University System News:
MSN
…While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students of every age. Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in Georgia using rankings from Niche. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.
#10. Georgia College & State University (Milledgeville); #9. Georgia State University (Atlanta); #8. Georgia Southern University (Statesboro); #3. University of Georgia (Athens); #1. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta)
WGAU Radio
UGA reports another dip in campus COVID
Down 95 percent from Labor Day
By Tim Bryant
The University of Georgia reports the results of the latest week of campus coronavirus testing, with, for the week that ended this past Sunday, just 27 positive tests for COVID 19. That’s down 95 percent from the peak number of cases reported around Labor Day at UGA. The University’s decline in coronavirus cases comes on the heels of a federal edict that likely means mask and vaccine mandates at the University of Georgia.
Marietta Daily Journal
National report gives Kennesaw State ‘A’ for core curriculum quality
Kennesaw State University is one of only 24 colleges and universities in the nation to receive an “A” for core curriculum excellence in the 2021–22 “What Will They Learn?” report by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. KSU ranked in the top 2.1% among the more than 1,100 public and private four-year institutions evaluated by the nonprofit education group. This is the 11th consecutive year the university has been recognized in the survey. Of the group receiving an “A” grade, KSU is the most affordable, with the lowest in-state and out-of-state tuition rates, ACTA noted in the report.
The Brunswick News
College student finds leadership opportunities at CCGA
By Lauren McDonald
Alex Miller had little experience sailing when she signed on to support the creation of the Sailing Club at College of Coastal Georgia. She quickly learned, though, and then began recruiting other students to the club, which competed for the first time earlier this month at an event in Daytona, Fla. As a founding member of the club, Miller was proud to see the student group represent the college. …Her experience with the Sailing Club is one of many that have shaped Miller as a student and leader as she prepares for the next chapter of her academic journey.
Patch
Georgia Southern University’s Office of Facilities Planning, Design and Construction earned multiple Georgia Peach Green Building Awards at the 2021 Georgia Association of State Facilities Administrators (GASFA) Conference on Sept. 21. … The department earned the top state honors for the construction of the Interdisciplinary Academic Building, a multipurpose, multistoried building with flexible space that is equipped with state-of-the-art classroom technology, and the Engineering and Research building, a sleek, 135,000-square-foot structure, comprising 21 cutting-edge instructional research labs, 25 academic learning spaces, configurable labs and a renewable energy rooftop lab. The remodeling of the University Police Department facility also earned a Peach Award.
Growing Georgia
Stallion Day Fills Up, Weekday Tours Available at ABAC
All available slots have been filled for the Stallion Day recruitment event at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Nov. 13 so Dr. Michael Kirkland, Vice President for Enrollment Management, encourages prospective students to sign up for the Feb. 5, 2022, edition of Stallion Day. “Stallion Day has become an event that is very much in demand,” Kirkland said. “Because of Covid-19 protocols, we are limiting the number of high school students who can attend so I would suggest that they go ahead and sign up for the February date. We also have tours of the campus for prospective students and their families during weekdays, and that is always a great option.” Sunny Sparrow, newly named Assistant Director of Enrollment Management, said the weekday tours are led by ABAC Ambassadors, the premier leadership group at ABAC.
WTOC
Georgia Southern University celebrating Homecoming week
By Dal Cannady
More than 20,000 Georgia Southern University students have the chance to take part in Homecoming this week. This week gives students a chance to get excited about their school. Students lined up on the Statesboro campus this morning for T-shirts and other Homecoming 2021 gear. Organizers say they’ve had a busy week already with more on the schedule between now and Saturday and they’re glad to see students taking part.
WGAU Radio
BioTech startup moves into UGA’s Delta Innovation Hub
InfraredRX
By Clark Schwabe, UGA Today
The University of Georgia Delta Innovation Hub welcomed a new start-up earlier this October: InfraredRX, a biotechnology company founded by three UGA faculty members. The creation of Kevin McCully, Kent Nilsson and Jonathan Murrow, InfraredRX’s mission is to discover, develop and deliver improved measures of skeletal muscle blood flow and mitochondrial function for use in bettering patient health.
The Augusta Chronicle
Breakout test: Viral panel tracks COVID variants, flu, other viruses at same time
Tom Corwin
A new test at Augusta University offers the ability to genetically track the virus that causes COVID-19 and dozens of others at the same time, allowing officials to not only know what is making people sick in their community but also track and predict outbreaks. The viral panel at the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University can do hundreds of samples at a time. It not only looks for SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID but 40 others, including other coronaviruses, seven different strains of influenza A and five of influenza B and many others that cause common colds and upper respiratory infections.
WSB-TV
UGA to test selling alcohol at basketball games this season
By WSBTV.com News Staff
The University of Georgia announced Wednesday it will allow fans 21 or older to purchase beer or hard seltzer at both men’s and women’s basketball games during the 2021-22 season. The school’s athletic association said the pilot program is being done to help improve the fan experience by expanding options at the Stegman Coliseum concession stands. The move makes Georgia the 11th Southeastern Conference school to permit the sale of alcohol at athletic venues.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Oct. 27)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED CASES: 1,261,729
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 24,602 | 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.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
This College Is Scrapping an Onerous Financial-Aid Form for Low-Income Students. Here’s Why.
By Eric Hoover
For 15 years, Nicole Hurd led the College Advising Corps, a national college-access organization that works with low-income and first-generation students. During that time she regularly surveyed the group’s advisers and asked them informally about their concerns. Their No. 1 complaint every time? The CSS Profile. That’s the name of the online financial-aid form students must complete to apply for institutional aid at many prominent colleges. The application, owned by the College Board, is used by more than 300 colleges and scholarship organizations to allot more than $9 billion a year to students with need. Providing a full picture of an applicant’s financial situation and family background, the form is more detailed than the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, which families use to apply for government grants and loans. But many college-access advocates have described the CSS Profile as a barrier for students who tend to need the most help with the admissions process — and who have great financial need.
Inside Higher Ed
Food Pantries Merge to Fight Campus Hunger
Swipe Out Hunger and the College and University Food Bank Alliance join forces to reach more campuses and end food insecurity for students.
By Maria Carrasco
In an effort to reach more students struggling with food insecurity, Swipe Out Hunger, a nonprofit addressing hunger among college students, announced last week it was merging with the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA), a network of campus food pantries across the U.S. Under the arrangement, the team behind Swipe Out Hunger will take over CUFBA. In return, Swipe Out Hunger will fundraise and provide CUFBA’s network with food pantry consultation and financial support. Rachel Sumekh, founder and CEO of Swipe Out Hunger, said the two organizations have been working together since 2015 and began discussing the merger earlier this year, largely as a way to give CUFBA more infrastructure. Swipe Out Hunger will also integrate CUFBA’s best practices into its own curriculum to develop tools, guides and information to bolster its food security efforts.