University System News:
AllOnGeorgia
UWG freshmen math program awarded Momentum Year Award by Board of Regents
By Sarah Powell
The University of West Georgia’s Freshmen Math Program (FMP) has won the 2020 Regents’ Momentum Year Award for Excellence in Teaching and Curricular Innovation. The University System of Georgia (USG) award recognizes teaching and instruction that bolsters first-year student achievement, promotes a purposeful program and career choice, and creates an environment where positive academic mindsets thrive, catapulting students toward degree completion. The review committee voted unanimously to recommend the UWG Freshmen Math Program for the award.
Forsyth County News
18 UNG cadets earn Distinguished Military Graduate honor
Eighteen cadets from the University of North Georgia, including three from Forsyth County, have been ranked in the top 20 percent of the nation among more than 5,000 Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, cadets assessed by U.S. Army Cadet Command.
WTVM
CSU invention contest winner creates app to help students with disabilities
By Olivia Gunn
Columbus State University held its first student invention contest on Friday. The winner of the competition was Shannon Eshman, a special education major. Eshman created an app called Able-Fi to help students with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn skills that enhance their independence. Able-Fi would be the first app of its kind and incorporates step-by-step instructions, photos, ad progress reports to teach skill such as hand washing and basic cooking.
Henry Herald
Established in September of 2014, Clayton State Athletics continued a tradition of recognizing the program’s best and brightest student-athletes at the Academic Excellence Luncheon Friday, February 7. Created to highlight those student-athletes that achieved at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average in the previous semester, this year honored individuals from both the Spring and Fall 2019 semesters. The latter once again set a program record with 85 Lakers being recognized. Formerly known as the Breakfast of Champions, the event featured a full buffet provided Waffle House and each student-athlete was recognized both individually and with their teams during a brief ceremony that was preceded by presentations by a number of high level administrators and Department partners. Each individual was also presented with a certificate commemorating their achievement after being introduced by their coach and taking a picture with gathered dignitaries.
Tifton Gazette
ABAC offers 12 degrees to prepare graduates for professional schools
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) now offers 12 different bachelor’s degrees that prepare graduates for immediate entry into professional schools in medicine, law, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dentistry and others. “Our faculty are committed to helping our students while they’re enrolled at ABAC and beyond,” Dr. Matthew Anderson, dean of the ABAC school of arts and sciences, said. “We work very hard at preparing our graduates for life after ABAC.”
Emanuel County Live
EGSC sets out on 8th Annual College Readiness Tour
by Harley Strickland
Many capable people avoid choosing to attend college because the navigation of admission, financial aid and degree requirements is often too confusing and overwhelming. In an effort to alleviate these barriers, East Georgia State College (EGSC) administrators, staff and students have set out on the college’s 8th annual College Readiness Bus Tour. Students from over 20 schools will receive resources and advice to navigate a sensible, direct path to post-secondary education, regardless of the college they decide to attend. From this multi-perspective message, students can gain an understanding of why a college education can expand opportunities and improve one’s quality of life. The visits are part of EGSC’s Complete College Georgia campus plan, a statewide effort in collaboration with the University System of Georgia and the Governor’s Office to dramatically increase the number of Georgians completing college degrees by 2020, which is critical to Georgia’s economic future to ensure a highly talented workforce.
Metro Atlanta CEO
SCTC Signs Allied Health Articulation Agreement with Clayton State University
Officials with Clayton State University and Southern Crescent Technical College (SCTC) have signed an articulation agreement that creates new education opportunities for SCTC students graduating from an allied health program. Under the agreement signed on February 3, students who graduate with an associate degree in allied health programs may transfer core credits earned at Southern Crescent Technical College to Clayton State University’s College of Health Bachelor of Science degree programs. Additionally, according to this agreement, SCTC students who complete the Associate of Science in Nursing degree and obtain licensure as a Registered Nurse may gain admittance to the RN-BSN completion track at Clayton State as per the Georgia statewide articulation model if they meet admission criteria.
The Gainesville Times
You could qualify for free help filing your taxes from these UNG students
Kelsey Podo
Accounting students from the University of North Georgia are making filing taxes a little easier. People who make $56,000 or less can receive free tax preparation services by scheduling an appointment at UNG’s Dahlonega campus. …Lisa Nash, accounting instructor at UNG, said the university is in its fourth year of offering the services. She supervises UNG’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and equips her students with enough skills to prepare basic 1040 tax returns, schedules and related credits.
