University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia college administrators carefully discuss budget cuts
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s higher education agencies are being asked again to share in some budget belt-tightening. Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposed budget for the 12-month budget cycle starting July 1 would cut funding to several long-standing education programs in the state. The cuts include: $4.1 million to the Cooperative Extension Service, which provides training, educational programs and outreach in agricultural, horticultural, food and family and consumer sciences. It also manages Georgia’s 4-H youth program.
$3.5 million to the Agricultural Experiment Station, which is under the University System, and is in charge of new product development and global competitiveness of Georgia’s agribusiness.
nearly $1 million to the Technical College System of Georgia’s adult education program. …Administrators from the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia attended annual budget hearings Wednesday to explain the proposed changes. There would be no public griping from them about any cuts. They dutifully said the changes would not greatly impact their most important duty: educating students.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp’s budget spurs many questions about its impact on rural Georgia
By James Salzer
During three days of Capitol budget hearings last week, the same question kept coming up: How are Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposed budget cuts going to affect rural Georgia? …The agricultural experiment stations and the Cooperative Extension Service — which are part of the University System of Georgia budget — would see reductions of about $7.6 million next year under the governor’s budget plan. But state Rep. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, a farmer who says he talks to his local ag extension agent every day at certain times of the year, said his industry can’t afford to lose the expertise and research-based advice the organizations’ staffers provide. “That is the only thing that has gotten (farmers) through the hurricanes, the disasters, the trade wars and allowed them to be more efficient and effective,” Watson said. University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley promised to work with lawmakers to avoid or mitigate the cuts to the two programs. “I am very committed to them,” he said. “I believe in them, and they continue to make a difference across the state.” Kemp’s office said his budget recommended, for the most part, that the agencies maintain their current staffing levels, not filling about two-dozen vacancies. It also directs the agencies to use their large reserves to fund numerous positions.
Daily Inter Lake
KEMP PROPOSES $900M BORROWING PLAN AS PART OF GEORGIA BUDGET
Gov. Brian Kemp is proposing that Georgia borrow nearly $900 million for construction projects and equipment next year, an amount likely to rise before lawmakers get done with the state budget. …Kemp also proposes:
— $48 million for a new science and engineering research building and equipment at the University of Georgia in Athens. — $35 million to renovate and expand a building at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville.
— $30.7 million for a new building for Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
— $19.5 million for a new business building at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega.
The Newnan Times-Herald
Georgia named tops in workforce development
By Sarah Campbell
A major business industry magazine has named Georgia tops in the region for “workforce development.” Site Selection magazine, which has named Georgia as the top state to do business seven years in a row, released its regional workforce rankings this week. Georgia was No. 1 in the “South Atlantic” region, which includes eight states. Last year, Georgia ranked second, after Virginia, which is in fourth place this year. …“Working hand in hand, the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and our leading workforce development program, Georgia Quick Start, have produced a top-notch workforce that companies can count on to get the job done,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a press release announcing the ranking.
The George-Anne
BRIEF: New online Master of Public Health degree offered for fall 2020
By Blakeley Bartee
Georgia Southern University will offer a new fully online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a concentration in applied public health beginning in fall 2020. The online program is for the concentration in applied public health specifically. Other concentrations in the overall MPH program – biostatistics, community health, environmental health sciences, epidemiology and public health policy & management do not yet have fully online option, according to the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health website. The online program will have a focus on public health education, information and advocacy, according to a press release.
The Chattanooga
College Admission Panel At GPS Provides An Inside Look At The Process
GPS juniors spent their lab and lunch period meeting with four university admission professionals who traveled to GPS. And then later in the evening, the students were joined by their parents and other guests in Frierson Theatre for a panel Q&A, moderated by Susan McCarter, GPS director of College Counseling. …Hosting the breakout sessions were Rick Clark, director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech;
The Augusta Chronicle
Chamber program gives Columbia County students look at possible future careers
By Amanda King
Jaden Pitts knows that he wants to be an orthopedic or cardiovascular surgeon after he graduates high school in May. He’s applied for an ROTC scholarship at Georgia Southern University and hopes to serve his country while attending college. But the Lakeside High School senior got an up close look at the entire health care field Friday as he joined 85 other high school students for Students in Business Day with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The program was created as part of the Chamber Foundation’s Workforce and Education initiative to witness first-hand the daily operations of businesses related to their field of study.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA student designs winning ‘Kinda Tiny’ home
By Heather Skyler
There is no technical definition of a tiny house, but the working understanding is a home that is 400 square feet or smaller. So what is a “Kinda Tiny” home? Well, it’s a little bit bigger, but not much. The home design that won Athens’ first “Kinda Tiny” housing competition was 794 square feet and designed by UGA student Jacqueline Menke, who is currently finishing up a Master of Landscape Architecture at the College of Environment and Design. The contest was the brainchild of Athens Area Habitat for Humanity and Georgia’s U.S. Green Building Council, and the home designed by Menke is currently under construction in Athens.
