University System News:
The Brunswick News
College of Coastal Georgia hosts modified fall commencement
By Lauren McDonald
Among those great moments in life is hearing your name or a loved one’s name called at a graduation ceremony. This milestone signifies the completion of hard work and is one that calls for celebration. College of Coastal Georgia hoped to ensure its fall 2020 graduates had the opportunity to mark this moment, despite the challenges that come with hosting any kind of event during a pandemic that has altered many parts of life. The college hosted Sunday a modified, special version of its typical fall commencement, and 120 graduates were able to hear their names called and receive their diploma in person.
Patch
Georgia Gwinnett College Hosts Virtual Fall Commencement For Students, Including 75-Year-Old Graduate
Staff reports
More than 500 graduates turned their tassels from the comfort and safety of their homes during Georgia Gwinnett College’s fall commencement, the second virtual commencement since the global pandemic took hold earlier this year.
Fox 28
Georgia Southern holds Fall 2020 graduation ceremonies
By Ariana Mount
Nearly 300 Georgia Southern University students received their diplomas Sunday at the university’s Savannah graduation ceremony. Each student was given four tickets and each attendee was required to wear a mask and follow social distancing. School leaders say it was important they created a safe way to celebrate. “The graduates have worked really hard for everything that they’re doing today, and walking across the stage is an important part of who we are as an institution. It’s the most important thing we do, so we just wanted to make sure we could do it in a very safe way,” said Scot Lingrell, the university’s vice president of enrollment management. Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro graduation ceremonies will be on Dec. 16 and 17.
WSB-Radio
UGA will stockpile COVID vaccine
By Tim Bryant
The University of Georgia has been authorized as a site for stockpiles of the coronavirus vaccines that will be distributed throughout the state. UGA president Jere Morehead says the vaccines are expected to arrive during the spring semester that begins in January. This has been a long and difficult semester. The challenges have been significant, but by working together and making sound choices to protect the fellow members of our UGA community, we have successfully reached the end of the Fall Semester.
Tifton Gazette
ABAC alum new Farm Bureau president
Staff reports
Tom McCall, a 1977 graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been selected as the new president of the Georgia Farm Bureau. McCall is a grain and livestock farmer and former state representative from Elbert County. He has been farming since 1976. “I have known Tom for a long time and he will be a perfect fit as president of the Georgia Farm Bureau,” ABAC President David Bridges said. “During the time he spent in the Georgia House of Representatives, he proved without a doubt that he loves this state and has a genuine concern for agriculture, which is Georgia’s largest industry.” McCall received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the ABAC Alumni Association at the 2008 homecoming luncheon when ABAC observed its 100th birthday.
Athens CEO
Hamilton Holmes Jr. to Give Freedom Breakfast Keynote
Staff reports
Hamilton Holmes Jr., son of Hamilton Holmes Sr. and a business development director for Pieper O’Brien Herr Architects in Alpharetta, will present the keynote address for the 18th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast. Hosted by the University of Georgia in collaboration with Athens-Clarke County and the Clarke County School District, the event, with the theme “The Power of the Dream: Forging a Path Forward,” will be celebrated virtually through a video premiere on Jan. 15 at 9 a.m. on the University of Georgia’s Facebook page. The event is free and open to the public.
Savannah CEO
Georgia Southern Faculty Member Elected to Serve on American Public Health Association Executive Board
Staff reports
Georgia Southern University Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health’s (JPHCOPH) Nandi Marshall, DrPH, has been elected to serve a four-year term on the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) executive board. Marshall, associate professor and interim associate dean for academic affairs, has been a member of APHA for 15 years, first as a student and then as a public health professional and professor. “It has been a career goal to be elected to the executive board of the American Public Health Association,” said Marshall. “To be in this space now, I am honored to continue my service to APHA as we work to fulfill the association’s mission to ‘improve the health of the public and achieve equity in health status.’” In addition to her APHA position, Marshall balances an active teaching and research program with her administrative roles at the University.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia Southern women’s soccer coach Moffet fired after complaints of sexual harassment
By McClain Baxley
Former Georgia Southern women’s soccer head coach Josh Moffet was under Title IX investigation following allegations of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation before he was fired, according to documents obtained by the Savannah Morning News through a public records request. A Georgia Southern University intercampus memo dated Oct. 27, 2020 from athletic director Jared Benko to Moffet notifies the coach that his contract would not be renewed after an investigation found “there appears to be sufficient evidence to support the allegation that policies prohibiting sexual harassment have been violated. There is insufficient evidence to support the allegations that the University policies prohibiting different treatment based on sex and retaliation have been violated.”
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Dec. 13)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
DEATHS: 9,205 | 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: 476,044 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First coronavirus vaccines in U.S. administered Monday
By Tim Darnell
A New York City intensive care nurse became the first person in the state and possibly the nation to receive the new Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine Monday morning. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo participated in a videoconference about 9:30 a.m. ET with administrators at Northwell Health, the state’s largest health care provider. Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, received the vaccine following comments from Cuomo and Michael Dowling, Northwell’s CEO. during the online event. “I feel hopeful today. Relieved,” said Lindsay after getting the shot. New York City and Queens were the nation’s coronavirus epicenter earlier this year during what was, at that time, the coronavirus’ peak period.
Higher Education News
Education Dive
Several large universities plan to increase coronavirus testing in the spring
By Natalie Schwartz
Several large universities are planning to increase coronavirus testing in the spring after seeing outbreaks in the fall. The University of Florida, the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina are among the institutions ramping up or mandating testing after having laxer policies this fall. The announcements come as the U.S. clocks more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases each day and hospitals in some regions near capacity.
Inside Higher Ed
Mental Health Epidemic: Dark Shadow of the COVID Pandemic
By Ray Shroeder
As we prepare to launch another semester mostly online, we are facing what may be the most severe mental health crisis in the history of American education. The next three months promise to bring the most dangerous and stressful period in American medicine.
Diverse
Academia’s Role in Fighting Mental Illness Stigma
By Daniel Blake
In a session at the annual conference of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) hosted virtually in November on campus climate, I posed the following question to a panel of scholars, whom I admire greatly, and whose research on diversity and equity has been incredibly impactful in informing practice: “What progress have you seen and what challenges remain with respect to how mental health and illness have been addressed? I’m interested in the stigma associated with mental illness—estimates suggest one-fifth of faculty live with a mental illness, but few disclose, and disclosure combats stigma and helps students with belonging.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Decision to Relocate Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson Statue to Civil War Museum Prompts Mixed Reaction
By Arrman Kyaw
The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) is relocating a statue of Confederate Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson from its campus to another VMI property, the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.
Inside Higher Ed
The Death and Life of an Admissions Algorithm
By Lilah Burke
U of Texas at Austin will stop using a machine-learning system to evaluate applicants for its Ph.D. in computer science. Critics say the system exacerbates existing inequality in the field.
Inside Higher Ed
By Lilah Burke
The College of Saint Rose, University of Evansville and Marquette University are seeing massive academic cuts. Officials point to ongoing demographic trends. Faculty grieve and fight back.