University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia reverses course and closes all public colleges for two weeks
By Maureen Downey
In matter of hours, policy changed from all public colleges will be open to all will be closed for two weeks
Despite an earlier message from the University System of Georgia that public campuses would remain open, the plan now is to close them for two weeks, per Gov. Brian Kemp’s press conference at 3 p.m. In what he described as a call to action in response to rising cases of the coronavirus in the state, Kemp suggested schools consider closing for two weeks, starting as early as tomorrow. But Kemp said he is giving local K-12 districts, the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia free rein to act in the best interest of their students. “They have all been freed to take action as they deem fit, and I am sure you will see many of them do that,” he said. And they are taking action at dizzying speeds.
WSB-TV
Districts, colleges across Georgia cancel school amid coronavirus outbreak
The University System of Georgia, Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County Schools, Fulton County Schools and others announced Thursday that they are canceling classes amid the coronavirus outbreak in Georgia. The University System of Georgia is canceling classes for two weeks starting Monday, according to a letter sent to school presidents Thursday afternoon. In the letter, the USG asks all 26 campuses, including the University of Georgia, to temporarily suspend instruction and encourages students not to return to campus from spring break. Students still on campus are asked to leave by Friday night if possible.
CBS46
All University System of Georgia schools temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns
Iyani Hughes
All University System of Georgia institutions will temporarily suspend instruction for two weeks effective March 16. The Board of Regents made the decision to allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules and for state officials to continue to assess the current situation regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia.
accessWDUN
Georgia public colleges, universities to close for two weeks
All University System of Georgia colleges and universities will close for two weeks, starting Monday, to give state officials more time to monitor the Coronavirus threat. The decision affects all 26 of the system’s institutions, including the University of North Georgia, the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. “All University System of Georgia institutions will temporarily suspend instruction for two weeks to allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules,” the system said in a message to students, faculty and staff. Students who are currently on spring break are strongly encouraged not to return to campus. Students on campus are asked to depart campus by close of business Friday, and they should remain away from campus until March 29.
Gwinnett Daily Post
By Taylor Denman
UPDATE: University System of Georgia announces instruction suspended statewide beginning Monday
The University System of Georgia announced Thursday that all 26 of its institutions will remain open amid closures of some private colleges and universities in the state. The USG‘s decision came after consulting with the Georgia Department of Public Health and Gov. Brian Kemp’s Coronavirus Task Force. …Some USG institutions are currently on Spring Break. In the announcement, USG asked students traveling to remain in regular contact with their campus for operational updates.
Albany Herald
University System of Georgia announces instruction suspended statewide beginning Monday
By Taylor Denman
After Gov. Brian Kemp announced he would leave decisions for school district closures up to district leaders, Georgia colleges and universities are beginning to announce closures for the next two weeks. The University System of Georgia released a statement that it will temporarily suspend instruction for two weeks, beginning Monday, to “allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules and for state officials to continue to assess the current situation regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia.” In a statement from Teresa MacCartney with the Board of Regents, USG presidents were told to activate business continuity plans to ensure the operation of online instruction.
Gainesville Times
Georgia public colleges will close for two weeks to address coronavirus
Megan Reed
All University System of Georgia institutions, including the University of North Georgia, will suspend instruction for two weeks, and students are asked to leave campus by close of business Friday, March 13. Students are asked to stay off campus until Sunday, March 29. “At this time, students are not being asked to move out of their dorms for the remainder of the semester,” according to the UNG website. “For students who are unable to leave campus, our Office of Residence Life and other offices will work to safely accommodate those students on campus.”
11ALIVE
LIST | Status on classes at Atlanta area colleges and universities amid coronavirus outbreak
Here’s what Atlanta area institutions are doing.
Author: Jonathan Raymond (11Alive)
As the coronavirus spreads, elements of society from sports to schools are adjusting, with Atlanta area colleges and universities beginning to flesh out plans for moving forward. A number have announced they will shift from in-person classes to online classes in the coming weeks, while others have announced intentions to continue ahead as normal. Here’s a breakdown of who’s doing what, and when:
University System of Georgia: Classes suspended for two weeks at all schools in the University System of Georgia- UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, etc. The move was to “allow time for USG institutions to test their business continuity plans and online instruction modules and for state officials to continue to assess the current situation regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia,” the system said. Students on spring break are encouraged not to return to campus. “Students on campus are asked to depart campus by close of business Friday, March 13, 2020, and to remain away from campus until March 29, 2020,” the release said.
