University System News:
Savanah Business Journal
Connor’s Temple to Celebrate CTBC-SSU Day
Connor’s Temple invites you to celebrate Connor’s Temple Baptist Church – Savannah State University Day. The speaker for this annual occasion will be Mrs. Kimberly Ballard-Washington, Esq., Interim President of Savannah State University. The program will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. … Mrs. Ballard Washington was appointed Interim President of Savannah State University by the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG) on July 1, 2019. …Ballard-Washington was named to Georgia Trend Magazine’s “Top 40 under 40” list. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University School of Law. Connor’s Temple Baptist Church – Savannah State University Day was initiated in 1996 and became an annual observance in 1998 continuing to the present.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Most and least educated states 2020: Georgia fails to crack the top 20
By Kiersten Willis
Not long after ranking among the worst states to raise a family, Georgia has added another low ranking to its count. A new survey from WalletHub analyzed the most and least educated states in the U.S. — and the Peach State did not fare well. …The top most educated states were Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado, Vermont and Connecticut, ranking in at No. 1,2,3,4, and 5. Georgia came in at No. 34.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Georgia’s colleges and universities rank nationally, according to WalletHub
By Nancy Clanton
A dozen make the ranking, but only one cracks the top 20
In-state rivalries often are limited to sports. Author Bill Cromartie described the UGA vs. Georgia Tech football rivalry is the “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.” Georgia Tech has beaten the University of Georgia, but not very often. When it comes to rankings that don’t involve athletics, however, the Yellow Jackets usually get the trophy. Will that hold true for 2020? …Georgia ended up with 12 schools in the top 500 — three of those in the top 100, and one in the top 20. With a score of 72.22, the Georgia Institute of Technology claims the top spot in the state, ranking No. 16 in the U.S. It also ranked No. 4 for highest return on educational investment.
Georgia Entertainment News
Georgia Tech Study Confirms Film Tax Credit Success
With the release of the Georgia Tech study showing that the film industry’s direct spend in Georgia is significantly higher than previously reported, the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition said the findings prove the industry’s investment and job creation is paying off for taxpayers.
Savannah CEO
Georgia Southern University Recognized for 14 Top Degree Programs in the U.S.
Staff Report
Georgia Southern University has been awarded top-ranking status for multiple degree programs by Intelligent.com. Georgia Southern was listed among hundreds of other competing institutions across the nation. The student-focused comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,604 accredited colleges and universities. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation and post-graduate employment.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia graduates can’t keep up with job demand
By Christopher Quinn
The number of degrees and certificates issued by Georgia’s university system and technical colleges grew 19% between 2014 and 2018. But that healthy growth did not match the number of job postings for entry-level positions, which increased by 28%, according to a study by the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and consulting firm Accenture. The chamber is working on legislative issues meant to help align employer needs with education and opportunity, such as providing needs-based scholarships for students from low-income families. The bulk of educational help provided by HOPE scholarships go to families with more than $100,000 a year in income, according to the data in the chamber report. The top job posting in Georgia over the four-year period was for registered nurses, with nearly a quarter million jobs publicized. Heavy truck drivers was second, followed by software developers, other computer-based occupations and then sales representatives.
WTVM
CSU offering new cybersecurity degree
By Olivia Gunn
Columbus State University is searching for students who are interested in completing a new cybersecurity degree. According to cyberseek.com., there are 24,000 cybersecurity job openings in Georgia and Alabama combined. There are more job openings than people applying for jobs in the field. Jobs in cybersecurity include software development, security consulting, and security engineering. CSU’s nexus cybersecurity degree will give students hands-on experience in efforts to fill those positions with qualified candidates.
