University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: Georgia lawmakers eye changes to HOPE funding, hazing
By Eric Stirgus
Higher education is on the minds of many Georgia lawmakers. Several bills and resolutions were introduced last week at the state Capitol that could significantly impact funding for some college students, higher education policy at its public colleges and universities and hazing by fraternities and sororities.
Here are a few: State Sen. Brandon Beach, R-Alpharetta, is the lead author of Senate Resolution 36, which is aimed at giving the Georgia Legislature more control in the selection process of most members of the state Board of Regents. Under state law, the governor selects all 19 members. The Regents decide tuition, presidential appointments and other matters for the University System of Georgia’s 26 colleges and universities.
USA TODAY
Chris Quintana
An overturned executive order from President Trump focused on banning some forms of diversity training is still sparking debate on college campuses. Many universities scrambled to comply with the controversial order last year, which would have prevented the federal government and its contractors from offering diversity training that Trump had called divisive. Biden has since overturned the order, but it had already tapped into a live vein of distrust among right-leaning voters who fear colleges are not teaching their students, but rather indoctrinating them. …Those in higher education, though, fear Trump’s order and antagonism toward colleges more broadly may serve as a guidepost for state or local lawmakers looking to influence their local universities. And students at these institutions fear the attack on diversity training may translate to more overt racism. …In Georgia, a state Republican lawmaker asked the University system of Georgia to catalog which of its professors were teaching courses about white privilege. That lawmaker, Rep. Emory Dunahoo, said his questions came from his constituents. Professors though are already worried about what they see as overreach from the state government.
WTOC
Vaccination event held for eligible Georgia Southern faculty, students
By Dal Cannady
Dozens of people from Georgia Southern University’s three campuses received the COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. This round of vaccinations is going to folks in the most crucial category, whether they’re students, faculty, or staff. Cars pulled down the rows, not to tailgate at Paulson Stadium but to get the vaccine. The university received 80 doses. University faculty and staff from health fields administered the shots to people notified they’re in the top priority group.
The Red & Black
UGA students take new approach to health and wellness in 2021
Delaney Tarr | Contributor
New Year’s resolutions are a widespread phenomenon. They’re a common tradition among the population and frequently take the form of trying for a physical or lifestyle change. Out of 531 U.S. adults, 44% said their top resolution for 2021 was to exercise more, while 42% said theirs was to eat healthier, according to a November 2020 Statista Global Consumer survey. But in 2021, accomplishing these resolutions may look a little different than in years past.…For college students, reimagining health as something besides a physical goal can open up the path to wellness. “It’s not about the number on a scale, it’s about how you feel and a healthy lifestyle,” Carlton said. CHAARG is a widespread wellness community that aims to ignite a passion for movement in college women. Carlton and her team encourage women to acknowledge that exercise and health can be as simple as doing leisurely activities with loved ones — rather than a chore or a means to an end. For Carlton, New Year’s resolutions also involve different forms of self care, such as journaling and meditation. Nutrition education coordinator at the UGA Health Center Beth Kindamo sees self-care as a major way students can cope with changes from COVID-19. She lists gentle exercise, mindfulness practice and satisfying meals as different ways college students can practice self-care. …Despite these restrictions, there are other ways to practice mindful fitness. One choice is outdoor activities, like walking and hiking on Athens trails, or bike riding on the Oconee Rivers Greenway System. These kinds of outdoor practices can also benefit mental health as well.
Albany Herald
Regional Commission, Georgia Tech to create economic ‘roadmap’
From staff reports
Since the Great Recession, rural downtowns across the country have undergone a renaissance. While larger communities typically have physical amenities that draw talent, the overall cost of living to be “close to everything” can be burdensome. Now during the COVID-19 pandemic, rural communities are beginning to realize the certain advantages and potential for attracting talent that can work just about anywhere with the right infrastructure. Recognizing the opportunity to capitalize on their assets, the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission contracted with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Economic Development Research to conduct a strategic plan to use as a roadmap to pursue the region’s economic development goals.
WSAV
Georgia Southern launches new music industry degree program
by: Alex Bozarjian
Georgia Southern University is launching a new degree program aimed at preparing students to work in the music industry. It’s been in the works since 2015. Georgia Southern plans to take a non-traditional approach to music education with courses like live sound, music management and studio recording techniques. …The program will be offered on the Armstrong campus, and students will have the option of declaring an emphasis on music technology or business.
Marietta Daily Journal
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduate to attend Mercer School of Medicine
By the age of 8, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduate Garret Pierzchajlo knew he wanted to be a doctor. With his recent acceptance to the Mercer University School of Medicine, that dream is now closer to becoming a reality. The Tifton native graduated from ABAC in December with a bachelor of science degree in biology, pre-professional. He chose ABAC because, Pierzchailo said, it was close to family and its reasonable cost. But his dual enrollment experience showed him that the education he received at ABAC was as good as he could get.
The Augusta Chronicle
NASA grant aids AU professor’s research on bone loss, potential repair
Tom Corwin
As the NASA Rover Perseverance approaches Mars for a touchdown later this month, Dr. Meghan McGee-Lawrence of Augusta University is studying ways to make the same flight easier for humans one day. But her research might also apply to aging and perhaps even make exercise more productive. McGee-Lawrence has a $750,000 grant from NASA to study a basic problem that would plague astronauts during such a long mission: the lack of gravity would lead to bone loss.
