University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia House, Senate agree to budget with $950 million in school cuts but no employee furloughs
By James Salzer
State House and Senate leaders agreed Thursday on a final budget for the upcoming fiscal year that cuts $950 million in basic k-12 school funding but doesn’t force state agencies or the University System of Georgia to furlough staffers. That is big news for more than 100,000 state and university staffers, some of whom were expecting to have to take weeks off without getting paid.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw State announces reopening plans; finals to be done online
By Eric Stirgus
Kennesaw State University announced this week its plan to bring students back to campus for the fall semester that includes COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and employees and having students take final exams remotely after the Thanksgiving break. KSU, which has the third-largest enrollment in the state, with about 38,000 students last year, plans to give cloth masks to everyone on its two campuses and will clean most areas several times a day to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, President Pamela Whitten said in a message Tuesday. KSU students and faculty, like other University System of Georgia institutions, will be encouraged to wear face coverings.
The Daily Tribune
New film pathway prepares GHC students for careers in fast-growing industry
BY DONNA HARRIS
Students eager to break into the filmmaking business now have a new avenue for getting their foot in the door. Beginning fall semester, Georgia Highlands College will be offering a new film pathway with tracks in film studies or film production to give students the opportunity to learn skills necessary to work in one of the fastest-growing industries in the state. …Offering film classes can help put GHC students on the path to joining the crew of any of the numerous productions currently filming in Georgia, such as Marvel’s “Avengers” series or Netflix shows like “Stranger Things.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Facing revenue shortfall, Georgia Tech implementing furloughs
By Ken Sugiura
A year of belt tightening is ahead for Georgia Tech. With revenues from ticket sales projected to fall by 40%, the athletic department will have to pare spending that already has been frugal. “I will say there was a lot of heartburn with cutting costs and a very challenging exercise to find opportunities to contain costs, knowing that 70 percent of our budget is connected to our people, as well as facilities,” associate athletic director Marvin Lewis told the athletic association board at its quarterly meeting Thursday. Lewis presented an $80.5 million balanced budget to the board, which was approved. It is 4% smaller than the budget for fiscal year 2020, which ends June 30. At a time when some Division I schools have eliminated dozens of non-revenue teams because of the coronavirus pandemic shriveling up revenues, the reduction is fairly modest. However, making the ends meet will require furloughs for staff across the department, including coaches.
The Brunswick News
College requests extension on arts center agreement deadline
By Lauren McDonald
College of Coastal Georgia is asking for more time before committing to a proposed performing arts center. At this time, it is unsure it will be able to commit the necessary financial resources to the project. COVID-19 and its adverse impact on the economy are to blame.
Savannah Business Journal
Georgia Southern awarded $3.25 million grant to increase diversity in health professions
Staff Report
Keith Belcher, Ph.D., director of the Medical Laboratory Science program at Georgia Southern University, is the recipient of the 2020-25 U.S. Department of Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) grant valued at $3.25 million. The grant funds the Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program, designed to increase diversity in the health professions and nursing workforce by offering awards to institutions that provide scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are enrolled full time in a health profession or nursing program.
WGAU
UGA data website helps communities during pandemic
Tax data, job numbers analyzed
By Roger Nielsen
Georgia’s state and local leaders can access accurate, current data to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the economics of their communities through GeorgiaDATA.org, a resource designed by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Such data is vital to communities’ ability to plan and budget in the midst of the pandemic. The interactive visualization tool allows elected officials, department heads and government staff to easily find relevant data, including sales tax and initial unemployment claims, see how their community’s leading indicators are trending over time and learn whether the same changes are occurring nearby, regionally or statewide, said David Tanner, Vinson Institute associate director, who spearheaded recent GeorgiaDATA upgrades.
