University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Augusta and Clark Atlanta universities partner on cyber technology
By Eric Stirgus
Clark Atlanta and Augusta universities announced Tuesday a plan to partner on cyber-physical and cybersecurity research and opportunities for their students to earn degrees in those fields. It’s the second recent partnership between the two universities. They signed an agreement in August to work together on prostate cancer research and met Monday at Clark Atlanta to discuss that project. “We thank you for believing in Clark Atlanta University as we believe in Augusta University,” Clark Atlanta’s president, George T. French Jr., said at Tuesday’s announcement.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Group gives Ga. colleges mixed grades on speech, transparency rules
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s largest universities are missing the mark when it comes to permitting free speech on campus and transparency about its policies. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, based in Philadelphia, Pa., released its annual ratings early Wednesday of several hundred of colleges and universities nationwide on a scale of green (the top rating), yellow (needs improvement) and red (the lowest). None of the 10 Georgia universities surveyed were rated green. FIRE handed out red ratings to two schools: Emory and Georgia Southern. …FIRE has criticized Georgia Southern for policies it believes makes it difficult for students to file sexual misconduct complaints .Eight Georgia universities received yellow ratings, which FIRE describes as policies that “restrict expression that is protected under First Amendment standards and invite administrative abuse.” Those schools are Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Middle Georgia State, Valdosta State and the universities of Georgia, North Georgia and West Georgia. …President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March threatening to cut research funding to schools determined to have limited or prevented students, guest speakers and organizations from expressing their views on campus. The federal government awards an estimated $35 billion annually in research funding, Trump said. About $1 billion of those dollars comes to Georgia’s public and private colleges and universities.
Inside Higher Ed
Colleges in the University System of Georgia will soon offer a new credential similar to an associate degree, featuring a flexible curriculum and specific workforce skills.
By Madeline St. Amour
The University System of Georgia’s new “nexus degree” aims to provide flexibility and specific workforce skills for students. The new 60-credit credential, the first of which will be offered in January, is a great concept, experts said, but could carry some risks. The nexus degree grew out of a larger conversation about what the purpose of higher education will be in 2025, according to Tristan Denley, the system’s chief academic officer. After convening a group of university representatives, employers and other stakeholders, he said the system realized that higher education needs to be more flexible, incorporate 21st-century skills and find ways to build more effective partnerships.
thank your luckey starts
Augusta featured as an up-and-coming film location
by savannahluckey
Augusta, Georgia has recently been featured in several movies as a filming location.
Saving Zoe and The Mule are both two movies filmed in Augusta in the past year. The movies both filmed in the summer. The Mule was a big event, as huge Hollywood stars Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper filmed in the Harrisburg and downtown Augusta locations. One of their locations was First Community Bank, located on Broad St. Saving Zoe was lesser-known, but nonetheless also took place here in downtown Augusta. It stars sisters Laura Marano, who starred as Ally in Disney’s Austin & Ally, and Vanessa Marano, who starred in ABC Family’s Switched at Birth. One of the locations they filmed in was Bar on Broad, located on Broad St. For locals, movie making creates buzz and excitement within the community, especially for the youth attending college at Augusta University interested in filmmaking.
Columbus CEO
Columbus State University to Recognize 742 Graduates
Staff Report
Columbus State University will honor 742 graduates at its fall 2019 commencement ceremonies. Graduates will be recognized according to their college with ceremonies being held at the following times:
Albany Herald
FAMU professor to make historic ABAC Bainbridge commencement address
From staff reports
Mary Diallo, coordinator of language and study abroad programs and an associate professor of French at Florida A&M University, will be the guest speaker for the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College fall commencement ceremony on Dec. 12 at ABAC Bainbridge. Michael Kirkland, the executive director of ABAC Bainbridge, said the ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Charles H. Kirbo Regional Center. The 36 graduates will be a part of a historic moment when they participate in the first-ever ABAC Bainbridge fall commencement. …In 1962, Diallo was one of the first three African-American freshmen to enroll at the University of Georgia. She graduated in 1966 and continued her academic pursuits all the way through a Ph.D. in French literature from Emory University.
