University System News:
The Griffin Daily News
Gordon State retention rate reflects increase
For the past two years, Gordon State College has reported an increase in freshmen retention with a 3.3 percentage point increase for 2019 on top of 2018’s 10-point growth, according to a report released last week by The University System of Georgia. The retention rate, an indicator for student success and satisfaction, for first-time full time freshmen for fall semester 2019’s cohort reflected 61.7% — the highest overall percentage for the college in more than 10 years. The improvement is noteworthy given the COVID-19 pandemic pivot to remote instruction and campus closing in March 2020 and faculty converting to delivering online courses to complete the academic year.
AllonGeorgia
Columbus State University Announces High Enrollment for Fall 2020
By Staff Report
Columbus State University announced this week that enrollment increased for the fall 2020 semester. More than 8,370 students were enrolled in CSU’s fall semester — a 6.3% increase compared to fall 2019 enrollment. “We are pleased to see that students are continuing to pursue their academic goals, despite the challenges they have faced during this difficult year,” CSU President Chris Markwood said. “We invite these students to come back home to CSU in the spring, as registration for classes is currently open. Spring semester will include expanded opportunities for in-person learning and student experiences, while we continue to follow public health guidelines.”
Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Gwinnett College experiences enrollment dip, but student body becomes more diverse
Georgia Gwinnett College saw an overall decrease in student enrollment this year, but its student body did become more diverse this fall. The college has released its 2020 fall enrollment numbers, which show a 9% decrease in student enrollment. There were a total of 11,627 students enrolled in the college in this fall, according to college officials. At the same, the college said it saw increases in the percentages of Hispanic, Black and Asian students.
The Red & Black
UGA students frustrated with revised spring 2021 calendar
By Hannah Kesner
The University of Georgia released a revised academic calendar for the spring semester on Oct. 29, altering many students’ plans for a spring vacation. The new calendar includes starting the semester two days later than initially planned, the removal of spring break and the addition of three instruction-free days. During those days, campus will remain open but no classes will be held. Some students were frustrated with the new calendar. Many had plans for spring break, and feel that they had little notice for the revision.
Growing Georgia
ABAC Students Connect with Farmers in India on ‘Our Farm 2 Your Table’ Project
By Staff Report
Writers from India and across the United States have connected with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College students through the “Our Farm 2 Your Table” project. Funded by a special grant from the state department, the six-month project gives ABAC students the opportunity to help develop a website and produce stories about how COVID-19 has affected agriculture across the world. “The idea is to develop international discussions about farming using the commonality of the pandemic to connect farmers in India and the U.S. through writing and Zoom conversations,” ABAC Professor of Journalism Thomas Grant said.
The Signal
Georgia State will host in-person commencement in December
By Mary A. Brassfield
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university canceled all formal events, including graduation ceremonies for 2020 graduates. On Dec.16 and 17, Georgia State will hold its 105th in-person commencement ceremony to celebrate all 2020 graduates.
Albany Herald
Fort Valley State University to host virtual small farmers conference
By Staff Report
Small farmers and landowners are encouraged to attend a free virtual conference sponsored by Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension program on Thursday. From 9 a.m.-noon, the 2020 Small Farmers Train the Trainer annual conference, will be presented via ZOOM. The conference will be simulcast on Facebook Live at facebook.com/FVSUCAFST. Charlie Grace, the FVSU area extension agent for Dougherty, Lee and Worth counties, is serving as host for the event.
Statesboro Herald
GS economic monitor sees recovery in 3rd quarter
By Staff Report
Georgia Southern University’s latest Economic Monitor reports that Savannah showed signs in the third quarter of 2020 of recovery from the severe economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
See also in The Savannah Business Journal
WALB
VSU hosts DeStress Fest to help students with end of semester rush
By Jennifer Morejon
Valdosta State University (VSU) helped students relieve some stress as the end of the semester nears. The university hosted a DeStress Fest on the front lawn of campus. Students were able to hang out with therapy dogs and even farm animals. There was also a yoga session for relaxation. Heidi O’Connor, the assistant director for VSU’s counseling center, said it’s been a challenging semester because of the pandemic and that providing these events is crucial for students’ mental health.
Wall Street Online
By Staff Report
One in three college students face food insecurity each year. With the financial strain on families combined with physical and emotional stress caused by the pandemic, student food insecurity has increased by 14 percent. Following a successful pilot program, which provided more than 15,500 meals for 1,100 students in the Spring semester, Sodexo and Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit dedicated to ending student hunger, announced the expansion of its Meal Swipe Bank to 100 U.S. campuses by the end of 2021… “Since our Swipe Out Hunger chapter was first formed, I think we have had a major impact on student wellbeing at Georgia College,” said Kendyl Lewis, Georgia College & State University’s student founder of Swipe Out Hunger. “Our chapter has helped to feed students who were struggling with hunger, but we have also changed the narrative around helping meet students’ basic needs.”
