University System News:
The Gainesville Times
Nathan Berg
Three renovation projects that are part of the $19 million expansion of the University of North Georgia in Gainesville on to the former Lanier Technical College campus will be open in time for classes in fall 2021, according to UNG Gainesville Vice President Richard Oates. “Never did I think I would be able to inherit a college campus right across the street,” Oates said during a Zoom conference with the South Hall Business Coalition on Tuesday morning. “It will be so easy to integrate. It will be seamless integration.” UNG originally acquired the property adjacent the Gainesville campus on Mundy Mill Road in Oakwood in July of 2019. Since then, the school has been busy gutting and redesigning several of the former Lanier Tech buildings on Mathis Drive to fit the needs of UNG’s growing Gainesville student body. Here’s how they plan to use three former Lanier Tech buildings and what changes are being made to the facilities.
The Brunswick News
College enrollment steady amid pandemic
By Gordon Jackson
Enrollment is down at most colleges and universities across the nation because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But the impact at College of Coastal Georgia has been barely noticeable, college president Michelle Johnston said during Wednesday’s meeting of the Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. “We are only slightly down,” she said. “We have only seen a 2% decline. We’ve done a lot in terms of COVID preparations.” There have been very few cases among students, with nobody in quarantine or isolation at this time, she said. And considering the student enrollment of nearly 3,500 includes people from 35 states and at least 20 different countries, it’s a tribute to the effort of everyone on campus, she added.
Metro Atlanta CEO
Georgia Tech Celebrates the Largest, Most Diverse Transfer Class in Institute History
Elizabeth Driver
This year, Tech welcomed 1,146 new transfer students from 224 different colleges, including 39 Georgia colleges, and 76 community colleges. This new class topped the Institute’s record transfer enrollment numbers with 230 more students than last year, and includes 120 more in-state students and 12% more underrepresented minority students. Chad Bryant, who directs Tech’s transfer initiatives, said, “We are firmly committed to providing more students the opportunity to earn a Tech degree through expanding capacity, establishing a variety of Transfer Pathway Programs, and collaborating with other colleges and universities locally and nationally.”
WSB
Amid reports of vaccine shortages, UGA rolls out mobile flu shot clinic
Parts of metro Atlanta are running low on vaccine
By Tim Bryant
The University of Georgia’s mobile flu shot clinic makes another stop today, 3 til 5 this afternoon at the UGA Pharmacy College. The flu shots are available for University students, staff, and faculty.
From WSB TV…
Flu vaccines are running low in some metro Atlanta communities, and some providers say they are completely out. Vaccine manufacturers across the U.S. are facing serious delays as demand rises in an effort to avoid what’s been dubbed as a potential “twindemic” —a flu and COVID diagnosis.
Real Clear Policy
An October Vaccine Signal Is Possible But Not Certain
By James C. Capretta & Scott Ganz
James C. Capretta is a resident fellow and holds the Milton Friedman chair at the American Enterprise Institute. Scott Ganz is a research fellow in economic policy studies at AEI and an assistant professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla’s recent open letter on the potential timing of his company’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate provides clarity where earlier unscripted comments sowed confusion. His previous statements to the media led some to believe he would push for approval of his company’s vaccine in October. New guidance on the safety data required by regulators has ruled out that timeline. In other words, there isn’t going to be a COVID-19 vaccine available to the public before the November election, as President Trump had hoped. But that does not mean October won’t bring a vaccine surprise. As Bourla explains in his letter, event data from the vaccine’s Phase III trial might accumulate to a sufficient level to allow for an early reading on whether or not it works. Even without regulatory approval, an announcement this month by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, that their vaccine candidate works well enough in preventing COVID-19 to satisfy efficacy requirements would be major international news (Bourla says he feels obligated to announce the results of early looks at efficacy data soon after receiving them).
MSN
Why does COVID-19 impact people differently? The answer is in your nose.