Growing America
The Woodroofs: Two Lives Dedicated to Feeding the World
GA’s agricultural research duo increased yields of peanuts, cotton and more
This story is part of a series, called Georgia Groundbreakers, that celebrates innovative and visionary faculty, students, alumni and leaders throughout the history of the University of Georgia – and their profound, enduring impact on our state, our nation and the world. As the story goes, the first time University of Georgia horticulturist Jasper “Guy” Woodroof saw his future wife Naomi Chapman in 1924, she was strolling among the rows of plants at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, writing notes on leaves and walking around barefoot. That caught his attention.
The Red & Black
Animal carcasses, heads found on UGA frat house porch
Spencer Donovan | News Editor and Kyra Posey | Digital Producer
A Chi Psi fraternity member found the skinned bodies and heads of multiple animals on the fraternity house front porch on Friday morning, according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department report. Between 6 and 7 in the morning, the frat member found the body of a skinned dog or coyote, three skinned heads believed to be of raccoons, two dead rats, several raccoon feet and other entrails. The responding police officer reported finding several pairs of bloody latex gloves, according to the report. ACC animal control took photographs of the scene and collected the carcasses and latex gloves for further investigation.
AllOnGeorgia
Keeping the region in motion: Georgia Southern opens new Kinesiology Research Labs
A long-vacated pool space in the University’s Hanner Fieldhouse complex has been renovated into state-of-the-art laboratories that will help athletes, first responders and people with disabilities avoid injuries, strengthen performance and improve their quality of life. Georgia Southern’s new Kinesiology Research Laboratories on the Statesboro Campus is the only facility of its kind in the region, enabling students and faculty to conduct leading human movement research while improving the quality of healthcare in southeast Georgia.
Athens CEO
Terry College Program Puts Emphasis on Innovation
Aaron Hale
Nathan Stuck didn’t return to Athens to change the community, much less the world. After a decade into his career working for a small business, then a large one and even for himself, Stuck came back to the University of Georgia to get an MBA—and just hit reset. He stumbled into the movement to improve companies’ social and environmental impacts, and he helped lay the groundwork for UGA’s Terry College of Business to prepare students to balance profits and the public good in their business careers.
Albany CEO
Georgia Southwestern Library Hosting POW Exhibit from Andersonville National Historic Site
Staff Report
Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) James Earl Carter Library is hosting “Victory From Within: The American Prisoner of War Experience” through the end of March. The 1,200 square foot traveling exhibit was developed by Andersonville National Historic Site and illustrates four aspects of the Prisoner of War (POW): Capture, Prison Life, Those Who Wait, and Freedom. The Library invites GSW students, the community and school groups to view the exhibit during Library hours.
Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia seeks to avoid excise tax on highest-paid coaches
By Marc Weiszer
Georgia is taking steps that would allow it to attempt to avoid having to pay an excise tax aimed at the highest paid college coaches, a move that could save its athletics program around $2 million a year. The excise tax is part of the changes to federal legislation enacted into law in December 2017. It subjects certain tax-exempt organizations to a 21% tax on compensation above $1 million — including bonuses — that goes to any of their five highest-paid employees in a year. Because the University of Georgia Athletic Association is set up as a 501(c)(3) organization, it would ordinarily be subject to the tax. But after consultation with university counsel, the association has not made any such payments, deputy athletic director for finance Stephanie Ransom said Monday.
Advisor News
Insurtech CEO Wins Innovator Award for Modernizing Business Insurance with AI
Phillip Naples, Co-founder and CEO of Insurtech Startup Layr is a 2020 recipient of the Innovator Award. The Innovator Award is presented by the Georgia State University Risk Management Foundation to individuals and companies changing and influencing the insurance and risk management industries in dynamic ways. The award will be presented at the Foundation’s 6th Annual Risk Science and Insurance Leadership Awards — Riskies. For five consecutive years, the Riskies have recognized active or retired business executives who have demonstrated a career of high achievement and service to the insurance, risk management, or related industry.
Psychiatric Times
Drug Psychosis May Pull the Schizophrenia Trigger
By Brian Miller
Substance-induced psychotic disorders, more colloquially referred to as drug-induced psychoses, may represent up to one-quarter of first hospitalizations for psychosis.1 These persons are often excluded from early psychosis studies, which limits evidence on their prevalence, clinical course, and outcomes. Many people with substance-induced psychoses will later transition to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but estimates vary widely between early psychosis services and population-based registers. A recent review found that 21% of people with first-episode substance-induced psychosis later received a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. …Disclosures:
Dr Miller is Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, GA. He is the Schizophrenia Section Chief for Psychiatric Times.