WataugaDemocrat.com
Great Business Schools Releases National Rankings of Business Doctorate Programs
Great Business Schools, a free online guide that takes students from the decision to attend business school all the way to an application and acceptance, has released four 2021 rankings of the best doctoral degree programs in business. The Top 3 Best Business Doctorate Programs for 2021 are: 1) Georgia Institute of Technology; 2) University of Pennsylvania; 3) University of Washington. The Top 3 Online Business Doctorate Programs for 2021 are: 1) University of Florida; 2) Florida International University; 3) Temple University.
News Channel 9
Are Georgia Voters Tired of Heading to the Polls?
By Brittany Miller
This year there have been seven elections that Georgia voters have been asked to cast a ballot for and soon they will be heading to the polls again. Both of the state’s Senate seats are still up for grabs. Under Georgia law, candidates must receive 50 percent of the vote to win an election. If no candidate breaks 50 percent, the top two vote-getters then face off again in a runoff. But the need to go out to the polls, again and again, can create weariness among voters called voter fatigue. Dr. Scott Buchanan, professor of political science and chairman of government and sociology at Georgia College & State University explains voter fatigue as voters getting tired out from many elections.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Nov. 17)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 8,496 | 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: 391,466 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
White House warns of ‘deterioration’ in Georgia as virus rages in U.S.
By J. Scott Trubey
Nearly every state in the nation is now in the red zone for new coronavirus cases, as COVID-19 surges from coast-to-coast, according to the latest report from President Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force. Georgia is faring better than all but three states, but public health experts warn that cooler weather and social gatherings tied to next week’s Thanksgiving holiday could be accelerants that turn a smoldering epidemic in the Peach State into an inferno. “We are not in good shape, and many parts of the country are doing so much worse,” said Dr. Harry J. Heiman, a clinical associate professor at the Georgia State University School of Public Health. “But that’s the direction that we, too, are headed if we don’t get more aggressive and make efforts to take charge.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. nears 250K COVID deaths; Georgia approaches 8,500 deaths
By Tim Darnell
The U.S. is nearing 250,000 coronavirus deaths, as the pandemic continues a long-predicted autumn surge throughout the nation. According to data tracked by Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine, the U.S. leads the world in the number of cases — 11.3 million — and deaths, with more than 248,000 as of Wednesday morning. Georgia will likely surpass 8,500 deaths Wednesday. On Tuesday, the state Department of Public Health reported 8,496 COVID deaths.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
A Closer Look at Racial Disparities in Education
B: Greta Anderson
A supplemental report by the American Council on Education on previous research about disparities in higher education shows “striking” levels of inequities in the ability of Black college graduates to pay off student loan debt.
Inside Higher Ed
Biden: Student Debt Relief Part of Economic Recovery Plan
By Kery Murakami
Canceling at least a portion of the nation’s $1.5 trillion in student debt is an element of the economic recovery plan he is working on, President-elect Joe Biden said Monday. Biden, at a press conference at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Del., outlined that he will propose massive investments in areas like electric cars and clean energy, as well as aid for states and local governments struggling financially during the pandemic. “It does figure in my plan,” Biden said when asked if debt cancellation is an element of his plan. Biden noted that during the campaign he supported a provision in the Democratic House’s COVID-19 relief bill, which would cancel $10,000 of debt for all borrowers.
Inside Higher Ed
By Greta Anderson
A financial deal between the University of Colorado at Boulder and a sports betting company represents a departure from the NCAA’s long-held stance against gambling on college sports.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Outrage Peddlers Are Here to Stay
By Nell Gluckman
Sami Schalk has a protocol for when Campus Reform gets in touch. When a reporter from the conservative news site emails her to ask about a recent tweet, the associate professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of Wisconsin at Madison sets the plan in motion. It’s happened several times this year. Campus Reform regularly publishes articles rehashing professors’ tweets and comments, presenting them as evidence of what it considers liberal bias on college campuses. Schalk has an active Twitter feed and is a frequent target. “I am aware of being heavily monitored,” she said. Schalk knows that after an article about her is published, she’ll hear from Campus Reform readers. If a more prominent site, like Breitbart or Fox News, picks up the story, she’ll be inundated with emails, messages on Twitter, and calls to her department and administrators.