The George-Anne
Music program gets down to business at Georgia Southern
William Cobb
Georgia Southern University has announced plans to add a new music industry degree under the College of Arts and Humanities. The program will put more focus on music technology and business, with the hope that it will appeal to more students and open a wider path of careers. “The new program will allow us to connect with a whole new group of potential students.” Steven Harper, chair of the department of music, said. “We have been getting inquiries about a music industry degree for years, but have never before had the resources to make it happen.” Accompanying this new field will be several new courses to help develop this path, including Introduction to Music Industry, Live Sound Reinforcement and Commercial Music Theory.
Growing Georgia
Explore ABAC During Stallion Day on February 1
High school seniors will have a chance to win a $500 tuition waiver and much more on Feb. 1 during the Winter Stallion Day at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall. Stallion Day kicks off with campus tours guided by the ABAC Ambassadors from 8-8:45 a.m. followed by Club Connections in Gressette Gymnasium where visitors can explore over 50 different clubs and organizations on the ABAC campus.
WABE
Georgia Tech Offers New Admissions Option For Some Students
Martha Dalton
High school seniors who’ve applied early to Georgia Tech will find out Saturday whether they got in or not. This year, there could be a silver lining for some students who aren’t accepted. About 160 applicants who aren’t admitted will be offered the chance to transfer if they meet certain requirements. “What we’ve created is a pathway, where a student has the opportunity to go elsewhere for a year, take a specified set of courses and earn a certain GPA, in this case a 3.3, and then transfer into Georgia Tech after a year,” said Rick Clark, director of undergraduate admission for Georgia Tech. All of the students have to be eligible to receive a Pell Grant, a form of federal financial aid. The idea, Clark says, is to increase socio-economic diversity in the student body.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
South Forsyth student stuns teacher with Georgia Tech acceptance
By Kiersten Willis
A high school student got big news that he was accepted into the Georgia Institute of Technology this weekend, but it’s his teacher’s reaction that the South Forsyth High School senior wanted to spotlight. Max Pacheco tweeted Tuesday that he had been admitted into Georgia Tech. Upon returning to school after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he shared the news with Dr. Gloria Green, a Spanish instructor in the world languages department who holds high importance to him. “So this past Saturday I was blessed to have been admitted into @GeorgiaTech . Today in school I surprised Dr. Green, one of the best teachers I’ve had and the teacher who wrote my recommendation, with the news. This was her reaction,” wrote Pacheco, who plans to major in mechanical engineering. As he greeted Green, he walked into the room with flowers in the colors white and gold, the official school colors of Georgia Tech. Once Pacheco told his the teacher the good news, she couldn’t hold back her excitement. “You got in Tech!” she said before giving him a big hug. The 17-year-old, who has desired to attend Georgia Tech since the seventh grade, explained his sophomore year AP Spanish teacher “was one of the nicest and sweetest teachers I’ve ever had.”
WRDW
A Dream Come True: Two Hephzibah students get accepted in-person to dream college
By Brooke Zauner
Being accepted into your dream school can sometimes be just that – a dream. But it became a reality for two Hephzibah High School Students, and the moment came earlier than planned. Malik Smith and Javen Jones are both hard workers, and the last thing they expected was to be hand-delivered their college acceptance letters. “We’d like to present to your two men, your admissions letters to Georgia Tech.”
NBC
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE SURPRISE FROM GEORGIA TECH
By Rashaad Vann
Two Central High School students received a special surprise just before lunch Friday. Seniors Nadine Ahmed and CJ Smith received an early acceptance by the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The Red & Black
UGA SGA approves proclamation asking for creation of undergraduate neuroscience major
Megan Mittelhammer | Social Media Editor and Samantha Perez | Staff Writer
The first Student Government Association Senate meeting of the semester addressed a wide range of topics as senators gathered in preparation for their remaining three months in office. Senators approved a proclamation asking for the creation of a neuroscience major at the University of Georgia. “Tonight is the culmination of over a decade of work,” said Sen. Max Harris, who introduced the legislation on the floor. Proclamation 32-12 addresses the benefits of an undergraduate neuroscience major, such as an increase in grant funding to the university, which is the case for universities such as Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
WGAU
Coke Foundation contributes to UGA scholarship program
By: Michelle Versfeld
The Coca-Cola Foundation has pledged another $1 million toward scholarships for University of Georgia students who are the first in their families to attend college. It is the foundation’s fourth such commitment, adding to its positive impact on the trajectory of students’ lives and the futures of their families and communities.