The author reports that he receives research support from Augusta University, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the Stanley Medical Research Institute.
WGAU
Fastest-growing UGA Business is honored
By: Danielle Bezila
The University of Georgia Alumni Association recognized the fastest-growing companies owned or operated by UGA alumni during the 11th annual Bulldog 100 Celebration on Feb. 8 in the West End Zone of Sanford Stadium. The 2020 fastest-growing business, LeaseQuery LLC, is led by CEO George Azih and Chief Revenue Officer Chris Ramsey. Azih earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2003 and Ramsey earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2005.
Metro Atlanta CEO
State Botanical Garden Development Reaches New Heights with Topping-out Ceremony
Emilie Gille
The Center for Art and Nature at the State Botanical Garden moved a step closer to reality as donors and University of Georgia staff held a ceremonial “topping out” of the facility last week. Deen Day Sanders, who gave her collection of porcelain and decorative art to the garden to be housed at the museum, was the first to sign the large white steel beam that will be installed at the top of the building.
Albany Herald
ABAC-Bainbridge professor pens book
A new book by Dave Nelson, a professor of history at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Bainbridge, will be unveiled to the public at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 at a book release party hosted by the ABAC School of Arts and Sciences and the Department of History and Political Science. “How the New Deal Built Florida Tourism: The Civilian Conservation Corps and State Parks” is the first full book Nelson has written. He has written chapters for other books as well as several academic articles.
Daily Report
UGA Law Signs NY Civil Rights Lawyer as First Amendment Champ
During her 15-year legal career, Clare R. Norins has worked in private practice, government and education focused on civil rights and constitutional issues.
By Katheryn Tucker
The University of Georgia School of Law hired a civil rights lawyer to lead its new First Amendment Clinic.
Albany Herald
Freedom Singer Rutha Harris to speak at ABAC
From staff reports
As part of the celebration of African American History Month at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Rutha Harris, legendary civil rights activist and Freedom Singer, will be on campus on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. in Howard Auditorium. This event is open to the public at no charge. A lifelong resident of Albany, Harris joined the Albany Movement and original Freedom Singers in 1961, traveling more than 50,000 miles, singing for the cause of freedom and raising funds for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.
Johnson City Press
ETSU funds study of African American history museums
Over the past two decades, scholars have begun to study how African American history in the U.S. is often misrepresented or completely disregarded compared to other historical narratives. Key moments and people in African American history have often been neglected or trivialized in museum spaces. …Bright hopes that the work will capture the attention of the National Science Foundation. She and a team of colleagues were the recipients of a previous NSF grant that funded a study of plantations in the South. Seventeen public presentations and 42 conference presentations, as well as 18 journal articles, book chapters, and other types of publications, resulted from that grant. In addition, the University of Georgia Press plans to publish the results in book form this year. In researching southern plantations for almost a decade, Bright and her collaborators have found that the stories they convey are often utopian and that the painful past of slavery and the enslaved is sometimes ignored. “Plantations could be doing a better job and be more critical of the history they are sharing,” she added. In conducting her research on African American history museums, Bright is working with a team of scholars from all across the country. They include Dr. Matt Cook from Eastern Michigan University; Dr. Amy Potter from Georgia Southern University;
The Ouachita Citizen
Talk on slavery planned Feb. 11
Dr. Samuel W. Mitcham, Jr., formerly of Bastrop, will deliver a lecture, “It Wasn’t About Slavery: Exposing the Great Lie of the Civil War,” at the Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the BBQ West at 4900 Cypress St., West Monroe. The general public, both men and women, are invited. Admission is free. Mitcham is the author of the book “It Wasn’t About Slavery,” which was released by Regnery History in January. He is the author of 40 books on German Military History, the Confederacy, and the War Between the States, as well as more than 100 articles and chapters in books. …He was a professor at Henderson State University, Georgia Southern University,
Medical Xpress
Free radicals from immune cells are direct cause of salt-sensitive hypertension
In salt-sensitive hypertension, immune cells gather in the kidneys and shoot out free radicals, heightening blood pressure and damaging this pair of vital organs, scientists report. These highly reactive chemicals, also called reactive oxygen species, or ROS, are a byproduct of our body’s use of oxygen that our immune system uses to kill invaders. But at high levels, they also are known to alter key components of our body like proteins, and contribute to a myriad of diseases from hypertension to cancer. “It’s a beneficial mechanism of our immune system except when it becomes chronic and uncontrolled,” says Dr. Justine M. Abais-Battad, physiologist in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and corresponding author of the study in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Filmmaker files free speech lawsuit against Georgia Southern
By Eric Stirgus
A documentary filmmaker filed a lawsuit Monday against Georgia Southern University after she refused to sign a pledge before a speaking engagement at the school that she and her supporters say violate her free speech rights. Abby Martin said she was asked to sign paperwork agreeing not to support a boycott of Israel before making a speech at the university, which was scheduled for Feb. 28. The state of Georgia passed a law that took effect in 2016 prohibiting contracts exceeding $1,000 with any companies or individuals that engage in a boycott of Israel. Martin said she was supposed to be paid $1,000.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Valdosta State University dean among 14 arrested in child sex sting
A dean at Valdosta State University was among 14 people arrested and charged with sex crimes against children during a four-day sting operation in Georgia, according to the GBI. Keith Walters, 44, is charged with sexual exploitation of children after local and state agencies said he tried to meet someone he believed was a minor for sex. Walters is the dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, as well as a chemistry professor at VSU, according to the university’s website.
