University System News:
Marietta Daily Journal
KSU students take advantage of summer classes
By Anna Chapman
Many college students may see their summer break as an opportunity to catch up on sleep, get a fun summer job or catch up with old friends. Record-breaking numbers of Kennesaw State University students, however, have added one more item to their summer to-do list: take advantage of summer classes that allow them to either get ahead or stay on track to graduate in their intended timeframe. More than 20,300 students have enrolled in the summer 2021 semester, an increase from their reported summer 2020 enrollment of 19,978. According to KSU, the increase in enrollment is reflective of an overall increase each year for the past three years.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: Clayton State’s new prez; KSU’s record enrollment
By Eric Stirgus
Several area colleges and universities in recent days unveiled plans to respond to their enrollment growth in different ways, such as new buildings, academic programs or scholarship initiatives. Here are some details about those plans, along with some changes on the leadership front at Clayton State University and Morris Brown College. Additionally, we look at some concerns being raised on ACT and SAT scores in this edition of AJC On Campus.
Clayton State’s new leader … Kennesaw State’s record summer enrollment …AP exam score results coming too late? …University System’s group moving slowly on renaming work … Congressman pushes for $100 million for HBCU scholarships …UGA gets $1 million for poultry institute …Becker scholarships
AllOnGeorgia
Georgia Southern University Named as Gold Level Campus
Collaboration among the Waters College of Health Professions, Campus Recreation and Intramurals (CRI) and University Health Services has garnered Georgia Southern University a fourth Gold Level Campus by Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM®-OC) designation. The designation honors college campuses for their participation and engagement in the EIM®-OC program. Schools earn gold, silver or bronze status based on their activities related to physical activity promotion, education and EIM®-OC integration into campus health services. Recognition provides an opportunity for campuses to enhance their image as a healthy academic environment and highlight their commitment to creating a culture of wellness.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Gwinnett hopes to jump start job growth with entrepreneur center
By Arielle Kass
The door to the Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center was unlocked on a late June afternoon, so Lidya Carpenter walked in. That’s been happening whenever there are cars in the parking lot, the center’s leaders said, though membership applications aren’t live until today and it will be more than a month before the building is open. …The entrepreneur center is designed to help people like Carpenter, who have an idea — or a small business — and need help getting it to the next step. …The center is meant to help people create businesses in Gwinnett County that will lease space and hire workers in the community, Farmer said. As such, all members will have a graduation plan to help get out of the county space within three years, after training and mentorship. …Both programs use community partnerships to enhance the connections participants might make naturally. Georgia Gwinnett College is a partner in the entrepreneur center.
Athens CEO
Couple’s Gift to UGA will Help Rural Reporters Participate in Community Leadership Programs
Charlie Bauder
Through a gift to the University of Georgia, one couple is combining their interests in journalism and leadership development. A gift from Craig Lesser in honor of his wife, Nancy, has endowed the Nancy Shepherd Lesser Fund for Rural Leaders in Print Media at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a unit of UGA Public Service and Outreach. The fund will provide money to pay for newspaper reporters in rural Georgia to participate in their local community leadership program.
The Brunswick News
College, school district leaders continue partnership to offer REACH program
By Lauren McDonald
Students in Glynn County Schools’ special education program will continue to benefit this year from a partnership the district has with College of Coastal Georgia that brings the students to the college campus to learn real-world skills they’ll take beyond graduation. Representatives from CCGA and the school district signed Thursday a memorandum of understanding that extends their partnership for another year and continues the REACH program. REACH, or Reaching Educational and Career Heights, is designed to meet the needs of special education students whose goal is to move from school to a work environment. They gain work skills and independent living skills in classrooms, community-based programs and work opportunities.
Healio
Pain in cerebral palsy makes motor skill activities even more challenging for kids
The presence of pain in children with cerebral palsy can make motor skill activities even more difficult, according to a research letter published in JAMA Network Open. …Rochani [assistant professor of biostatistics, epidemiology and environmental health sciences at Georgia Southern University] and colleagues analyzed data from the 2017 to 2018 National Survey of Children’s Health. Specifically, they evaluated responses from 151 patients aged 6 to 17 years with a diagnosis of CP and 9,177 typically developing children (TDC). Study data showed that children with CP, compared with TDC, were much more likely to experience difficulty dressing or bathing (56.9% vs. 0.2%). Further, less than one-half of the children with CP were likely to participate in a sports activity (30.1% vs. 66.3%).
