University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pressure to move Ga. college courses online, but revenue losses could be high
By Eric Stirgus, James Salzer
The University System of Georgia estimates its schools could lose at least $479.3 million in mandatory student fees, housing and dining revenue if it goes all-online this fall, according to a spreadsheet obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through the Georgia Open Records Act. The data comes as some students and faculty pressure administrators to conduct all classes online, or offer that option, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as cases have increased in Georgia.
The Newnan Times-Herald
GEMA helps USG with supplies, reopening plans
The Georgia Emergency Management Agency is helping the University System of Georgia acquire supplies and planning to protect students and staff from COVID-19. With GEMA’s help, the USG has begun distributing additional personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies to its institutions ahead of next month’s return to on-campus instruction, as well as assisting with campus preparedness plans. To ensure all of Georgia’s public universities and colleges are well stocked for the coming academic year, institutions have purchased – and USG has sent – a total of 835,400 masks and 1,161 cases of disinfecting wipes to campuses across the state. USG also has an additional stockpiled of 59,500 masks and 461 cases of wipes.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: More changes as COVID-19 cases rise
By Eric Stirgus
The recent increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, and updated guidelines by public health officials, continues to make Georgia’s colleges and universities pivot their plans for the upcoming fall semester.
The University System of Georgia, after initially saying it would strongly encourage people wear face coverings on its campuses, said earlier this month it would require them in classrooms and other spaces. On Monday, Atlanta’s three Historically Black Colleges and Universities changed its plans concerning in-person instruction on its campuses.
Albany Herald
University professors fear the risks of classroom teaching in pandemic hot spots
By Annie Grayer, CNN
Dr. Joe Gerald will be lecturing students in person this fall. But what he might teach them in his public health course is that being in the classroom during a pandemic is a bad idea. Gerald’s 150-student lecture on US health care at the University of Arizona in Tucson will be split into groups so there will only be about 20 students in the same room as Gerald, but he will still meet with all of them. “My disciplinary knowledge tells me that this a really stupid idea,” said Gerald, a 52-year-old physician and an associate professor of public health policy and management. …Professors at Georgia Tech in Atlanta successfully lobbied the state Board of Regents to require masks while on campus. But Covid-19 cases in Georgia are rising and Gov. Brian Kemp is challenging local mask mandates in cities like Atlanta. Janet Murray, an associate dean for research at Georgia Tech, said she is worried about students.
The Times-Georgian
Fully online classes not an option for UWG students
By Stephanie Allen
University of West Georgia students will not have an opportunity to go fully online when classes resume this fall, despite earlier assurances to the contrary. The planned “dual modality” model of teaching, in which students will divide their lessons between online instruction and in-person lectures, was among the topics discussed during a meeting of the Faculty Senate on Thursday.
Fox28Media
Georgia Southern to spend millions to renovate on-campus housing
by Marah Brock
Georgia Southern University is spending millions to renovate on-campus housing. University officials say construction crews have begun work that will expand and improve on-campus housing options for next year. Joseph E. Kennedy Hall is undergoing a $16.4 million renovation to address HVAC deficiencies and renovate all interior spaces. …The renovations are set to be complete in July 2021 and is set to reopen in August 2021.
WRDW
Face coverings will be required to ride Augusta University shuttles
By Staff
More changes are ahead for Augusta University students this fall. Officials say everyone who rides shuttles will have to wear a mask. Some route changes are being made to reduce overall commute times, limiting potential exposure.
WGAU
UNG plans virtual commencement
Fall classes set to start Aug 17
By Tim Bryant
The University of North Georgia says it will honor spring and summer semester graduates with virtual commencement exercises. UNG says the on-line activities are set for next Monday. …Fall commencement ceremonies are scheduled for the weekend of Dec. 11-13, with details to be announced at a later date.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Fort Valley State University Debuts Two New Degree Programs in School Counselor Education
Fort Valley State University, the historically Black educational institution in Georgia, is offering two new online programs designed to help people advance their careers as a professional school counselor. The master’s degree program in school counselor education online launched this summer. The next cohort will begin in the summer of 2021. An educational specialist degree program with a major in school counselor education will be offered online this fall.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Area’s 10 Largest Business Schools
Ranked by Total enrollment in business school
Locally Researched by: Patsy Conn, Atlanta Business Chronicle
1 Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia …2 Michael J. Coles College of Business at
Kennesaw State University …3 J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University …4 Mike Cottrell College of Business at the University of North Georgia …5 Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Area’s 10 Largest Master’s Business Programs
Ranked by Total master’s business enrollment
Locally Researched by: Patsy Conn, Atlanta Business Chronicle
1 J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University …3 Terry College of Business at
The University of Georgia …4 Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University …5 Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech
The Newnan Times-Herald
UWG partners with Newnan-Coweta Historical Society
The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society (NCHS) recently committed a generous gift to the University of West Georgia to support the Community Archival Program. This partnership of collaborative cultural stewardship, administered through UWG Ingram Library’s Special Collections, includes archival materials and a graduate student stipend for support of the project.
