University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Federal agencies, Georgia State crack down on COVID-19 scams
By Nedra Rhone and Eric Stirgus
As COVID-19 sent the country into lockdown mode, toilet paper wasn’t the only item coveted by anxious Americans. Vying for the top spot on Amazon’s bestseller list in the health and household category was elderberry gummies with vitamin C and zinc. Elderberry has been marketed as an immune-boosting supplement that may help prevent cold and flu symptoms, but there was no data to suggest that it could fight COVID-19. In the months that followed, Georgians would reach for everything from poisonous disinfecting agents and toxic pesticides to vitamin supplements in misguided attempts to combat the virus. The threat of illness or death hasn’t stopped the proliferation of services or products being pushed as cures or prevention for COVID-19. Since March, more than a half dozen Georgia-based companies have been warned by the Food and Drug Administration or Federal Trade Commission to stop making false claims about products related to the virus. From April through late July, more than 900 fraudulent items from around the country, including fake test kits, cures and counterfeit PPE, along with proceeds of more than $7 million, were seized by federal agencies, according to data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Operation Stolen Promise, an effort to protect citizens from COVID-19-related criminal activity and fraud. Georgia State University recently received funding to help track similar sales of fraudulent items on the dark web.
Growing America
ABAC Advancement Office Creates New Avenues of Outreach During Pandemic
From tea parties to trivia, the Office of College Advancement at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College utilized a veritable plethora of creative approaches to reach its constituents this summer as the coronavirus pandemic cut a swathe through the United States and left usual sure-fire routes of communication closed. “We have tried to be as creative as possible,” Dr. Deidre Martin, ABAC’s Chief Development Officer, said. “Our goal is to stay in touch with donors and alumni. Since we can’t visit folks the way we normally would, we have to tell the story of ABAC in different ways. “Everything we do is tied to engagement and outreach and making these people feel good about ABAC and what ABAC is doing.” Amanda Stitt Moore, Leadership Annual Giving Officer, served as the point person on a “Stay at Home Tea Party” to support the Fulwood Garden Center, which is now a part of ABAC.
Athens CEO
UGA Adjusts to COVID-19 with HEPA Units, Quick Stop Meal Stations, Bike Share Program
Leigh Beeson
Purchasing 150,000 face coverings for students, faculty and staff. Developing free surveillance testing for the campus community. And installing thousands of new sanitation stations with disinfectant wipes in locations campus-wide. These are just a few of the ways the University of Georgia prepared for the arrival of students on Aug. 20. Staff across campus have worked tirelessly so students can still have a real college experience while making the necessary adjustments to safeguard students, faculty and staff during the global pandemic. In total, UGA has invested almost $6 million in preventive measures. And the university continues to look for ways to adapt and improve safety and the campus experience.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
University of Georgia to conduct ’randomized’ COVID-19 tests
By Eric Stirgus
The University of Georgia is shifting its COVID-19 testing strategy to a “randomized” process some say lacks specifics and worry will result in less testing. Under the new plan, students and employees would be invited to volunteer for surveillance testing in what UGA called a “stratified, random sampling procedure” to identify locations where COVID-19 cases are high on or off-campus, the university said in a message Wednesday. Surveillance testing is done to identify whether someone is asymptomatic, or doesn’t have COVID-19 symptoms. Students who are symptomatic should contact the University Health Center for a test.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
A ‘Palpable Sense of Fear’ as Covid Cases Soar at a College in Rural Georgia
By Michael Vasquez
Classes at Georgia College and State University keep getting smaller. The picturesque campus in tiny Milledgeville (population 18,704), is overrun with the spread of coronavirus. Day after day, fewer students show up in person. Those absent students re-emerge virtually — attending class online from quarantine, either because they tested positive for Covid-19, or came into contact with someone who did. “It’s an absolutely surreal mixture of joy and terror,” said Meridith Styer, an assistant professor of rhetoric at the college. “The students are exuberant and happy to be there, and so socially starved, like all of us. But there’s also a real palpable sense of fear.” Faculty told The Chronicle that they teach courses where some 20 or 30 percent of their students are now in quarantine. Georgia College, which enrolls about 6,800 students, has recorded more than 470 student cases of Covid-19. About 7 percent of students at the public liberal-arts college have tested positive for the virus. And that happened after only two weeks of classes.