Atlanta Jewish Times
UGA Scholarship Honors Jewish Jurist
Established by over 40 of her former clerks, the first Phyllis Kravitch scholarship will be awarded by UGA’s School of Law this fall.
By Eddie Samuels
Phyllis A. Kravitch was never one to back down from a challenge. She began practicing law in 1944, almost 10 years before women were allowed to serve on juries in the state of Georgia. She was also the third woman in the nation appointed to a circuit court seat. Now over 40 of her former clerks are establishing a scholarship in her name at the University of Georgia’s School of Law.
Henry Herald
UGA Young Scholars Program looking for summer interns
From Staff Reports
The University of Georgia is accepting applications through Jan. 31 for its annual six-week paid summer internship. The Youth Scholars Internship Program selects students interested in hands-on research in agricultural, food and environmental sciences. Students will work with world-renowned scientist through the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at UGA-Athens, UGA-Griffin or UGA-Tifton.
EurekAlert
Daron Ferris to receive Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health
Ferris founded CerviCusco, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cervical cancer prevention in Cusco, Peru
Daron G. Ferris, MD, the Founder of CerviCusco, will receive the 2020 Penn Nursing Renfield Foundation Award for Global Women’s Health for his dedication to cervical cancer prevention among the indigenous women in Cusco, Peru. Ferris created CerviCusco, a non-profit organization that ensures all women, including those with limited economic resources, have access to high quality and affordable health education and care, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. Ferris will receive the award – which comes with a $100,000 cash prize – during an event at the University of Pennsylvania on April 23, 2020. …Daron Ferris, MD is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Augusta University.
Marietta Daily Journal
Bonds deal likely to save KSU millions
By Rosie Manins
Millions of dollars in savings on debt service payments are expected to benefit those who finance Kennesaw State University, thanks to a decision by the Development Authority of Cobb County. Development authority members voted at their regular meeting in the Cobb Chamber of Commerce office this week to approve an inducement resolution regarding the refinancing of up to $20 million in bonds for the Kennesaw State University Foundation.
WTOC
Georgia Southern expanding Business Innovation Group in downtown Statesboro
By Dal Cannady
The Georgia Southern University footprint in downtown Statesboro could soon get even larger. A building that housed an antique store for decades could hold part of Statesboro’s future. Dominique Halaby, from the university’s Business Innovation Group (BIG), says they’re hopeful a federal grant will help them turn the space into a place for fledgling businesses to grow. “Not only does it breathe new life into an old building, it creates atmosphere that supports entrepreneurial growth in downtown Statesboro,” Halaby said.
Savannah Morning News
Coastal Health District to provide free HIV tests at February events
The Coastal Health District HIV Prevention Program will hold free HIV testing events at several locations throughout the month of February in observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, according to an announcement issued by the Georgia Department of Public Health on Wednesday morning. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day falls on Feb. 7, but the Coastal Health District is hosting several free HIV-testing events in the Savannah region during February: ‒ On Thursday, Feb. 6, testing will occur at the Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus during 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
WXFG
Medical College of Georgia cancer researchers making breakthroughs in breast cancer
A phD student and cancer biologist right here in Augusta are making breakthroughs in breast cancer research. Over the course of two years, they found a reason why successfully removing a tumor links with less patients seeing the disease spread. …The next step in research is figuring out how the cancer is able to get the immune system to work for it instead of working for the body. Dr. Hasan Korkaya, Cancer Biologist at the Georgia Cancer Center, “What regulates those cells is still the mystery. So, we have one potential molecule that may be involved in the process, but it’s early.” …Dr. Korkaya says finding out the molecules that cause immune system cells to work for the cancer will lead to more lives being saved.