Cision
Intelligent.com Announces Best Master’s in Sports Management Degree Programs for 2020
Degree holders gain increased earning potential with career opportunities upon graduation from these top ranked institutions.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 49 Master’s in Sports Management Degree Programs for 2020. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 137 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2020 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 137 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 49 making it to the final list. …2020 Master’s in Sports Management Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Georgia Southern University
Cision
Intelligent.com Announces Best Accounting Degree Programs for 2020
Degree holders gain increased earning potential with career opportunities upon graduation from these top ranked institutions.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the Top 60 Best Accounting Degree Programs for 2020. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 269 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The 2020 rankings are calculated through a unique scoring system which includes student engagement, potential return on investment, and leading third party evaluations. Intelligent.com analyzed 269 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 60 making it to the final list. …2020 Best Accounting Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order): Georgia Southern University; Georgia Southwestern State University; University of West Georgia
The Inkwell
Op-Ed: FYE- More Damage Than Good?
Author: The George-Anne Inkwell Edition
Kee’Ara Smith, Staff Writer
In the hopes of helping first year students become successful at Georgia Southern, a mandatory course was created called FYE also known as “First Year Experience.” The course provides outside classroom experiences for students. Within the course, students are asked to go to events on campus and create a “passport” to show proof of their engagement on campus. Over the years, FYE classes have changed drastically.
The George-Anne
Georgia Southern student gives presentation on replacement migration, sparking outrage online
By Amanda Arnold and Sarah Smith
A Georgia Southern student’s presentation against replacement migration has reached 92 thousand views as of Tuesday. Charles Robertson promoted the idea of replacement migration, which according to him is a policy to encourage immigration in order to help with population declines. “And this is where y’all are gonna start to hate me,” Robertson said. “‘Diversity is our strength’ is a bare faced lie. You should know this… Having them here at all damages virtually all measures of civic health. This policy is on its face, stupid.” Many of the students responded with confusion in the video.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State students demand Atlanta mayor move Henry Grady statue
By Eric Stirgus
Several Georgia State University student groups signed an editorial published Tuesday by its student newspaper demanding Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms remove a statue of Henry W. Grady from a downtown street and relocate it to the Atlanta History Center. The editorial describes Grady, managing editor and part-owner of The Atlanta Constitution in the late 19th century, as a racist who supported a white supremacist’s campaign for governor, published racist headlines and said he did not support voting rights for blacks. “Grady was certainly no patriot — he was simply a racist,” the Georgia State Signal editorial said. “By keeping Grady on a literal and figurative pedestal, we continue to celebrate a legacy that is incompatible with Atlanta’s progressive character. Is this truly what ‘the city too busy to hate’ celebrates?”
Fox 5
Update: Georgia State coach locates Georgia Southern good Samaritans
By Kelly Price
Georgia State’s head coach has located two Georgia Southern students who helped his family following the Panthers’ recent loss to their rivals in Statesboro. Shawn Elliott’s parents, who he said are in their mid-70s, were trying to find a ride home from the Georgia State-Georgia Southern game. Usually, they take an Uber back to their hotel after games like this, but none were available then, aroung 10:30 p.m in Statesboro. “My mom was getting a little worried, it was getting a little late, they’d been out there a while,” Elliott said. The two were decked out in Panthers gear outside Allen E. Paulson Stadium when two women approached the couple and asked if they needed help. “My dad, who’s never met a stranger, struck up a conversation with them, and they said, ‘We’re going to stay here and make sure y’all get home safely,”” Elliott said. Elliott said those two women sat with his parents for 30 or 45 minutes and paid for their Lyft ride back. …Tuesday evening, Elliott received a Twitter message from one of the young ladies who helped his parents.
Albany Herald
Service planned for fallen Americus officers
From staff reports
A commemorative service honoring fallen law enforcement officers Nick Smarr and Jody Smith is planned for Saturday at 10 a.m. in front of the Smarr-Smith Public Safety Building on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University. The public is invited to attend the ceremony. Officer Smarr, of the Americus Police Department, and Officer Smith, of the Georgia Southwestern Police Department, were killed in the line of duty Dec. 7, 2016 while responding to a domestic dispute involving a wanted person.
11Alive
Georgia Gwinnett College announced Tuesday that Dr. Christine Miller Divine will be the chief information officer and vice president of information technology.
