University System News
WMGT-41
Cathy Cox named new President of Georgia College & State University
By Haley Janes
A news release from the University System of Georgia (USG) was sent out on Thursday August 19, 2021, detailing that the Board of Regents of the USG had named Cathy Cox the new president of Georgia College and State University (GCSU). Cox’s new position will be in effect starting October 1, 2021.
The story also appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Macon Telegraph and WGXA.
WALB
GSW summer enrollment breaks record second year in a row
By Keshawn Ward
Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) continues to break records with summer enrollment. They now have the highest percentage growth of the University System of Georgia’s 26 institutions. GSW officials believe this rise is because students don’t want to fall behind during the pandemic. Specifically, the growth is in graduate courses.
WGAU
USG scholarship program gets boost from UGA Foundation
By Clark Schwabe
After four years of fundraising success, the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program has received an additional $1 million from the University of Georgia Foundation to match future GCS gifts. The increase supports UGA’s new Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Plan, which calls for an increase in need-based student scholarships. “I am thrilled with the foundation’s decision to allocate this additional funding in support of our students,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA, Georgia Tech among nation’s top public universities
By Nancy Clanton
Two public universities in the Peach State finished high in Niche’s 2022 ranking. One claimed the No. 4 spot, while the other just missed being in the top 10… When the scores were totaled, Georgia Institute of Technology finished No. 4 of the 691 schools on the list. The school also finished No. 5 of 467 best colleges for engineering and No. 6 of 868 best colleges for computer science. It was also the 11th best value among 1,601 schools… Niche ranked the University of Georgia at No. 11 in the nation. However, Bulldogs attend the No. 3 school for best student life and No. 6 party school, both out of 1,612 colleges on the list. UGA was also third for agricultural sciences.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia nursing shortage at crisis levels
By Ariel Hart and Willoughby Mariano
Carey Mullis believes she was put on this earth to nurse. But she’s not sure whether she can take the pandemic’s toll in her South Georgia hospital any more. COVID-19 has turned Georgia’s chronic nursing shortage into a crisis, one whose effects may be felt for years to come. As exhausted staff bear the crushing fourth wave that is building here from the delta variant, many COVID-19 nurses with long experience are quitting, moving to calmer jobs or barely hanging on… “We’re in a staffing crisis,” said Neil Pruitt, CEO of PruittHealth, one of the largest long-term care providers in the Southeast. Pruitt said he had resorted to a pilot program of bringing in nurses from the Philippines, which he said costs about $40,000 per nurse just to make the hire, a significant cost… South Georgia State College and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College are training new health care workers to pitch in at Coffee Regional. Enrollment at nursing schools across the state seems to be holding steady or doing well, officials said, perhaps driven by a drive to help, or the new prominence of a solid profession.
WGAU
UNG names professor for Military Science
By Clark Leonard
Col. Bryan G. Kirk is the University of North Georgia’s new professor of military science, and he hopes to keep the momentum of the Corps of Cadets rolling in his latest assignment, which began Aug. 9. “I’m really excited and honored to have been chosen as the professor of military science at UNG,” Kirk said. “I’ve had the privilege to work throughout the past 24 years with several UNG graduates, and I can’t think of one I wouldn’t want to work with again.”
Patch
Georgia Southern Education Faculty Receives 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity
By Staff Reports
Georgia Southern University assistant professor of elementary education Beverly Miller, Ph.D., received the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. The Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors members of colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Miller was recognized for her efforts in coordinating STEM camps for underrepresented populations. The first camp, Ventaja Panamá, began in 2017, offering STEM and literacy to underserved students in the country of Panama.
WGXA
Cochran Downtown Development Authority, Middle GA University partner for new mural
By Haley Garrett
Middle Georgia State University (MGA) and Cochran Downtown Development Authority came together today to unveil a new mural. The mural is at the corner of Second and Ash Streets. The mural that reads “Welcome to Cochran, Your Southern Home, Est. in 1869”, is sure to catch both resident and visitor eyes when entering downtown.
Savannah CEO
By Staff Reports
Georgia Southern University will hold a “soft” ribbon-cutting event today marking the establishment of a new park dedicated to the fraternities and sororities who make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) on the Statesboro Campus and recognizing the rich history and traditions they have brought to the University. The NPHC Park plots symbolically and physically represent each organization’s presence on campus and give alumni and current members a location for reflection and celebration. The park unites all Georgia Southern stakeholders through mutual respect, education and celebration. Additionally, installation of these plots upholds the institutional values of openness and inclusion by physically embedding a diverse cultural presence into the institution’s aesthetic and history.
Patch
Children’s Book Lauds Gainesville Community
By J.K. Devine
University of North Georgia (UNG) President Bonita Jacobs and Richard Oates, vice president of UNG’s Gainesville Campus, collaborated to pen a children’s book featuring the Gainesville Campus and its signature community event, the Starlight Celebration and Fireworks.
