University System News:
11Alive
UGA suspends Italy study abroad plans due to coronavirus
The CDC recently placed the country and others under a ‘Level 3’ travel advisory to avoid nonessential travel.
Author: Christopher Buchanan
Students who planned to study abroad through the University of Georgia will not be doing so in Italy this semester – and students already there are being urged to return to the U.S. – due to the coronavirus. UGA confirmed to 11Alive on Sunday that its Office of Global Engagement (OGE) had sent emails to students in its study abroad program in Italy on Friday telling them of the news.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ga. students quarantined as colleges halt some study abroad classes
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s largest colleges and universities have now suspended study abroad programs in three nations significantly impacted by the deadly coronavirus and are making students self-quarantine while overseas or before returning to campus. The University of Georgia sent notice to 84 students Friday in its study abroad program in Italy that the program has been suspended and those in Italy are being brought home. The UGA students in Italy cannot return to campus in Athens until conducting a two-week self-quarantine, it said in a message to those students. Georgia State and Kennesaw State universities said Monday they are asking students who had been in South Korea, another nation struggling with the virus, to act similarly upon their return. About 50 Georgia Tech students in a study abroad program in France, many of whom recently traveled to Italy, are under a two-week quarantine. Georgia Tech said in a statement Monday the self-quarantine is being done “out of an abundance of caution and at the direction of French and international health agencies.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW: Officials confirm Georgia’s first 2 cases of coronavirus
By Greg Bluestein and Helena Oliviero
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional details.
Two people who live in the same household in Fulton County are the first in Georgia to test positive for the new coronavirus, Gov. Brian Kemp and state officials announced Monday evening at a hastily arranged press conference. The two showed symptoms of the illness shortly after one of the people returned to Georgia from a trip to the northern Italian city of Milan, officials said. Dr. Kathleen Toomey, head of the state’s public health department, said the patient who recently traveled to Italy detected the illness quickly, and “astutely” consulted medical officials. She described the symptoms as “mild.” “I want to reassure you that they’re at home, in home isolation with other household members, with minimal symptoms so they’re not hospitalized,” she said. …“Georgians should remain calm,” Kemp said. “We were ready for today.”
WJBF
MCG to put out potential Coronavirus app stopping the spread with at-home tests
As many people worry about the Coronavirus spreading, local hospitals are finding ways to tackle the sickness. One even came up with an app that could potentially save a life. The biggest way to transmit the Coronavirus is direct physical contact around someone who is contagious. So, imagine being able to use an app to help fend it off. The sneezing and coughing in the waiting rooms might come to an end thanks to some doctors at the Medical College of Georgia. Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at MCG, Dr. Jose Vazquez, teamed up with Math Modeler, Arni Rao. “We are about to publish a study using the phone as an app for patients who are at high risk and are about to come in,” says Dr. Vazquez. There is going to be an app for that, and it’s one that could spare your life, especially seniors in the United States.
Clayton News-Daily
Clayton State University awarded $600,000 grant to expand student access to childcare
From Staff Reports
More student-parents at Clayton State University will have access to financial assistance for child care thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The university was awarded a four-year, $632,808 grant through the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. The funds will be used to provide child care scholarships for Pell eligible parenting students for up to $125.00 per week per eligible child. “Clayton State University is extremely excited to expand our ability to serve parenting students through the U.S Department of Education’s Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Grant,” said Dr. Deborah Deckner Davis, psychology professor and director of Clayton State’s childcare assistance program. “This funding will build on the success of the Boost initiative supported by Quality Care for Children and promote educational and economic success for two generations of the Clayton State University family.”
The Brunswick News
Students excel at piano evaluation
Claudia Theise
The Golden Isles Music Teachers Association held its local piano auditions and Piano Evaluation Day with Tom Pearsall, PhD, of Georgia Southern University, adjudicator for the event. Chapter finalists were chosen to advance to the Georgia Music Teachers Association Regional Auditions to be held March 14 at Augusta State College. Each student was required to perform two pieces from memory, including one selection from the Baroque or Classical period, and one from the Romantic or Contemporary period. Theory examinations were also given. Chapter Finalists and Outstanding Performers were presented in an Honors Recital on Feb. 23 at Christ Church Parish House.
Albany Herald
Area leaders kick off ‘Albany-Dougherty County Works!’
By Aaron Cox
Dozens of area leaders gathered in downtown Albany for the official unveiling of Albany-Dougherty County Works!, a comprehensive work force development initiative facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Developed by a steering committee of 20 community leaders in collaboration with the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, the initiative is designed to help strengthen the area’s work force development by aligning the business and educational efforts of the community. The Vinson Institute team helped collect and analyze the feedback of more than 100 community members, including students, educators, employers and job seekers. They also provided additional data comparing Albany to its peers in both the state and region.
