University System News:
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Area’s 25 Largest Colleges and Universities
Ranked by Enrollment
1.Georgia State University, 52,471; 2. Kennesaw State University, 41,000; 3. Georgia Institute of Technology, 39,772, 4. The University of Georgia, 38,920, 5. University of North Georgia, 20,077; 7. University of West Georgia, 13,370; 8. Georgia Gwinnett College, 11,627; 12. Clayton State University, 7,056; 13. Georgia College & State University, 6,873; 15. Georgia Highlands College, 5,680; 19. Gordon State College, 3,200
Insider Advantage
State Senator wants to change process of choosing Board of Regents
by Cindy Morley
One State Senator wants to change the way members of the Board of Regents (BOR) for the University System of Georgia are selected. Republican Brandon Beach (Alpharetta) told InsiderAdvantage that he dropped legislation Thursday calling for a Constitutional Amendment which would let voters decide if they want State Senators and Representatives to decide 14 of the 19 seats on the Board of Regents. The Governor currently appoints all 19 seats — 14 determined by Congressional Districts and the other five at-large. If approved, members of the House and Senate would select one BOR member for each Congressional District and the Governor would appoint the other five.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ga. lawmaker’s white privilege teaching inquiry sparks anger, support
By Eric Stirgus
A white Georgia state representative is drawing outrage from several educators and support from some students after requesting information to determine whether professors are teaching materials that say white people are privileged and oppressive. The questions sent last week to leaders at various public Georgia colleges and universities by Rep. Emory Dunahoo, a North Georgia Republican, included: “Are any classes within the Georgia public school system or the University System of Georgia teaching students who identify as white, male, heterosexual, or Christian are intrinsically privileged and oppressive, which is defined as ‘malicious or unjust’ and ‘wrong’?”
Insider Advantage
Bill Giving Illegal Aliens In-State College Tuition Drawing Fire
by Phil Kent
Republican grassroots activists, along with a growing number of GOP state lawmakers, are criticizing state Rep. Kasey Carpenter, R-Dalton, who along with some Democrats wants illegal aliens to receive in-state tuition rates in Georgia’s public universities and technical colleges. For example, the Whitfield County GOP— in the heart of Carpenter’s district— condemns his House Bill 120 allowing illegal immigrants to pay lower rates than citizens from other states and legal immigrants. …Proponents are framing the bill in a way that makes it sound like it would only apply to illegal aliens designated by former President Barack Obama’s illegal DACA action. Here is a quote from an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article before the bill officially dropped: “(Rep Kasey) Carpenter said his bill would apply to participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA.” However, nowhere in the bill is “DACA” mentioned.
Crossville Chronicle
Partnership provides Wright School of Business students pathway to master’s programs
Students graduating from Dalton State College’s Wright School of Business with a bachelor of business Administration can easily transition into one of three online master’s programs offered through Clayton State University thanks to an articulation agreement both schools signed Tuesday. The agreement allows for Wright School of Business graduates who meet certain criteria to be accepted into one of three master’s programs in business. Both schools’ programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
WTOC11
Music industry degree program expands at Georgia Southern
By Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University announced a new degree they’ll offer this fall that taps into careers in music, business, and technology. Both the Georgia Southern and Armstrong had highly respected music programs for decades. With the schools combined, it allows them to branch out a little bit. The new music industry degree will focus more on the industry and business of music and not just the traditional music or vocal talents.
Tifton CEO
ABAC Graduate Fights Through Virus to Gain Nursing Degree
Chelsie Turrubiartez does not remember the ambulance ride. But she will never forget the day she walked across the stage at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College to receive her nursing degree. Turrubiartez was on track to receive her associate degree in nursing from ABAC at the end of the 2020 spring semester. Then on March 31, 2020, her life turned upside down. …“When I got to the hospital, I got a positive COVID test, and they put me on a ventilator. I wasn’t improving. I was scared.” …Turrubiartez finally responded to the treatment and made another ambulance ride back to Southwell in Tifton in late April. She was released on May 4. She had not seen her mother, Debbie Bullard, or her three brothers since March 31. …After graduating from Cook High School in 2015, Turrubiartez started classes at ABAC in a slow journey toward her nursing degree. She was all set to participate in the virtual commencement ceremony in May, 2020 and receive her associate degree. It didn’t happen because her five weeks of terror from the virus wiped out her chances. “ABAC worked with me and allowed me to repeat my spring semester during the fall semester,” Turrubiartez said. …There were many smiles on the faces of graduates at ABAC on Dec. 3 when the college staged three different commencement ceremonies because of COVID-19 protocols. …Turrubiartez received the Lisa Purvis Allison Spirit of Nursing Award at the ABAC nursing pinning ceremony immediately after the commencement. The award included a scholarship check for $500. …Turrubiartez recently passed the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) and accepted an offer from Southwell to begin working as an RN on the Medical West Floor.