The Brunswick News
CCGA to temporarily suspend instruction
By TAYLOR COOPER
College of Coastal Georgia announced Thursday afternoon that the college will suspend classes for two weeks due to COVID-19 concerns. The decision was made by University System of Georgia leaders after receiving new guidance from the governor’s coronavirus task force and the state Department of Health, said Christy Lynn Wilson, a spokesperson for CCGA. “This situation is very fluid,” she said. “We’re working closely with the USG to coordinate and to get the most up-to-date information to inform our decisions.”
WJCL
Georgia Southern, Savannah State suspending classes for 2 weeks due to coronavirus
WJCL has learned that the University System of Georgia – which includes Georgia Southern University and Savannah State – will temporarily suspend all instruction for 2 weeks effective Monday, March 16th.
WJCL has learned that the University System of Georgia – which includes Georgia Southern University and Savannah State – will temporarily suspend all instruction for 2 weeks effective Monday March 16th. Students who are on spring break now are being encouraged not to return to school. Students on campus now are asked to leave by the close of business on Friday, March 13th.
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta University’s trip to NCAA Southeast Regional canceled
By Will Cheney
Augusta’s University’s trip to the NCAA D-II Southeast Regional has been canceled, said head coach Dip Metress. The NCAA Board of Governors announced Thursday that both men’s and women’s championships were canceled due to the threat of COVID-19. This came after a decision Wednesday to play the games without fans, cheerleaders, dance teams and mascots. The team was informed as they arrived in Harrogate, Tenn., to play Lander in the opening round. Metress said they were checking into the hotel and planned to travel back to Augusta on Friday.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia bucks trend and keeps its public campuses open despite coronavirus fears
By Maureen Downey
University System of Georgia cites low risk of contracting virus in Georgia
Bucking the national trend, the University of Georgia plans to resume normal class operations following spring break on Monday. And the University System of Georgia intends to keep all 26 public campuses open, contrary to decisions by more than 150 other colleges, including the entire University of North Carolina System, to close down because of the coronavirus. On Wednesday, Emory announced it is moving classes online and closing its dorms, followed by a similar decision earlier today by the Atlanta University Center campuses, Spelman, Morehouse and Clark Atlanta, In a letter to college presidents, the University System of Georgia said that it has been told by the Georgia Department of Public Health that the risk of contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia remains low.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia Southern campuses remain open; officials monitoring COVID-19
By Barbara Augsdorfer
Georgia Southern University is operating as scheduled as campus officials continue to monitor the fluidity of COVID-19, especially as students and staff prepare for Spring Break travel next week. An updated notification sent to students on Thursday, March 11 stated, “There remains no current guidance from the state that we need to cancel classes, close the university, or cancel large gatherings of any kind.” The statement continued that if anything changes, the university community would be updated as soon as possible. The release also stated that GSU has no suspected cases of coronavirus and that the university has not been notified of any member of the campus community with the virus at this time.
The George-Anne
“Stay calm,” says Georgia Southern medical director on coronavirus
By Sarah Smith
Dr. Brian DeLoach, medical director for Health Services, addressed the Faculty Senate at their meeting Wednesday night regarding the coronavirus, which the World Health Organization has called a pandemic. There are six confirmed cases in Georgia with 11 presumptive cases. Presumptive means that the case was initially tested positive, but health professionals are waiting on confirmatory testing, DeLoach said. With the virus reaching Georgia, Georgia Southern University has taken the following steps for all campuses:
Griffin Daily News
Two Gordon students being tested for coronavirus
By Jennifer Reynolds
Staff Writer
On Wednesday, Gordon State College President Kirk A. Nooks sent a letter to faculty, staff and students alerting them that two students may have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19) while working at an off-campus location. According to the letter, the students are being tested for the virus and the Georgia Department of Public Health is expediting the testing. It says, “the students currently are quarantined at home, off-campus and self-monitoring for symptoms.”