The Red & Black
UGA health experts’ advice for returning to post-pandemic life
Nava Rawls
As University of Georgia students prepare for the almost complete easing of COVID-19 restrictions on campus, anxiety about returning to normalcy may start to arise. Effective May 13, 2021, UGA updated its coronavirus guidance to say that fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to socially distance or wear masks. Unvaccinated individuals are still “strongly encouraged” to social distance when possible and wear masks while inside, according to the UGA COVID-19 response website. …Despite the vaccine providing increased protection, it may still be difficult for some to transition back to “normalcy” after a year of fear and isolation. …Green [senior director of medical services at the University Health Center], UGA psychology professor Emily Mouliso and University Health Center healthy relationship and sexual health coordinator Camilla Herndon provide individuals with some helpful tips and advice to cope with the return to campus this fall.
Athens CEO
UGA Alumni Association Unveils the 2021 Class of 40 Under 40
The University of Georgia Alumni Association has unveiled the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021. This program celebrates the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of successful UGA graduates under the age of 40. The honorees will be recognized during the 11th annual 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon Sept. 10 in the Tate Student Center on campus. This year’s outstanding group of young alumni includes a Major League Soccer communications director, United States Air Force commander, 11Alive News anchor, White House senior policy advisor and an award-winning writer.
Scientific American
Is Your Office Safe from COVID? What to Know Now That Your Boss Wants You Back
Workers are anxious because the coronavirus is still infecting people. Here are ways to evaluate the safety of a shared work space
By Christie Aschwanden
As COVID cases drop in the U.S. and vaccinations increase, many companies are bringing their employees back to office buildings. And lots of those workers are worried: Will shared spaces remain safe as restrictions are lifted and viral variants spread? Can businesses require all employees to be vaccinated? What office and building features best minimize risk? To get answers, Scientific American asked experts in infectious disease, air-flow engineering, and the law to explain the office designs and policies that will most improve coronavirus safety and the ways you can evaluate these factors. …COVID trends in your community matter. Rates of COVID have fallen significantly in most parts of the U.S. since last fall, but there are still pockets where cases are increasing, says Joshua Weitz, a quantitative biologist at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His team has built a tool that can estimate the probability that someone in a group is infected, given the size of the group and the number of circulating cases in that area. Select your county, plug in the number of people in your office, and the tool provides an estimate of the risk that someone in the group will have COVID. Weitz’s group has made another tool that estimates what proportion of each state’s population has immunity to the disease, either via vaccination or a natural infection. Taking these two estimates together can give you a picture of how likely you might be to encounter SARS-CoV-2 at your office.
The Hill
New study says Biden clean energy plan would save more than 300k lives
The report suggests a clean energy standard would save more than 317,000 lives and generate $1.13 trillion in health benefits.
By Adam Barnes
President Biden’s goal to slash carbon emissions through a shift to renewable energy sources could save more than 300,000 lives. A new report from researchers at Harvard University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Syracuse University suggests that the clean energy standard — which would force utilities to transition to clean energy — is the best way to reach the Biden administration’s goal to use 80 percent renewable energy by 2030. Researchers found that a clean energy standard could save both lives and money.
WSAV
Statesboro man gets life in prison for 2016 murder
by: Molly Curley
A man who shot and killed a Georgia Southern University student is headed to prison for life. A Bulloch County jury earlier this month convicted 28-year-old Jamontea Pitts for the 2016 killing of Forrest Kibler. Police say Kibler intended to buy marijuana from Pitts, who instead pulled a gun and shot and robbed him.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated July 15)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 18,607 | 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: 909,937
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Appropriations Committee Approves Higher Education Funding Bill
By Alexis Gravely
The House Appropriations Committee approved a bill Thursday that includes nearly $31 billion in total higher education funding for fiscal year 2022. The bill, which primarily includes Democratic priorities and aligns closely with President Biden’s budget proposal, was approved by a vote of 33 to 25. No substantial amendments were made to any of the higher education provisions during the full committee markup. It includes $27.2 billion for federal student aid programs and another $3.43 billion for higher education programs. It also increases the maximum federal Pell Grant by $400 to $6,895.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
‘Case for Campus Housing’ Study Finds Benefits to Living on Campus
by Jessica Ruf
First-year students who live on campus are 2% more likely to continue on to their second year than those who do not, according to a new report, “The Case for Campus Housing,” from the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I). ACUHO-I says that difference could be due to the proximity of learning experiences and opportunities while in residence halls, including “the ability to attend classes, interact with faculty, meet with advisors, study and do projects with other students, use academic support services, and attend social, diversity-related, and wellness activities.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education
A ‘Breaking Point’ in Campus Mental Health
Colleges struggle to respond to clusters of suicides.
