WTOC
Groundbreaking held for the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center
By Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University broke ground on a new $50 million multi-purpose arena on the Statesboro campus today. This building will replace a gymnasium and classroom building opened in the 1960′s. But it also remembers two alumni who supported the school from here all the way to Atlanta. University leaders and supporters gathered to celebrate the beginning of the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill convocation center. The building will include classrooms and health labs for research as well as a large area for concerts, graduations, and the home court for Georgia Southern’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The late senator Jack Hill represented this area for 30 years and in the General Assembly. He helped prepare the state budget and helped Georgia Southern grow to serve the region. Former Georgia governor and now university chancellor Sonny Perdue remembered Hill as a statesman and a friend of all. “..I learned so much from him, love of people, humility, a respecter of all persons. Jack loved everybody, He taught me to do that in a calm respectful way.”
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Fox28 Savannah
Georgia Southern breaks ground on convocation center
Statesboro Herald
GS breaks ground on Hill Convocation Center
New university arena targets Spring 2024 opening
Chat Sports
Dignitaries Help University Officials Break Ground on Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center
AP News
Georgia College changes name of business school to emphasize role of technology
As technology changes, so does business education—and Georgia College’s J. Whitney Bunting College of Business is changing with it. The school is becoming the J. Whitney College of Business and Technology. The new name acknowledges the rapidly advancing role of technology in the business environment. In the future, nine out of 10 jobs will require digital skills, according to the World Economic Forum.
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Marietta Daily Journal
Cheers and tears came together at the Kennesaw State University Convocation Center this week for spring Commencement. Graduates, their families, faculty and the entire University community gathered to celebrate conferring of degrees to more than 3,500 over two days of ceremonies. Enjoy this look at the pomp and circumstance, the joy and pride of these forever Owls. Congratulations to the Class of 2022! The Class of 2022 had a total of 3,548 graduates, 133 majors represented, a 3.34 average GPA for undergraduates and a 3.79 average GPA for graduates.
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta University to establish new School of Public Health
Joe Hotchkiss
Augusta University is forming a School of Public Health to better focus the school’s myriad efforts in healthful living throughout Georgia. That’s actually the focus of the field: improving health in communities and preventing or limiting disease outbreaks. “When I interviewed at Augusta University in the fall of 2020, it struck me very odd that we are Georgia’s only public academic health center, and we don’t have a school of public health,” said Dr. Neil J. MacKinnon, AU’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “This school will be a tremendous addition to Augusta University.”
WSAV
Georgia educators hope scholarship program will ease math, science teacher shortage
by: Jessica Coombs
Schools across the country are struggling to find teachers. In Georgia, there’s a severe shortage of science and math educators. WSAV spoke with a local university about how it’s trying to fill the gap. “The state of Georgia alone had need for six to 8,000 teachers each of the last few years across all of K-12. In our region alone, here in the Southeast, we had over 200 openings just for science and math teachers last year,” Dr. Amanda Townley a professor in the Science Education department at Georgia Southern University explained. The educator said incentivizing students to become teachers is just as critical as training them. …The university plans to use a $1.1 million dollar grant they received from the National Science Foundation to fund a scholarship program centered on training secondary science and math teachers to go to high-needs schools.
Augusta CEO
Augusta University’s Kate Channell Discusses Student Success and Impacting the Local Community
Assistant Dean for the Hull College of Business at Augusta University Kate Channell talks about closing the gap between the college and the local community.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
College enrollment dips in Georgia, report shows
By Eric Stirgus
The number of undergraduate college students in Georgia declined slightly this spring, according to a new report. There were nearly 467,000 students in the state’s public and private colleges and universities during the spring semester, a 1.4% decline from last year, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center said in a report released Thursday. Enrollment declined nationwide by more than 662,000 students, or 4.7%, from spring 2021, according to the report. …In Georgia, the largest decrease was at two-year public colleges, where enrollment declined by more than 13% to about 103,000 students, the report found. Several University System of Georgia schools that focus on offering two-year associate degrees have seen enrollment drops in recent years. While enrollment dropped by less than 1% systemwide, the decline was more than 7% in its two-year state colleges, according to University System data.
WRBL
CSU sees decline in enrollment; Interim President outlines plans for University
by: Kenzie Beach
Come July 1st, Columbus State University will have a new interim president on campus. Dr. John Fuchko spoke to News 3 and outlined his plans for the university. Dr. Fuchko has worked at the state level for the University System of Georgia for the last 15 years, serving as the longest vice chancellor in the system. As he steps into his new role at CSU, Dr. Fuchko is focused on partnerships with the Columbus Community, including residents of Fort Benning. As a colonel in the US Army National Guard over the last 20 years. Dr. Fuchko plans on using his military background and higher education experience to take advantage of the talent within the faculty, staff, and administration on campus.