WGAU Radio
UGA launches program to boost rural Georgia research
20 University faculty members will take part
By Kelly Simmons, UGA
A new program at the University of Georgia will connect academic faculty who want to do research in parts of rural Georgia with existing UGA Public Service and Outreach and Extension networks throughout the state. Twenty academic faculty members, representing 12 of UGA’s 17 schools and colleges, are participants in the inaugural Rural Engagement Faculty Workshop, which kicked off Jan. 22 and will continue for four additional virtual sessions. The workshop will conclude April 30 with a visit to a rural community. The College of Public Health and the School of Social Work are partnering with Public Service and Outreach to deliver the program.
41NBC
Georgia College students enjoying new pedestrian scramble
By Lizbeth Gutierrez
When students returned to campus last week, the new Barnes Dance intersection, or pedestrian scramble, was implemented at the intersection of Clarke and Hancock Streets. Chief of Police Brett Stanelle says the Department of Transportation recommended the crosswalk for traffic and pedestrian safety. “Based on the usage, these are both really heavy traffic areas,” he said. Students who use this side of campus are either coming from residence halls or the dining area, which means more foot traffic and a need to keep students safe. At the press of a button, the system signals all vehicles to stop and pedestrians are able to cross in any direction, including diagonally. It’s now illegal for cars to make right turns while their light is red. …“I think it’s a great addition to the college,” Jones said. “Because these crosswalks do get pretty long.”
Statesboro Herald
Bulloch honors $10K scholarship recipients
Foundation has invested $50K in scholarships since 2013
Anna Pray
Bulloch County Schools honored six middle school students on January 14 during a REACH Georgia Scholarship signing ceremony at the William James Educational Complex in Statesboro. The scholars, who will each receive a $10,000 scholarship for college, were selected from 184 eligible students across the school district’s four middle schools. …REACH first awards scholars with a $10,000 scholarship; however, if the students choose to enroll in one of Georgia’s 57 partnering colleges or universities that offer additional financial support, they could get up to $30,000 in total tuition assistance. Georgia Southern University, Ogeechee Technical College and East Georgia State College are among those institutions who offer additional financial benefits to REACH scholars. REACH scholarship funds are in addition to any HOPE scholarship funds for which the students are eligible.
WGAU Radio
University alums make million dollar gift to Terry College
Donation from Joanna, Stuart Brown
By Tim Bryant
The University of Georgia gets a $1 million pledge to the Terry College of Business, money UGA will use launch the college’s Sustainability Initiative. The donation comes from the family of Joanna and Stuart Brown in Telluride Colorado. The Browns are University of Georgia graduates. Stuart Brown is director of the beer and wine distributing corporation Brown-Forman.
The Red & Black
OPINION: UGA needs to establish campus-wide virtual class options
Mona Abboud | Contributor
…In a time defined by loss and a semester engulfed in the challenges of remote learning and extreme financial difficulties, college students’ lives look more different than ever. 2020 is over, but the pandemic still ravages the nation. People are still dying. Businesses are still closing. Students are still struggling academically. As we turn the page and start a new year, we still face the challenge of navigating this crisis. Despite the ongoing uncertainty of living through a pandemic, the UGA community has lacked the leadership necessary to battle these adverse circumstances. As we trudge through another semester with coronavirus still looming, the UGA administration continues to waver in its responsibilities by failing to establish campus-wide virtual class options. University administrations are responsible for placing the safety of their students at the forefront, and the UGA administration has failed to do so.
