University System News:
Times-Georgian
UWG’s self-reporting system helps monitor virus
By Stephanie Allen
With class at the University of West Georgia being open for nearly a week, the university has a self-reporting system in place for handling the COVID-19 virus. The system is for both employees and students. For employees, every day they have to self-report and fill out the “eTracks Application” and respond to a question regarding whether they are experiencing symptoms due to COVID-19, according to an open records request made by the Times-Georgian and fulfilled by the university. In addition to asking about symptoms, the questionnaire also asks an employee if they will be on campus that day; if they have a temperature at or above 100.4 without fever-reduction medication; if they have traveled outside the United States in the last 14 days, and if so whether they have come within six feet of an individual for more than 15 minutes within two days of them getting symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19. If the answer to any of the questions is yes, the employee is instructed to not come to campus.
The Augusta Chronicle
Georgia’s college fintech curriculum expanding into high schools
By Dave Williams, Capitol Beat News Service
A new partnership between the state agencies in charge of higher education and K-12 will expand the University System of Georgia’s fintech curriculum into high schools. The new program will build on the success of the Georgia FinTech Academy, which has provided at least one fintech course to more than 1,900 college students at 23 of the university system’s 26 institutions since it was launched two years ago. Those college courses will now be available to students attending Georgia’s 481 public high schools, allowing them to earn college credit and credentials valued by employers in a fast-growing industry. “Fintech is a high-demand career field, and we are committed to preparing the state’s workforce to meet that demand,” said Tristan Denley, the university system’s executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. …The new partnership between the university system, the Georgia Department of Education and the American Transaction Processors Coalition is aimed at maintaining that momentum.
WRBL
Columbus State opens fall semester with record enrollment, more students living on campus
by: Chuck Williams
Columbus State President Chris Markwood was not sure what to expect this month as students returned to campus for the first time since March. What he didn’t expect was record enrollment. There are 8,689 students right now,. That number will likely fall in the next couple of weeks. But it’s 600 more students than this time last year. And it’s 150 more students than the record on the Fall 2017. Markwood can’t point to any one reason.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As COVID-19 cases spike, Georgia College warns parties could bring suspensions
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
President tells students: ‘Your individual decisions will have a tremendous impact on our entire community’
Today, Steve M. Dorman, the president of Georgia College in Milledgeville, sent a strong message to students in the wake of a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. He cautioned they could face consequences, including suspension, if they attend house parties or other large gatherings that could spread the virus. Today, the college reported 69 new COVID cases among students, bringing the total to 150 new student cases since the last time it was reported on Friday afternoon, according to a spokesman. The college, which last year enrolled about 7,000 students, has recorded a total of 373 cases since it began keeping track in mid-June. Georgia College is one of the few University System of Georgia institutions to post daily numbers on how many students and employees have tested positive for COVID-19. …Here is the Georgia College president’s letter:
Athens CEO
Learning Environment Looks Different at UGA this Semester
Heather Skyler
Classes kicked off at the University of Georgia Aug. 20 after months of preparation to ensure students will have a safe and comfortable learning environment. Faculty members and administrators have spent the summer getting ready for students to return to classrooms—in person, online or a hybrid mix. Instruction at UGA looks a little different this year due to the continued impact of the global pandemic. These classrooms – complete with social distancing guidance, new technology and Plexiglas barriers – are getting their first use. So far, things are going better than expected, according to a few professors who taught on the first day.
The George-Anne
Georgia Southern now releasing COVID-19 numbers to public
Andy Cole, Editor-in-Chief
After pleas from campus community members, Georgia Southern officials began releasing self reported and university confirmed COVID-19 numbers to the public on Monday. The numbers, broken up by student or employee, campus location and day can be found on GS’ website here. “The information will be updated weekly on Mondays at noon,” said Jennifer Wise, director of communications. “While all positive cases from the previous week will be reported, not all of the individuals who tested positive would have been on campus upon their diagnosis or during their illness.” This new dashboard comes as a relief to many campus community members who felt GS wasn’t as transparent about the numbers as they should’ve been.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Colleges push for more testing as COVID-19 cases rise on campuses
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s public universities stepped up their COVID-19 testing efforts Monday as some schools reported their highest numbers yet of students diagnosed with the disease. Georgia College, in Milledgeville, on Monday reported 69 new student cases, tied for its highest single-day total since it began tracking the data in June. Georgia Tech on Sunday reported 51 new student cases, its highest single-day total since it began tracking the data in April. Both schools, and others in Georgia, have noted the totals have included people who were off-campus when diagnosed. Georgia College officials said the numbers include tests from previous days in which the results had not been reported.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC College COVID Tracker: Ga. Southern reports 71 cases in last week
By Eric Stirgus
Here are the latest developments of COVID-19 cases on metro Atlanta’s college campuses and in other parts of Georgia:
Georgia Southern
The university had 71 confirmed cases during a seven-day stretch that ended Sunday, according to its website. It is the first set of numbers Georgia Southern has released online about confirmed COVID-19 cases. Sixty-two of those cases were students. Most of the cases were self-reported. All but 10 of the cases were students and employees on the Statesboro campus.