Albany Herald
From staff reports
Donna Webb, assistant vice president for student affairs, recently received the additional appointment of dean of students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Webb joined the ABAC administration as director of enrollment services in 2008. She was appointed to a new position as assistant vice president for student affairs in 2020. Now with the retirement of long-time Dean of Students Bernice Hughes, Webb has taken on added duties.
NewsBreak
Clint Bryant reflects on his legacy as Augusta University athletic director
By Brendan Robertson
Clint Bryant , athletic director at Augusta University, has announced he will retire from the university June 30. Firmly established as one of the most respected and longest-serving leaders in intercollegiate athletics, Bryant has served 34 years as head of Augusta University Athletics . Under Bryant’s leadership, Augusta’s programs have enjoyed success on and off the playing fields and courts, bringing home national, regional and conference championships. Named the Division II Athletic Director of the Year and selected to the NCAA’s Division II 40th anniversary team for his standout efforts, Bryant has made a name for himself throughout the state and region. “We are incredibly grateful for Clint’s leadership and dedication to Augusta University,” said Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel , PhD. “He has led gracefully through change and has always made the students his priority. His positive impact will be felt at Augusta University for many years to come.”
WRDW
I-TEAM: Augusta University doctor makes breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research
By Meredith Anderson
An all-new I-TEAM investigation has uncovered an alarming trend with Alzheimer’s disease. Experts predict a significant spike in cases in just the next few years, but it’s not all bad news. Our Meredith Anderson found a new doctor at Augusta University who has made a new breakthrough. By 2025, the Alzheimer’s Association believes cases in Georgia and South Carolina will jump by more than a fourth. Currently, Georgia is 26.7% ‚and S.C. is 26.3%. Dr. Qin Wang hasn’t even finished unpacking her lab boxes yet. “We’re very, very excited about this, for sure,” she said. She’s ready to get moving on some clinical trials. She’s working to get funding to test a drug that wouldn’t just slow down the disease. It could help patients regain some of their lost mental abilities. Meredith Anderson: “So this could be the first?” Dr. Wang: “Could be. Yeah. That would be huge!”
WFAE
Russia’s war in Ukraine is threatening an outpost of cooperation in space
NPR
By Geoff Brumfiel, Alina Selyukh
On the ground, tensions between the U.S. and Russia are running high. Russian President Vladimir Putin falsely claims the U.S. is working with Nazis in Ukraine, while President Biden calls Putin a “war criminal.” Aboard the jointly controlled International Space Station (ISS), however, the tone is very different: American astronauts live side-by-side with Russian cosmonauts; they regularly check in with mission control centers in both countries; and supplies arrive aboard Russian and U.S. spacecraft alike. NASA administrator Bill Nelson expects all that to continue for the foreseeable future: “I see nothing that has interrupted that professional relationship,” Nelson said at a Senate hearing earlier this month. “No matter how awful Putin is conducting a war with such disastrous results in Ukraine.” But as the decades-old station nears the end of its physical lifespan, some experts worry that the long-standing relationship may come to an end. …At the time “it was in the U.S. national interest to engage with Russia,” says Mariel Borowitz, an associate professor at the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The joint program kept Russian rocket scientists employed during a moment when Russia faced political and economic instability, she says. Kelly notes that by depending solely on Russia systems for certain functions, NASA was able to save money.
WJBF
How to talk to your children about the recent Texas mass shooting
by: Nikita Dennis
“Absolutely devastated you go from sadness to deep sadness, to anger, to just questioning everything” said LaNetta Price, parent and school counselor in Texas. Plenty of heavy emotions for parents and teachers around the country – after a gunman murdered 21 people,19 of them children, at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Behavioral health specialist Dr. Warren Umansky says mental health awareness is paramount in homes with young children. Parents may wonder how they should bring up the conversation to their children about tragic incidents like this one, especially when they happen in environments kids are familiar with. Like a school. …The same sad emotions can occur for teachers as well assistant professor at Augusta University Kim Barker says safety in schools have always been a top priority with things like tornados and fires, but a mass shooting is different “I think that new teachers going into the field you know need to be well prepared for all the security measures in a school I think school’s doing a great job of that” said Barker. Barker also says some people may rethink their decision on becoming a teacher because of recent school violence.
Clayton News-Daily
Clayton County schools, Gordon State College offering junior, high students dual enrollment
From Staff Reports
Gordon State College has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clayton County schools to establish the Gordon at Night in Clayton County program. Beginning fall of 2022, college classes will be offered at Riverdale High School. “Clayton County Public Schools is excited to house our first Gordon State College instructional site right here at Riverdale High School,” said Superintendent/CEO of CCP Schools Dr. Morcease J. Beasley. “This is a great opportunity for our students and community as it provides them local seamless access to one of the premier colleges in the state of Georgia in a convenient location. Our partnership with Gordon State College and President Dr. Nooks is one that will continue to strengthen as we work together to establish unique opportunities for this community, the students, and the families we serve.” GANCC will be based on a cohort model of 30 students who will take courses together and serve as a built-in support structure. Students will be a mixture of juniors and seniors seeking dual enrollment credit. Recent Clayton County graduates will have a convenient access point opportunity to a college degree.