Coosa Valley News
Georgia Film Office Launches New Website, Celebrates Record-Breaking Results At State Capitol
The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today celebrated with legislators and industry partners the positive impact and record-breaking year the film industry had in the state at the annual Film Day at the Capitol. Georgia is one of the top film production centers in the world, and the industry posted a record $2.9 billion in direct investment during the last fiscal year. The Georgia Film Office also announced the launch of the new Georgia FilmWorks website, which uses personal stories to highlight the contributions the industry has made on the lives of Georgians, small businesses and communities. The new website can be found at: www.georgia.org/FilmWorks. Featured speakers recognizing “Georgia’s Film Industry: Real Stories: Reel Success.,” included Governor Brian P. Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker of the House David Ralston, Georgia Film Academy Executive Director Jeffrey Stepakoff, small business owners and other film industry professionals, along with GDEcD Chief Operating Officer Bert Brantley. …They also recognized the importance of the workforce pipeline necessary to keep the industry growing, including the groundbreaking Georgia Film Academy, which is a collaborative effort of the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia. Georgia Film Academy Executive Director Jeffrey Stepakoff today announced that the academy will have more than 7,000 student enrollments from over 20 partner institutions across Georgia.
Northwest Georgia News
Georgia House adds construction wish list to Gov. Kemp’s bond package
By Dave Williams Capitol Beat News Service
Georgia lawmakers don’t have as much money at their disposal as usual in a tight budget year to load up Gov. Brian Kemp’s bond package with tens of millions of dollars in additional construction projects. But the state House of Representatives still found room in the $28.1 billion fiscal 2021 budget the chamber adopted Tuesday, March 11, for a menu of projects around the state the governor didn’t request. …As usual, the largest number of projects the House added to the budget would be built on Georgia’s public college and university campuses. The University System of Georgia’s capital budget would be increased by $4.8 million in bonds for a dental hygiene teaching lab on Georgia State University’s Dunwoody campus, $2.5 million for the third phase of renovations to the University of Georgia’s Driftmier Engineering Center, $2.45 million to continue a multi-year renovation project at Augusta University’s Robert B. Greenblatt Library, and $2.4 million for renovations at the Dublin Center Library Building on the Middle Georgia State University campus in Dublin.
Albany Herald
ASU leaders part of University System Leadership Institute
By Hannah Hosley
Sarah Brinson, dean of the Albany State University Darton College of Health Professions and Kenyatta Johnson, vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Success, were selected to participate in the University System of Georgia 2019-2020 Executive Leadership Institute. They began the institute in October 2019. The institute is a comprehensive 120-hour development program designed to enhance leadership skills and prepare participants for career advancement within the university system. Brinson previously served as interim assistant vice president of Academic Affairs and Health Sciences. She also serves as the clinical coordinator and program director of the ASU Darton College of Health Professions physical therapist program. …As part of the institute, Brinson is shadowing John Fuchko, a member of the University System of Georgia Ethics and Compliance office. …Johnson previously served as a member of the Albany State University transition team and as executive director of Enterprise Risk Management at the University System of Georgia. She also held faculty positions at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College and Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Johnson is shadowing Atlanta Metropolitan State College President, Georj Lewis and said she is looking forward to working with her mentor and gaining knowledge about his leadership style.
Emanuel County Live
EGSC completes 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 completed the college’s 8th annual College Readiness Bus Tour. Students from over 15 high schools received 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.
The Brunswick News
College event introduces girls to STEM
By Lauren McDonald
Nearly 40 fifth- through eighth-grade students participated in this year’s Expanding Your Horizons event at College of Coastal Georgia.
The George-Anne
Meet Moonpie the goat, a therapy animal who helps children with disabilities
By Blakeley Bartee
With the help of an unusually calm goat, one Georgia Southern University elementary and special education instructor is helping students with disabilities socialize. Moonpie, a Nigerian Dwarf goat born premature and the runt of her litter, is a certified therapy animal. Her owner, Tonya Cooper, saw therapeutic potential in Moonpie when she noticed how calm the goat remained when interacting with people, according to a GS press release.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Nonbinary KSU worker says lipstick part of reason for his firing
By Kristal Dixon
A former Kennesaw State University employee says he was fired from his job at the school’s bookstore in part because he wore brightly colored lipstick while at work. Stuart Morrison, who identifies as nonbinary and prefers the pronouns he/him or they/them, said he was informed March 3 that his employment with the university had been severed after violating rules in KSU’s employee handbook that govern personal appearance. Morrison said he had a meeting Feb. 25 with a supervisor because of “complaints about your unprofessional appearance” and was asked to refrain from wearing lipstick on the job. Morrison had worn black, bright blue or bright green lipstick while working and continued to wear it after the meeting.
