University System News:
Savannah CEO
Savannah State Presidential Search Committee Named
Staff Report
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has named the two committees to conduct a national search for the next president of Savannah State University. “Savannah State plays an important role as the oldest public HBCU in Georgia,” said USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “It has a rich 130-year history in higher education, and the person selected as its next president must continue that legacy while meeting the needs of students in the 21st century.” The search and screening of candidates is the responsibility of the 15-member, campus-based Presidential Search and Screen Committee and will guide the first stage of the search. Members are as follows:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: Ga Tech’s tasty testing progress, USG wants more in-person classes
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia’s public university leaders took a lot of heat at the start of the fall semester as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed on many campuses. As the number of reported cases declined significantly in recent weeks, University System of Georgia administrators are making plans for the spring semester that involve more in-person classes. In this edition of AJC On Campus, we look at the latest on the spring semester plans, how Georgia Tech is trying to keep the number of cases low and a new report on student loan debt in Georgia and across the nation.
Spring semester plans
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley on Tuesday laid out his vision for how he hopes classes will be taught during the spring semester. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, Wrigley said during his monthly remarks to the state Board of Regents he wants to see more in-person classes, hybrid classes (a mix of in-person and online instruction) that truly fit the definition of such learning and — if necessary — Saturday classes. …Georgia Tech’s high marks on COVID-19 testing …
WTOC
GSU joins nationwide program supporting Military in getting degrees
By Dal Cannady
Starting next year, Georgia Southern University could have more students in military uniform. They could be taking classes from anywhere Uncle Sam sends them. A college education can be a challenge for the men and women serving this country in the military. It’s especially true when they’re on a ship, miles and miles at sea for months and months at a time. Georgia Southern will join roughly 100 other schools nationwide in a military program to help sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen get their degree from anywhere they’re stationed.
WGAU
UGA to hold makeup spring commencement tonight in Sanford Stadium
By Logan Booker
Those 2020 UGA graduates who did not get a chance to don their cap and gown and flip their tassels back in spring will get their chance tonight. The University of Georgia is holding an in-person commencement ceremony tonight in Sanford Stadium, making up for the class of 2020 spring ceremony that was cancelled due to concerns over coronavirus. Victor Wilson, vice president for Student Affairs at UGA will be the speaker. Gates open at 4:30, ceremony to begin at 6:30.
MSN
AU to hold in-person graduation ceremonies in December
Staff
Augusta University plans in-person commencement ceremonies in December to recognize graduates from the spring, summer and fall semesters. The university says in order to maintain social distancing and other COVID-19 safety measures, several ceremonies will be held on Dec. 11 at the James Brown Arena in downtown Augusta. Each student will walk across the stage and be recognized, and other traditions will be included, such as the ringing of the Arsenal Bell.
Douglas Now
SGSC announces its reopening plan for the Spring 2021 semester
South Georgia State College will increase their face to face course offering for the spring 2021 semester coupled with hybrid and online course delivery options. The spring 2021 semester is scheduled to begin on January 11, 2021. Prospective students are encouraged to visit www.sgsc.edu for information about admissions, associate and bachelor degree programs, scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Students who are interested in attending SGSC this spring but have not applied for admission should call today. Contact the Office of Admissions at (912) 260-4200 or email admissions@sgsc.edu. Admitted students should check their SGSC student email about orientation sessions and other upcoming opportunities and deadlines. SGSC will be waiving its admissions application fee during November and December 2020 for spring, summer and fall 2021. In addition, SGSC will not require applicants to submit an ACT or SAT test score for the 2021 semesters.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
West Georgia faculty considers no confidence vote of new president
By Eric Stirgus
The University of West Georgia’s faculty senate is scheduled to meet Friday afternoon to discuss a rare no confidence vote against its new president. Critics say the president, Brendan B. Kelly, has violated university bylaws by not sharing detailed information about the budget and didn’t adequately include them in the reorganization plans. They say the reorganization has resulted in confusion among many students about where to seek campus services, such as advising, and that faculty are now handling more tasks that have taken away from student instruction. Kelly, who arrived in March after leading the University of South Carolina Upstate for about three years, denied he’s violated any bylaws. He said during an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the changes were needed to address state-mandated budget cuts, the coronavirus pandemic and complaints he’s heard from students about various services.
