University System News:
The Augusta Chronicle
MCG lab testing 1,000 patients a day to help Georgia know COVID-19 extent
By Tom Corwin
GEM Lab at Medical College of Georgia is part of a statewide effort to test as many people in Georgia as possible as quickly as possible to help state leaders know the extent of COVID-19. Out of a styrofoam cooler that arrived last Sunday, Augusta University research associate Pankaj Ahluwalia began pulling out bags of samples to put together the next test run while a cooler that arrived Monday morning and two others waited their turn. The samples at the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia at AU arrive daily from around the state as the lab tests 1,000 patients a day to help the Department of Public Health know the true extent of COVID-19 in Georgia.
WRDW
Columbia County Chamber accepting donations of gift cards to healthcare workers
By Tyria Goines
The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has launched a new program that gives back to frontline Healthcare worker’s families, “Cards for Caring, You Take Care of Us, Let Us Care Of Your Family.” According to the release, this program will allow the community to donate in $25, $50 and $100 increments through the Chamber’s website and the Chamber will purchase gift cards from area chamber restaurants members to be distributed to the three local hospitals: Doctor’s Hospital, University Health, and Augusta University Health. The goal is to help provide for the healthcare workers’ families while supporting local restaurant members.
Tifton CEO
ABAC Provides Inspiration to Southwell and Colquitt Regional
Staff Report
After a long day of fighting the pandemic, all the healthcare employees at Southwell and Colquitt Regional Medical Center recently enjoyed a soothing melody and a tasty sugar cookie thanks to the Office of College Advancement at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. “Southwell and Colquitt Regional are doing awesome work for their communities in these challenging times,” ABAC Arts Connection Director Wayne Jones said. “They have both supported ABAC as outstanding community partners through the years, and we wanted to do something special for them.” Jones initiated the effort when he shared a music clip with the ABAC Advancement office staff from TAKE3, an instrumental trio which will bring the beautiful sounds of a violin, cello, and piano to the Howard Auditorium stage at ABAC on Nov. 15 as a part of the ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series.
GPB
What You Need To Know: Could Georgia See A Second Peak?
By Sam Bermas-Dawes
Georgia Public Broadcasting’s new series What You Need To Know: Coronavirus provides succinct, fact-based information to help you get through the coronavirus pandemic with your health and sanity intact.
Political Rewind’s Sam Bermas-Dawes talks with Joshua Weitz, professor of biological sciences at Georgia Tech about whether Georgia is moving too fast to reopen the economy. What do you think? Do you think Georgia is moving too fast to reopen its economy? There are serious concerns at the moment about whether or not both the signals from cases and fatalities as well as the infrastructure to make sure that trends in the right direction continue to trend in that way are there in place at the moment. …
Fox5
University of Georgia working on COVID-19 virus, hopes to be ready by the end of the year
We are closer to finding a vaccine for COVID-19 than we may think. Researchers at the University of Georgia are developing one that they hope to have ready by the end of the year. “Safety is number one. I have kids, and they all get vaccinated. The first thing I ask is ‘Is our vaccine safe?’” said Dr. Biao He, a professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Just one year ago, Dr. He never imagined he would contribute to something so important and urgent — developing a vaccine for COVID-19.
Middle Georgia CEO
Georgia College Costume Supervisor Sews Face Masks for Eatonton Nursing Home
Staff Report
Doing her part by staying home didn’t seem like enough. Cathleen O’Neal wanted to do more to help her neighbors and the world get through the COVID-19 crisis. As Georgia College’s Costume Supervisor—charged with making costumes for productions performed by the department of theatre—O’Neal put her sewing skills to good use. In two weeks, she has constructed 140 masks—donating 110 surgical and N-95 face covers for Atlanta area hospitals and, just recently, 30 N-95 face masks to meet a critical need at Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation nursing home.
Douglas Now
Family Sews, Donates Hundreds Of Masks To Multiple Organizations In Numerous States
(Alana and Leana are both students at South Georgia State. Alana was also awarded the 2020 Academic Recognition Day Award for South Georgia State College)
As longtime members of St. Illa Baptist Church in Douglas, Angie Atkinson and her family take to heart the scriptures that read, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” Matthew 25:40 (NIV), and “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,” Colossians 3:23 (NIV). At a very young age, Angie Atkinson learned from her mother, Myrtle Chaney, how to sew. Although a nearly forgotten craft by younger generations, sewing has been a family affair for Angie, Myrtle, and Angie’s two daughters, Alana, and Leana. Together, they have spent many years doing alterations, embroidery, and sewing quilts as a precious family pastime. When Angie learned of the need of healthcare workers for face masks to protect them amid the COVID-19 outbreak, she did not hesitate to leap into action, enlisting her mother and daughters to assist. Angie shared her first fabric mask creations on Facebook, and immediately began to receive requests from all over the country. Alana and Leana, both busy students, learned to balance schoolwork with their mask-making efforts.