HPCWire
DNA-Based Storage Nears Scalable Reality with New $25 Million Project
By Oliver Peckham
DNA-based storage, which involves storing binary code in the four nucleotides that constitute DNA, has been a moonshot for high-density data storage since the 1960s. Since the first successful experiments in the 1980s, researchers have made a series of major strides toward implementing DNA-based storage at scale, such as improving write times and storage density and enabling easier file identification and extraction. Now, a new $25 million initiative led by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) aims to bring scalable DNA-based archival storage even closer to being a functional reality.
msn.com
Coronavirus has hit the U.S. but a local expert says it’s not time to panic
Nick Proto
The city of Wuhan, China is on lock down, and the U.S. has its first confirmed case of the coronavirus, but health officials said it’s not time to hit the panic button yet. Dr. Jose Vasquez, Chief of the Infectious Diseases Department at Augusta University, said the small number of worldwide cases means it’s not a major issue yet. He said the scariest part of the virus is its symptoms are very familiar.
ieee.tv
Robotics History: Narratives and Networks Oral Histories: Ayanna Howard
Ayanna Howard grew up in Pasadena, California. She then attended Brown University received her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. Howard attended University of Southern California for her doctorate degree where she wrote her thesis on enabling a robot manipulator to sort out waste for hospitals. During and after her time as a graduate student, Howard worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) where she became interested in artificial intelligence and human-robot interaction. After the space shuttle accident at NASA, Howard left Jet Propulsion Laboratory to join Georgia Tech faculty in 2005. At Georgia Tech, she spearheaded the organization of Georgia Tech’s Ph.D program in robotics and founded Zyrobotics, a company that utilizes her research in order to develop therapy and educational products for children with disabilities
Growing Georgia
Atlantic and Southern Loans Disc Harrow to ABAC Farm
Atlantic and Southern Equipment, LLC, recently loaned a 24-foot disc harrow to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for use by students on ABAC’s J.G. Woodroof Farm. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at ABAC, said the new piece of equipment will fit perfectly with the mission of students pursuing bachelor’s degrees at ABAC who make use of the teaching laboratory at the J.G. Woodroof Farm.
afcea.org
Keys to Building A World-Class Cybersecurity Workforce
The Cyber Edge
By Julianne Simpson
The most senior military cyber warfighters have defined the challenge of building a world-class cybersecurity workforce: We have great performers but not enough. Our accessions can barely keep pace with attrition; but we are scheduled to grow. We need a viable plan to increase capacity. During a panel session at the Cyber Education, Research and Training Symposium (CERTS) in Augusta, Georgia, cybersecurity leaders discussed how to build the people who can protect the nation against the tens of thousands of very high-end professionals that Russia and China are putting out.
Athens CEO
UGA Welcomes USDA Chief Economist for 35th Annual J.W. Fanning Lecture on Economics
Chad Cain
U.S. Department of Agriculture Chief Economist Robert Johansson will be in Athens on Feb. 17 to present his talk, “U.S. Farm Outlook for 2020 – Policy and Uncertainty,” at 10:30 a.m. as part of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences J.W. Fanning Lecture. From changes in weather patterns and demographics to shifts in trade policy, farmers and agricultural officials have a lot to plan around these days.
befashionlike
Court hears arguments about available documents in pay day loans instance
An incident heard by the Georgia Supreme Court on Monday might have implications that are profound residents looking for public information beneath the state’s sunshine rules. The dispute is mostly about whether a watchdog group may get communication between a Kennesaw State University teacher and a payday financing team that commissioned the college to conduct research. The team, which calls it self the customer Credit analysis Foundation, posts reports favorable into the industry. The Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s college system, consented that the communications ought to be released underneath the Open Records Act.