13WMAZ
Georgia College student starts group for non-partisan students (Video)
Senior Michael Haug co-founded the Georgia College Political Society to encourage students with different views to have constructive and effective debates
Growing Georgia
Usda Awards $2.8 Million to Expand Georgia Telemedicine, Distance Learning
By: Georgia Farm Bureau
On Oct. 7, the USDA announced $72 million in grants to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities. Of this total, $2.8 million is awarded for four distance learning and telemedicine expansion projects in rural Georgia. Funding comes from the Distance Learning & Telemedicine Program which helps rural residents tap into the enormous potential of modern telecommunications and the Internet. … The grants awarded to Georgia projects:
• Augusta University $576,035 for Telemedicine – This money will be used to assist primary care providers in rural clinics for transmitting images of patient lesions to dermatologists at hub sites in 15 Georgia counties. This improved capability will expand access to quality healthcare and serve to expedite diagnosis and treatment plans. … • UGA Research Foundation Inc. $866,030 for Telemedicine – This money will be used to improve the management of chronic health conditions in rural residents of nine communities in Central Georgia through partnership between the UGA, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (IMA), and Georgia Union Missionary Baptist Association (GUMBA). Faculty members and students will have access to videoconferencing technology to provide patient counseling, wellness checks, healthcare education, and outreach to underserved communities.
OAOA
Music Educator Award™ Semifinalists Announced by the Recording Academy® and GRAMMY Museum
A total of 25 music teachers from 24 cities across 16 states, have been announced as semifinalists for the Music Educator Award™ presented by the Recording Academy ® and GRAMMY Museum ®. In total, more than 1,989 initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states. Nominations for the 2022 Music Educator Award are now open atwww.grammymusicteacher.com.
The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY ® Week 2021. The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. …Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students’ lives. They will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school’s music program. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching grants. The remaining fifteen semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants. Semifinalist: Michelle Folta, Columbus State University
The Daily Tribune News
Partnership with UWG helps GHC students transition to 4-year degree program
By Donna Harris
Georgia Highlands College has made it easier for its students to earn bachelor’s degrees in two areas. GHC has signed articulation agreements with the University of West Georgia to help students who complete its two-year pathways in recreation administration and sports management make a seamless transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in sports management at UWG. “We wanted to make sure that our students had an easy transition to a bachelor’s degree,” Dean of Health Sciences Michelle Boyce said. “We’ve had articulation agreements in the past with UWG, and they worked really well for our students. UWG was very excited to work with us to complete the agreement.” While the 60 GHC students enrolled in these two pathways this semester have a variety of classes they can take, the agreement has allowed the college to identify the courses required to enter the bachelor’s degree program at UWG, which prevents them from taking courses they don’t need, according to Boyce.
Albany Herald
Georgia Power donates $5,000 to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation
From staff reports
The Georgia Power Foundation Inc. has provided a $5,000 donation to the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation to support student scholarships and the Destination Ag Program at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. ABAC Chief Development Officer Deidre Martin said the contribution will assist the ABAC student scholarship program and the Destination Ag program and playground at the museum. “Georgia Power has been a generous supporter of ABAC through the years, and we are very appreciative of this continued support,” Martin said. “Through their investment in student scholarships and our educational efforts at the GMA, they are providing opportunities for our students to receive a top-notch educational experience.” Destination Ag is an experiential learning program at the GMA that connects agriculture and natural resources to children’s daily lives and educates them on career opportunities within these industries.
Albany CEO
Staff Report
Aspiring pharmacists who are students at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) in Americus will be eligible to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree a year early based on an articulation agreement signed by GSW and PCOM Georgia. …”This PharmD Early Assurance Program gives them early entry into PCOM, allowing them to receive their undergraduate degree while already working towards their PharmD degree, which gives them a substantial advantage.” According to Dr. Shawn Spencer, dean of the PCOM School of Pharmacy in Suwanee, Georgia, the agreement will allow eligible students in their first year at GSW to have a seat reserved three years in advance at the School of Pharmacy so they may enter after completing their junior year of college. A win-win arrangement for all, this newly signed agreement allows students to begin their careers early while saving tuition dollars.