Georgia Tech …
Inside Higher Ed
COVID-19 Roundup: Cases Spike, and Students Punished
Zoom’s crash wasn’t the only campus COVID-19 development Monday. Cases spiked in North Carolina and Alabama, and more institutions punished students for violating campus rules.
By Doug Lederman
Another week in the strange world we’ve all become accustomed to got off to a rough start Monday with the crashing of Zoom, the videoconferencing platform on which many colleges have come to depend for instruction. The blackout came on what was the first day of classes at many institutions, as our Madeline St. Amour documents elsewhere on Inside Higher Ed today. That was far from the only major development, though, as COVID-19 cases spiked in Alabama and North Carolina, and Ohio State University and other institutions punished students for violating campus rules regarding social distancing and partying. … Meanwhile, institutions like the University of Louisville and Georgia Southern University said they would have between a quarter and a third of their normal number of fans in their football stadiums this fall.
The Signal
Despite campus changes tuition and fees remain the same
By Olivia Nash
Despite Gov. Brian Kemp’s efforts to reopen the state, the fall semester will be a far cry from business as usual. While many amenities on campus will finally open after several months of quarantine, including the library and the recreation center, dormitories have reduced their occupancy and many classes have switched to either fully online or hybrid models, where the class will meet in-person once a week. But, to many students, the costs don’t reflect the times. Mandatory fees are still to be paid in full as the price of tuition has not changed at all since before the pandemic.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Appeals court rules Augusta University can build hospital
Augusta University may finally get to build a 100-bed hospital in the rapidly growing suburb of Columbia County
Augusta University may finally get to build a 100-bed hospital in the rapidly growing suburb of Columbia County after the Georgia Court of Appeals rejected a protest from the competing Doctors Hospital of Augusta. The court ruled Thursday that the state Department of Community Health correctly awarded a certificate of need to the Georgia Board of Regents to build the hospital in 2014. The ruling came after Doctors Hospital won an appeal of a previous Court of Appeals ruling to the state Supreme Court, which ordered the lower court to rehear the case.
Newnan CEO
Juanita Powell Baranco, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Baran Company, LLC, received the 12th Annual Blanchard Award for Outstanding Stewardship and Ethics in Business Monday afternoon at The Forum, hosted by the Leadership Institute at Columbus State University. The Blanchard Award recipient is selected annually by committee and presented during The Forum each year.
…Established in 2009, The Blanchard Award for Outstanding Stewardship and Ethics in Business recognizes outstanding stewards of business ethics and corporate responsibility for success in these areas. The award’s symbol—and Georgia state tree—the live oak, is a perennial and universal symbol of rectitude. Past recipients include: · James H. Blanchard, 2009 …· Henry “Hank” M. Huckaby, 2016
Savannah Business Journal
Georgia Southern’s Business Innovation Group receives $300K to help regional economic development
Through the CARES Act and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group (BIG) has received $300,000 in grant funding to expand its services to the region in an effort to help communities and businesses respond to and recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “This will allow us to help businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the entire state ideally get access to the skills, knowledge and services that Georgia Southern has to offer,” said Dominique Halaby, DPA, director of BIG. Over the next two years, BIG will use these funds to expand their services through the Georgia Enterprise Network for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GENIE).
Growing America
ABAC Welcomes 13 New Faculty Members for Start of Fall Semester
Thirteen new faculty members joined the ranks of the teaching professionals at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College for the recent start of the fall semester.
Other News:
WTOC
Georgia no longer worst among states for virus transmission
By Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Some Georgians are in line for more unemployment assistance as the state has given up the dubious title of being the state where COVID-19 is spreading the fastest. Georgia dipped below Mississippi in recent days for rate of spread according to a 14-day average kept by the Associated Press. The coronavirus is still spreading rapidly in the Peach State compared to other places, though.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia cities, counties weigh mask mandates with more leeway from governor
By Beau Evans, Capitol Beat News Service
The evolving political back-and-forth on whether Georgia should require facial coverings in public entered a new phase this past week as Gov. Brian Kemp allowed cities and counties to mandate mask-wearing in many areas except homes and businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Several cities have joined Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah in requiring masks following Kemp’s decision last week to drop a lawsuit against Atlanta officials over masking rules and a rollback of shelter-in-place requirements. Cities including Columbus, Milledgeville, Warner Robins, Smyrna and Sandy Springs passed measures in recent days requiring masks on city-owned public property, which squares with Kemp’s latest executive order.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: COVID-19 cases rise; Morehouse donor’s legal woes
By Eric Stirgus
The number of confirmed COVID-19 rose significantly on many Georgia college campuses this week as more schools began fall semester classes. Surprise, some sarcastically said who argued against holding in-person classes. What troubled many was the disregard many students had for social distancing recommendations, such as gathering in large groups without wearing a face mask. Here’s the latest on this and other matters on our latest AJC On Campus roundup.