Author: Donovan Harris
Georgia Gwinnett College has named a new member to its leadership team. The college announced Tuesday the appointment of Dr. Christine Miller Divine as chief information officer and vice president of information technology. Divine is a first-generation college graduate with more than 20 years of experience in supporting student success through information technology and is currently the vice president for information technology and chief information officer at California State University in Sacramento, California. … While at UGA, Divine managed a $5 million budget and directed various teams, including security and disaster recovery. “I’m thrilled to return to my Georgia roots,” Divine said. “I’m excited about GGC’s growth, potential and direction under President Joseph and want to be part of the team that paves the way for GGC’s success,” she added. Divine earned her bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at UGA.
WTOC
GSU holiday helpers making Christmas brighter for families in need
By Dal Cannady
Christmas will be just a little brighter for hundreds of needy people in Bulloch County. Students and others on the Georgia Southern Statesboro Campus bought gifts as part of a university tradition. Gifts of sweaters, sweatshirts, even socks might not sound like much of a Christmas. But for the people represented by these tags, this could be the difference between getting a gift or none at all. Organizers of the Holiday Helper tree say they continue to be amazed at the response.
WLTZ
CSU’s Servant Leadership Program Presents “Uptown Tree Trail”
Nicole Jones, Anika Allen
Columbus State University’s Servant Leadership Program Presents the 11th annual Holiday Festival. Festival-goers can expect to see Santa arrive in his sleigh, holiday treats, Christmas carols and much more.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA Horticulture students offering locally grown Christmas cheer
By Chad Cain
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at UGA’s Riverbend Greenhouse Complex. From icy white to traditional deep red, the latest crop of poinsettias grown by the Tau chapter of Pi Alpha Xi horticultural honor society is ready to help spread holiday cheer. The students grew more than 1,000 poinsettias this year and will distribute them to university organizations, local churches and individuals. The annual sale raises money for chapter events and helps fund student scholarships for members.
Effingham Herald
Sen. Jack Hill
The Georgia Archives was established in 1918 and was first housed in the State Capitol Building. The Georgia Archives moved to Rhodes Hall in 1930 and then in 1965 to a new building built specifically to house the Georgia Archives. The Georgia Archives moved to its current home, Clayton State University, in Morrow, in 2003 and is officially part of the University System of Georgia. With a purpose to identify, collect and provide access and preservation of Georgia’s historical documents, the archives also serves as a repository of significant collections pertaining to the history of the state. Many collections, such as the Virtual Vault, can be visited from your computer. …Three Georgia Southern professors win awards
In addition to holding historical documents, the Georgia Archives also is steered by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) which was put in statute in 1993. With twelve members appointed by the Governor, GHRAC works to “ensure that Georgians of all ages are made aware of the significant historical records statewide, enhances the preservation and care of these treasures, and improves the access that Georgians have to their records. …Other universities also house special collections
In addition to the main archives, many university libraries also support special collections. They range from East Georgia’s Heritage Center and Ehrlich Military History Collection to University of West Georgia’s Special Collections and Speaker Tom Murphy office re-creation and University of Georgia’s Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library. They offer additional records, and in some cases, collections of digital resources and oral histories to maintain the history of the state. GHRAC’s 17th annual Archives Awards were held at the Georgia Archives October 15th to “recognize outstanding efforts in archives and records work in Georgia.” A Local History Advocacy award was presented to Georgia Southern University’s own Robert K. “Bob” Batchelor, Ph. D., Tom Kohler and Susan Earl an award for Waddie Welcome Archive – Savannah Signs. The Waddie Welcome Archive is founded upon a core collection of 750 photographs as well as actual examples of hand-painted public signs from Savannah, Georgia. …Georgia Southern’s exhibits with a local touch
In addition, many hold additional events and exhibits that are open and available to the public. Georgia Southern University, which is also a Federal Depository Library, maintains a blog with regular updates on available exhibits and events, including the current Exhibit of World War II: America in the Pacific Theater.
Georgia Trend
Innovation, infrastructure and capabilities fuel growth in Georgia’s aerospace industry.