The UNG Press will launch the book “UNG Best Day Ever!” Aug. 28 at the Gainesville Campus during the annual community event. It is the second in a series of books spotlighting each of the university’s five campuses. The first book, “UNG The Gold I See: The Legacy of UNG’s Dahlonega Campus,” was released in fall 2018.
Southern Living
Remembering Otis Redding: How His Family Keeps His Legacy Alive in Georgia and Beyond
By Colleen McMillar
Soul singer Otis Redding was still ascending to super stardom when the blues-rock band Rising Sons got the nod to open for him at a West Hollywood club in the spring of 1966. Taj Mahal, not yet the acclaimed bluesman that he would become, was lead vocalist for the short-lived group… In addition, the foundation offers private music lessons, with director Kimberly Kelsey Epps recruiting instructors from Mercer University, Middle Georgia State University, and Kennesaw State University and other outlets.
Other News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Aug. 19)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is keeping track of reported coronavirus deaths and cases across Georgia according to the Department of Public Health. See details in the map below. See the DPH’s guide to their data for more information about definitions.
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 19,131 | 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: 1,012,809
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp bars local officials from requiring businesses to adopt virus restrictions
By Greg Bluestein
Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order Thursday that bars local governments from forcing private businesses to enact vaccine requirements, indoor capacity limits and mask rules aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Kemp framed the order as a way to “protect” businesses as a growing number of cities impose mask mandates during a fourth wave of the disease. Georgia recently surpassed 1 million confirmed coronavirus infections since the pandemic’s start, with most of the recent cases involving residents who refused to get vaccinated. Under the order, private businesses could still choose to require vaccines or masks, or limit capacity to reduce the spread of the virus. But Kemp said it aims to ban local governments from enacting ordinances that require them to do so.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta docs plead with public to get shots as Kemp bans COVID mandates by cities
By Tamar Hallerman and Carrie Teegardin
Doctors and nurses from metro Atlanta’s major hospital systems all but begged Georgians Thursday morning to get vaccinated and take other steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, sharing stories of full emergency rooms and long wait times for patients needing care. Hours later, Gov. Brian Kemp announced he had signed an executive order blocking cities from forcing private businesses to enact mask rules, mandate vaccines or take other actions to mitigate the coronavirus. The back-to-back events showcased just how difficult it may be for the state to overcome a fourth wave of cases fueled by the highly contagious delta variant and low vaccination rates. There are currently 4,900 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Georgia, but less than 47% of eligible residents were fully inoculated as of Wednesday, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia mayors plead with Kemp to require masks at state buildings
By Greg Bluestein
The mayors of four of Georgia’s largest cities sent Gov. Brian Kemp an open letter Friday pleading for stronger measures to slow the vicious fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic that’s swamping hospitals. The mayors of Athens, Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah issued the plea a day after the first-term Republican signed an order barring local officials from imposing coronavirus restrictions on local businesses. The mayors, all Democrats, wrote that while Kemp “may find it politically necessary to hew to the course of others who live in the shadow of the former president, we are more concerned with the health and livelihood” of residents in local communities.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia public health agency issues new advice for school quarantines
By Ty Tagami
Georgia Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey is recommending that students be required to wear masks when quarantining in school as a safety precaution to curb the spread of COVID-19. Toomey made the recommendation in a letter to state superintendents Thursday. The advice comes two weeks after the agency issued an order allowing schools to establish their own quarantine rules for students exposed to the virus. The Georgia Department of Public Health letter says there has been “some confusion” about infection protocols after Toomey’s Aug. 2 order allowing “flexibility” with local quarantine rules. The letter says the agency now “strongly recommends” that schools that are allowing students exposed to COVID-19 to quarantine in school require those students to wear a mask until their quarantine period ends.
Higher Education News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some Spelman faculty refusing to teach in person due to COVID-19 safety concerns
By Eric Stirgus
A group of Spelman College faculty are not teaching in person, saying in a message to students Thursday they have not received clear COVID-19 safety guidelines from administrators and plan to teach classes online until they do. “The faculty at Spelman College were excited about returning to in-person instruction,” the message began. “However, much to our disappointment, faculty have not received clear and enforceable protocol and safety guidelines that will ensure our health and wellbeing when teaching face-to-face. While awaiting acceptable responses to these concerns, we have decided not to teach in-person. Most faculty will use alternative instructional methods for course delivery.” It was not clear Thursday how many faculty members have decided not to teach in person.
Inside Higher Ed
When to Go Remote
By Colleen Flaherty
Professors on many campuses say their administrations have ignored their concerns about teaching safely this fall, with COVID-19 case counts rising again due to the Delta variant. But professors at Northern Illinois University say they’ll feel comfortable returning to campus, thanks to an understanding reached this week between the tenured and tenure-track faculty union and the administration. One key provision in that agreement is a two-part trigger for switching to remote instruction: when or if the campus positivity rate for COVID-19 surveillance tests reaches 8 percent, any instructor may choose to teach online. This differs from some other fall 2021 remote policies, where they exist, in that they typically involve beginning the semester online and continuing that way for a defined period of time (think the University of Texas at San Antonio’s three-week remote start).