News Medical Life Sciences
Higher blood pressure from childhood may put Black people at risk for congestive heart failure
Starting with early childhood, otherwise healthy Black people show signs of slightly diminished heart muscle strength and a slightly higher blood pressure than their white counterparts, factors which may put them on a course for early development of congestive heart failure, researchers report. The take-home message for parents and physicians is that, particularly for populations at high cardiovascular risk such as Black people, a close check should be kept on blood pressure starting in early adolescence, says the corresponding author of the study in Journal of the American Heart Association. Children with chronically higher normal blood pressures also may need early assessment of their heart function and/or medication to further lower their blood pressure to protect their future heart health, says Dr. Gaston Kapuku, cardiovascular researcher at the Georgia Prevention Institute at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University.
WRDW
Local researchers study post-COVID-19 syndrome, neurological disorders
By Celeste Springer
As if fighting COVID wasn’t enough of a challenge, experts at the Medical College of Georgia are finding some patients are now facing even more battles during recovery. “There are the pulmonary complications, including fibrosis in the lungs, cardiac complications, worsening heart function for instance. Maybe some irregular heartbeats,” said Dr. Rodger MacArthur, an infectious disease physician at MCG. “Were also seeing other neurologic complications, including nerve damage in the feet.” It’s called post-COVID-19 syndrome. Augusta University has been discussing launching a post-COVID-19 clinic, but the logistics are daunting given the wide range of different symptoms.
The Next Web
Gaseous mix up: Scientists thought there could be life on Venus, but there’s not
by THE COSMIC COMPANION
In September 2020, astronomers announced the possible detection of phosphine on Venus. On our own world, phosphine is mostly produced by life, and the detection of this gas in the atmosphere of Venus could have been an intriguing hint of alien lifeforms. However, a new study from the University of Washington shows the chemical markers thought to be caused by phosphine may have been the result of ordinary sulfur dioxide. This gas, released into the atmosphere by volcanic activity, is commonly associated with the smell of burnt matches. …The UW team networked with researchers from NASA, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and The University of California Riverside, examining claims of phosphine (a potential by-product of life) in the atmosphere of Venus.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Feb. 7)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 13,326 | 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: 772,978 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Albany Herald
State Path2College plan surpasses $4 billion in savings
From staff reports
Georgia families have a lot to look forward to in 2021 with a boost to their college savings plan. The Path2College 529 Plan (P2C), hit a major milestone as account-holder balances reached $4 billion in savings. This new milestone comes on the heels of significant reductions to P2C program fees effective Jan. 1. At its annual meeting in December, the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan Board, chaired by Gov. Brian Kemp, approved lowering P2C program fees by nearly 70% as it waived the state’s administrative fee and awarded a new lower cost contract to TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc. (TFI), the plan’s program manager.
Inside Higher Ed
Large universities saw thousands of students infected last fall. Many of those institutions are doing better this time around.
By Lilah Burke
Last August, as students were returning to campuses across the country, the United States was between two waves of COVID-19. Case counts across the country were fairly low, at least in comparison to where we’ve found ourselves now. Still, a number of large, mostly public, universities went through what seemed to some to be disaster situations. With thousands of students infected, some universities sent students home to family. Others soldiered on as cases rose — over the loud protests of campus instructors. This semester, those institutions that put up the highest numbers for student case counts appear to be doing better. They have fewer cases and are, on the whole, performing more testing. While some of the numbers may still be worrisome, representing hundreds of students infected, they are often a far cry from the record-breaking tallies reported in the fall.
Inside Higher Ed
Demand for Graduate School Rises Even as Greater Competition Looms
By Emma Whitford
Enrollment at public graduate schools increased by 2 percent this fall even as enrollment at undergraduate institutions declined during the pandemic, according to a new report from Moody’s Investors Service. Private graduate school enrollment has remained flat. “The share of graduate students as part of overall enrollment has grown over the last decade,” Dan Fiori, associate analyst at Moody’s, said in a press release. “Universities are poised to bolster enrollment through online programs that expand reach while demand for more traditional degrees will remain strong with demonstrated benefits in employment opportunities. As online learning grows into a more respected educational platform, it has garnered increasing graduate student demand regardless of institution type.”
Exbulletin
Is Texas really a serious rival in Silicon Valley?
By NewsDesk
Texas, however, may be different, not because of the recent attention-grabbing relocation. Unlike other innovation hubs, the state has quietly nurtured the high-tech industry for decades. If Texas ultimately rivals California, the consequences can be significant not only for industry, but also for US politics. A little background: At different times in the history of the country, different places emerged as clusters, industrial innovation flourished, powerful new companies were born, and a tremendous amount of wealth was born. These “places of invention” attract a large number of companies and talents. They often rely on institutions to train the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs. Silicon Valley fits the model. As Margaret Omara observed in the region’s enjoyable history, the significant convergence of engineering talent, venture capital, educational institutions and government funding has unleashed a wave of innovation, each based on its predecessor. It has created a bigger economic boom than ever before. But there is nothing forever.
Inside Higher Ed
Education Department Disproportionally Selected Black, Hispanic Students for Audit
By Lilah Burke
The U.S. Department of Education disproportionately selected Black and Hispanic students for financial aid audits over the last decade, The Washington Post reported after an analysis of federal data. After students turn in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the department selects some for verification, asking them to further prove that the information on their application is accurate. The process, meant to reduce fraud and ensure the integrity of taxpayer dollars, can be time-consuming and is mostly assigned to poorer students.