The Times-Georgian
UWG, Dalton State College sign partnership agreement
By Sam Gentry Special To The Times-Georgian
Leaders from the University of West Georgia and Dalton State College recently signed an agreement to provide a streamlined pathway for business students between the two institutions. “At the University of West Georgia, we are committed to leveraging our resources to be an economic and intellectual engine for companies, communities, and organizations through mutually beneficial partnerships like the one we share with Dalton State College,” said Dr. Brendan B. Kelly, UWG’s president. “Through our efforts with this sister institution in the University System of Georgia, we are optimizing USG resources to offer the students we serve the types of educational opportunities they need to thrive.”
Marietta Daily Journal
Kennesaw State student selected for highly competitive State Department fellowship
Prince Uduka, a Kennesaw State student studying information technology in the College of Computing and Software Engineering, was one of 15 students selected nationwide by the U.S. Department of State for the Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship. The fellowship program includes two summer internships, up to $75,000 in academic funding for his junior and senior years, professional development programming, and an appointment in the Foreign Service as an information management specialist upon completion of the fellowship.
WABE
Georgia Tech grad discusses her nontraditional path to construction management
LaShawn Hudson
Georgia Tech 2022 graduate Candace Washington says her nontraditional career path in the construction industry was birthed when she worked in project management and wanted to spend time with her young son. Washington made her career switch in 2014 and launched the privately-owned WMBE-certified construction management and engineering firms Cancave Management and Cancave Engineering. On Thursday, for “Closer Look’s” graduation series, Washington talked with program host Rose Scott about the urgent need for more women of color in the construction industry and her journey to earning her master’s degree in construction management.
The Augusta Chronicle
Richard Franza: Grads should reflect on success, then change the world
Richard Franza Columnist
During the week of May 9, I had the good fortune of celebrating two university commencements. On May 11, my younger daughter, Augusta Jayne (AJ), graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in professional sales from Kennesaw State University. On May 13, I had the honor of handing out diplomas to our great Hull College of Business undergraduate business graduates at Augusta University’s afternoon commencement. …As I reflected upon the events of that week, recent history, and my personal experiences, I have thought about what I would like to share with our country’s graduates. With apologies to Mr. Brendza and the other gifted orators who recently gave commencement speeches, here is the message I would like to provide to this year’s graduates:
Savannah CEO
Georgia Southern Launches Asian Studies Digital Collection
Staff Report
Georgia Southern University Libraries and Nalanda Roy, Ph.D., recently launched a digital collection, “An Integral History: Asian Studies Digital Archive,” to coincide with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month in May. The archive provides a curated collection of multidisciplinary resources in support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the United States. Contributions are curated from Digital Commons, the University’s open-access institutional repository, and highlight Georgia Southern’s scholarly and cultural assets related to the Asian Studies minor. The collection represents faculty and student research, books, videos, community resources and campus events.
WALB
GSW looking to combat teacher shortage with top rated program
By Lenah Allen
Georgia Southwestern State University’s education program has earned national recognition as they were named top in the country for its undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program, but the good news doesn’t stop there. The college also just received its reaccreditation. The Undergraduate elementary teacher preparation program is just 1 of 79 programs that earned an A+ rating in the nation. Faculty and staff believe the great news will combat the teacher shortage happening not just in Georgia but nationwide.
Albany Herald
Animal, dairy science spans oceans through UGA-Sassari partnership
By Clint Thompson UGA/CAES
A partnership between the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Department of Agriculture at the University of Sassari in Italy is yielding more efficient studies in animal breeding and providing international students with a more extensive network of research capabilities. “We have talent everywhere. We just need to go and try to find them,” Daniela Lourenco, an associate professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at CAES, said. A formal agreement between the two universities was established in 2019 to capitalize on the strong programs in animal genetics at both institutions by expanding the pool of talented student applicants.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By H.M. Cauley, For the AJC
When education budgets are tight, many schools struggle to keep arts programs vital and funded. Musician Lyrika Holmes knows it’s even more difficult when the program centers around harps. …In 2015, Holmes launched a program in Rockdale and Fulton counties that took her and kid-sized harps into schools twice a week. As it grew, she was expanded to free and sliding-scale fee classes with various after-school groups. But in 2017, she accepted the role as lead soul singer with Cirque du Soleil and left the metro area. The harp program was reenergized a year later when she returned to Powder Springs. …Holmes has also recruited music students from Georgia State, UGA, Georgia Southern and Kennesaw as interns to help with classes. Throughout the year, they can be found toting 15 to 20 harps to workshops around the metro area.