Patty Rasmussen
When it comes to the aerospace industry, Georgia is in the big league. In 2017, aerospace companies located here provided direct employment for more than 108,000 citizens. It’s a diverse mix of businesses that run the gamut from family-owned Aerodox in Newton County, which prepares and publishes vital minimum equipment list (MEL) documents for aircraft customers across the U.S. and the world, to Savannah’s Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., which in June received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification of its latest business jet, the G600. Gulfstream then capped off the summer by opening a $55-million, 202,000-square-foot maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in September. These companies and more than 800 others are part of the aerospace and aviation juggernaut that generates a $57.5-billion economic impact on our state.
…Where Are the Workers?
Even as she touts the number of aerospace companies and their success, Hudnall says that the industry does have concerns and the most pressing is workforce. “There are a lot of people aging out of the workforce, and we don’t have enough people coming in to replace them,” she says. In an attempt to address the need, the state began some high school aviation programs, she says, and more. “Aviation technician training is one of the High Demand Career Initiatives that you can go to the technical colleges for free,” she says. Five technical colleges have aviation programs, and then there’s Middle Georgia State University (MGSU). The School of Aviation at MGSU located at the Eastman campus is the state’s only public four-year collegiate aviation program. Students can choose from a four-year bachelor’s in aviation science and management, one-year certification programs and two-year aircraft maintenance training programs. Depending on the program, students can earn associate’s degrees and complete their degrees online.
WGAU
UGA researchers study flu, virtual reality
By: Sarah Freeman
Using a virtual reality simulation to show how flu spreads and its impact on others could be a way to encourage more people to get a flu vaccination, according to a study by researchers at the University of Georgia and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This is the first published study to look at immersive virtual reality as a communication tool for improving flu vaccination rates among “flu vaccine avoidant” 18- to 49-year-old adults.
Golf Week
CBS expands golf announcer team with Frank Nobilo, Trevor Immelman
By: Geoff Shackelford
Continuing an extensive announce team overhaul, CBS Sports announced the hiring of Frank Nobilo and Trevor Immelman to full-time roles on Tuesday, while Michelle Wie joins as a Masters digital team member. The news arrives on the heels of Davis Love’s hiring after contract options were not picked up on longtime broadcasters Gary McCord and Peter Kostis. Nobilo leaves Golf Channel after 15 years where he was an integral member of the Live From broadcasts as well as tournament coverage. In recent years, he has split time between CBS and Golf Channel at select tournaments, including major championships where he has taken the Amen Corner booth slot. Trevor Immelman is a rising star in golf broadcasting who has worked a variety of roles for Golf Channel since 2016 while still playing some respectable golf in recent years. He will join the CBS team as an analyst on PGA Tour events as well as the Masters and PGA Championship, both CBS properties. The network also announced an expanded role for Mark Immelman, who has worked partial schedules for the network in recent years on top of his duties at Sirius/XM radio and as Director of Golf at Columbus State University.
Douglas Now
Excitement and anticipation were growing throughout the basketball gymnasium recently on the Douglas and Waycross campuses as students, faculty, staff and community members waited for the entrance of the new South Georgia State College (SGSC) mascot. Amid cheers and applause, SGSC president, Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers, and student leaders led the new mascot, Talon, also known as Tally, onto the court complete with dramatic special effects and lighting. For those in attendance, the dramatic reveal made the experience even more exhilarating. With the release of the 2019-2024 Moving Forward Strategic Plan, SGSC embarked on a mission to increase awareness of and grow the college for our current and future students. As part of the mission, a plan was put in place to rebrand elements of the college’s identity, beginning with athletics. The new Hawks mascot character was created to be an ambassador personifying the spirit of SGSC on each campus and within the regional community.
The Red & Black
OPINION: Uga looks pretty happy to me
Stroud Payne | Opinion Editor
If there was one thing that everyone in the University of Georgia community can agree on, it’s that Uga is great. The beloved English bulldog is a symbol of the university and perennial fixture of the university’s football games. Even outsiders cannot resist showering the affable icon with endless praise, with Sports Illustrated crowning him the greatest mascot in college football history in August. There might not be a more universally-adored figure in the world today. It seems, however, that not everyone is pleased with Uga’s role at the university. Following UGA’s game against Texas A&M University, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals tweeted a video of Uga huddling in his dog house to avoid the rain and demanded that the university retire him. …The truth is that Uga leads a great life. He’s a pet, but he is pampered far more than any ordinary person. From the looks of it, Charles Seiler, the Uga line owner, goes to great lengths to ensure Uga lives his best life. He bred Que, the current Uga, and the following Uga so that they would not face the same health problems as most English bulldogs.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Senate Compromise on HBCU Funding, FAFSA
By Paul Fain
Leaders of the education committee of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday released a bipartisan proposed amendment that would make permanent $255 million in annual funding for historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions, simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and eliminate paperwork for income-driven student loan repayment plans.