The COVID-19 numbers
“The students that are going back to campus right now — they’ve got to stop having these large, isolated off-campus or on-campus gatherings that are helping create the spread. We’ve got to also have a discussion about, if those things are happening, sending those kids back home to their communities is just going to further the spread.” Those words came from Gov. Brian Kemp during a radio interview this week.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Study suggests your nose is the key entry point for the coronavirus
By Nancy Clanton
Johns Hopkins scientists say this could be why COVID-19 causes you to lose your sense of smell
A new study conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University adds to the growing evidence that your nose is the key entry point for the coronavirus. The scientists reported the “hook” of cells used by SARS-CoV-2 to latch onto and infect cells is found up to 700 times more in cells lining the inside of the upper part of the nose than in the cells lining the rest of the nose and the windpipe. These supporting cells are necessary for the function and development of odor-sensing cells. The findings “could advance the search for the best target for topical or local antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19,” the scientists wrote. It also offers further clues into why people with the virus sometimes lose their sense of smell.
The Augusta Chronicle
Reports of Georgians using disinfectants for COVID-19 prompts governor warning
By Beau Evans, Capitol Beat News Service
Gov. Brian Kemp’s office is warning Georgians not to ingest the bleach-like chemical chlorine dioxide following reports of people using the cleaning substance in an attempt to treat COVID-19. The warning came Monday after state public-health officials received reports of people ingesting diluted chlorine dioxide, the active ingredient in certain disinfectants for drinking-water treatment and other industrial uses. The governor’s office did not say how many people had reportedly ingested bleach-like substances but stressed that chlorine dioxide products “are not meant to be swallowed by people.” “Chlorine dioxide products have not been shown to be safe and effective for any use including treatment of COVID-19,” said a statement from the governor’s office. Kemp’s office added the substances “can have severe adverse health effects, including death.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Aug. 24, 3 p.m.)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 5,156 | Deaths have been confirmed in 157 counties. County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
CONFIRMED CASES: 256,253 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Report Sees Shift to Public Colleges During Pandemic
By Scott Jaschik
A new report by Eduventures — consistent with prior reports — finds that public institutions are gaining students during the coronavirus. The report shows a 6 percent increase in students choosing to attend an in-state public institution. Out-of-state public institutions were down by 5 percent in student choices. And private institutions were down by 3 percent.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Cuts loom for programs that serve and represent marginalized groups. The academy will be forever altered.
By Johnathan Charles Flowers
Whatever form the university takes post-pandemic, it will be more white, more male, more straight, more monied, and less accessible to people with disabilities than it was before the pandemic. To understand this future, we must look at the past. A 2019 study covering the period from 2013 to 2017 found “largely minimal” gains made in the diversification of faculty across academe, with doctorate-granting institutions faring particularly poorly. During this period, at doctorate-granting institutions, the percentage of Black faculty barely budged. According to a 2016 study from the TIAA Institute, while the total number of people of color and white women employed as faculty increased from 1993 to 2013, much of that increase was in adjunct and part time positions. “Just as the doors of academe have been opened more widely than heretofore to marginalized groups, the opportunity structure for academic careers has been turned on its head,” the authors wrote.
Inside Higher Ed
What Happens if Zoom Goes Down?
A five-hour disruption raises hackles and questions about contingency planning for technical problems in the age of social distancing. Said one university administrator, “2020 is a year of whatever can go wrong, has.”
By Madeline St. Amour
Zoom went down Monday morning — the first day of classes at many colleges across the country.
News of the outage of the popular web conference platform made the rounds on Twitter, among both frustrated students and faculty members. The platform is one of the most widely used for synchronous online courses, which is the main mode of instruction for many institutions this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The frenzy over the disruption lasted only about five hours. The outage was first reported on Zoom’s website at 8:51 a.m. Eastern time. By 1:10 p.m., the issue was resolved. Still, some faculty canceled classes because of the outage or switched to different platforms A company spokesperson did not explain what caused the outage, but provided the following statement: “We have resolved an issue that caused some users to be unable to start and join Zoom Meetings and Webinars or manage aspects of their account on the Zoom website. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.”
Inside Higher Ed
Ed Dept. Issues Final Distance Learning Rule
By Kery Murakami
The U.S. Department of Education has released its final rule on distance learning, which it said would modernize regulations. “The Department’s regulations regarding distance learning had not kept pace with advances in technology and they created tremendous uncertainty for institutions about what kinds of innovations were permissible, including innovations in team-approaches to instruction,” said a fact sheet about the rule, which will not go into effect until July 1, 2021. The product of months of negotiations by a panel of experts, the final rule would among other things allow more flexibility to “emphasize demonstration of learning rather than seat time when measuring student outcomes,” the fact sheet said. It was praised by Steve Gunderson, president of the for-profit college industry group Career Education Colleges and Universities. “This is a huge victory for veterans and others who have learned career skills during an earlier period of their life and now want to convert such knowledge into a recognized credential,” he said. While the department in March granted temporary waivers to give colleges more regulatory flexibility as they were forced by the pandemic to move classes online, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the new rule goes further.