University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia University System employees will get $1,000 bonuses too
By James Salzer
University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley said Friday university and college employees will get the same $1,000 bonuses as state employees. That means about 36,000 system employees who make less than $80,000 will join 57,000 state agency workers in getting bonuses meant as a “thank you” from Gov. Brian Kemp and lawmakers. State officials had previously backed the same $1,000 bonus for Georgia’s teachers.
InsiderAdvantage
USG begins search for new Clayton State University President
by Cindy Morley
The University System of Georgia is currently conducting two national searches. Two weeks ago, Board of Regents Chairman Sachin Shailendra announced the appointment of the Regents Search Advisory Group to help conduct a search to replace Chancellor Steve Wrigley, who will retire after 36 years in public service. Monday, the BOR named the two committees to conduct a national search for the next president of Clayton State University, with President Tim Hynes retiring at the end of June 2021.
Statesboro Herald
GS to name planned center for Jack Hill, wife
Jack and Ruth Ann Convocation Center will be ‘signature’ building on South campus
Georgia Southern University’s planned convocation center in Statesboro will be named in honor of the late Senator Jack Hill and his wife of 46 years, the late Ruth Ann Hill. Both graduated from Georgia Southern.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
University of Georgia Creates DEI Award in Diversity Advocate’s Honor
by Arrman Kyaw
The University of Georgia has created a new award in honor of diversity advocate and professor Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander, according to UGA officials. For 33 years, Bennett-Alexander – a UGA associate professor emeritus – taught employment law and legal studies at the school’s Terry College of Business. The annual Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander Inclusive Community Award will be given to a UGA faculty member recognized for diversity, equity and inclusiveness work at the school.
Savannah Morning News
Interview by Adam Van Brimmer
African American professionals are underrepresented in science fields, and schools, educators and STEM-related organizations across the country are collaborating to address the shortage. Karla-Sue Marriott, a biomedical researcher at Savanah State University and the founder of the school’s forensics science program, is our latest Difference Maker.
Fox17
Gulf War veterans face lingering health problems that may make them vulnerable to COVID-19
by Mark Hyman, Larry Deal and Andrea Nejman, Sinclair Broadcast Group
This year marks 30 years since Operation Desert Storm, the start of the Gulf War. Today, decades after the conflict, hundreds of thousands of veterans are dealing with lingering health problems. Emerging research shows those veterans may be more vulnerable to COVID-19. …A recent study by researchers at Boston University and Augusta University indicates vets with Gulf War Illness are physically aging faster, and show earlier onset of chronic conditions like diabetes, stroke and arthritis. According to the study, “Results indicate that GW veterans are at higher risk of chronic conditions than the general population.” That’s a major concern during a global pandemic.
WSAV
Georgia Southern professor, coastal expert discusses Biden administration’s climate change actions
by: Ashley Williams
President Joe Biden recently signed executive orders that would help his administration address climate change-related issues both in the United States and abroad. These actions, some of which include building modern and sustainable infrastructure and working toward an equitable clean-energy future, appear to show Biden’s intent to make good on his promise of aggressively tackling climate change. Along coastal South Carolina and Georgia, sea level rise and warmer water temperatures are among the biggest threats, according to experts like Georgia Southern University’s Dr. John Carroll, who works as an associate biology professor at the Statesboro campus. Much of the marine biologist’s research involves studying environmental issues affecting shellfish, like oysters, along Georgia’s coast.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Feds end trade probe without new aid for Ga. blueberry growers
By Tamar Hallerman
A federal commission said Thursday that it was ending an investigation into unfair trade practices by Mexican blueberry farmers, a move that angered advocates for Southeastern farmers who have been seeking help from Washington. The five-member U.S. International Trade Commission was unanimous in its decision to drop the probe, which was initiated by the Trump administration last fall. Blueberries are not being imported into the U.S. “in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or the threat of serious injury, to the domestic industry,” the commission stated in a news release. …One University of Georgia study estimated the state could lose nearly $1 billion in annual economic output and more than 8,000 jobs “unless something occurs to slow down the increase in low-priced Mexican imports of blueberries and vegetables.”
The George-Anne
Delay in Financial Aid Causes Frustration for Students
Kee’ara Smith, Marketing Coordinator
Georgia Southern University (GSU) students were dropped from their courses during the second week of classes due to a delay in the financial aid department. The Office of Financial Aid quickly put out a statement stating students would be added back to their respective classes as soon as the aid was processed and cleared. The delay in financial aid was caused by the short-handed financial aid staff, thanks to the state’s budget crunch, according to the FAFSA site
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Feb. 11)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 13,672 | 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: 783,821 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Some Campuses Have Already Eclipsed Their Fall Covid-19 Case Totals. What’s Going On?
By Francie Diep
…Officials say the surge in some places can be attributed to higher rates of viral transmission nationwide, compared with the late summer, as well as pandemic fatigue. Students are tired of following the rules. Meanwhile, with new, more contagious variants of the virus appearing in ever more colleges — and healthy, traditional college-age adults far back in line for vaccines — it’s a critical time for campuses to do more to prevent coronavirus transmission, not less. “Where we are right now is that we need to reinforce with everyone the need to be very vigilant in wearing masks and social distancing and all of the hygiene issues that we discussed in the fall,” said Anita Barkin, co-chair of the American College Health Association’s Covid-19 Task Force. “We can’t really let up.” As was true for many colleges that saw big outbreaks in the fall, small social gatherings are driving these spring cases, according to interviews with administrators and public messages from the affected universities. The difference is that now, students may be feeling more complacent, colder weather is driving hangouts indoors, and, as the spring term started, the country was coming out of a peak in travel and infection rates.