The Red & Black
UGA student promotes sustainability through reusable straw business
Nick Milavec | Contributor
In the midst of changing conversations about plastic waste and pollution, an increasing number of people are advocating for lessened plastic consumption: switching from paper to plastic bags at grocery stores, carrying reusable water bottles and cutting down on plastic straw usage. For University of Georgia sophomore Meredith Grill, her advocacy comes in the form of the latter category: decreasing plastic straw usage through a small sustainable business. Grill is the owner of Stylin Straws, an Etsy shop that sells $5 BPA-free silicone and rubber reusable straws that can double as accessories — bracelets, keychains and the like.
ftw.usatoday.com
Georgia Southern surprises player with a full scholarship hidden in a game plan
Nick Schwartz
A video of a Georgia Southern player finding out that she just received a full scholarship is going viral on Friday, and for good reason. Freshman guard Jaiden Hamilton, who has started nine games for the Eagles, and averages 22 minutes per game this season, didn’t come to the school on a scholarship – but the program rewarded her hard work midway through the season with a full ride, and came up with an original idea for the big reveal. We’ve seen countless videos of coaches announcing scholarships in team meetings before, but the Georgia Southern staff slipped the news into a team game plan, and then had Hamilton read the breakdown aloud to the group.
AllOnGeoriga
UWG professor receives grant for groundbreaking research from USG
Researching new and uncharted topics is one way that University of West Georgia professors are working to further advance their respective fields. Dr. Lama Farran, associate professor and program coordinator of the College of Education’s communication sciences and disorders program, has been awarded a grant from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. The grant, presented by the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center, will be used to study mother-child vocal interaction in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This research will help Farran determine the extent to which mothers engage in modifying their speech when communicating with their children across different groups – typical, language delayed and ASD.
accessWDUN
University of North Georgia wins national Codebreaker Challenge ‘in commanding fashion’
The University of North Georgia scored a decisive victory in the 2019 National Security Agency (NSA) Codebreaker Challenge, which ran for 110 days and finished Jan. 10. UNG students, faculty and staff tallied 230,450 points, more than tripling second-place Georgia Tech’s 56,050. Third-place Oregon State University was the only other school to top 40,000 points. A total of 531 universities and colleges competed.
Savannah Morning News
Junior Achievement, Georgia Southern to partner
Junior Achievement of Georgia will collaborate with Georgia Southern University to plan the construction and launch of a JA Discovery Center on the Armstrong campus in Savannah. The $4 million project will include retrofitting for the Student Recreation Center anticipated to begin later this year. Space may be made available for the JA Discovery Center in Savannah to serve 15,000 middle school students annually. The construction project will be paid by funds raised through an upcoming effort. It also will require approval by the University System of Georgia and the Board of Regents.
Daily Citizen-News
Dalton State seeks community input
Dalton State College is seeking community input on the mission, vision, values and goals of the college during an open forum. The college is developing a new strategic plan and will host a community forum on Tuesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Peeples Hall, room 112. Parking is adjacent to the building. This forum will allow members of the community such as employers, officials with K-12 schools and DSC alumni an opportunity to weigh in on the college’s plan for the next five years and beyond. The college’s new strategic plan will align with the University System of Georgia’s plan that is active through 2024.
The Augusta Chronicle
New AU Nursing dean wants to strengthen programs, outreach
By Tom Corwin
Dr. Tanya Sudia, the new dean of the College of Nursing at Augusta University, acknowledges the work of her longtime predecessor but is ready to move forward. Following someone in a role your predecessor held for a long time could be considered either a blessing or a burden. Dr. Tanya Sudia, the new dean of the College of Nursing at Augusta University, sees the positive in replacing the retired Dr. Lucy Marion. …She has her own ideas about how to do that.
Union Recorder
Georgia College selects inaugural director of the Andalusia Institute
Dr. Irene Burgess has been selected as the executive director of the newly-created Andalusia Institute, which will promote educational programming on the life and works of famed author and Georgia College alumna, Flannery O’Connor. …Burgess will direct the Andalusia Institute, created to promote educational programing centered around O’Connor’s life and writings. Among Burgess’ tasks for the Institute will be developing a writers creative workshop, working with local and regional K-12 schools and creating a residence program.
Albany Herald
ABAC Horticulture Club to offer floral design classes
Two different classes focusing on floral management and Succulent dish garden arrangement will be available to the public during February from the Horticulture Club at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. It’s an opportunity to learn basic floral design techniques at a very low cost.