WFXG
Local surgeon is lobbying for state employee health benefits
The state of Georgia is the single largest employer with 71,000 employees. Right now, lawmakers are reviewing and voting on a bill that will add to those employee’s health benefits. Next week, Augusta University Health’s Dr. Renee Hilton will travel to the state capitol to lobby before the Senate Health Committee in favor of the bill. Dr. Hilton is the director of Bariatric Surgery. She is also the State Access to Care representative for The American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, or ASMBS, here in Georgia. The bill she is fighting for, House Bill 160, will add bariatric surgery as a health benefit for state employees as a pilot program for four years. The pilot program would allow up to 1,000 patients, 250 per year, to have the surgery.
GPB
UGA’s Agricultural Forecast For 2020 Says Trade Conflict Hurts Farmers
By Sarah Rose
Economic growth is slowing down because of worries about international trade, according to the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences 2020 Georgia Agricultural Forecast released Wednesday. Trade disputes have created a lack of stability in the agriculture industry, said UGA Professor Adam Rabinowitz, who assisted with the forecast. Georgia has felt the impact in some of its key commodities.
Albany Herald
Georgia ag chief warns budget cuts will mean fewer food safety inspections
By Beau Evans and Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service
Most state agency heads who appeared before legislative budget writers Tuesday vowed to do more with less to meet the spending-reduction targets Gov. Brian Kemp has set for them. But Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black warned job losses in his department could seriously hamper the state’s No.1 industry. On the first day of hearings on Kemp’s $28.1 billion fiscal 2021 budget plan, Black said he has been forced to eliminate 18 full-time vacancies, four part-time vacancies, phase out six employees and cut loose four call-center workers by not renewing their contract.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Lawmakers question state budget cuts to criminal justice, public safety
By Beau Evans Staff Writer Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle showed hesitation Wednesday to sign off on budget cuts Gov. Brian Kemp has proposed for criminal justice and public safety agencies through July 2021. The state’s prisons, courts, police and public-defender agencies would see reductions of roughly $80 million to $100 million this fiscal year, according to Kemp’s proposed budget. On the second day of legislative hearings on the $28.1 billion fiscal 2021 budget plan, many agency heads assured members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees they can mostly stomach the belt tightening. But lawmakers seemed less keen on many of the cuts outlined Wednesday morning.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
By Jonathan Custodio
As the Democratic presidential primary race heats up and the list of candidates is winnowed, it’s time to take stock of their positions on higher education’s hot-button issues. Here we look at the stances of the half-dozen candidates who participated in the final primary debate, in Iowa on January 14. This list may be updated as the campaign continues. Here are the nuts and bolts on how each would push top higher-education policy concerns from the Oval Office.
Inside Higher Ed
President engages in “useful hyperbole” by claiming he rescued historically black colleges, but his administration has made good on some of its promise to support the sector.
By Paul Fain
Fact-checkers quickly corrected the record after President Trump, during remarks Monday at the Davos economic conference, declared that he had rescued historically black colleges and universities. “I saved HBCUs. We saved them,” Trump said. “They were going out, and we saved them.” The president’s brief comment appeared to refer to bipartisan legislation, dubbed the FUTURE Act, that the U.S. Congress passed in December. The legislation made permanent $255 million in annual STEM funding for minority-serving colleges, including roughly $85 million specifically allocated to HBCUs. While many of the nation’s 102 HBCUs face financial pressure and the funding stream is important to them, it isn’t responsible for keeping their doors open.
Hechinger Report
Think universities are making lots of money from inventions? Think again
Some institutions are working to improve weak returns from licensing and patents
by Jon Marcus
…For those and other reasons, and at a time when they would seem to be searching for new sources of revenue, U.S. colleges and universities are producing a surprisingly small proportion of the nation’s patents and startups and making so little money from licensing inventions that, at many schools, it doesn’t even cover the cost of managing them. Most of the $75.3 billion a year from the federal government and other sources that the National Science Foundation calculates is spent by academia on research is not intended to immediately result in commercial applications. It’s about fundamental knowledge. The basic research performed in university laboratories underpins discoveries that may take years to end up in the market, if they ever do.