Savannah Morning News
Liz Weston column: Time to check on college savings plan
By Adam Van Brimmer
College savings plans are a great way to save for education. But not all college savings plans are great. Most state-sponsored 529 college savings plans, which allow you to invest in a tax-advantaged account for future education costs, have improved significantly in recent years, says Madeline Hume, analyst for multi-asset and alternative strategies at investment research firm Morningstar. Plans have lowered fees, improved investment options and smoothed investment “glide paths” to reduce risk. But not every plan is keeping up. Morningstar recently downgraded eight state plans and advised most savers to avoid five others, often for excessive costs. If you’re saving for a child’s education in a 529 plan, or want to start, it’s a good time to review your options because there may now be a better choice.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
By Danielle McLean
The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday that it will create a host of online tools that will allow student-loan borrowers to pay off their debt on a single federally-operated website and advise them on how they can best manage their debt. The effort, which is being called the NextGen initiative, will also include the launch of a new web app called Aidan, which will answer hundreds of frequently asked questions, and a loan simulator that will recommend ways that borrowers can manage their student-loan debt. Students will also be required to see how much student debt they currently owe before taking on new loans and will be given clearer information about whether they are eligible for public-service loan forgiveness.
Inside Higher Ed
DeVos Wants to Spin Off Student Loan Office
By Paul Fain
Betsy DeVos, the U.S. secretary of education, on Tuesday proposed creating a new, stand-alone federal agency to manage the Education Department’s $1.5 trillion student loan portfolio. “Congress never set up the U.S. Department of Education to be a bank,” DeVos said in prepared remarks at the annual Federal Student Aid (FSA) conference. She called FSA an “untamed beast.” And DeVos said the Trump administration wants to create a new agency to manage student lending — a change Congress would need to make — in part because FSA is pulled in different political directions every couple years.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Why isn’t it a no-brainer to embed ‘certifications’ into bachelor’s degrees?
By Goldie Blumenstyk
At community colleges, the idea of students earning industry and professional certifications as they pursue their education is often standard operating procedure. At four-year colleges, not so much. This is true even though recent research suggests that liberal-arts graduates can improve their job prospects considerably if they graduate with even one or two industry-specific skills along with their degree. So when I heard about a new project to encourage more bachelor’s-level institutions to embed certifications into their curricula, of course I was interested. I became even more interested — and little perplexed — when I learned from the project organizers that the college folks from the liberal arts seemed the most resistant to the idea. …Groups that offer certifications in financial planning, safety examination, and IT already work closely with several four-year colleges where the disciplines match up. And some institutions, like Ohio University, specifically aligned academic offerings — in this case its engineering-technology program — to prepare students for the exam to be a Certified Manufacturing Specialist. The new “nexus degree” experiment in Georgia that my colleague Alexander Kafka recently wrote about is a permutation on this idea as well.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Is Blockchain the Future of Academic Credentials?
By Wesley Jenkins
ITT Technical Institutes abruptly shut its doors in 2016 just as the fall semester was beginning, stranding thousands of students at its 130 campuses. Ten of those campuses were in Texas, and Joe May, chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District, wanted to help. The problem was the students’ academic records were still locked away in the now-dead for-profit’s databases, and the district’s officials couldn’t verify the credentials. May consulted with Manoj Kutty, an educational tech entrepreneur, on how to avoid the problem in the future. The answer, they decided, was in blockchain. Known primarily as the technology behind cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, blockchain is a distributed ledger. When a user enters new information into the ledger, a student’s transcript for example, that information becomes a “block” in a decentralized network of computers. Blocks are given a unique tag, called a “hash,” and chained together in a specific order — hence, “blockchain.”