University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State University’s president announces departure
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia State University President Mark Becker announced Tuesday he’s leaving the position in June after more than a decade in the job of leading the school, which has grown under his tenure into having the largest enrollment of any university in the state. Becker said he announced his plans now to give the Georgia Board of Regents ample time to conduct a search for his replacement. Becker, Georgia State’s president for the past 12 years, plans to take an educational leave following his presidency to conduct research and write.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia State University President Mark Becker to leave in 2021
By Eric Mandel – Director of Digital Content
Georgia’s largest university is in search of a new leader. Georgia State University said Tuesday that Mark Becker, who led the school through its largest period of growth and development, plans to leave his role as president at the end of June 2021. Becker, who has spent 12 years in the position, plans to take an “educational leave” to conduct research and write, the school said in a news release. The University System of Georgia will conduct a national search for Becker’s successor, and it expects to make an appointment to start in July of 2021.
Savannah Morning News
Chancellor Wrigley defends reopening Georgia university campuses during pandemic
By Dave Williams, Capitol Beat News Service
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley Tuesday defended his decision to bring students back to the system’s 26 campuses this semester for in-person classes. While some campuses – notably the University of Georgia – have reported large numbers of new coronavirus cases, most were mild or without symptoms, Wrigley told members of the system’s Board of Regents. Those new cases have started to come down in recent days, he said. “We said all summer this would be different,” Wrigley said of reopening public university campuses across Georgia. “It is challenging … [but] we have become fluent in the language of the pandemic.” Wrigley blamed the increase in new COVID-19 cases on large off-campus gatherings of students. A video of a packed gathering of University of North Georgia students in Dahlonega last month at a party the day before school started went viral. Since the early days of the semester, students have shown great leadership tamping down those kinds of gatherings and following other safety guidelines including wearing masks, the chancellor said.
Statesboro Herald
GS sees huge drop in COVID cases
Jim Healy/staff
After recording at least 360 cases of COVID-19 in each of the previous two weeks, Georgia Southern University experienced a significant decline in the number of cases last week, reporting 95 new cases on Monday. Georgia Southern reported 508 cases for the week of Aug. 24–30 and 363 for Aug. 31–Sept. 6, so the 95 coronavirus cases reported Monday for Sept. 7–13 represent a 74% drop from the previous week and an 81% drop from the cases reported Aug. 31. In a note released Monday on its COVID-19 website, the university wrote: “The report shows a second consecutive week of decline in confirmed and self-reported cases after completion of the fourth full week of classes on our campuses. … Though we are pleased that last week’s numbers indicate effectiveness in protecting our campus classrooms, offices, and communities, we must remain vigilant with our adherence to public health guidelines.”
Gwinnett Daily Post
By Curt Yeomans
Georgia Gwinnett College remains the most ethnically diverse regional college in the south, according to a new ranking from U.S. News and World Report. The magazine released its 2021 college and university rankings on Monday, and the top ranking in diversity for GGC marks the seventh consecutive year that it has held the No. 1 spot, according to officials at the school. “GGC is proud to offer a vibrant environment where our diverse student body learns and grows within a campus community respectful of different ethnicities, cultures and beliefs,” GGC President Jann L. Joseph said. “Diversity defines a key strength of the Gwinnett community and Atlanta region.”
Fun 101.1
GORDON STATE RANKED AMONG TOP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Gordon State College is one of three University System of Georgia institutions ranked in the Top Public Schools in the Regional Colleges South category, according to the 2021 edition of the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges list. Gordon ranked No. 18 in Top Public Schools in the Regional Colleges South category, a tie with University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The rankings, which were released Monday, reveal the top colleges in the country for 2021. Middle Georgia State University ranked No. 14 (tie) and Georgia Gwinnett College fared at No. 20. The same report ranked Gordon State College No. 61, also tied with University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, in the overall Best Regional Colleges South category. Gordon was one of eight Georgia institutions and one of three USG schools ranked in the best regional colleges category. Middle Georgia State tied for No. 50 and Georgia Gwinnett tied for No. 66.