Brady Trapnell
COVID-19 numbers have been down for weeks. While some hospitals like AU Health are still seeing that, others like University Hospital are actually seeing an uptick. “Overall, we are seeing an increase in positive tests,” Dr. Ioana Chirca with University Hospital said. That’s not exactly good news: but why now? “Why not now? …But the numbers continue to stay down at AU, as researchers study ways to decrease the severity of positive cases. “Once you’ve gotten coronavirus, can we reduce the viral load enough to keep people out of the hospital,” Dr. Amy Baxter, clinical associate professor at Augusta University, said. Dr. Baxter says the nose could explain why the virus ranges in severity with different people and in different places. “In those countries where the disease frequency was low, they are very likely to do a type of hygiene called nasal irrigation,” Baxter said. The severity of a case of COVID-19 is often determined by the amount of viral particles in the nose, according to AU. Research shows nasal rinses could keep the virus from spreading as fast throughout the body.
WGAU
UGA solves mystery illness that closed animal shelter
Streptococcus zooepidemicus
By Tim Bryant
Researchers in the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine have identified the mystery illness that forced the closure of the Cobb County Animal Shelter.
From WSB TV…
A Cobb County animal shelter has learned that several animals were infected with a bacterial infection that affects the respiratory system. Officials at the Cobb County Animal Services Shelter said two dogs were diagnosed with Streptococcus zooepidemicus, or “Strep Zoo.” Officials said they believe one dog has died of the infection and several other dogs and cats are being treated for symptoms. They said they believe the infection came in with an animal dropped off at the shelter.
Growing Georgia
Tidewater Loans CASE Tractor to J.G. Woodroof Farm at ABAC
Students will have the opportunity to use the new top of the line CASE IH AFS Connect Magnum 200 CVT Tractor at the J.G. Woodroof Farm at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this year thanks to Tidewater Agriculture and Construction. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of ABAC’s School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is thankful for the relationship ABAC has with Tidewater Agriculture and Construction. “The new Case IH Mag 200 CVT AFS will be a tremendous asset to not only our farm operation but, more importantly, to our students and their hands-on learning,” said Kistler. The newly designed tractor features a luxury cab with a 360-degree view.
WABE
How The Pandemic Creates A Chance To Track Airplane Air Pollution
Molly Samuel
Like cars and trucks, airplanes release carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change and other pollutants that affect people’s health. An opportunity has opened up to learn more about those emissions from planes. With air traffic down dramatically because of the pandemic, researchers at Georgia Tech, with support from NASA, are using this time as a sort of natural experiment. “The airport has always been a hotspot,” said Jen Kaiser, an assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Tech. “It’s always been aspirational for me to go out there and start monitoring.” Earlier this year, she set up instruments behind the state Environmental Protection Division’s offices, which are near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Valdosta Today
OSHA pursues strategic partnership with Choate Construction
U.S. Department of Labor Partners with Choate Construction Co. and Associated General Contractors of Georgia to Promote Workplace Safety
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has signed a strategic partnership with Choate Construction Co. and the Associated General Contractors of Georgia to promote worker safety and health at the Dogwood Forest at Sugar Hill project site in Sugar Hill, Georgia. The Georgia Institute of Technology-Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program will also support this effort. This partnership seeks to prevent injuries and exposure to hazards during construction of a new 150,000-square-foot senior living facility. Under the agreement, the partners will focus on reducing the number of injuries and illnesses, increasing safety and health training, reducing worker exposure to health hazards and encourage all project contractors to develop and implement comprehensive safety and health programs. The agreement supports OSHA’s long-range efforts to develop a partnership approach to safety management between contractors and the government.
11Alive
Georgia Tech basketball arena opens as early voting site
It will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, according to the school.
Author: Jonathan Raymond
Georgia Tech’s basketball arena, McCamish Pavilion, will open starting on Wednesday to serve as an early voting site. The school announced in September that it would make the arena available as a polling location. Now, the facility is opening with 10 days remaining in the early voting period. McCamish Pavilion is located at 965 Fowler Street, NW, on the school’s Midtown campus. It will be open from 8:30 a.m.to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, according to Georgia Tech officials.