The Brunswick News
CCGA nursing students, Remedy Project create addiction recovery resource
By Lauren McDonald
Addiction can lead to a life filled with challenges. Many organizations, ministries and recovery centers are around to help but finding the one that fits a client’s needs can be difficult because the services they offer are spread throughout the region. People suffering from addiction may frequently feel frustrated when attempting to navigate this web of options. To help make the process easier, nursing students at the College of Coastal Georgia partnered with The Remedy Project to create an addiction recovery resource that references rehabilitation centers across Georgia, northern Florida, and southern South Carolina.
The Red & Black
UGA Housing makes COVID-19 changes for fall
Jacqueline GaNun | News Editor
“Stand here” markers, sneeze guards and hand sanitizer stations will be common sights in University of Georgia dorms next year. UGA’s current 200-plus page reopening report and University Housing’s notification page list new sanitation rules for school housing if there is a full return to in-person classes. As of Tuesday, the university is planning on returning to in-person classes and will move to online learning after Thanksgiving. University housing will remain open through Dec. 17.
Metro Atlanta CEO
Clayton State University Foundation Appoints Three New Board Members
Staff Report
The Clayton State University Foundation has announced Gayle Cabrera, Fred Hicks and Trey Ragsdale as new members to its Board of Trustees. The new members bring valuable experience in community affairs and philanthropy that will increase the university’s efforts to build on its growth in giving to support student achievement and to positively impact the south metro Atlanta region. “I am extremely excited to add the perspectives and talents of these three dynamic individuals to what has already proved a transformative board. In the coming year the university will be doubling down on our efforts to impact the quality of life for the citizens of our region; having the combined strengths of Fred, Gayle and Trey to draw upon will no doubt help us advance efforts,” said Chase Moore, vice president of University Advancement and External Affairs. The new trustee members will begin their three-year tenure in fiscal year 2021.
WABE
State Librarian Says Local Libraries Are Reopening In Phases
Lashawn Hudson
As Georgia gradually reopens, many public libraries are gearing up to open their doors soon. Julie Walker, who serves as the state librarian for the Georgia Public Library Service, says Georgia has 408 libraries that make up the 62 library systems across the state. Walker says the unexpected COVID-19 pandemic required libraries to quickly pivot to be able to provide resources to their patrons. “Our libraries realized that they were actually going to be needed more than ever and that we still had a whole lot to offer, even though our doors were closed for a while,” said Walker. But despite being closed for in-person visits, Walker says libraries offered several online resources and left their Wi-Fi networks on so that people can connect to the internet while parked in the parking lot.
The Red & Black
GUEST COLUMN: We cannot trust the USG to prioritize health
Ilya Winham | Guest Columnist
We all understand that when classes resume in-person in the fall, present in every classroom, along with instructors and students, will be a third force — the coronavirus — and there is no telling when it will be transmitted from one person to another, and another and another. But we know the coronavirus spreads through face-to-face interactions where crowds of people are in an enclosed space for long periods of time. It’s even more likely to spread in spaces that are poorly ventilated and feature loud talking, key hallmarks of most classrooms. So, the University System of Georgia, by asking students, faculty and staff to hold classes in-person, play sports and work on campus, is increasing the risk of illness and death from the coronavirus. In Georgia the first wave of the coronavirus has never ended, and the state is on track to have over 100,000 cases by August. So it is both baffling and irresponsible for the USG to plan to resume in-person classes but not require everyone on campus to wear a face mask and not allow faculty and staff to seek accommodations because of their spouse’s or children’s risk factors. Over 2,000 faculty, staff and students have already signed the University of Georgia Women’s Caucus petition expressing their concern about these USG guidelines.