Higher Education News:
Higher Ed Dive
College leaders on Uvalde shooting: ‘unacceptable and heartbreaking’
Several college presidents called for gun control and culture change after the Texas elementary school shooting that killed children and teachers.
Rick Seltzer, Senior Editor
College campuses reacted with sorrow and anger this week after an 18-year-old killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, before law enforcement officers fatally shot him. …College presidents across the U.S. issued statements on the killings. Some expressed shock and anger. Others said shootings are occurring too frequently to be surprising. Several labeled the violence senseless. Some issued or reissued calls for gun control. Presidents frequently called attention to counseling and support resources available to students and staff. And they drew connections to their own families and students, some of whom are studying to be teachers. Excerpts from the words of college presidents and others affiliated with higher ed follow.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Drop in Spring-2022 Enrollment Is Worse Than Expected
By Audrey Williams June
New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center provide a final tally on enrollment for the spring of 2022 — and reveal a persistent trend: College attendance continues to decline. Undergraduate enrollment fell 4.7 percent from a year earlier, a shortfall of more than 662,000 students. Since the pandemic began, the undergraduate student body has dropped by almost 1.4 million students. The worsening enrollment picture was unexpected, said Doug Shapiro, executive director of the research center, in a call to the media. “I thought we would start to see some of these declines begin to shrink a little bit this term,” he said, “particularly because I think there’s a general sense that we should be coming out of the effects of the pandemic at this point.” But also in play, he said, are students who increasingly question the value of college, are wary about taking out student loans to pay for it, and who have options to join the labor market instead.
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Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Enrollments Continued to Decline at Two and Four Year Institutions
Los Angeles Times
Editorial: The problem with college debt is that we never fix the causes
By The Times Editorial Board
President Biden has wisely resisted pressure to issue blanket forgiveness for graduates’ college debt of up to $50,000 per borrower. Instead, the president has chosen more targeted — and fair — approaches. Those have included allowing debtors to stop paying on their loans during the pandemic without owing any additional interest on the loan; canceling the debt of severely disabled grads and those who were taken in by for-profit schools that made false promises or that closed down before they could finish their education; and making fixes to the troubled program under which students were supposed to receive debt relief if they entered public service. The public-service debt relief program was tangled in inexplicable delays and checks were withheld because of bad communication between loan servicers and lenders. Under the Biden administration, more than 110,000 graduates in that program have now received an average of $60,000 each in loan forgiveness, and potentially hundreds of thousands more will now benefit as well. But another form of student debt relief is about to end in August — the pandemic-era moratorium on payments.
Inside Higher Ed
Debt Relief Has Public Support
However, political tension in Congress could bring strong opposition from Republicans to any broad move by Biden. Here’s what this means for the future of higher education and the federal government.
By Meghan Brink
The political debate over whether President Biden should move to cancel some or all of the $1.7 trillion in student loan debt currently owed to the federal government is largely focused on perceptions of the role the government should take in making higher education affordable and accessible. Although the debate is sharply divided among party lines in Congress, public perception has largely shifted in recent years. Currently, one in five voters is in support of broad-based cancellation. Younger voters, however, are an outlier. Existing in a world of skyrocketing tuition rates, record inflation, stagnant wages and increasing need for a college degree, 71 percent of voters under the age of 34 support some form of loan cancellation, including a majority—56 percent—of young Republican voters, according to a 2022 survey.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Academic Hiring Is Broken. It’s Time for a Lottery.
Only a radical change will break our academic monoculture.
By Avram Alpert
In the 18th century, the University of Basel faced a nepotism-driven crisis. Of its 80 professorships, about 50 were controlled by just 15 families. The university’s enrollment and reputation were in decline. In response, they implemented a new method for choosing appointments: a structured lottery system. There was a rigorous, standardized procedure to arrive at the final three candidates. Then, one of the three was chosen randomly. Not everyone was happy with the system. One scholar, for example, was a finalist 10 times without being chosen, while others lucked into positions on their first try — including one at just 23 years old. But there were also marked benefits. Most obviously, the nepotistic chain was largely broken. There were also reports of decreased envy and jealousy, and greater satisfaction with the final decisions, even among those who did not win the job. And among those who did win, the knowledge that they had been chosen by lottery increased their humility and modesty. Universities today face a well-known crisis of hiring: In short, there are far too many good applicants for the number of good positions available.