WGAU
UNG ascends in rankings of public colleges, universities
From 16 last year to 15 this year
By Tim Bryant
The University of North Georgia is ranked 15th among public regional universities in the South on the U.S. News and World Report Magazine rankings of best colleges and universities. UNG climbs one spot from last year.
From the UNG website…
“Our continued ascent in national rankings highlights the dedication of our faculty and staff and the success of our outstanding students,” President Bonita C. Jacobs said. “UNG strives to prepare students to be leaders in an increasingly complex and diverse world, and our strong reputation for offering a high-quality education and experience at an affordable price adds value to their degrees.”
Patch
Detailing the number of new nationally certified scholars
In July, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) released a report detailing the number of new nationally certified school psychologists (NCSP) in the nation. Georgia Southern University proved to not only be the top producer of nationally certified graduates in the state, but also outnumbered all neighboring states in the southeastern U.S. In one year of data collection, from June 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, Georgia Southern’s Ed.S. in School Psychology program saw 16 alumni earn NCSP status, far outpacing competing state universities.
Patch
Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation Receives Student Endowment, Dedicates Presentation Room
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) Foundation will receive a $50,000 endowment with additional funds from GGC President Jann L. Joseph.
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) Foundation will receive a $50,000 endowment with additional funds from GGC President Jann L. Joseph and her family. The endowment will be used to create student scholarships for eligible full-time GGC social sciences students. The fund, called The Joseph Family Scholarship in memory of Dr. Edwin Joseph, recognizes Joseph’s late husband, who succumbed to cancer in 2018.
WGAU
UNG gets grant to help black students graduate
University of North Ga is matching $13,562 grant
By Tim Bryant
The University of North Georgia gets a grant from the University System of Georgia, more than $13,000 that will be used to increase the graduation rates of black students at UNG.
From Clark Leonard, UNG…
UNG is matching the $13,562.15 African-American Male Initiative award from the USG with $14,136.60 of its own funds. The program will match incoming students with peer mentors who are overseen by faculty and staff mentors.
Patch
Georgia Southern University Associate Professor of Instructional Technology Mete Akcaoglu, Ph.D., now helps students achieve.
Growing up in Turkey, Georgia Southern University Associate Professor of Instructional Technology Mete Akcaoglu, Ph.D., was intrigued by video games but was only able to toy with the simple software of a friend’s 8-bit home computer. Now, with the recent procurement of an almost $300,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, he’s helping local students get access to game-based computer design instruction for career achievement. …The NSF’s Computer Science for All program (CSforAll) awarded the funds for Akcaoglu’s grant proposal, “Developing and Piloting a Game Design-Based Computer Science Curriculum,” or “Project GAME,” which outlines the delivery of computer science education using game-development software into four regional middle schools in Southeast Georgia.
Growing America
UGA Researchers Seek Targets to Mitigate Fescue Toxicity in Cattle
A $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow researchers at the University of Georgia to examine the minutiae of cattle and fescue microbiome interaction to find targets that will help mitigate the effects of fescue toxicosis, a forage-related condition that costs the U.S. beef industry more than $1 billion each year. Fescue toxicosis, which has long been a problem for U.S. and South American cattle producers, can cause digestive and reproductive problems including reduced calving rates, reduced weight gain, and foot and leg problems in cattle. The grant project, funded by the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, is being led by College of Veterinary Medicine Professor Nikolay Filipov in collaboration with College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Associate Professor Todd Callaway of the Department of Animal and Dairy Science and Professor Nicholas Hill of the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, in partnership with Associate Professor Garrett Suen of the University of Wisconsin and Professor Dean Jones of Emory University.
WSAV
Savannah State students win global competition with their honeybee-saving charity
by: Ashley Williams
Two Savannah State University students recently took the top prize in a global contest. Master of Business Administration candidate Sade Shofidiya and senior Karen Perez beat out 33 teams from 24 countries to win the World Trade Centers Association’s 2020 Peace Through Trade Competition. Shofidiya formerly interned at the World Trade Center Savannah, while Perez will be an intern there during the fall. The two students won for submitting their women-led project, Foster Beelief.