Inside Higher Ed
More than 7 percent of students on Georgia College’s campus have had COVID-19, and up to a third may be in quarantine. In-person classes continue nonetheless.
By Lilah Burke
On Thursday, Georgia College and State University reported that testing had revealed 47 new student cases of the coronavirus since the day before. That was actually a good number for the public liberal arts college: it had reported 64 and 79 cases the previous two days. In total, Georgia College has had 474 COVID-19 cases among students this August. Of course, there are institutions with higher case counts — the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Alabama both have had over 560. But those institutions enroll more than 30,000 students. Georgia College enrolls only about 7,000.
Yahoo News
Struggling CBD farmers hopeful after research finds CBD may help with COVID-19 side effects
NewsChannel 5 Nashville WTVF
Researchers at Augusta University in Georgia have found new evidence that cannabis-derived CBD may help those suffering from severe lung inflammation that occurs in more serious cases of COVID-19.
Marietta Daily Journal
Group upset with KSU president over layoffs
Ryan Kolakowski
Two months after a Kennesaw State labor union called on university leadership to avoid layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic, the university has cut workers to slash its payroll and make up for a budget shortfall. “KSU had to take the difficult but necessary step to reduce a limited number of staff positions as a part of the restructuring of operations around campus,” said university spokesperson Tammy Demel. “No faculty positions have been included in these restructurings.” According to officials from the KSU chapter of United Campus Workers of Georgia, the university “quietly laid off 24 workers” on Aug. 10. Demel did not confirm how many employees KSU fired. The round of employee cuts comes after the union called on KSU President Pamela Whitten not to lay off any workers. In June, union members delivered a petition calling for no layoffs to Whitten’s office in Kennesaw Hall.
Douglas Now
SGSC RECEIVES 2020-2021 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE INITIATIVE GRANT
South Georgia State College (SGSC) has received a $4,000 award from the University System of Georgia (USG) to fund the 2020-2021 African-American Male Initiative program for currently enrolled African American male students. SGSC’s goal for the new academic year is to provide AAMI participants with academic skills and enrichment, support services, mentoring and leadership development.
Fetch Your News
New UNG, Blue Ridge offers new opportunities
by Susan Kirkland
The UNG, Blue Ridge campus did more than open the doors to a new campus, but new opportunities to the residents in the town and in Fannin County. The campus grew in size, from 2,800-square-foot to 30,000-square-foot, but it also grew in other areas. The Blue Ridge campus of North Georgia University went from 18 students in the fall of 2015 to 232 students at the new campus, which opened Monday with classes. A virtual tour and event will be live-streamed on Facebook on Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. and the school will soon offer in-person tours by appointment in the future. They also went from 25 classes last spring at the former campus to 38 this semester. “We are so excited to be in this new campus and having students back face-t0-face,” said Sandra Ott, Director of the Blue Ridge campus, adding they were adhering to safety guidelines.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Report: Georgia Southern suspends football practices
By AJC Sports
Georgia Southern has suspended football practice due to a rise in COVID-19 infections among the team, it was first reported by WJCL in Savannah.
Columbus CEO
CSU Announces Winner of Inaugural Scholarship
Columbus State University announced today the winner of the inaugural Ed Helton Servant Leadership Scholarship. The award was presented virtually to Carter Whiddon during The Forum, which is being hosted virtually by The Leadership Institute at CSU this week. The Leadership Institute and CSU established the scholarship in honor of the leadership and guidance from CSU Chief of Staff Ed Helton over the years, as well as his service and dedication to The Forum. “Carter’s friendly demeanor and willingness to work late into the night are among the many reasons he is so deserving of the honor,” said Jessica Drake, CSU’s Director of Marketing and The Forum. “We are delighted to continue Ed’s legacy of leadership and dedication through this scholarship.” Whiddon is a senior in CSU’s Servant Leadership program.