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta-area engineer designs strap to reduce pressure from N95 masks
By Will Cheney
CORRECTION: This story has been changed to correct the name of Mike Fulford. The Chronicle regrets the error.
Personal protective equipment is at a premium during this stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an Augusta man has designed something to add a bit of comfort. Justin Thigpen, an advanced manufacturing engineer at Club Car, and several of his co-workers created a black strap that takes some of the strain off medical professionals wearing an N95 mask for an entire shift. The 3D-printed strap hooks onto the existing straps of the mask and is designed to take pressure off the ears and cut down on chafing. It began as something to help out a couple of family members in the field before word got around. Thigpen said over 1,000 straps have been given to Doctors Hospital, Augusta University, University Hospital and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, and more are going out weekly outside of Augusta. The design has since made its way across the Atlantic.
GPB
UGA Professor: Heat Can Be Used To Disinfect Facial Masks
By Sarah Rose
Heat could be a key player in the fight against COVID-19. High temperatures around 130 to 150 degrees were previously effective in killing other strains of coronavirus, according to a Science Direct study. At that temperature, the viruses became inactive fairly quickly. While that approach doesn’t work for things like packages someone might get delivered from Amazon or UPS, it does prove effective in cleaning things like facial masks. Travis Glenn, professor of environmental health science at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, told UGA Today that he believes heat works as a means to disinfect.
13WMAZ
Mercer School of Medicine and Georgia College’s plans for virtual commencement ceremonies
Mercer University and Georgia College explain the plans for their decisions to hold virtual commencement ceremonies because of COVID-19.
WTOC
How to Hunt for a Job During COVID-19
Advice for applying and interviewing remotely
Whether you’re about to graduate or you’re a victim of layoffs, many of you are applying for jobs right now. The Coronavirus is causing some big changes in the process. Glenn Gibney serves as the director of GSU’s Career and Professional Development Office. This time of year his office is usually full of college seniors preparing for their next step, but his expertise applies to anyone looking for a job. If you’re on the hunt, here’s what you need to know before that first interview. “I would make sure that you dress up for the interview as if it’s going to be a face to face interview. Your background should be professional. Quiet. You’ll need a quiet space to do this. I’d test the technology. That’s a really important part too. If it’s your first time doing an interview on a phone, practice with a friend.” After the interview, Gibney says it’s key that you follow up. But when many businesses are overwhelmed and understaffed as they adapt to COVID, how much follow up is too much?
Morning AgClips
UGA’s student community farm continues to provide produce to those in need
UGArden is being run by the garden’s four regular staff members
At UGArden, the University of Georgia’s student community farm, plots of lettuce, kale, beets, carrots and greens planted during the winter wait to be harvested. Despite the absence of dozens of student workers due to the campus closure prompted by the COVID-19 crisis, a handful of staff at the garden are keeping fresh produce flowing out into the community to benefit food-insecure families. UGArden is being run by the garden’s four regular staff members, led by UGArden farm manager JoHannah Biang and director David Berle, along with a few AmeriCorps VISTA workers who have been reassigned to work in the garden.
Bainbridge GA
ABAC Launches New Bainbridge-Tifton 2+2 Plans
by Staff Reports
The School of Arts and Sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College now offers new Bainbridge-Tifton 2+2 Plans. These plans allow students to complete the first two years of their Bachelor of Science degree at ABAC Bainbridge and then finish their degrees at ABAC Tifton. Students pursuing these plans will work with faculty advisors within their disciplines at both sites to help ensure timely progress toward graduation. If the prescribed plan of study is followed, students will be able to complete the bachelor’s degree in four years, splitting their time equally across the ABAC Bainbridge and Tifton sites.
Douglas Now
Playwright Charlayne Woodard Visits Sgsc Theatre Appreciation Classes – Virtually
What happens when South Georgia State College theatre students have a question about a play? Of course, they contact the playwright! This is exactly what happened recently in Katherine LeRoy-Lawson’s Theatre Appreciation online classes. The classes had been studying Pretty Fire by Charlayne Woodard and the students were asking questions about the playwright and other characters in the script. “The students had questions that I simply could not answer,” explained Ms. LeRoy-Lawson. “I reached out to Ms. Woodard to see if she would be available to speak to the students about Pretty Fire and her career. She responded with a gleeful yes!”
Growing Georgia
Engineering Student Wins UGA FABricate Entrepreneurial Contest With Alcohol Percentage Detector
Many businesses are formed to solve problems for others, but one engineering student’s prize-winning idea spurred from a challenge he faced in his own kombucha business. Nick Robertson, this year’s University of Georgia Food, Agribusiness and Entrepreneurial Initiative (FABricate) winner, started Rare Combinations to develop an efficient, affordable alcohol percentage detector for beverage producers. The senior biochemical engineering major will receive a $10,000 investment toward his business from the contest. This was the first year that the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences opened the competition to all students at UGA, which increased the number of entries. This is the fourth year of the FABricate competition, which promotes innovation across four categories: food products; agricultural technology; food-related or service business; or environmental-related products or businesses.