Americus Times-Recorder
GISA Final Four basketball tournament at Georgia Southwestern expected to bring in over 8,000 people
By Nichole Buchanan
Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) will host the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Boy’s and Girl’s State Basketball Championships in GSW’s Storm Dome from February 26-29, 2020. For the second consecutive year, the top GISA high school basketball teams in the A, AA and AAA divisions will compete for a state championship in Americus. Last year’s Final Four tournament brought more than 8,000 people to Americus which means a huge economic impact for local businesses. City of Americus Mayor Barry Blount is excited about the opportunity to host the tournament. “It allows us to showcase our community to many people who might not otherwise visit Americus or Georgia Southwestern,” he says. “Potential students have a chance to experience the GSW campus while their families provide a small economic boost to the local restaurants, hotels, shops and gas stations.”
WSB-TV
Want to foster a cat for free? UGA looking for seniors to help in loneliness project
The University of Georgia needs your help to spread the word about a study they’re conducting. They’re looking for seniors to foster a cat for a few months, all expenses paid. The goal is to prevent loneliness. “I just fell in love with him. He gave me new purpose in life,” 78-year-old Foster Cat Study participant Mary Sherrer said about her cat, Mr. Earl. Mr. Earl is Sherrer’s first pet cat. She started fostering him nearly a year ago after learning UGA would pay for his food, litter and vet bills. The goal is companionship. …UGA researcher Sherry Sanders paired Sherrer with Mr. Earl and is looking to match other older adults with cats on a trail bases and monitors how it impacts emotional health and well-being.
GPB News
Medical Minute: New Treatment For Cornea Restoration
When you jab a finger in your eye, it hurts, but it can also injure the epithelial cells on the surface of your cornea: the clear, front of the eye. The cornea works a lot like the skin for our eyes, serving as this frontline protection. It’s also essential to light getting into our eyes so we can see.
While most of us recover from that finger jab, those with a more significant injury or a complicating disease like diabetes, may not recover well, and vison can be compromised. Scientists have evidence that a species of a lipid that helps our skin heal, may help. …In this week’s Medical Minute, Dr. Joseph Hobbs, chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, discusses recently discovered evidence that a substance known to help heal injuries to our skin may also be beneficial for treating vision threatening damage to our corneas.
Albany Herald
UGA Extension plans three grape-grower workshops
By Sharon Dowdy CAES News
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is holding a series of workshops specifically for Georgia grape growers in March. The classes, set for March 3 in Carrollton, March 5 in Dahlonega, and March 17 in Ellijay, will cover disease and insect control and other critical components of an integrated pest management program for vineyards. “Vineyard managers ask questions year-round relative to how to set up and administer an efficacious program for management of diseases and insects,” Paula Burke, UGA Extension coordinator in Carroll County, said. In these workshops, vineyard managers will learn the skills and confidence needed to develop effective spray programs incorporating resistance management, she said.
Georgia Trend
Q&A with Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger
Countdown to the Primary
by Susan Percy
Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a former state representative and business owner from Johns Creek, faced a daunting task soon after he took office in January of 2019: Implementing a new statewide voting system mandated by the General Assembly during that year’s legislative session. The new system replaces the 17-year-old touchscreen voting machines; it retains electronic voting but adds a paper ballot. His task has been made more difficult by lingering concerns over issues of integrity and security in Georgia’s 2018 elections, which prompted several lawsuits. Last summer a federal judge called Georgia’s 27,000 aging machines, installed in 2002, “unsecure, unreliable and grossly outdated” and ordered their replacement in time for this year’s elections. …Last year’s HB 316 also provided for changes to voting registration, early voting and absentee ballots. The secretary of state’s office has announced it will be working with Dr. Alexander Schwarzmann, dean of Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences and an expert in election security, to ensure that the election process goes smoothly.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Gwinnett College men’s tennis winning streak reaches 120 matches
From Staff Reports
The Georgia Gwinnett College men’s tennis team recorded three victories against two different opponents on Saturday to extend its winning streak to 120 consecutive dual matches. The latest triumphs came on the opening day of the Grizzly Spring Break Invitational at the GGC Tennis Facility.
SI The Falcon Report
Kindle Vildor won’t wear Michael Vick’s number, but his dream is within reach
Chris Vinel
Nine-year-old Kindle Vildor scored a touchdown in his first-ever football game. He played quarterback. Like so many now young adult Atlanta natives, Vildor idolized Michael Vick and wanted to wear No. 7 because of him. Vildor grew up rooting for the Falcons, a team he informally met with at the NFL Combine. “I actually do still follow them, so it’s crazy,” Vildor said Thursday at the NFL Combine. “[I didn’t really have other favorite teams], just the Falcons. They were in my area, and their games came on TV and everything like that.” …After graduating from high school, Vildor chose to attend Georgia Southern University, where he was a three-year starter at corner. …Through the trials, Vildor continued his stellar play, pushing Georgia Southern to seven wins and a bowl game.