WGAU
Report gives UGA high marks for innovation productivity
Rankings from George W. Bush Institute
By Aaron Hale
When it comes to converting original research into economic impact, the University of Georgia is one of the nation’s most productive large institutions. UGA ranked No. 10 for productivity in generating innovation impact among large research universities, according to The Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities report from the George W. Bush Institute and Opus Faveo Innovation Development. “The COVID-19 crisis has dramatically underscored the importance of great research institutions to America’s well-being and economic future,” the report states, pointing out that universities are playing a key role in defeating the virus. University research and innovation will also need to play an important role as the U.S. tries to rebound economically, the authors argue. As one of the leading universities for bringing new products to market and with over 175 companies built on the university’s research, UGA is focused on making this kind of impact.
WTOC
GSU’s Shooting Sports Education Center reopens
By Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus will be busy in just a few weeks when on-site classes begin for Fall. One popular facility reopened this week. These hard partitions have been here in the range since the shooting sports center opened long before COVID-19. They say they’ve had social distancing and protocols before the pandemic. And now they’re ready to reopen.
CBS8
Event-planning map calculates risk of contracting COVID-19 in your county
Wondering how risky it is to attend an event? It all depends on data, where the event is and how many people will be there. Now, you can calculate the risk everyday.
Author: Allison Royal
SAN DIEGO — Researchers at Georgia Tech have released a geographic COVID-19 risk calculator for events in different counties in the United States, including in San Diego County. “The risk is not necessarily the same wherever you are,” said Clio Andris, an Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech who worked on the project. “The risk isn’t homogenous, so showing the risk in spatial variation is very important.” …Andris is on a team with three graduate students lead by Dr. Joshua Weitz. The team does research on mapping and spacial analysis, so taking in data with a spacial location attached to it to study patterns. The team started working on the project in January when they wondered about the probability someone at a small event or concert would have COVID-19.
The Augusta Chronicle
Masks should still be worn even as temperatures increase, expert says
By Jozsef Papp
As temperatures in the Augusta area continue to rise, one thing people might not want to do is wear a mask outside. Wearing a mask, along with social distancing, are some of the most important things to do to stop the spread of coronavirus. According to the CDC, it is not clear whether weather and temperature affects the spread of coronavirus, like other viruses. Dr. Rodger MacArthur, Augusta University Health infectious disease expert, said there is no substantial harm likelihood for adults when wearing a mask. He said new data suggest that cloth masks are as effective, if not more effective, than medical masks at reducing the distance aerosol can travel, and tend to be more comfortable. He said people should be using comfortable masks when they have to be outside in the heat, except when they can socially distance themselves from others.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated July 23, 3 p.m.)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 3,360 | Deaths have been confirmed in 147 counties. County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
CONFIRMED CASES: 156,588 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
As more colleges announce online fall terms, some are also reducing tuition rates. Wealthy families are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of those discounts.
By Lilah Burke
This spring was characterized by a quick, and sometimes panicked, rush to online learning for most colleges and universities. Though students demanded housing and tuition rebates, only some institutions coughed up the refunds, with relatively few rebating tuition. Now, after April’s wave of announcements from college administrations saying fall terms will be in person and on campus, the tide is slowly beginning to reverse. Several prominent traditional institutions, such as Spelman College, the University of Delaware, Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, have announced they will be offering undergraduate instruction primarily online this fall. But this time, many have also announced they will be discounting tuition or slashing fees for those studying at home.
Inside Higher Ed
Debate Over Loan Payments in Coronavirus Package
Senate Republicans are still crafting their proposal for the upcoming coronavirus relief package, but partisan divisions are already emerging, including over whether to require student loan borrowers to begin making payments again.
By Kery Murakami
A key sticking point emerged between key Democrats and Republicans Thursday over what to do about 43 million Americans who have been excused from making student loan payments during the pandemic, even as Republican senators and the Trump administration continued trying to craft the details of their proposal for the next coronavirus relief package. Democrats in both the House and the Senate, including Senator Patty Murray, slammed a proposal by Lamar Alexander, the Senate’s top Republican on education, that would continue to spare only those with no incomes from making payments.
Inside Higher Ed
Minority, Low-Income Freshmen Not Filling Out FAFSA
Study by EAB of 500,000 admitted students to four-year colleges raises equity concerns on coming academic year.
By Scott Jaschik
A study by EAB of 500,000 admitted students to four-year colleges for the fall has uncovered concerns about equity in the freshman class. Low-income students and minority students are not putting down deposits at the same rates as previous years, and those that are depositing are not submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at the same rates as previous years. The figures raise real concerns in what is already a difficult year in the admissions profession.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
West Virginia U to Fine Students Who Don’t Get Tested for COVID-19
West Virginia University will fine students who don’t get tested for COVID-19 and take disciplinary action against employees who don’t get the test. “You have told us that you want to be on campus, and that means that we all must take personal responsibility and be accountable for maintaining the health and safety of our community,” wrote G. Corey Farris, dean of Students, in a letter to the campus community. The university said it will provide a free test to all students and employees who are returning to campuses and will provide continued testing throughout the year. Students who are taking classes exclusively online will not be required to be tested. “For students, failure to take the COVID-19 test will result in a $250 fee being added to a student’s account,” the university said on its website.