Patch
Four undergraduate nursing students at GSU were each awarded a $2,500 Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Disease (ROAD) Foundation Scholarships.
Four undergraduate nursing students at Georgia Southern University were each awarded a $2,500 Rockin’ Out Alzheimer’s Disease (ROAD) Foundation scholarship to assist with academic expenses, including tuition, fees and books, among other items. “The scholarships provide significant financial support,” said Melissa Garno, Ed.D, associate chair of the School of Nursing. “Nursing programs are inherently expensive with costly books, uniforms, lab and liability fees, and commuting expenses. In addition, the rigor of the nursing program often requires students who have jobs to reduce their work hours to devote to studies and clinicals.”
The George-Anne
Georgia Southern University offers many helpful resources to students throughout their time here. The following is a list of free resources offered on campus and how to go about taking advantage of them.
Writing Center … Tutoring Services … Student Support Services …Office of Financial Aid …Campus Recreation and Intramurals …Office of Career and Professional Development …Counseling Center
Georgia Southern offers 16 free visits per year with a licensed psychologist. They are located on Forest …
Joining an on campus organization can help you get more acquainted with the college as well as other people and it looks good on a resume.
WALB
Cotton, peanut researchers announce ‘Virtual Field Day’
By Dave Miller
The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission and the University of Georgia Extension Cotton and Peanut Teams, will co-sponsor a virtual research field day on Sept. 9. The virtual field day will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. Re-certification credits for pesticide applicators and CCA will be available pending approval. The field day is a free event, but attendees are encouraged to preregister HERE. The purpose of the tour is to showcase current research to producers and industry leaders, which is funded by both commissions, organizers said. The sponsors’ goal is to provide an educational opportunity for cotton and peanut farmers and offer them the chance to present questions directly to the researchers and express opinions and concerns pertinent to the production of their crops.
Other News:
WSB
CDC director clarifies guidelines on COVID-19 testing after health experts question change
By: Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
UPDATE: Dr. Robert R. Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offered clarification regarding the new COVID-19 testing guidelines released by the agency Wednesday that raised questions in the health care community. “Testing is meant to drive actions and achieve specific public health objectives. Everyone who needs a Covid-19 test, can get a test. Everyone who wants a test does not necessarily need a test; the key is to engage the needed public health community in the decision with the appropriate follow-up action,” Redfield said Thursday morning in a statement to the media. The New York Times reports that the new guidelines remain posted on the CDC’s website and are unlikely to be changed.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Aug. 27, 3 p.m.)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 5,393 | 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: 263,074 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Fifty positive COVID-19 cases, or 100? Meeting 80 percent of quarantine capacity, or having more than 10 sick employees? Some colleges are publishing “triggers” that would lead them to consider closing; others refuse to boil decision making down to a few numbers.
By Elizabeth Redden
As colleges bring students back to campuses for the fall semester, questions are increasingly being raised about what it would take to send them home or revert to online instruction in the event of an outbreak of COVID-19. New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo drew a red line for New York State colleges on Thursday, announcing, “If colleges have 100 cases or if the number of cases equal 5 percent of their population or more, they must go to remote learning for two weeks, at which time we will reassess the situation.” In other states without such guidance, faculty and students are increasingly calling on colleges to release information on the criteria they’re using to decide whether and when a shift from in-person to remote operations is necessary.
Inside Higher Ed
Federal loan disbursements were down across the board this summer, but for-profit colleges were hit particularly hard.
By Madeline St. Amour
A new report from the Century Foundation shows that many colleges hit hard times over the summer. The foundation analyzed data on federal student loans that were disbursed between April 1 and June 30. All higher education sectors — public, for-profit and private nonprofit — saw large decreases in student loan volume compared to the previous summer. …Student loan volume across higher education decreased 43 percent this summer compared to the summer of 2019, according to the report. For-profit institutions saw the biggest drop at 46 percent, and public institutions saw the smallest drop at 40 percent.