Savannah Morning News
UGA student from Savannah set to appear on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Chantel Lewis-Cummings of Savannah will be a contestant on the Thursday, March 19 episode of “Wheel of Fortune.” The episode will air on NBC affiliate WSAV at 7 p.m. Lewis-Cummings is a senior at the University of Georgia, studying supply chain management and mechanical engineering. She also mentors fellow students through TRIO Student Support Services.
Athens CEO
Undergraduate Students Head out on the Second Annual Great Commitments Student Tour of Georgia
Staff Report
The Great Commitments Student Tour of Georgia hit the road, with 34 University of Georgia undergraduate students spending their spring break on a week-long trip around the state – learning firsthand how UGA is making a difference in Georgia communities. Ranging from the north Georgia mountains to the coast, stops on this year’s tour include Amicalola State Park, the state Capitol and Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta, the City of Senoia, Hardy Farms, the Pinpoint Heritage Museum, and the Augusta Cyber Institute.
Gainesville Times
These state bills could help immigrant students afford college
Megan Reed
The Times
Some legislators are pushing for undocumented immigrant students to be given access to in-state tuition rates at Georgia’s public colleges. Several bills on the issue are proposed in the Georgia House of Representatives. The bills, which have been assigned to the House’s higher education committee, include some restrictions such as the student having graduated from a Georgia high school. About 21,000 people in Georgia participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, according to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. DACA gives young immigrants a work permit and protection from deportation, and status must be renewed every two years. …Diana Vela, a Gainesville High School graduate with DACA status, is attending Oglethorpe University. She has lived in Georgia since she was 4 years old, but when she started college at the University of North Georgia in 2014, she had to pay out-of-state tuition rates due to her immigration status. Vela said she and other immigrant students want to get an education to give back to the communities they are from, so facing barriers to that education can be frustrating.
SaportaReport
Georgia House panel doesn’t budge on college bill for dreamers
By Maggie Lee
Dreamers’ hopes of paying in-state tuition at Georgia colleges were set back again Wednesday, as a state House committee took no action to equalize tuition rates with students who have U.S. citizenship. Chrisitan Olvera said that equalizing tuition would put the dream of higher education into the reach of thousands of Georgia residents like himself. That is, people who were brought to the U.S. as children and are temporarily protected from deportation under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. “As a dreamer you’re hit with this paradox,” Olvera said. “You’re not allowed scholarships and funding, then they raise the price three times. “I’m not here for a handout, I don’t want anybody else’s money. I just want it to be equal what they charge,” said the Dalton resident and student at the state university there. He was sitting at the state Capitol next to state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, a Dalton Republican who represents part of Whitfield County, where as a whole, about 19 percent of people are foreign-born. Carpenter said about 6,000 dreamers live in Whitfield. …Dalton State University charges in-state students about $4,000 per year to $5,000 per year, Carpenter said. The out-of-state rate is more like $12,000. So dreamers end up taking only two or three classes at a time because they’re working to pay tuition. …The lack of a vote, as the annual legislative session nears its end, means the bill has almost no chance of becoming law this year.
Georgia Recorder
Push to give undocumented students in-state tuition stalls in committee
By Stanley Dunlap
Several of his colleagues consoled a tearful state Rep. Kasey Carpenter Wednesday afternoon after his bill designed to let some undocumented immigrants pay in-state-tuition at Georgia universities failed to make it to a vote. The Dalton Republican’s House Bill 997 now is now set to miss Thursday’s Crossover Day deadline. Carpenter clearly thought the bipartisan support for his plan to make college more affordable to Georgians in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program provided enough political will to earn broader consideration. Georgia’s 21,000 so-called Dreamers will continue paying three times the tuition that their fellow Georgia high school graduates pay to attend some of the state’s colleges and universities. House Higher Education Committee Chairman Chuck Martin declined to let his panel vote on Carpenter’s bill because of an ongoing legal challenge.
Tifton Gazette
Student selected for First Lady floral design team
Maddie McDonald, an agricultural education major at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been selected to First Lady Melania Trump’s Congressional Luncheon floral design team. McDonald, a freshman from Dublin, will spend three days in Washington D.C. this summer preparing for the event, culminating in her attendance at the luncheon with the First Lady. “Selection for the congressional design team is an honor and excellent professional development opportunity for Maddie,” Dr. Frank Flanders, ABAC’s agricultural education program coordinator, said. “These are the type of engaged activities that ABAC encourages for students. As a design team member, Maddie will work alongside some of the top designers in the U.S.”