Valdosta Daily Times
VSU dean charged with child sex crimes
Chris Herbert
The dean of Valdosta State University’s College of Science and Mathematics was arrested and charged with child sex crimes over the weekend, according to authorities. Keith Andrew Walters was charged with three counts of obscene internet contact with a child and one count of sexual exploitation of children using a computer device to seduce, entice or solicit a child, authorities said. Walters was one of 14 people arrested in a joint effort between 18 agencies, including the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Valdosta State dean stripped of title following child sex sting arrest
By Asia Simone Burns
A dean at Valdosta State University was stripped of his title after he was arrested in a child sex sting, officials said. Keith Walters, 44, was removed as dean of the College of Science and Mathematics at VSU, according to the Valdosta Daily Times. He is charged with sexual exploitation of children after local and state agencies said he tried to meet someone he believed was a minor for sex, AJC.com previously reported. He was taken into custody during a four-day sting operation by the GBI.
accessWDUN
Proposed East Hall Library seeks state funding assistance
By Marc Eggers Anchor / Reporter
Hall County commissioners will vote Wednesday on approving the submission of a grant application with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Public Library’s Capital Outlay Grants Program for funding for the construction of the proposed East Hall Library Branch. In recent years the county applied for and received funds for the expansion project currently underway at the downtown Gainesville Main Branch. The grant application under consideration Wednesday is for the maximum amount allowed, $2-million. …Even if the funding is awarded by the Board of Regents Hall County is under no obligation to accept and use the grant money should county or library system plans change.
Albany Herald
State officials partner with Georgia Tech for voting security
From staff reports
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is launching a partnership with Georgia Tech, the Georgia Institute of Technology, to combat cyber threats to Georgia’s election system. This new effort will provide Georgia with the cyber expertise necessary to stay ahead of the continuously evolving threats to our voting infrastructure. “I am thankful to be working with a premier academic institution like Georgia Tech, whose cybersecurity program is ranked second in the nation,” said Raffensperger. “Together, we will be able to combat the growing cyber threats to our voting system and Secure the Vote in Georgia.” Georgia Tech officials said such security is a focus of the university.
Higher Education News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Trump’s budget could impact Georgia colleges
By Eric Stirgus
President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, released Monday, could particularly impact Georgia’s 22 technical colleges and its nine accredited historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Education Secretary Betsy DeVos highlighted some proposals that include:
$2 billion for Career and Technical Education State Grants to support programs in high schools and colleges. Georgia has 22 technical colleges.
$749.2 million for HBCU programs, an increase of $44 million over the current enacted fiscal year level. Georgia has nine accredited HBCUs.
$150 million, an increase of $137.4 million, to fund science, technology, engineering and math activities led by HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions located in federal Opportunity Zones.
“This budget proposal is about one thing — putting students and their needs above all else,” said DeVos.
Marietta Daily Journal
By Derek Draplin | The Center Square
Public and private universities across the country are increasingly offering diversity-oriented certificates that are often costly for students and sometimes faculty. The programs, commonly referred to as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) certificates, are offered by prestigious public and private universities and colleges across the country, charging students sometimes thousands in tuition. The DEI certificates are often obtained in addition to more traditional undergraduate and graduate degrees.