University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia public campuses will require ACT/SAT next year
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
University System also says campus will resume normal operations in fall
The University System of Georgia notified the presidents of state public colleges and universities today that 2022 applicants will have to submit ACT or SAT scores. According to a USG spokesman, this information was sent today to campuses: “The University System of Georgia will resume test score admission requirements for Spring 2022 and subsequent semesters. Students’ eligibility will be decided based on all criteria established by USG institutions in accordance with Board of Regents policy.” In addition, the USG announced that campuses will return to normal operations in the fall.
Article also appeared in:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Georgia’s Public Universities Will Reinstate ACT/SAT Requirement
AllOnGeorgia
University System of Georgia to resume test score admission requirements beginning Spring 2022
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Research Alliance announces $15 million effort to fight sickle cell disease
By Eric Stirgus
A team from some of Georgia’s leading medical research institutions will soon embark on an effort to find new treatments and therapies for sickle cell disease. The Georgia Research Alliance, an umbrella organization that includes eight universities and medical schools, formally announced the five-year, $15 million campaign Thursday. Private funding of $7.5 million has been identified and an additional $7.6 million will come from the alliance’s state appropriations over a five-year period, according to the alliance. The plan includes endowed chairs to participate in the research, laboratory infrastructure, and other assistance to boost research and clinical capabilities.
AllOnGeorgia
GSU: First-generation college graduate, U.S. citizen ready to leave a legacy
Born into a family of immigrant farm workers who settled down in Claxton, Georgia, Jasmine Guerra knew her options for a college education were limited. She also knew she’d face additional obstacles as a first-generation college student and first-generation U.S. citizen, but her desire to create a legacy for her family burned brightly. Needless to say, crossing the stage in Allen E. Paulson Stadium as a magna cum laude graduate with two undergraduate degrees in finance and business management and a corporate business job lined up means a little bit more for the graduate from Georgia Southern’s Parker College of Business graduate.
Patch
Recent PhD Graduate Credits Georgia Highlands College This Commencement Season For Strong Foundation
On April 29, Cory Lowe walked across the stage to celebrate earning his PhD in Criminology at the University of Florida, a little more than a decade after earning his Associate of Arts in Political Science at Georgia Highlands College (GHC). Although Lowe initially received his PhD in 2020, commencement ceremonies were put on hold at the time. Participating in last month’s graduation ceremony reminded Lowe of earning his first degree at GHC, which laid the groundwork for his academic and professional career. “I dropped out of the first college I attended because of family and personal challenges, but when I had the opportunity to return to higher education, Georgia Highlands College provided an excellent educational experience and mentoring,” Lowe said. “This enabled me to restart my journey through higher education on a much better footing.” He said he also appreciates the value of GHC’s low-cost tuition, which allowed him to afford to continue on the path of higher education, being able to receive an excellent education near home without going into an excessive amount of debt.
WGAU Radio
UGA Announcements: Commencement exercises begin, COVID-19 results at all-time low
By Caitlin Fisher
Today is the first of three Undergraduate commencement exercises for the University of Georgia. Tonight’s commencement will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Sanford stadium with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Last month, UGA lifted their COVID-19 restrictions and unlimited number of guests are now allowed in the stands for this celebration of achievements. Face masks are encouraged, and social distancing required. This year’s commencement speaker is ESPN reporter and 2009 UGA graduate, Maria Taylor. The University of Georgia is ending the academic year on a high note, with the lowest number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the university began its testing program last August. Only seven cases were reported last week—five students and two staff members.
AllOnGeorgia
Georgia Southern University Recognizes Exemplary Donors at Annual Gratitude Gala
Georgia Southern University hosted its annual Gratitude Gala to recognize key donors for their longtime support of institutional initiatives. The event was held on May 1 at the Mansion on Forsyth Park in Savannah where honorees, which included one individual, one family and one corporation, were presented with awards. “The Gratitude Gala gives Georgia Southern an opportunity to celebrate our donors who have gone above and beyond in their support for the University,” stated Trip Addison, vice president for University Advancement. “Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, we were honored to gather a small group for the event this year to recognize alumni and friends of the University who are helping us be more effective in our mission of transforming lives through education. It is important that we come together to say thank you for being a key part of our past, present and future.”
accessWDUN
UNG projects on Cumming, Dahlonega campuses boosted by state funding
By AccessWDUN staff
Two major construction projects at the University of North Georgia have received more than $4 million in funding in the State of Georgia’s FY 2022 budget. Gov. Brian Kemp signed the spending plan, which totals $23.7 billion, on Monday, May 10. The state money will help finance a new business building on the Dahlonega campus and a building expansion on the Cumming campus.
Columbus CEO
CSU Unveils Renovated Schwob Memorial Library
Columbus State University officially cut the ribbon for newly renovated spaces in its Simon Schwob Memorial Library this week. The ceremony celebrated a multi-year upgrade of the 50-year-old library, including updates to the mechanical systems, library archives, study rooms, and computer labs. “I am pleased we have the opportunity to celebrate the significant upgrades to the Schwob Memorial Library — and the people who made that possible. Together, they underscore what we mean by inspiring collaboration as we seek to provide an environment where every Columbus State student can be creative to the core,” said Chris Markwood, CSU president. “We are thankful to our state leaders who see the importance of what we are doing here at Columbus State — and partner and collaborate with us in those efforts.”