Fox 28
Archaeology students volunteer at Low Birthplace in Savannah
by Cody Thomas
Faculty and students in Georgia Southern University’s archaeology field school volunteered to do excavations at the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah Wednesday. The project was led by members of the Lamar Institute of Archaeology. They say artifacts such as Chinese porcelain and old wine bottles were found in the ground near the house. They also say these artifacts may seem like trash to some, but they tell a deeper story as to how people lived during the 18th and 19th centuries in southeast Georgia.
MSN
SOFTACT Solutions joins the Georgia Cyber Center
SOFTACT Solutions, LLC (STS) announced today that they have opened a principle office in the Shaffer MacCartney Building of the Georgia Cyber Center. STS, partnering with Augusta University, the Georgia Cyber Center, and the Alliance for Fort Gordon, aims to create an environment to cultivate local talent for the cyber workforce and drive a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. “We are extremely excited to welcome SOFTACT Solutions to the Georgia Cyber Center,” Michael Shaffer, Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and Economic Development for Augusta University, said. “It is an exciting time for our region in terms of economic growth. We welcome partners, like SOFTACT Solutions, who are dedicated to contributing to furthering the growth of our vibrant community.”
Athens CEO
Georgia Film Office Launches New Website, Celebrates Record-breaking Results at State Capitol
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), yesterday celebrated with legislators and industry partners the positive impact and record-breaking year the film industry had in the state at the annual Film Day at the Capitol. Georgia is one of the top film production centers in the world, and the industry posted a record $2.9 billion in direct investment during the last fiscal year. The Georgia Film Office also announced the launch of the new Georgia FilmWorks website, which uses personal stories to highlight the contributions the industry has made on the lives of Georgians, small businesses and communities. The new website can be found at: www.georgia.org/FilmWorks. Featured speakers recognizing “Georgia’s Film Industry: Real Stories: Reel Success.,” included Governor Brian P. Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker of the House David Ralston, Georgia Film Academy Executive Director Jeffrey Stepakoff, small business owners and other film industry professionals, along with GDEcD Chief Operating Officer Bert Brantley.
The Red & Black
UGA alumna works to educate on suicide prevention
Lorna Ramage | Contributor
Katie O’Connor, a 2016 University of Georgia alumna, was done standing by after learning of the fifth person in her life she had lost to suicide. “I was looking online, just feeling helpless,” O’Connor said. “What can I do to make this stop besides telling people ‘I’m so sorry for your loss’?” In the spring of 2017, O’Connor saw the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention was hosting a party at a brewery around her birthday. O’Connor invited her family and friends and decided to make this her birthday party. Fascinated by the work AFSP does, two years ago, O’Connor started to volunteer and later joined the junior board. Now, she serves as the chair of the junior board of directors.
EOS
J. Marshall Shepherd Receives 2019 Climate Communication Prize
J. Marshall Shepherd was awarded the 2019 Climate Communication Prize at the AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 11 December 2019 in San Francisco, Calif. The prize recognizes an individual “for the communication of climate science.”
Marshall Shepherd is one of the most seasoned, most versatile, most dedicated, and most impactful climate communicators of our time. He effortlessly weaves his mastery of climate science with heartfelt care for all people, a finely honed moral compass, and a true passion for climate communication. As a decorated scholar in the atmospheric sciences, his dedication to effective communication is particularly noteworthy and makes him a treasured role model for many scientists who seek to incorporate a focus on public engagement into their careers.
—J. Marshall Shepherd, University of Georgia
Growing Georgia
Gee Haw Whoa Back Rodeo April 3-4 at ABAC
From bull riding to bronco busting, rodeo fans can watch fearless cowboys and cowgirls in action at the annual Gee Haw Whoa Back Rodeo on April 3-4 at 7 p.m. each night as a part of the annual Homecoming activities at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. …On April 4, members of the ABAC Rodeo Team and ABAC Rodeo Club from the past 51 years will be recognized at intermission. ABAC’s first rodeo was on May 24, 1969.
Tifton CEO
Supporters Tournament at ABAC’s Forest Lakes Golf Club March 27th
Staff Report
Spring weather has made an appearance, and golfers are getting their clubs ready for the Fourth Annual Supporters Tournament at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Forest Lakes Golf Club on March 27. The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start in a four-person scramble format. …Forest Lakes Superintendent Austin Lawton said Hunter Industries has served as an industry sponsor since 2013, providing over $120,000 in irrigation materials.