WGAU Radio
With COVID cases waning, local students resume field trips
“With the pandemic, the students have been limited to the classroom”
By Kelly Simmons, UGA Today
For Clarke County School District students, getting back to normal means going back to the University of Georgia for annual field trips. In the fall, a group of pre-kindergarten students were the first Clarke County School District students on campus for a school trip since early 2020. Their visit to the UGA State Botanical Garden of Georgia included collecting acorns from the woods and learning how squirrels store them to eat during the cold winter months.
Marietta Daily Journal
Kennesaw State rewards Abdur-Rahim with multi-year extension
Staff reports
Kennesaw State men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim signed a four-year contract extension to remain at his post through the 2026-27 season. The university made the announcement on Thursday. In his third year, the Marietta native and Wheeler High School graduate guided Kennesaw State to a 13-18 overall record and a win in the ASUN Conference tournament.
EurekAlert!
American Academy of Sleep Medicine announces 2022 award recipients
Four members of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have been selected as the 2022 AASM award recipients for their contributions to the field of sleep medicine. They will be recognized during the plenary session of the SLEEP 2022 annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies on Monday, June 6, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
…Seema Khosla, M.D.
Excellence in Education Award for outstanding contributions in the teaching of sleep medicine
Dr. Khosla is medical director of the North Dakota Center for Sleep and medical advisor for MedBridge Healthcare. …Khosla completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Kentucky and a fellowship in pulmonary/critical care/sleep medicine at the Medical College of Georgia.
Morning AgClips
New UGA study will look to lettuce microbes for food safety solutions
UGA researchers are preparing to launch a study on E. coli colonization from new angle: the microbiome of lettuce
Often referred to as leafy greens, lettuce and other similar vegetables are a common source of foodborne illnesses. The contamination of lettuce with Escherichia coli O157:H7, also known as EcO157, has been a grave concern for decades. Causing numerous cases of illness and death, this strain of E. coli threatens both public health and a U.S. industry valued at more than $2 billion annually. To address this threat, researchers at the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety are preparing to launch a study on E. coli colonization from a new angle: the microbiome of lettuce.
The Tifton Gazette
Cheng En Tsai wins in final at NJCAA nationals
Cheng En Tsai has given Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College an individual championship at the NJCAA men’s national tournament. Tsai won in Flight No. 2, defeating Luke Quaynor of Seward Community College in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (2). Quaynor had won an upset to reach the finals, knocking off top-ranked Boruch Skierier. …Overall, ABAC finished 6th in the tournament with 25 points. They were separated from 4th place by a mere three points. The Stallions reached the semifinals or better in three singles flights and one doubles. ABAC only had competitors in six of eight total flights, which were played at Collin College.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Gwinnett College women’s tennis wins sixth straight NAIA national championship
From Staff Reports
One word summarizes the 2022 Georgia Gwinnett College women’s tennis team and season. Dominance. The top-seeded Grizzlies (17-0) capped off the program’s third consecutive undefeated season with a 4-0 victory Saturday afternoon against No. 2 seed Keiser University (Fla.) in the championship match of the NAIA National Championships at the Mobile Tennis Center. The title marks the sixth consecutive national championship and seventh overall for the program.
Athens Banner-Herald
Athens commissioner responds to UGA football players ‘raping and murdering’ comment
Stephanie Allen
Commissioner Melissa Link has responded to criticism spurred by a comment she made during a budget hearing in which she said football players at the University of Georgia are “out there raping and murdering.” On Thursday, Athens commissioners met for the first of a series of budget hearings, and during this meeting, they discussed recruitment at the police department, which has seen a high number of vacancies. In the budget proposal, there is a potential Police Youth Cadet Corp program that would have 10 part-time cadets work with the police department and serve as a path to employment for Athens community youth. In the meeting, Link was skeptical of the idea and brought up the alternative of other recruitment tools, including recruiting from the University of Georgia. …Later in the conversation, Commissioner Mike Hamby remarked, “I think all the football players got drafted.” As a response to Hamby, Link made her comment about UGA football players. “A lot of them are out there raping and murdering,” said Link. Moments later, she spoke up again and said “a couple of them are out there raping and murdering.”