Other News:
11Alive
White House report: Georgia still seeing community spread by families, friends gathering
“People must remember that seemingly uninfected family members and friends may be infected but asymptomatic,” the report reads.
Author: Donesha Aldridge
One of the ways COVID-19 is still spreading through Georgia communities is through social gatherings with families and friends, according to a recent report from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. They are warning people that exposure to asymptomatic cases can easily lead to spread as people unmask in private gatherings. “People must remember that seemingly uninfected family members and friends may be infected but asymptomatic,” the Oct. 18 report reads. The task force recommends for mitigation efforts to continue with mask wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene, avoiding crowds in public and social gatherings in private; They also suggest getting a flu shot.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Oct. 21)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 7,704 | 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: 343,750 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Lawsuit Against DeVos, Title IX Rules Is Dismissed
By Greta Anderson
A judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland dismissed a lawsuit on Tuesday that was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of organizations that advocate for survivors of sexual assault and challenged the new federal rules for how colleges handle sexual misconduct allegations. The organizations do not have standing under the U.S. Constitution to sue, the court concluded.
Bloomberg
Empty Dorms Put Squeeze on Colleges to Bail Out Billions in Debt
By Amanda Albright
Empty dorms are putting pressure on U.S. colleges to help investors in the approximately $14 billion student housing debt market, adding to the strain on schools already reeling from the pandemic. …The squeeze on university finances arrives at the worst possible time. Some debt sold for student housing requires the schools to assist. Other colleges are chipping in even without that requirement to ensure dorms are available when campuses fully reopen. On top of that, enrollments are dwindling and cash flow from athletics, dining halls and parking has disappeared. Investors have billions of dollars relying on the outcome. Typically, privatized student housing debt is paid off by the revenue generated by the dorms — meaning there’s little recourse for bondholders if things go south. With fewer students on campus, options are limited. The number of first-year undergraduate students enrolled dropped 16% this semester, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center said in a report last week. The constraints facing student housing could worsen as the coronavirus continues to spread across the U.S., making it harder for colleges to reopen. Since March, S&P has downgraded 15 student housing borrowers in a universe of the about 60 borrowers that it rates, while Moody’s Investors Service has slashed the rating on five considered public-private partnerships.
Inside Higher Ed
Federal Investigation Targets Foreign Student Work Program
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announces actions against foreign students accused of abusing work training program. College officials may also face sanctions.
By Elizabeth Redden
Department of Homeland Security officials sent a clear message Wednesday that they are scrutinizing foreign students’ and colleges’ compliance with the rules of a program that allows international students to stay in the U.S. to work for one to three years after they graduate in a job directly related to their field of study. Officials announced that they had arrested 15 international students who claimed to be employed by companies that don’t exist. The arrests resulted from an ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, termed Operation OPTical Illusion, targeting fraudulent use of the OPT, or optional practical training, program.
Inside Higher Ed
Is It Time for All Students to Take Ethnic Studies?
As ethnic studies requirements are put in place in California, capping years of struggle, educators discuss why it’s important to talk about race in the classroom.
By Lindsay McKenzie
For two and a half years, scholar and social activist Melina Abdullah traveled weekly from her home in Los Angeles to Sacramento — uncompensated trips that took a personal toll and kept her apart from her three children. She was working to build support for California legislation requiring all undergraduates across the 23-campus, 482,000-student California State University to take a three-unit ethnic studies class focusing on Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or Latinx Americans in order to graduate. The fate of the legislation, known as AB 1460, seemed uncertain even when lawmakers passed it and it moved to the governor’s desk. But Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill Aug. 17. …Cal State’s actions have a profound impact on thousands of students, as it counts itself as the “greatest producer of bachelor’s degrees” in the most populous state in the country.