The Red & Black
UGA bookstore accepts rental returns by mail
Lora Yordanova | Contributor
The University of Georgia on-campus bookstore has temporarily closed in light of coronavirus concerns but will accept rental returns by mail and buy back books online, according to a coronavirus FAQ page on the bookstore’s website. …Free FedEx shipping labels are being provided for returns, according to the coronavirus FAQ page. Students can access shipping labels through their account on the bookstore’s website or through a link in a rental reminder email.
The Brunswick News
College names chair of Department of Education and Teacher Preparation
By Lauren McDonald
College of Coastal Georgia recently announced that Amy Sneed will serve as the new chair of the Department of Education and Teacher Preparation. Sneed served as interim chair of the department for the 2019-2020 academic year. She has worked with the college since 2016, when she joined the faculty as an assistant professor of middle grades education. Sneed has a long career as an instructor and mentor for student teacher-candidates.
Valdosta Daily Times
Chason History: Radio voice of Blazer basketball observes 30 years on air (Part I)
Radio voice of Blazer basketball observes 30 years on air (Part I)
By Shane Thomas
It’s 10:30 p.m. on March 6 in Birmingham, Ala. Valdosta State radio announcer Mike Chason sits at a desk with papers splayed out from one side to the other in a seventh floor, King’s suite at the Homewood Suites in Downtown Birmingham. Chason is poring over his game notes prior to the Blazers’ Gulf South Conference tournament semifinal game against West Alabama. He’ll do only an hour before watching the Los Angeles Lakers-Milwaukee Bucks game on a swanky flat-screen TV in a king-sized bed. He’ll do two more hours of prep work the next morning over his usual road game breakfast of a waffle, eggs and a single cup of coffee. “I like consistency,” he says, adjusting his glasses. Chason has been the radio voice of the Blazers since 1990 – 30 years on the call for one of the top Division II programs in the country. The year Chason started on the radio, the Blazers were not broadcasting games at all. That is, until Chason and then-head coach James Dominey got to talking about how to get the Blazers on the air. Dominey offered to help Chason round up sponsors, while Chason paid for radio time at a local Valdosta radio station.
WSAV
Georgia Southern to pay tuition for returning senior spring athletes
by: Connor DelPrete
Georgia Southern University has pledged to cover next year’s tuition for returning senior spring athletes and take care of any aid they were due for this year. According to the school’s athletic department, it will cost approximately $140,000 to bring interested senior spring athletes back. A maximum of 14 scholarship athletes could be returning for the 2021 spring season. This decision comes after the threat of COVID-19 cancelled the NCAA D-1 spring sports season for 2020. Shortly after the season was cancelled, schools were approved to give spring athletes an extra year of eligibility.
The Red & Black
Where should UGA students be counted in the census?
Jacqueline GaNun | City News Editor
In the last census, a little over a quarter of Athens-Clarke County went uncounted, Mayor Kelly Girtz said. This count makes a difference in the congressional representation of Athens and the amount of federal money it receives. University of Georgia students should fill out the census with their residence as Athens, even if they have a different hometown, Marilyn Stephens, assistant regional census manager, said. Students who live on campus are automatically counted by University Housing, but students who live off campus have to fill out the census themselves, with one person reporting everyone who lives in the house.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BREAKING: Coronavirus outbreak in Georgia surpasses 1K deaths, 24K cases
By Chelsea Prince
At least 1,020 Georgians have died of the new coronavirus, with more than 100 of those deaths reported in the past 48 hours, state health officials said Tuesday. A total of 24,551 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported across the state, according to the latest data released at 11:25 a.m. by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
The Washington Post
White House issues coronavirus testing guidance that leaves states in charge
By Mike DeBonis,, Chris Mooney and Juliet Eilperin
Pressure mounted Monday on the White House and Congress to develop a national strategy to test Americans for exposure to the novel coronavirus, as health and economic experts said the current patchwork of testing efforts is insufficient to allow the economy to reopen safely. Governors, congressional leaders and public health officials have pressed for a robust testing plan from the federal government, insisting that frequent and widespread testing is crucial to ending the stay-at-home orders that have idled businesses across much of the country. President Trump responded Monday by announcing what the White House called a “blueprint” for increasing testing capacity. But it leaves the onus on states to develop their own plans and rapid-response programs. A White House document said the federal role would include “strategic direction and technical assistance,” as well as the ability to “align laboratory testing supplies and capacity with existing and anticipated laboratory needs.”