Patch
Georgia Southern Launches Partnership With Matthew Reardon Center For Autism Early Learning Academy
The Georgia Southern University College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS) is teaming up with the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism.
The Georgia Southern University College of Behavioral and Social Sciences (CBSS) is teaming up with the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism’s (MRCA) Early Learning Academy (ELA) in Savannah to provide preschool students the best education possible. “Responding to community demand, the ELA and Georgia Southern University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences have partnered to create an excellent, evidence-based preschool that engages every child at his or her level of development upon enrollment and builds individual educational plans to ensure that every child ascends to the height of their abilities,” said Patti Victor, CEO of the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism. The ELA is an inclusion preschool for students with and without autism.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
University of Georgia moves to suspend social fraternity
By Eric Stirgus
The University of Georgia said late Monday it has taken action against an on-campus social fraternity for allegedly holding a gathering in which it violated social distancing and public health guidelines. The unidentified student organization is currently prohibited from organizing or engaging in any activities pending the outcome of the conduct process. Two additional unidentified student organizations also have been referred to the conduct process for alleged violations. UGA did not respond late Monday concerning the name of the organizations.
Savannah Morning News
As Georgia Southern touts coronavirus precautions, a COVID-19 positive student wishes for more
By Katie Nussbaum
Georgia Southern University senior Rosana Lucia had only been on campus in Statesboro a little less than two weeks before her roommate’s boyfriend came down with a fever. The trio got tested for COVID-19, and Lucia was the only one who tested negative for the virus. A few days later Lucia, 20, developed a fever and decided to get tested a second time. This time she tested positive. …Lucia is one of hundreds of GS students who have contracted the virus since classes resumed on Aug. 17. According to the university’s COVID-19 Exposure and Health Alerts website dashboard, which is updated weekly, more than 900 cases have been confirmed by tests administered on campus, or by employees or students getting tested elsewhere and self-reporting positive results to the university. …Lucia said the university hadn’t laid any groundwork for punishment if students aren’t following rules off-campus, but as she continued to battle a fever and wait for her third COVID-19 test result last week, she said she wished that was different. “Even on campus I don’t see any rules or regulations for punishment,” she said. “I kind of wish they would (have rules or regulations) because I mean, you tell a bunch of college students to come back to school and then you have to do this on campus but when you’re not on campus, you can do whatever you want. And that’s kind of scary.”
The Epoch Times
Georgia Tech Changes Policy That Denied Funding for Events Based on Speakers’ Views
By Janita Kan
Georgia Institute of Technology has agreed to change its policy regarding funding for student events after a student group sued the school for its decision to withhold funding for events that it disagrees politically with. The Students for Life chapter at the university filed a lawsuit in April after the university’s student government body denied funding for a speaker event featuring Dr. Alveda King, the niece of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), lawyers representing the pro-life group.
Inside Higher Ed
Report: Wide Racial Disparities in Georgia Scholarships
By Madeline St. Amour
A new study found racial inequities in what students receive scholarships that cover the most tuition costs for college in Georgia. The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute analyzed the state’s HOPE (Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally) Scholarship and Zell Miller Scholarship. The HOPE Scholarship covers up to 94 percent of tuition costs for students with a 3.0 GPA in high school who continue to earn a 3.0 GPA in college. The Zell Miller Scholarship covers 100 percent of tuition costs for students who achieve a 3.7 GPA in high school and either receive a high score on the SAT or ACT or achieve class valedictorian or salutatorian and then maintain a 3.3 GPA in college. The institute found that 44 percent of undergraduate students received one of these scholarships. Recipients were most likely to be Asian American or white students, while Black and Native American students were least likely to receive the funds. …University of Georgia students got twice the amount of HOPE Scholarship money as students in the entire Technical College System of Georgia, the report also found.
