University System News:
Savannah Morning News
Savannah State formally welcomes 14th president during investiture ceremony
Bianca Moorman
Students, alumni and members of the community gathered at Tiger Arena in Savannah to welcome Kimberly Ballard-Washington as the 14th president of Savannah State University. She is the second female to hold the role permanently. Ballard-Washington was officially sworn in as president of the college during an investiture ceremony on Friday morning. The event, which is one of the oldest academic ceremonies, included Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, Gov. Brian Kemp, Chatham County Commissioner Chester Ellis, several members of the Georgia Board of Regents and former colleagues. Kemp said the school is a great place to educate and train students for the work force.
See also:
WSAV
Savannah State University officially welcomes 14th president (with recording of investiture)
WTOC
Savannah State University hosts Presidential Investiture honoring Ballard-Washington
WJCL
Savannah State University holds investiture ceremony for president
Kimberly Ballard-Washington is officially sworn in
Savannah Morning News
Investiture ceremony for Savannah State University President Kimberly Ballard-Washington
11 PHOTOS
U.S. News & World Report
Savannah State Welcomes 14th President During Ceremony
Savannah State University has sworn in its 14th president _ Kimberly Ballard-Washington.
Six Mile Post
New agreement inked between GHC and UGA
Daniel Ortiz, Guest Writer
Students at Georgia Highlands College now have a new way of transferring to the University of Georgia through a new articulation agreement between the two universities. The agreement allows students to transfer to the UGA Griffin campus to complete a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. Students must complete an amended associates of science in biology at GHC and maintain a 2.8 cumulative GPA in order to be eligible for transfer. This new agreement guarantees GHC students admission into the microbiology program at the UGA Griffin campus. Interim Dean for the school of STEM at GHC, Jason Christian, said that the degree students will walk away with from the microbiology program is no different than what is offered at UGA’s main campus in Athens.
WGAU Radio
Adding 70k square feet
By Tim Bryant
Today is a groundbreaking day at UGA, the ceremonial start of work of the expansion of the University of Georgia’s Poultry Science Complex. It is set for 9 o’clock this morning at the facility on DW Brooks Drive in Athens.
From the University of Georgia master calendar…
Phase I of the Poultry Science Complex will increase the size of the department of poultry science’s facilities to more than 70,000 square feet, modernizing instructional and lab space; providing centralized, student-focused facilities; and helping to attract and retain world-class researchers.
The Gallup Podcast
How to Help U.S. Students Succeed in Computer Science
What role do mentors play in sparking and sustaining student interest in computer science as a field of study? And what role can parents take to help students hone computer science skills to secure the jobs of the future, even if they don’t have tech industry experience themselves? Victor Reinoso, global director of Amazon Future Engineer, and Stephanie Marken, Gallup’s executive director of education research, join the podcast to discuss Amazon’s education initiative. …But we’ve also got a number of, of, of resources that teachers can use outside of a formal computer science curriculum. As an example, we have a partnership with Georgia Tech, and they have a program called EarSketch, which teaches kids to, to remix music, using code.
yahoo!news
Dougherty students exposed to ‘whole new world’ of education
The Albany Herald, Ga.
The Center for Education Integrating Science Mathematics and Computing (CEISMC) at Georgia Tech Savannah and Atlanta campuses recently partnered with GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Potential) in Dougherty County to introduce a new initiative. This program provided a group of local high school students with CEISMC’s high-level STEAM virtual workshops at no cost to the students. GEAR UP is an initiative that supports after-school and Saturday enrichment-based programming designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. Dougherty Director Alana Simmons learned of CEISMC’s virtual STEM/STEAM offerings and said she hoped her students could be involved. She reached out to Georgia Tech to learn if there was an innovative and creative way they could get Dougherty County students involved to be introduced to STEAM education and career opportunities.
yahoo!news
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College unveils Michael D. Chason ABAC History Room
The Albany Herald, Ga.