11ALIVE
Making the COVID-19 testing process as easy as possible
The Georgia National Guard has been working to streamline the process in order to make testing as easy as possible.
Author: Chenue Her
Gov. Kemp touted the work of the Georgia National Guard and their help in testing statewide during his news conference late Monday afternoon. Last week, Kemp tapped the National Guard and Augusta University Health to help with more COVID-19 testing sites in the state. Since then, about six new sites have launched. “What we’re trying to do is make this as accessible as possible,” said Maj. Gen. Tom Carden.
Athens Banner-Herald
Gov. Kemp undecided on when to end Georgia shelter-in-place
By Beau Evans, Capitol Beat News Service
Ahead of an April 30 end to the state’s shelter-in-place order, Gov. Brian Kemp urged Georgians to continue social distancing and to seek testing if they experience common coronavirus symptoms like coughing, fever and shortness of breath. At a news conference Monday, Kemp did not say whether he will extend the statewide shelter-in-place order beyond Thursday, when it is set to end. The order has already been extended once since it was first issued on April 3. He noted only that the order is currently scheduled to end after April 30 and that he plans to make a decision later this week on what to do next. “I just haven’t made those decisions yet,” Kemp said. The governor did say, however, that elderly persons and those with chronic health issues will likely need to continue sheltering-in-place well into mid-May, and perhaps for longer than that.
accessWDUN
Kemp: State to help educate Hall County Hispanic population about COVID-19
By Mitch Clarke Director of News and Content
Gov. Brian Kemp said Monday the state will work to educate the Hispanic community about the risks of the coronavirus, starting in Hall County, which has become the state’s latest hotspot for the virus. Kemp said he and state insurance commissioner John King are working with the Mexican consulate in Atlanta and officials with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to provide information that will help protect members of that community. …Kemp said the insurance commissioner was in Hall County talking to poultry industry executives on Monday to ensure their workers understand public health guidance on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 and what the state is doing to help stop the spread.
Higher Education News:
Savannah CEO
Savannah Technical College is the First in Georgia to Offer Virtual Admissions for Adult Education
Staff Report
Savannah Technical College has created a virtual admissions process for adult education including high school equivalency (GED) and English as a second language (ESL). As the first technical college in Georgia approved to offer this service, STC’s plan is being shared throughout the state as a model.
Inside Higher Ed
Uncertain Job Market Awaits Soon-to-Be Graduates
Student anxiety is high as internship opportunities are rescinded and hiring delayed by employers. College career advisers remain optimistic that there are still jobs out there.
By Greta Anderson
Many college students typically have secured summer internships or postgraduation jobs by the time the academic year comes to a close. Those who haven’t gotten internships or found permanent work are usually scanning opportunities posted on job boards or listed through their college career centers. Things look very different this spring. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many employers, whose offices are shuttered and whose revenues are trending downward, to rescind or shorten previously offered internships and jobs. With the country facing economic uncertainty and businesses deeply worried about their bottom line, employers are reconsidering investments in future talent, said Shawn VanDerziel, executive director of the National Association of College Employers, or NACE, a professional organization for college career services officials and recruiters.
Inside Higher Ed
Study Abroad Faces a New Reality
With no clear timeline for putting students on planes again, study abroad providers face layoffs and uncertain futures. And when they do resume regular programming, they’ll need new health and safety protocols.
By Elizabeth Redden
The study abroad field has never faced a moment like this. Colleges and the independent study abroad provider organizations they work with have had to bring students home from specific countries due to conflicts or natural disasters before, but never before have they had to bring home all students worldwide, as they did this spring when the COVID-19 pandemic started. After students were safely home, and after arrangements were made to move their courses online, study abroad providers turned to questions of their own financial viability. With study abroad all but suspended for summer and the possibility of students studying abroad this fall still uncertain, study abroad provider organizations have laid off staff, in some cases 50 percent or more of their employees. Study abroad provider organizations have begun planning for various scenarios for fall and have rolled out new virtual exchange programs, such as virtual international internships, as well as hybrid options.
Inside Higher Ed
More Cause for Concern About Fall Enrollment
One in six students who’d planned to attend four-year colleges full-time no longer plan to do so, private polling says. Data show cause for concern even about those who’ve already put down deposits.
By Rick Seltzer
As the traditional May 1 college decision day approaches, admissions leaders have been expressing concern that a significant number of students who’ve paid deposits promising to attend certain campuses will opt against enrolling because of the coronavirus pandemic. Such decisions could upend the models colleges and universities use to build their freshman classes — and to balance their budgets. Today, newly released data from polling of U.S. high school seniors suggest admissions officers may have good reason to be worried. About 12 percent of such students who have already made deposits no longer plan to attend a four-year college full-time, according to the polling. The findings are being shared today by the consulting firm Art & Science Group, which polled 1,171 high school seniors from April 21-24.