University System News:
Columbus CEO
Columbus State Confers 958 Degrees During Spring Commencement Ceremonies
Columbus State University celebrated its spring 2021 graduates and newest alumni in three drive-in ceremonies at the Columbus Civic Center on Saturday, May 15. With the safety and health of its graduates and guests in mind, the three ceremonies honored graduates from the comfort of their vehicles while including many of the traditional pomp and circumstance elements of a typical CSU commencement ceremony. More than 400 graduate, bachelor, associate, nexus and certificate completers attended the ceremonies. The graduates represent the university’s College of the Arts, Turner College of Business, College of Education and Health Professions, and College of Letters and Sciences. Eight CSU graduates were also commissioned into the U.S. Army as second lieutenants.
Savannah CEO
Approximately 4,200 Degrees Conferred During Georgia Southern’s 2021 Spring Commencement Ceremonies
This week, approximately 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students from Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro, Armstrong and Liberty campuses received associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist and doctoral degrees in six Spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies. Georgia Southern President Kyle Marrero welcomed the graduates and their guests to the ceremonies, held at the Savannah Convention Center in Savannah on May 8, and the Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro on May 10, 11, 12 and 13. Following a rendition of the national anthem by vocal performance majors, Marrero extended his personal congratulations to the graduates on their academic achievements.
yahoo!news
Abbeville graduate receives top award at ABAC commencement
The Albany Herald, Ga.
Meredith McGlamory, an Agricultural Communication major from Abbeville, received the ABAC Alumni Association Award as the top graduate participating in the recent commencement ceremony at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Because of social distancing guidelines, ABAC hosted three commencement ceremonies, two in Tifton and one in Bainbridge. A total of 302 graduates participated in the ceremonies. McGlamory received a plaque and a check for $500 from the ABAC Alumni Association, which sponsors the award and conducts the interviews that lead to the selection of the winner. The recipient of the award must participate in the commencement ceremony. The award recognizes scholarship, leadership and citizenship.
Inside Higher Ed
U System of Georgia Adjusts Mask Policy
— Scott Jaschik
May 17, 6:20 a.m. The University System of Georgia has adjusted its mask policy, WSBTV News reported. In the fall, fully vaccinated employees and students will not be required to wear a mask while in class or at other activities. Those who have not been vaccinated are “strongly encouraged” to continue wearing their masks inside.
WXFG
Golden Harvest partners with AU Health to distribute COVID-19 vaccines at Mobile Markets
By J. Bryan Randall
Golden Harvest Food Banks is partnering with Augusta University Health to provide COVID-19 vaccines at mobile food distributions in underserved communities. Augusta University Health will offer the vaccines at several Mobile Markets, Golden Harvest’s drive-thru food distributions. Individuals will have the option to get vaccinated while waiting in line for food assistance.
WGAU Radio
UGA research focuses on STEM shortages
Collaborative study with University of Wisconsin
By Lauren Leathers, UGA Media Relations
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.
News Medical
Researchers investigate immune molecule that helps protect transplanted kidneys
Looking to improve organ transplant success, researchers are working to learn more about how an immune molecule, which also protects a fetus, helps protect some transplanted kidneys, and to develop a synthetic version of that molecule that could help more patients. They also are working from the other direction with a “humanized” mouse model that could better select the optimal organ donor and reduce rejection risk. …Medical College of Georgia investigators, led by Dr. Anatolij Horuzsko, an immunologist in the MCG Department of Medicine and Georgia Cancer Center and a leader in the study of HLA-G, have shown that in the lab and in transplant patients a key difference between many who have long success with a new kidney and those who reject is inexplicably high levels of HLA-G.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated May 17)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 17,804 | Deaths have been confirmed in every county. 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: 890,581 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
By Audrey Williams June
During an academic year that has been shaped by the pandemic, faculty members have encountered plenty of students who are grappling with mental-health issues. But data in one report shows that, despite their willingness to assist students in distress, professors don’t know as much as they’d like about how to get them the help they need. The report — based on a survey of 1,685 faculty members conducted during the spring semester by the Boston University School of Public Health, the Healthy Minds Network, and the Mary Christie Foundation — showed that nearly eight out of 10 professors had a one-on-one conversation with a student about mental health during the last 12 months. However, less than 30 percent of faculty members said they have received training from their institutions to have such discussions.
Inside Higher Ed
Congressional committees are once again accepting proposed earmarks from lawmakers, and reforms to the controversial practice could be in higher education’s favor.
By Alexis Gravely
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have brought back earmarks after a 10-year moratorium, but this time the provisions come with several reforms that could make higher education institutions prime recipients of the funding.