia’s universities, colleges keeps growing
By: JEFF AMY, Associated Press
Enrollment at Georgia’s public colleges and universities reached an all-time high for the fifth year in a row, powered mostly by increases at a few of the state’s largest schools. The University System of Georgia reported Tuesday that total enrollment rose 1.5% in fall 2019 from fall 2018. More than 333,000 students are enrolled across the state’s 26 institutions. Among those schools, 11 showed growth and 15 showed declines.
Middle Georgia CEO
Maintaining its upward trend, Middle Georgia State University (MGA) this fall posted the third-highest percentage increase in enrollment within the University System of Georgia (USG). MGA’s fall 2019 enrollment reached 8,066 students, according to the USG’s official report released Tuesday, Nov. 12. In addition to a 3.4 percent overall enrollment gain, MGA saw an increase of 27.9 percent in students enrolled in master’s degree programs. “This is our second consecutive fall semester in which we have achieved one of the highest percentages of enrollment growth in the University System of Georgia,” said MGA President, Dr. Christopher Blake.
WGAU
UNG reports enrollment increase
By: Tim Bryant
The University of North Georgia says its enrollment is approaching the 20,000 mark: UNG says its fall semester enrollment checked in 19,748, up one tenth of one percent from last year. “This year’s modest enrollment increase reflects our success in managing growth across our campuses to keep pace with our facilities and resources,” UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs (pictured above). “We look forward to the completion of academic facility expansion projects already underway in Gainesville and Blue Ridge and those planned in Dahlonega and Cumming.” With 7,913 students, the Gainesville Campus had the highest enrollment of UNG’s five campuses for fall 2019. Enrollment on UNG’s other four campuses and online for fall 2019: Blue Ridge-197; Cumming-1,291; Dahlonega-7,296; Oconee-2,504; and online-547. Additionally, UNG’s Corps of Cadets at its Dahlonega Campus has 752 members this fall.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georj Lewis named president of Atlanta Metropolitan State College
By Dave Williams – Staff Writer
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents likes the job Georj Lewis has done as interim president of Atlanta Metropolitan State College so much they’ve chosen him to fill the job permanently. The board announced there would be a national search for a successor to Gary McGaha when he announced last March he would be retiring from the top leadership post at the four-year college in June. But Lewis has drawn strong praise since taking over as interim president at the beginning of July. “Dr. Lewis has stepped in and shown excellent leadership in less than six months,” system Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “I have great confidence in his ability to lead the institution going forward.”
WSB-TV
Georgia regents name new president for Atlanta college
The Georgia Board of Regents is naming a new president at the university system’s smallest institution. Regents on Tuesday voted to make Georj Lewis the permanent leader at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Lewis has been the 1,800-student school’s interim president since July 1.
Athens Banner-Herald
Regents OK UGA football building, dorm
By Lee Shearer
The state Board of Regents has approved an $80 million renovation and expansion of the University of Georgia’s football facilities. The nonprofit corporation that runs UGA’s NCAA sports programs, the UGA Athletic Association, would be responsible for the costs of the renovation and expansion project at UGA’s Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall and for operating costs once construction concludes. The project’s first phase of 109,600 square feet would include a new football locker room and new offices and conference rooms for football coaches, new sports medicine areas and a new strength and conditioning room. The Regents also granted permission for the university to build a new freshman residence hall on Baxter Street on the site of the old Bolton Dining Commons just down the hill from Creswell Hall. The 525-bed dorm will be a “public-private partnership,” with a private company putting up about 80 percent of the $50 million cost of the project in exchange for the rights to the revenues.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
New 187-unit student housing project underway adjacent to Georgia Tech campus
By Jessica Saunders – Managing Editor
A new student housing project with 187 units is underway adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus in West Midtown. Catalyst is being developed by a joint venture of Atlanta-based Campus Realty Advisors, Realiance and T2 Capital Management. The community will cater to Tech students. It is expected to be completed and open by the start of the fall 2021 semester. The property will have 187 apartment units including 532 bedrooms, and each bedroom will have its own bathroom.
41NBC
MACON COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES VETERANS AT COLEMAN HILL PARK
By Rashaad Vann
Macon veterans were treated to a special ceremony on Monday. Middle Georgia State University and Macon-Bibb County held its 4th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Coleman Hill Park. Community members and students came together to honor Macon veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. MGA President Christopher Blake presented challenge coins to veterans at the event.
13WMAZ
Troy Carroll suffered from PTSD after two tours in Iraq with the Marines.
Author: Katelyn Heck
After high school, Troy Carroll joined the Navy as a corpsman, specializing in emergency medical care. He went on to serve two tours in Iraq with the Marines. “The stuff you run into, you train and practice so hard, it’s muscle memory,” he said. Back on American soil though, Carroll felt less comfortable…. Now Carroll is a student at Middle Georgia State University, pursuing his lifelong goal of becoming a nurse. “My mom was a nurse, and I wanted to get in the medical field, but we couldn’t afford to put me through college.” Carroll says he still goes through challenges with his back problems and PTSD, but he is determined to move forward for himself, his family, and fellow veterans.
WALB
ABAC hosts annual agricultural job fair
By Darran Todd
Students at a Southwest Georgia college are getting a chance to graduate with a guaranteed job. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) held its annual career fair Tuesday where students had the chance to meet potential employers. Over 60 employers that included John Deere and Georgia Forestry attended the event. Agriculture is the number one industry in Georgia, which is why they want to hire recent or new college graduates now.
The Red & Black
Four Seven Chinese Traditional Music Club spreads Chinese music, culture to UGA and Athens
Melissa Ge | Contributor
The University of Georgia has an international student population of 2,600 with a large portion of those students coming from China. For international students, finding a place to belong is important as they spend their time abroad. Students in the Four Seven Chinese Traditional Music Club have created a sense of home through a shared love of traditional Chinese music, calligraphy and dance.
Albany Herald
Albany State fined by the NCAA, receives other penalties for self-reported violations
By Joe Whitfield
The Albany State University athletic department will pay a $3,000 fine and will be on two years of probation by the NCAA, among other penalties, after the NCAA received violations reported by the university itself from 2016. The penalties announced today do not affect the current football team and its’ ability to play in the SIAC championship game scheduled for Saturday at the Albany State University Coliseum. From the NCAA report: “Albany State (Georgia) committed multiple violations that established the university’s failure to monitor and lack of control over the administration of its athletics program, according to a decision issued by the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions. Specifically, the violations were in five areas: eligibility certification, financial aid, playing and practice seasons, extra benefits and athletics responsibilities.”