Fox28
Georgia Southern proposes LGBTQ focused minor
by Ariana Mount
Leaders at Georgia Southern University are proposing a new LGBTQ+ focused minor. They say the minor would be part of the university’s Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) Program. Along with the WGSS classes that exist within multiple colleges throughout the University, the new minor will allow students to broaden that spectrum with a concentration on LGBTQ+ issues through coursework in WGSS, public health, sociology, human ecology and writing. Dr. Lisa Costello, director of WGSS said the minor would prepare students to work with specific populations after they graduate.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Colleges pledged more in-person classes. Are students on board?
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
University of Georgia encourages students to ‘show up, engage, and connect’
Parents of students attending Georgia public campuses who favored a return to in-person classes created Facebook pages and launched petitions saying their children’s academic and social well-being were in jeopardy from prolonged online learning. They emailed college presidents and the Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s 26 public campuses. Those parents were heard. The Regents made in-person classes a priority for this new semester, passing a resolution in October “that each campus is to maximize safe in-person instruction; ensure hybrid instruction includes a vast majority of in-person interactive instruction where appropriate and safe.” That led campuses, including the University of Georgia, to declare that their goals for this spring include increasing in-person classes and ensuring that hybrid classes — which blend face-to-face and online components — include significant in-person meetings.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Jan. 28)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 12,280 | Deaths have been confirmed in all counties but one (Taliaferro). This figure does not include additional cases that the DPH reports as suspected COVID-19-related deaths. County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
CONFIRMED CASES: 737,205 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
WCTV
Gov. Kemp: Georgia Lottery raises over $731M for HOPE, Pre-K
On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced the Georgia Lottery Corporation’s most profitable first half since its inception in 1993. A release from the governor’s office said the Georgia Lottery generated more than $731,281,000 in profits for the first half of the fiscal year 2021, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account to more than $23 billion. The record first half includes profits of $347.9 million. “This record success is great news for students in communities throughout Georgia,” said Gov. Kemp. “Georgia Lottery’s continued success ensures that Georgia’s students and families remain the ultimate winners through Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.”
Inside Higher Ed
Higher Ed Groups Ask Biden’s ED to Give Aid to Undocumented Students
By Kery Murakami
Dozens of higher education groups, including associations representing the nation’s colleges and universities, urged the Education Department on Thursday to clarify that undocumented and international students are eligible for emergency student grants created in the COVID relief package Congress approved in December.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Problem With Biden’s Higher-Education Plan
More students will go to college, but many will leave without a diploma.
By Brian Rosenberg
As we debate the benefits and drawbacks of Joe Biden’s plan for higher education — free community college, free public college for those with annual family incomes below $125,000 — we are too often having the wrong conversation. We tend to talk about college access when really we should be talking about college completion.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Moving up the ladder means dealing with endless bureaucracy. For many, it’s not worth it.
By Paula Rabinowitz
It may seem counterintuitive, but there is a connection between the administrative university’s push toward hiring contingent labor (now approximately 70 percent of college instructors) and the status of a damaged species: associate professors. Long forgotten, these tenured professors find themselves burdened with extensive service and administrative tasks and with little guidance and few incentives to seek promotion. The pathway to tenure for an assistant professor, while onerous and fraught, is also fairly consistent, obvious, and, despite the inflationary model that requires one to have more and more accomplishments to succeed, achievable. The dirty secret about tenure at all but the most elite universities is that almost everyone who seeks it gets rewarded — the weeding-out process occurs earlier in one’s career.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
HBCUs Do More With Less: Despite Financial Handicaps, HBCUs Are Highly Successful
Dick Startz, a professor of economics at the University of California Santa Barbara, has published an informative article on the value of historically Black colleges and universities to the nation. The research is published on the website of the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, that has the stated mission of conducting in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level. Dr. Startz notes that surveys have shown African American college graduates who earned their degrees at HBCUs are more likely than Black students who graduated from predominantly White educational institutions to be financially secure, happier, and to have built strong and supportive relationships. Graduates of HBCUs also reported that they were more likely to have had mentors and received support from faculty and administrators than those Black students who did not graduate from HBCUs.