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA AD: Comment about UGA football players is ‘inaccurate, overgeneralized, and hurtful’
Josh Brooks University of Georgia Athletics
I’ve had the privilege to work in collegiate athletics for more than 20 years, 11 of which have been at the University of Georgia. I love Athens. I have three boys that attend Clarke County schools. Athens is woven into the fabric of my family’s life, so I was both saddened and disappointed to hear that an Athens-Clarke County commissioner recently made inaccurate, overgeneralized, and hurtful statements about our football student-athletes in a public meeting — statements that she has continued to defend in subsequent comments. I want to highlight significant undisputed facts.
Higher Education News:
Higher Ed Dive
Dissecting affirmative action opponents’ arguments before the Supreme Court
Nineteen states led by Oklahoma filed a court brief in favor of ending race-conscious college admissions in a closely watched case.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
The higher education world continues to closely watch a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn race-conscious college admissions. Affirmative action proponents remain concerned the high court could ban the practice, as the justices’ political makeup has swung to the right with former President Donald Trump’s three judicial appointments. And in at least one past legal challenge, it was a surprise the Supreme Court preserved affirmative action. The current case challenges admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It’s being brought by Students for Fair Admissions, a prominent conservative legal group.
Inside Higher Ed
Institutions are offering additional, less costly and even free summer courses this year as an option for students who fell behind or got off track during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By David Steele
After two years of pandemic-related unpredictability and financial uncertainty, college and university administrators are cautiously optimistic about summer enrollment prospects this year. While many administrators are hesitant to predict whether enrollment will rise or fall this summer, institutions that offer free and reduced tuition are seeing steady increases so far. With start times and lengths of summer sessions varying among two-year and four-year institutions—some have already begun, while others are not due to start until early June—many colleges are attributing the increases to full or partial tuition waivers.
Higher Ed Dive
Ed tech must listen to educators
Instructors need more than efficiency software, a Course Hero vice president argues. They need technology that complements their student success work.
By Sean Michael Morris
Sean Michael Morris is vice president, academics at Course Hero. He co-authored “An Urgency of Teachers: the Work of Critical Digital Pedagogy” and was formerly senior instructor in learning, design and technology at the University of Colorado Denver.
For more than two decades, educational technology has wooed universities to invest in products that promise to make learning more efficient, education more accessible and students more successful on their path toward graduation. The pitch is that ed tech offers solutions to problems that teachers face, from plagiarism and cheating to communicating with students and monitoring their progress. But more often than not, ed tech presumes to understand teaching better than teachers do, and it neglects to listen to educators about how learning actually happens. If ed tech is truly interested in the success of students, the industry must hear what faculty have to say.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Yes, Students Are Disengaged. What Else Is New?
A recently identified phenomenon seems awfully familiar.
By Robert Zaretsky
As the high tide of the pandemic recedes, what are we to make of — and what must we do about — the debris and damage left in its wake? Most every public and private enterprise in our country, of course, confronts these urgent questions. Yet they beat with a particular urgency on college campuses. Our business is not filling empty shelves or filing back orders, but instead informing young minds. For more than a year, however, we could reach those minds only across flat screens. How great has the damage been? Now that we can disconnect from Zoom and reconnect with students, turn off flat screens and turn on classroom lights, do teachers face a different kind of disconnect and flattening? One that is not electrical and spatial, but instead is intellectual and psychological? A spate of recent articles and essays suggest that this may well be the case.
Inside Higher Ed
Diversity Statements Are the New Faith Statements
The diversity statements secular colleges increasingly require of faculty candidates have many similarities to the faith statements long required by religious institutions, Justin P. McBrayer writes.
By Justin P. McBrayer
In 2008, I was in graduate school and applying for tenure-track jobs in philosophy across the country. My applications fell into two piles: those that required faith statements and those that didn’t. Many religious colleges required applicants to either write their own faith statement or sign on to a standardized one. This bothered me. It’s not that I didn’t have faith commitments. I did. But as a philosopher, I wasn’t ready to sign just anything. I craved the careful distinctions, nuance and subtlety that faith statements often papered over. As a result, I had to pore over the standardized statements to ensure that I could sign in good conscience or construct my own that hewed closely to my intellectual, moral and religious commitments. Secular institutions were so much easier. Not anymore.
Inside Higher Ed
Education Department to Reform Student Loan Servicing System
By Meghan Brink
The Education Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid announced a new plan Thursday to reform the student loan servicing system that oversees the 35 million borrowers with federal student loans. The plan, called the Unified Servicing and Data Solution (USDS), aims to simplify access to student loan servicers and increase transparency between FSA, borrowers and loan servicers, which have long been issues that complicate the student loan servicing process.