Marietta Daily Journal
Proposed city of Mableton is feasible, UGA study says
Aleks Gilbert
A study by the University of Georgia has found that a proposed city of Mableton is financially feasible, boosting supporters’ hopes the area’s 70,000-plus residents will eventually have a greater say in the shape and direction of their community. “We were excited to finally have the numbers and determine if the proposed city of Mableton is feasible — and we are feasible,” said Leroy “Tre” Hutchins of the South Cobb Alliance, a group that has been pushing for cityhood since early 2019. Hutchins said UGA gave the study to state Rep. Erica Thomas, D-Austell, the South Cobb Alliance and other stakeholders on March 1.
The Times-Georgian
West Georgia hosts Annual Pro Day
By Staff Reports
The University of West Georgia football program hosted its annual Pro Day at two different locations on Tuesday morning, where more than 20 NFL and CFL scouts were on hand for the showcase.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BREAKING: NCAA cancels tournament, Atlanta Final Four
By Tim Tucker
Scratch the Final Four from Atlanta’s sports calendar. One day after announcing the event would be played without fans in attendance because of the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA said Thursday its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, including the men’s Final Four here, will be canceled altogether. Pressure built on the NCAA to abandon the tournaments after major pro sports leagues – first the NBA, followed by MLS, the NHL and MLB — called off games. Also, numerous college athletics conferences, including the SEC and ACC, canceled their league tournaments. Additionally, two of the nation’s top college basketball programs, Kansas and Duke, said they wouldn’t participate in the NCAA tournament even if it had been held.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Go Home? For Some Students It’s Not Easy
Student advocates say coronavirus-related directives to move off campus threaten to reinforce existing inequalities and put disproportionate burdens on low-income and international students, among others.
By Elizabeth Redden
As colleges and universities move to clear their campuses of students and offer courses online to minimize the risk of exposure to or spread of the coronavirus, many institutions have urged students to go home and remain there. But those efforts are raising concerns about students who can’t just easily pick up and go or may not have an actual home to which to return. The precautions colleges are taking are creating logistical and financial hardships, among other challenges, for low-income and other vulnerable groups of students as well as international students, including students from China, Italy or other countries with high numbers of cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus.
Inside Higher Ed
A growing number of colleges and universities close or cancel in-person classes while others keep running as usual. Why are institutions responding differently?
By Lilah Burke
As the new coronavirus continues to cause chaos and anxiety in the U.S., many colleges and universities are responding by closing up shop. Some have canceled face-to-face instruction and moved online, while others have gone a step further and called for residence halls to be emptied. One institution, Berea College, has said there will be no further instruction at all, effectively ending the semester early. Yet some colleges have chosen to maintain classes and other services, sometimes despite complaints of students. In many cases those decisions are said to be based on individual location or the absence of confirmed cases within a college community. In others, however, the divide seems to be resource-based.
Inside Higher Ed
Measure to Protect GI Bill Recipients Amid Closures
By Kery Murakami
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs would have the discretion not to reduce GI Bill benefits for student veterans if their colleges or universities close or go online only during the coronavirus pandemic, under a bill proposed Wednesday in the U.S. Congress. “No student veteran, dependent or spouse should be worried about their GI Bill benefits being reduced or cut off because of actions their school is taking in response to COVID-19,” Representative Phil Roe, sponsor of HR 6194, said in a statement.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia legislature suspending session indefinitely amid coronavirus
By Amanda C. Coyne and Maya T. Prabhu
The Georgia legislature is suspending its session indefinitely due to concerns about the coronavirus, leaders announced Thursday afternoon. The House and Senate will stop meeting after completing work Friday. Speaker David Ralston urged members of the House of Representatives to go home Thursday night or Friday morning, once the day’s work was done. House staff will begin working remotely on Friday. Senate members are expected to be in session Friday. “This thing’s gonna end sometime soon, and when it does, we’re coming back on (legislative) day 30,” Ralston said.
accessWDUN
Trump suspends travel between US and Europe for 30 days
By The Associated Press
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is suspending all travel between the U.S. and Europe for 30 days beginning Friday as he seeks to combat a viral pandemic. Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation, blaming the European Union for not acting quickly enough to address the novel coronavirus and saying U.S. clusters were “seeded” by European travelers. Trump said the restrictions won’t apply to the United Kingdom and the U.S. would monitor the situation to determine if travel could be reopened earlier.