With one delicate pull on an appropriately colored ABAC green cloth, the Michael D. Chason ABAC History Room recently became a reality at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. ABAC President David Bridges said the college named the room in honor of long-time Director of Public Relations Mike Chason because of his many contributions during his 42-year career. “Mike retired in 2011 but it seems like he’s still here doing his part-time job just about every day,” Bridges said. “I hope you get a chance to read the history of ABAC that’s on the website. Mike put that together, and we plan to have it published next year.”
WGXA
68,000 daylilies, daffodils to brighten up part of MGSU botanical gardens in Macon
by Claire Helm
Thanks to a team of volunteers, Middle Georgia State University’s Macon campus should look a little brighter in the next few months. Trey Crisp, facilities manager for MGSU’s Macon and Warner Robins campuses, said crews planted about 68,700 daylilies and daffodil bulbs. It was the first mass planting for the university’s Waddell Barnes Botanical Garden in “many, many years,” Crisp said. Crisp said part of the motivation was to help beautify the Eisenhower Business Improvement District. …Crisp said they planted two varieties of daffodils — Dutch Master and Narcissus — and a mixed variety of white and pink daylilies. Together, they should bring much more color to MGSU’s front entrance from mid to late February through late summer.
WFXG
Augusta University gives back to CSRA
By Mica Wade
Earlier, volunteers from Augusta University participated in a give back day across the CSRA. Volunteers from the University donated their time in helping Phinizy Swamp Nature Park and Golden Harvest Food Bank. Kimberly Dillard with Phinizy Swamp Nature Park says, volunteers from Augusta University have been participating in a day of service for nearly 7 years. …Volunteers helped golden harvest by packing boxes of food, loading them into cars, and even directing traffic.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA transforms State Botanical Garden into holiday light show
By Nancy Clanton
In addition to half-mile trail, there will be a market to buy gifts and souvenirs
Colorful lights are an awe-inspiring bonus of the holidays. If you love to drive through decorated neighborhoods or stroll through gardens strung with festive illumination, then you’ll want to head to Athens soon. A half-mile trail in the State Botanical Garden of Georgia will be transformed into the Winter WonderLights show with a Garden of Delights, Candy Cane Lane and Cone Tree Plaza, among other magical features. …The State Botanical Garden is part of the University of Georgia at 2450 S. Milledge Ave., about 70 miles from Atlanta. Free offsite parking and shuttle services will be provided in two UGA-owned and controlled lots off of S. Milledge. The State Botanical Garden, part of UGA Public Service and Outreach, is 313 acres of natural areas and cultivated gardens. It offers eight specialty gardens, including the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden, and more than five miles of trails within an Audubon designated important birding area. Winter WonderLights begins December 1 and runs through January 9.
Times Now News
Study reveals shocking findings on how salt affects blood flow to the brain
To study this relationship in deep brain regions, an interdisciplinary team of scientists led by Dr. Javier Stern, professor of neuroscience at Georgia State and director of the university’s Center for Neuroinflammation and Cardiometabolic Diseases, developed a novel approach that combines surgical techniques and state-of-the-art neuroimaging. A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at Georgia State reveals surprising new information about the relationship between neuron activity and blood flow deep in the brain, as well as how the brain is affected by salt consumption.
WJBF
AU employees still required to get vaccinated despite U.S. appeals court hold on vaccine mandate
by: Deirnesa Jefferson
AU President Dr. Brooks Keel said AU employees will still need to move forward with meeting the federal vaccine mandate. ” For those who are impacted this is not an option. You have to comply with the mandate,” Keel said. Last Saturday a federal appeals court temporarily blocked the mandate.
Commercial Carrier Journal
Ryder, Georgia Tech team up to study impact of autonomous trucking
Jason Cannon, CCJ chief editor
Ryder System and the world-renowned researchers in transportation and mobility at the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) at Georgia Tech are set to produce the industry’s first data-driven study on the impact of autonomous trucking. The groups sought to understand how to approach autonomy and the potential return on investment and the end result, they believe, is a roadmap to commercialization based on real-world data and a significant cost-savings.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coronavirus in Georgia: COVID-19 Dashboard
Latest stats and the news on the coronavirus outbreak
Q: What is the latest on confirmed and probable coronavirus cases in Georgia?