Fox5 Atlanta
Pandemic inspires innovating COVID-19 inventions across US
By Beth Galvin
We hear a lot about the worldwide race for a COVID-19 vaccine. Yet, across the US, researchers are quietly working on innovative ways to tackle everyday challenges posed by the novel coronavirus. In Pasadena, California, where the engineers design and send robots into outer space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, engineer Tom Cwik and Design and Communications Manager Faith Oftadeh have tackled a more down-to-earth problem: how to get people to stop touching their faces. …In Atlanta, at Georgia Tech, researchers are tackling another reason people are constantly touching their faces these days: their masks don’t fit properly. So, Tech professor Sundaresan Jayaraman and principal research scientist Sungmee Park have put their heads together to create a better fitting, more effective face mask.
Science Daily
Global study identifies common vulnerabilities across SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS coronaviruses
There are common vulnerabilities among three lethal coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, such as frequently hijacked cellular pathways, that could lead to promising targets for broad coronavirus inhibition, according to a study by an international research team that includes scientists from the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. In the last 20 years, the world has faced three deadly coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has triggered a global pandemic that has already resulted in more than 37 million confirmed cases and more than one million deaths. The study’s findings, published in the journal Science, identify commonalities among coronaviruses and highlight several shared cellular processes and protein targets that should be considered as targets for therapeutic interventions for current and future pandemics.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle
‘It’s Complicated’ podcast: Planning for the future during the pandemic
By Crystal Edmonson – Broadcast Editor
As the pandemic drags on, a growing number of small business owners in metro Atlanta are considering how to prepare if they get sick and can no longer run their business. Just as entrepreneurs create a business plan when they start a company, consultants also suggest creating a continuity plan. “A business continuity plan should be in place for every business no matter how small because you’ve got to plan for unexpected circumstances or conditions that may arise,” said Mark Collier a faculty business consultant with the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center. He said he has been fielding a lot of questions about succession planning since the start of the pandemic. But there may be a gap between asking questions and creating an action plan. According to a recent survey by Wilmington Trust, 58% of business owners polled said they have not yet created a succession plan.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opinion: Viral testing mitigates COVID’s spread
By Joshua S. Weitz and Greg Gibson
Georgia Tech’s experience using widespread testing as a cornerstone of its pandemic-fighting toolkit shows encouraging results on campus. It could prove to be the bridge between safety and renewed economic and social life.
An urban campus of a large public university. An average of 1,500 free, non-invasive tests performed daily for an on-campus community of more than 10,000 students, staff, and faculty. Test results returned in 36 hours. Contact tracing and assistance with isolation for those who test positive. Mask-wearing required indoors. Positivity rate reduced from almost 5% to less than 1% in a few weeks — stably maintained for a month (and counting). Sounds too good to be true? It isn’t. This is the reality unfolding at Georgia Tech, where we have worked with a collaborative team of scientists and engineers to develop a large-scale viral testing program along with mask-wearing and hybrid teaching modes to help control the spread of COVID-19. In contrast to large-scale outbreaks on many other college campuses, the use of community-wide testing as an intervention rather than a form of diagnosis is feasible, scalable, and urgently needed – not just for the Georgia Tech campus community, but for colleges and universities, K-12 schools, and businesses at large. It is the bridge between safety and renewed economic and social life.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp extends Georgia’s coronavirus restrictions until Oct. 31
By Greg Bluestein
Governor makes no significant changes to rules
Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday extended the state’s coronavirus restrictions an additional two weeks, making no significant changes to broad rules that govern how Georgians should live, work and gather amid a pandemic. Once again, Kemp stopped short of making sweeping changes to state guidelines that were set to expire this week. He didn’t impose new limits on gatherings, nor did he scale back more expansive restrictions that have been in place for months. The new rules, which expire Oct. 31, keep in place a three-phase system for in-person visits to senior care facilities based on the rate of coronavirus testing, the length of time the home has gone without a new case and other factors such as community spread.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia faces enormous challenges to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine
By Helena Oliviero and Kelly Yamanouchi
While the fast-track development of a COVID-19 vaccine may seem like an enormous task, an even more daunting challenge may be getting approved vaccines into the arms of millions of people in Georgia and around the globe. States have had to race to create their distribution plans by Friday, the deadline set by the federal government. Georgia will meet the deadline, according to a spokesperson for state Insurance Commissioner John King, who is also leading the state’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution task force. But even after the state plan is submitted, Georgia will grapple with multiple logistical hurdles and questions, not to mention that officials don’t know which vaccine they will be distributing or even when — or if — one will be available.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Oct. 15)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 7,492 | 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: 336,241 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Permanent Budget Cuts Are Coming
The outlook for higher education was dim even before the pandemic.