An Epidemic Of Anguish
By Kate Hidalgo Bellows
This spring, after the third undergraduate student death at Dartmouth College in one academic year, Martha Aguirre began to notice a pattern in the emails the college sent to its grieving campus. They seemed to follow a template: Name. Date of passing. Class. College and concentration. Achievements. Frustrated by what she saw as inaction to address a cluster of suicides on campus, Aguirre, a rising senior, felt the emails’ formality was callous. …The spate of deaths at Dartmouth left students like Aguirre looking for answers and reignited conversations about mental health in higher education. Other campuses have been grappling with similar tragedies during the past year: West Virginia University lost two students to suicide, and Cornell University saw five students die unexpectedly. Clusters of suicides — multiple deaths in close proximity — have raised concerns of “suicide contagion” on campuses. Research has shown that exposure to suicide can increase suicidal behavior in others, especially those who are already at risk.
Inside Higher Ed
Colleges that are requiring COVID-19 vaccinations try to get a handle on current vaccination rates in advance of deadlines for students to submit documentation.
By Elizabeth Redden
Stockton University in New Jersey is one of hundreds of colleges requiring students get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall. Students have until Aug. 1 to provide the university with proof of vaccination status or to request an exemption on medical or religious grounds. …In the meantime, Stockton is not alone in facing a waiting game — and a bit of a guessing game — when it comes to seeing what compliance with this new requirement will look like. Nationally, young adults age 18 to 29 have the lowest COVID vaccination rates of any adults. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health this week by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that close to a quarter (24 percent) of young adults age 18 to 25 expressed hesitancy about getting a COVID vaccine, with their most common concerns centering around safety and possible side effects. Officials at several other colleges with COVID-19 vaccination requirements stressed it is still early to draw conclusions about student uptake of vaccinations.
The Guardian
‘Covid has been a big catalyst’: universities plan for post-pandemic life
Sally Weale and Richard Adams
The lifting of Covid restrictions on 19 July, announced by the government this week, will allow for a full return to face-to-face teaching in higher education, but university leaders are keen not to overpromise. Soaring infection rates aside, many staff believe digital initiatives adopted in a state of emergency should be kept as they enhance the student experience. Large lectures in cavernous theatres will be cut back, as will the traditional three-hour exam. Vice-chancellors say the shift to online assessments has been a positive of the pandemic experience, with universities such as Cambridge and Warwick already announcing their intention to stick with them. In the long term, many in the sector predict a shift in investment away from shiny and expensive new campuses to the digital estate. Sceptics see it as a way of cutting costs before a further funding squeeze, while universities insist it is not a cheap option. The immediate challenge will be winning over students, who are craving human contact after spending months learning in their bedrooms. Despite being far more technologically advanced than their institutions, the overwhelming feedback is they want the full campus experience and plenty of face-to-face interaction – just as universities start to move online.
Inside Higher Ed
Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
While the Office for Civil Rights’ notice of interpretation likely won’t bring monumental changes, institutions will still need to consider how their campuses could be more equitable for LGBTQ+ students.
By Alexis Gravely
The Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Education made a clarification last month that many were anticipating — LGBTQ+ students are protected by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, meaning students cannot be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity at institutions receiving federal funds. While the notice of interpretation aligns with the approach that many colleges and universities were already taking, it signals that OCR is open for business on these issues, and it is ready to hold institutions accountable.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Plan Is ‘Not Perfect,’ but Pa.’s Public-College System Will Turn 6 Campuses Into 2
By Eric Kelderman
After a decade of falling enrollments and shrinking state appropriations, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is taking a major — but controversial — step meant to stem the system’s fiscal woes, shore up academic offerings at struggling institutions, and work more collaboratively with elected officials. The system’s Board of Governors on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to consolidate six of the 14 universities into two institutions. In the western part of the state, the campuses at California, Clarion, and Edinboro will merge, and the campuses at Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield will become one institution. …The two institutions that result from the merger will each be led by a single president and leadership team, including enrollment-management and student-support services, and a unified faculty with academic programs shared across all of the three combined campuses in each new college. Several board members said the vote to consolidate was difficult but necessary, given the state’s demographic trends and the continuing inadequacy of state appropriations.