University System News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp signs teacher pipeline, other education bills
By Ty Tagami
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a half dozen education-related bills into law at a ceremony at Kennesaw State University Tuesday. One of them, Senate Bill 88, was a priority for the governor, who has a daughter who is a future teacher. Deemed a teacher “pipeline” bill, it seeks to increase the size of the teacher workforce through a variety of means, including an alternative certification path for military veterans, mentoring of teachers, new training requirements in college and efforts to attract more minority college students to the teaching profession. “I’m glad we’re talking about education and not COVID,” Kemp said during the signing.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp signs Georgia adoption laws offering free tuition and protections
By Mark Niesse and Maya T. Prabhu
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a package of six bills into law Monday designed to promote foster care and adoption by increasing legal protections, lowering parent age limits and offering free college tuition. The bills are the latest in a series of efforts to make it easier for children to find families and homes… Another measure, Senate Bill 107, waives in-state tuition for foster and adopted students whose families receive adoption assistance from the state, provided the students enroll in college within three years after obtaining a high school diploma or GED certificate, among other requirements.
WTOC
Attendance changes for Georgia Southern commencement ceremonies
By WTOC Staff
Georgia Southern University has announced changes to its Spring 2021 Commencement ceremonies planned for next week after recent COVID guideline changes from the CDC, Georgia Department of Public Health and an updated executive order from the Office of the Governor.
Albany Herald
All Georgia Southwestern summer graduate classes to be held online
From staff reports
Georgia Southwestern State University’s College of Education is moving all graduate classes entirely online this summer after an unprecedented year of stress, online learning, and other challenges related to COVID-19.
Moultrie Observer
Doerun native recognized by White House education initiative
Staff Reports
Savannah State University will be represented by Doerun native Denerick Simpson for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. …Simpson was chosen to be a White House Competitiveness Scholar for 2020-2021. As the highest student recognition program, competitiveness scholars are chosen for their academic achievements, campus and civic engagement and entrepreneurial ethos or “go-getter” spirits. In addition, each recognized scholar is nominated and endorsed by their institution’s president, which in itself is a prestigious acknowledgement.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ten things to know about UGA’s diversity and inclusion plan
By Eric Stirgus
University of Georgia officials unveiled a plan Monday to advance diversity and inclusion among its students, faculty and staff. UGA leaders have embarked on several efforts in recent years to address student and faculty diversity at the state’s flagship university. Some students and community leaders have criticized the university for not doing enough to address the impact of past discriminatory acts in Athens’ Black community and current racial disparities in its enrollment. UGA’s Black and Hispanic enrollment are about 8% and 6%, respectively. Here are 10 goals of the plan:
The Tifton Gazette
Doyle donates spreader to ABAC
The J.G. Woodroof Farm at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College continues to offer ABAC students the opportunities to operate top-of-the-line equipment. Dr. Mark Kistler, dean of the ABAC School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the latest donation to the inventory of farm equipment is from Doyle Equipment Manufacturing for the use of a Doyle five-ton mid-clearance spreader for one year, college officials said in a statement.
13WMAZ
They’ve been growing bacteria and sending samples off to other labs.
Author: Molly Jett
Georgia College students are working on a small piece of the COVID-19 puzzle. Chemists are working on discovering and developing a cure for the coronavirus. Not too long ago, Sydney Sellers couldn’t picture herself spending hours at a time working in a chemistry lab.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated May 3)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 17,593 | 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: 882,074 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
New data highlight minorities and women in science, along with one particularly understudied group: scientists with disabilities.
By Colleen Flaherty
Joey Ramp and her science service dog, Sampson
Academic science is much more diverse than it was a generation ago, even if it still has a ways to go. That’s according to a new report on women, minorities and people with disabilities from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics at the National Science Foundation.