WSAV
Georgia Southern Army ROTC hosts 9/11 memorial climb
by: McKenna Cieslak
Cadets in Georgia Southern University’s Eagle Battalion held a 9/11 memorial stair climb in remembrance of those who lost their lives during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The cadets’ route through Paulson Stadium replicated the 110 flights of stairs in the Twin Towers. “It gives us a reminder that not everything is free, some people gave their lives for it,” says Cadet Commander, Aaron Geter III. Geter organized the route to feature pictures of first responders who lost their lives that day as a way to motivate cadets to keep pushing forward.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Sept. 14)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 6,353 | Deaths have been confirmed in all counties but one (Taliaferro). County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
CONFIRMED CASES: 295,337 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
The college admission test was supposed to be given Saturday, but many testing centers were closed.
By Scott Jaschik
The letter emailed to the ACT this weekend was accompanied by a photo of a car parked outside a testing center with a one-page notice taped to the back-seat window.
“ACT TEST 9-12-2020 CANCELLED DUE TO POOR AIR QUALITY,” the notice stated. …This weekend was the first test administration since the ACT vowed to improve in light of what happened at the July 20 administration of the ACT. That day, 1,400 students showed up to take the ACT and found that their testing centers — typically high schools — were closed. The test was taken by 88,000 students. ACT is not releasing numbers of canceled tests. Tarah DeSousa, a spokeswoman for ACT, said that the organization helps those whose tests have been canceled register for another test. ACT does publish a list of testing centers that have canceled. The current list has more than 500 names of testing centers, mostly high schools. ACT has said that it hopes to have more tests given in hotels or conference centers to avoid the closures.
Inside Higher Ed
Doomed From the Start? Or Not?
Some health experts push back against an undercurrent of pessimism about college reopenings.
By Lilah Burke
…The higher education sphere has seen an undercurrent of pessimism about colleges reopening. Cases have soared at some large universities and many colleges have sent their students home. Some have said the experiment of inviting students back was doomed and dangerous from the start. Others have taken a more positive outlook. Health officials at the University of Alabama, which has seen nearly 2,000 cumulative cases this semester, defended their strategies last weekend, saying “nothing has gone wrong” with their approach. …Deciding whether colleges can or have reopened successfully depends on one’s definition of success. Gerri Taylor, co-chair of the American College Health Association’s COVID-19 task force, said she doesn’t see high case numbers as evidence of failure.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Utopian-minded tech gurus promise they’ll solve all of academe’s problems. They won’t.
By Justin Reich
This spring, amid shuttering classrooms and a widening pandemic, Michael Moe, the CEO of Global Silicon Valley, hosted a series with Arizona State University called “The Dawn of the Age of Digital Learning.” “The genie is not going back in the bottle,” he wrote with his colleague Vignesh Rajendran in an accompanying blog post: “Essentially 100 percent of students are now taking their courses online. Our expectation is that this shift is here to stay.” For educational-tech proponents like Moe, we are trapped in a perpetual dawn. For them “dawn” is not a metaphor for a watershed moment, carrying us from past to future, but a cyclical event: regular, brief, and most often slept through. Those of us who labored through the MOOC imbroglio earlier this decade thought these old arguments were safely buried. Yet in the wake of Covid-19, they have torn through their caskets and begun stumbling around again.
Inside Higher Ed
Leasing Drops Faster Among First-Year Students, Developer Says
By Rick Seltzer
One of the country’s largest private student housing companies reported leasing rates falling by about seven percentage points between this fall and last, with properties primarily housing first-year students seeing a sharper decline than those for upperclassmen. Austin, Tex.-based American Campus Communities Inc. reported about 90 percent of the properties it owns as leased for the 2020-21 academic year. The company released the figures Monday in an interim update for investors.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
White House Initiative on HBCUs Conference Goes Virtual
by Walter Hudson
The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will hold its first virtual conference this year and registration is free and open to the public. The five-day gathering which kicks off on Monday, Sept 21st—the start of National HBCU Week—is titled, “The Perfect Decade to Accelerate HBCU Competitiveness,” and will bring public and private partners together with HBCU thought leaders to best strategize on how to grow these institutions over the next ten years. Diane Auer Jones, Principal Deputy Under Secretary at the U.S. Department of Education will discuss C.A.R.E.S Act funding and the continued challenges that many public and private HBCUs have faced in the wake of COVID-19.