The Gainesville Times
She’s 27, Gypsy Threads is hers and she’s moving the boutique near the square
Layne Saliba
Making her own clothes as a little girl, Taylor Wilson always knew she wanted to be in the fashion industry. Even after graduating from the University of North Georgia with a marketing degree, fashion was calling her name. So she answered. …Wilson owns Gypsy Threads Boutique on Thompson Bridge Road after working there for two-and-a-half years. She bought the business from the original owner, Suzanne Doty, almost a year ago.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW: Neighbor indicted in death of KSU freshman
By Alexis Stevens
Kashman Rael Thomas accused of shooting 3, killing 1
A Cobb County grand jury has indicted a man accused of killing an 18-year-old Kennesaw State University freshman. Kashman Rael Thomas, 22, is accused of shooting three neighbors, killing one, at the Stadium Village apartments in October. Oluwafemi Oyerinde, known as Femi, died from his injuries.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA alum, recent med school grad dies after crash with suspected drunken driver
By Asia Simone Burns
A University of Georgia graduate who had recently completed medical school was killed after a drunken driver smashed into his car, officials said. Tyler Wallace, 26, of Fayetteville, was driving home from his post-medical training class in Smyrna at the time of the Jan. 18 crash, according to a GoFundMe organized by his family to cover the cost of his medical expenses, memorial service and burial. As he turned left onto Highlands Parkway Drive from the Highlands Grove Business Park, Brent Douglas Davis’ 2014 Toyota Tundra hit the driver’s side of Wallace’s 2016 Chrysler 200, police said in an arrest warrant obtained Monday by AJC.com. …Wallace graduated from UGA in 2016 and then from Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in May 2019, the GoFundMe said.
The Citizems
Newton Education Foundation hires first director
From staff reports
Loucy Hay, Newton Education Foundation chairperson, announced the hiring of Pamela Byrd Consuegra as the Newton Education Foundation’s first director. …Upon graduation, Consuegra attended Young Harris College, the University of West Georgia (B.S. in Biology and Secondary Education) and the University of Georgia (M.Ed. in Exercise Science).
Thomasville Times-Enterprise
Tech’s president emeritus visit Brookwood students
Dr. Wayne Clough visited Friday morning with Brookwood School students enrolled in Marine Biology and Physics. Clough served as President of Georgia Tech for 14 years from 1994-2008. He then became the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian for six years. He retired in 2014. …He spoke to Brookwood’s Marine Biology and Physics classes while visiting Thomasville. For Marine Biology students, he emphasized oceanographic research from Smithsonian institutes around the world. For physics students, he introduced the Astrophysical Observatory and its online resources.
eCampus News
The 21st-century learning reformation
BY MARK LEUBA
An upcoming Summit will bring together forward-thinking leaders from all over the world to collaborate and innovate on the standardization of non-traditional credentials
“We need to reinvent higher education,” says Nelson Baker, Ph.D., dean of professional education and professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). “We have to find ways to deliver quality education, new kinds of credentials that recognize that quality, and redefine what a degree means.” He’s not alone in this opinion, and at the Digital Credentials Summit in Atlanta hosted by IMS Global Learning Consortium next month, he’ll be delivering a keynote on how higher education can adjust to better serve learners in a rapidly changing landscape.
IBT
Terminator Tape Returning To Low-Earth Orbit To Remove Space Junk
By Inigo Monzon
A cost-effective instrument developed by a private aerospace company is preparing to head back into space to clean the debris orbiting Earth. A representative from the company made the confirmation after successfully carrying out a test flight for the instrument. The helpful instrument is known as Terminator Tape, which was developed by Washington-based firm Tethers Unlimited. It is a 230-foot electrically conductive tape that’s designed to de-orbit satellites and other debris floating outside Earth. The Terminator Tape was first deployed in space in September last year through the Prox-1 satellite built by scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology. It was launched as a payload of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in June 2019.
Broadway World
Atlanta Opera Announces 2020-21 Season: Three New Productions, SE Premiere And More
by BWW News Desk
The Atlanta Opera has announced its 41st season. True to the vision of Tomer Zvulun, the company’s Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General & Artistic Director, the 2020-21 lineup boasts major new productions of three critically important works: Das Rheingold, one of the most iconic in the canon; The Sound of Music, one of the best-loved classics of musical theater; and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, one of contemporary opera’s most palpable hits, now receiving its Southeast premiere. Together with the Atlanta premiere of As One, Steve Jobs is one of two topical and much talked-about new operas in Atlanta’s award-winning Discoveries series, which breaks down barriers between artists and their audience by providing intimate, immersive experiences in nontraditional spaces. And the season is completed by the returns of celebrated takes on a pair of beloved repertory staples: La bohème and The Barber of Seville. By introducing new partnerships with two local institutions, the Georgia Institute of Technology
Chicago Sun Times
Mr. Peanut dies at 104 in heroic Super Bowl LIV ad: WATCH
In the ad, the iconic monocle-sporting peanut makes the ultimate sacrifice for Wesley Snipes and Matt Walsh.
Tom Schad, USA Today
Mr. Peanut is dead.
In an advertisement for Planters that the company unveiled Wednesday, the 104-year-old mascot dies while saving actor Wesley Snipes and comedian Matt Walsh. The trio is hanging precariously from a branch on the side of a cliff, according to the ad, when Mr. Peanut lets go to help Snipes and Walsh survive. …The Twittersphere — including the Chicago Bears, Skippy Peanut Butter and Georgia Tech — was quick to respond Wednesday with tributes and “condolences.”