By Robert Kelchen
The last eight months represent perhaps the most painful period in the history of American higher education. Colleges and universities employed 337,000 fewer people in August compared to February, with adjuncts and staff members working in housing and dining taking the biggest hit. Full-time faculty and staff members in other positions have borne less of the brunt of the pandemic and ensuing recession to this point, even though many of us across the country (myself included) have taken cuts to salary and benefits while being expected to do more work. So far, most of the layoffs in higher education have been viewed as temporary in nature; as soon as students can safely return to campus, the positions will return. But there are growing signs that colleges will make permanent cuts to their entire work force. Two recent examples are the University of Akron, which recently laid off 97 unionized faculty members after invoking a force majeure clause in its collective-bargaining agreement, and Ithaca College, which is planning to lay off nearly one-fourth of its faculty members. The pandemic has placed college budgets under incredible stress, and these stresses will continue for several years barring a large federal bailout package for states and colleges. As a result, the cuts seen at Akron and Ithaca are likely only the beginning for higher education. The truth is that the future was already looking grim for colleges because of a pending enrollment cliff, and the pandemic has just made things worse.
The New York Times
Freshman enrollment drops significantly at U.S. universities and community colleges.
By Shawn Hubler
Freshman enrollment has dropped more than 16 percent from last year at American colleges and universities — and by nearly a quarter at community colleges — as the threat of the coronavirus has disrupted the nation’s higher education system, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported Thursday. A month into the fall semester, overall undergraduate enrollment is running 4 percent below last year’s levels, as the pandemic has forced classes online and plunged the national economy into turmoil, the report found. Even an upward trend in graduate enrollment has been dampened since last month’s survey, slipping to 2.7 percent. The drop in enrollment is just the latest turmoil affecting America’s institutions of higher education. Facing an uncertain autumn, some schools opted to hold most or all classes online, while others opted for in-person instruction, installing a host of measures to try to contain the virus, with mixed success.
Inside Higher Ed
As colder weather creeps into some parts of the country, experts warn of increased spread of COVID-19 throughout the country and on college campuses.
By Lilah Burke
Public health experts have predicted that the COVID-19 pandemic, however bad it may be right now, is going to get worse. As cold weather arrives in much of the country, people may find themselves less likely to conduct their socializing or hobbies outdoors, where the virus has a harder time spreading, and may find themselves back inside. Though evidence is inconclusive, there is some research to support that the virus spreads easier in cold weather rather than warm. And winter also means flu season, which experts predict may strain the public health system further. At this time, it appears the encroaching season may usher in a period of decreased quality of life and increased disease spread. None of that is likely to bypass American colleges and universities.
USA Today
Lindsay Schnell
… Across the country, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend normalcy and infect Americans, students of every level are trying to adjust to virtual learning and socially distanced schools. But the virus and the ensuing recession have taken a particularly hard toll on community college students like Justice. They’re often older, balancing school and full-time work. Many are single parents. Statistically, they’re often the first in their family to pursue post-secondary education and likely to come from a lower socioeconomic bracket — which impacts access to distance learning necessities like high-speed internet. And during the pandemic, they’re dropping out, or sidelining their education plans. For these students, delaying their education could have devastating consequences. Rethinking college during coronavirus? You risk not graduating
CNBC
Is an online master’s degree worth the money?
Abigail Hess
During the 2008 financial crisis, many Americans went back to school to earn master’s degrees and ride out the recession. But this path is less clear for prospective students today. While the coronavirus pandemic has not dramatically changed what it costs to earn a degree — it has dramatically changed what it means to be a student due to remote learning. CNBC Make It spoke with master’s students (both who have had their classes moved online and who have intentionally chosen an online program), professors, economists and experts about how to answer the question on many people’s minds: is an online master’s degree worth the cost? Here’s what to consider: Opportunity cost …A potential earnings boost … Professional aspirations …The online experience …“It depends”
Inside Higher Ed
Prior Learning Credits Boost Completion Odds
By Paul Fain
Adult students who receive college credits for prior learning are more likely to complete academic programs than their peers without prior learning assessment (PLA) credits, according to a new report from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The report examined student outcomes at 72 U.S. colleges and universities. Even after controlling for other factors that influence completion, it found that prior learning assessment increases student completion by 17 percent, and by 30 percent for all forms of prior learning assessment other than credit recommendations for military training. Prior learning assessment also saves students time and money, according to the report.