1,149,802 TOTAL CONFIRMED CASES
1,482,644 TOTAL INCLUDING PROBABLE CASES
Q: What is the latest on coronavirus deaths in Georgia?
20,534 TOTAL CONFIRMED DEATHS
23,694 TOTAL INCLUDING PROBABLE DEATHS
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Appeals Court Extends Block of Employer Vaccine Mandate
By Elizabeth Redden
A federal appeals court ruled Friday to keep in place a stay blocking a Biden administration rule requiring that large employers mandate their employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing, The New York Times reported. The three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit—all Republican appointees—sided with the challengers’ contention that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration overreached its authority in issuing the mandate.
Inside Higher Ed
International Enrollments Begin to Recover
Colleges report a 68 percent surge in new international students enrolled this fall, following steep pandemic-related drops last year. The Open Doors survey also tracks the pandemic’s effect on study abroad.
By Elizabeth Redden
The number of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities has begun to rebound following a precipitous pandemic-related drop in international enrollments last fall, according to new data being released today. The number of new international students increased by 68 percent this fall over last fall, and the number of total international students grew by 4 percent across more than 860 U.S. higher education institutions that responded to a “snapshot” survey on fall international enrollments conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and nine other higher education associations. The increases this fall follow a 46 percent drop in new international students, and a 15 percent drop in total international students, in academic year 2020–21 compared to the year before. Those numbers come from the newly released Open Doors census of international enrollments, conducted annually by IIE with funding from the U.S. Department of State.
Inside Higher Ed
Capital Campaigns Make a Comeback
During the pandemic, fundraising mainly supported emergency funds to keep students healthy and enrolled in college. This fall, colleges are unveiling broad capital campaigns that they’d put on hold.
By Emma Whitford
Fundraising announcements came in droves this fall: Cornell University seeks $5 billion, Drake University aims to raise $225 million, Texas State University set its goal at $250 million and the University of Miami endeavors to raise $2.5 billion, to name a few. Yale University is aiming to raise a whopping $7 billion—its largest target ever. After a pandemic-caused hiatus, signature capital campaigns have returned. …While the details of each campaign vary, many share common themes: they’re focused on student success, college access and research and innovation. The campaign names often riff on the concepts of light, progress and togetherness to convey a similar message: that the institution is moving out of the bleak COVID-19 pandemic and into a more uplifting future. …Advancement offices will continue to use virtual strategies that they developed during the pandemic, said Robert Henry, vice president of development, culture and talent at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Inside Higher Ed
‘Back on Track: Helping Students Recover From Learning Disruption’
By Doug Lederman
Inside Higher Ed is releasing today a free report on COVID-related learning disruption and how colleges and instructors can help students recover from any setbacks they’ve experienced. “Back on Track: Helping Students Recover From COVID-19 Learning Disruption” is available for download here. It explores how institutions are gauging their students’ readiness to continue on their educational paths and strategies that student success administrators and individual faculty members are using to help students rebound from any learning disruption, among other topics.
Inside Higher Ed
A Short-Term Fix, a Search for Long-Term Solutions
Long Beach City College created designated parking on campus where unhoused students can sleep safely in their cars overnight. Some observers worry the plan is shortsighted and sends the wrong message.
By Sara Weissman
Long Beach City College administrators consider a plan to allow unhoused students to sleep in their cars in a secure parking garage on campus a short-term but important strategy to keep students safe while helping them find more stable housing. Experts who study food and housing insecurity among college students are skeptical about the effectiveness of such a plan, however. They question the wisdom of putting resources into a program with such a limited scope and that literally leaves houseless students out in the cold. …Under the parking plan, which is part of a pilot program launched in October, 15 unhoused students who normally sleep in their cars will be permitted to park overnight at a campus parking garage monitored by security. College leaders said this will prevent some students from having to park overnight on streets where they are more vulnerable to theft and violence and risk having police called on them. Parking on campus will also provide the students free access to Wi-Fi, eliminating the connectivity problems they often encounter off campus and allowing them to more easily complete class assignments. The objective is for students without other options to stay in the parking garage until the college helps them find transitional housing, Muñoz said.