AllOnGeorgia
From Bogotá to Statesboro, graduate Daniel Castro designs his future at GSU
When Daniel Castro’s daily routine shifted from Bogotá, Colombia, a sprawling, capital city surrounded by the Andes Mountains, to the plains of Statesboro, Georgia, he was excited for new opportunities as an international student at Georgia Southern University. Castro long wanted to attend college in the U.S. and worked with an agency in Bogotá to explore various institutions with solid graphic design degree programs. “Georgia Southern was one of the one options and the one I liked best,” said Castro.
Tifton CEO
ABAC Dedicates Fine Arts Building as Edwards Hall
The memory of Dr. Ernest Aaron Edwards, Jr., lives on at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after the dedication ceremony on May 11 to name the new Fine Arts building Edwards Hall in honor of the longtime ABAC faculty member. “Dr. Edwards loved ABAC students, he loved music, and he delighted in stirring the hearts of others with his finely tuned talent at the keyboard,” ABAC President David Bridges said. “As one who had the privilege and honor of having Dr. Edwards as an instructor when I was an ABAC student, he was a man who unselfishly served the college, the community, and the state for more than five decades.” Edwards was a faculty member at ABAC for 35 years and the organist at Tifton’s First Baptist Church for over 50 years. In 1965, Edwards was honored as the first recipient of the Distinguished Professor Award at ABAC.
AllOnGeorgia
Statesboro born-and-raised, Jason Long is a name that locals might recognize from his 23 years of experience in local law enforcement. When plans to enter the military didn’t pan out after high school, Long attempted college for a few years at Georgia Southern University, but his heart and mind weren’t in it, and he quit. He worked in the University’s Department of Parking and Transportation before realizing a desire to work with public safety. …Long returned to Georgia Southern at the age of 45 to earn a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education with concentrations in history and science. “I walked into class, and everyone thought I was the professor,” Long said. But once he started his education classes with the middle grades class of 2021, Long fit right in.
EurekAlert
New research may explain shortages in STEM careers
The study focuses on students who change plans within the pipeline
A new study by the University of Georgia revealed that more college students change majors within the STEM pipeline than leave the career path of science, technology, engineering and mathematics altogether. Funded by a National Institutes of Health grant and a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and done in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, the study examined interviews, surveys and institutional data from 1,193 students at a U.S. midwestern university for more than six years to observe a single area of the STEM pipeline: biomedical fields of study. Out of 921 students who stayed in the biomedical pipeline through graduation, almost half changed their career plans within the biomedical fields.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
From dance and dinosaurs, here’s your guide to 18 summer camps in Columbus
By Joshua Mixon
With the school year winding down for students in Columbus, summertime will bring many fun activities for kids. Although many summer camps were canceled or moved to a virtual format in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, several summer camps are planned for the 2021 summer. Here’s a list of summer camps in Columbus, and the COVID-19 precautions they’re taking:
COLUMBUS STATE UNIVERSITY ACTIV8 SUMMER CAMPS
This year’s Activ8 Summer Camps include a theme for each session featuring activities from CSU’s Brain Training, iTech, Create-a-lot, Scienceologies and Sports-and-Dance categories. Locations include the Schwob School of Music, Coca-Cola Space Science Center and more.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fauci: Fully vaccinated folks don’t need to wear a mask outdoors
By Tim Darnell
President Joe Biden’s top health advisor said Thursday that people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus don’t have to wear a mask outside. “It would be a very unusual situation if you were going into a completely crowded situation where people are essentially falling all over each other,” Dr. Anthony Fauci told CBS “This Morning.” Then you wear a mask. But any other time, if you are vaccinated and you are outside, put aside your mask, you don’t have to wear it.” Late last month, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidelines to also say Americans who have been fully vaccinated don’t need to wear masks outdoors.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CDC panel approves Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 to 15
By Tim Darnell, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel has approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people ages 12 to 15. The approval by the CDC panel clears the way for vaccines to be used for those ages as soon as Thursday. The panel voted unanimously — 14-0 — in favor of using the vaccine for those age groups.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Pell Grant Recipients Eligible for Discounted Broadband Program
By Alexis Gravely
The Federal Communications Commission, in partnership with the Department of Education, has launched a nationwide program providing discounted internet access to all Pell Grant recipients for the 2020-21 award year. The Emergency Broadband Benefit program offers a discount of up to $50 per month on broadband service for eligible households and $75 per month for households on tribal lands. Participants in the program can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer or tablet.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Postsecondary Value Commission Findings Show Disparities in Postsecondary Education Value
by Arrman Kyaw
The national Postsecondary Value Commission – supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and managed by the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) – released its final findings – using national and institutional data – confirming wide-ranging disparities in the value of a postsecondary education in terms of race, income, and gender. As such, the commission is proposing a new approach to measuring postsecondary value and is offering recommendations. Wealth and earnings disparities are entrenched in American society but are not insurmountable. Higher ed institutions have the responsibility to equitably serve historically disadvantaged students.