The Red & Black
GUEST COLUMN: We cannot trust the USG to prioritize health
Ilya Winham | Guest Columnist
We all understand that when classes resume in-person in the fall, present in every classroom, along with instructors and students, will be a third force — the coronavirus — and there is no telling when it will be transmitted from one person to another, and another and another. But we know the coronavirus spreads through face-to-face interactions where crowds of people are in an enclosed space for long periods of time. It’s even more likely to spread in spaces that are poorly ventilated and feature loud talking, key hallmarks of most classrooms. So, the University System of Georgia, by asking students, faculty and staff to hold classes in-person, play sports and work on campus, is increasing the risk of illness and death from the coronavirus. In Georgia the first wave of the coronavirus has never ended, and the state is on track to have over 100,000 cases by August. So it is both baffling and irresponsible for the USG to plan to resume in-person classes but not require everyone on campus to wear a face mask and not allow faculty and staff to seek accommodations because of their spouse’s or children’s risk factors. Over 2,000 faculty, staff and students have already signed the University of Georgia Women’s Caucus petition expressing their concern about these USG guidelines.
Other News:
13WMAZ
Gov. Kemp says despite progress, ‘deadly’ virus ‘remains a threat’
He encouraged Georgians to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Author: Jason Braverman (11Alive)
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp took to social media on Wednesday to remind Georgians that there are still “challenging days ahead” in the fight against coronavirus. “While i’m proud of our swift response and measured steps forward, we cannot grow complacent. This virus is deadly and remains a threat to our great state,” he said.
Athens Banner-Herald
With more in hospital, Kemp says Georgia gaining on COVID-19
By Jeff Amy Associated Press
Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday that Georgia “continues to make solid progress in the fight against COVID-19” even as the number of people hospitalized with the respiratory illness continued to rise. Kemp made the remarks in a recorded video that his office released Wednesday. “Our hospitalizations remain low and surge capacity is high,” the Republican said, referring to the state’s efforts to build temporary hospital beds in multiple locations. Numbers released later Wednesday show that the number of people hospitalized with coronavirus infections rose to 1,124. That’s the highest number since May 12 and a 44% increase since the number of hospitalized people bottomed out on June 7.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated June 24, 3pm)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 2,745 | Deaths confirmed in 140 counties. For 2 deaths, the county is unknown, and for 41 deaths, the residence was determined to be out-of-state. CONFIRMED CASES: 71,095 | A case’s county is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated. Cases have been confirmed in every county. For 1,341 cases, the county is unknown. For 3,299 cases, the residence was determined to be out-of-state.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
College announcements fall along a continuum from mostly online to mostly in person. Some unusual elements: scheduled showers and a primarily freshman campus.
By Lilah Burke
Every week the fall semester gets closer. Thus, each week comes with new announcements about how — and if — campuses are planning to reopen. Many universities are continuing the trend of ending in-person instruction by Thanksgiving and continuing remotely after that time, in addition to forgoing any fall breaks. Many others are continuing to announce hybrid options. While that can mean a range of things, it roughly shakes out to less time and fewer people in class and more coursework done online. As has become clear, online and in-person learning exist on a continuum, and institutions are beginning to plot out where exactly they will fall on that spectrum.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
At One Flagship, Coronavirus Cases Surge Even in the Midst of Summer
By Lindsay Ellis
Fall classes aren’t scheduled to begin until August at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. But officials are already worried about a recent spike in coronavirus cases among students. The president, Robert L. Caslen, attributed the cases — an increase of 79 in eight days — to off-campus gatherings in nearby neighborhoods and bars. “That’s concerning,” he said during a town-hall meeting on Tuesday. “It has our attention.” The university’s flagship campus as of June 21 had counted 204 student cases — a cumulative total going back to March. But in recent days, the count has risen quickly. It was at 125 cases on June 13 and at 174 cases on June 15, Caslen said.
Inside Higher Ed
Report: Gen Z Open to Nontraditional Education
By Madeline St. Amour
Students in Generation Z believe that higher education is important, but many are interested in taking alternative routes to the traditional four-year degree, according to a new study. ECMC Group, a nonprofit focused on student success, partnered with Vice Media to survey 2,200 high schoolers ages 14 to 18 in late February and mid-May. Some of the results and additional resources are on the website QuestionTheQuo.org. More than half of the respondents said they are open to pursuing something other than a four-year degree, and 70 percent want to follow their own educational path. Less than one-quarter said a four-year college is the only path to a decent job.