Grice Connect
Paula Hall made a difference for Sanielle Jones to overcome adversity to graduate college
by Eden Hodges
“Sanielle Lashaye Jones,” echoed across the Savannah Convention Center at Georgia Southern’s (GS) graduation ceremony this past May. The 28-year-old walked across the stage to accept her diploma with four years of hard work and suffering now behind her. …From there, Hall convinced her to transfer to Georgia Southern’s Armstrong campus for the enrollment benefits and housing, even paying her application fees. “She’s been like a fairy godmother to me, actually,” said Jones. “She didn’t have to give me food. She could have turned me away… She could have, you know, not paid for my college application. She could have not done a lot of things, but she did them anyway.”
GS Trio program
With Hall’s help, Jones was enrolled in GSU’s TRIO program that helps first-generation or low-income students, and she made a community with the people there. …“TRIO definitely helped me get my first scholarship,” said Jones. “They helped me definitely get situated when it came down to resources and needing academic assistance.”
Connect Savannah
By Alex Arango
During Savannah Rotary’s Weekly meeting on Monday, July 18, Dr. Brook Keel, the president of Augusta University, discussed the physician and nursing shortage in Georgia. Data gathered by the American Medical Association found that Georgia ranks 30th in the nation in terms of the per capita number of practicing physicians, and 42nd in its per capita supply of registered nurses. Georgia is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and the 9th most populous. This indicates the need for an increased number of healthcare professionals to meet the demands of a large and growing population. A demand that Keel says is becoming increasingly difficult to keep pace with due to staffing issues and the COVID-19 pandemic. Augusta University is working to address the shortage of healthcare providers, and provide a potential solution through the MCG 3+ Pathways program and a network of campuses in 350 urban and rural sites across the state.
The Union Recorder
GC College of Education recognized for national excellence
Special to The U-R
The John H. Lounsbury College of Education at Georgia College & State University is among 35 newly accredited programs recognized for national excellence. The Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) identified the group of 35 education providers in their spring 2022 review. This makes Georgia College one of 471 total providers in the U.S., District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to meet the rigorous CAEP Accreditation Standards. The standards were developed to ensure excellence in educator preparation programs. …Georgia College was the only school in the state to receive this accreditation in the spring. It’s one of four universities in Georgia to earn CAEP Accreditation.
WRDW
Cyber security bill helps fund Augusta research and businesses
By Maria Sellers
A tiny chip that could mean billions of dollars for the computer industry, plus money and jobs for Augusta. We talked to Georgia Senator Raphel Warnock, who co-sponsored a $52 billion bill to help repair production. Warnock says the bill specifically allocates funding for cyber security research, which will lead to the creation of jobs and make existing technology jobs easier. Cyber security experts at the Georgia Cyber Center tell us why this is important for accomplishing these goals. …We spoke to Warnock just moments before the vote. He says this bill will be crucial for our area. “With Fort Gordon, being right there with Augusta University and the need to invest in cyber security, this bodes well with our opportunity right there in the Augusta area,” said Warnock.
Similar story also ran in:
Fox5 Atlanta
US Senate passes bill to increase microchip production
Augusta CEO
MCG Educational Simulation Program Receives Prestigious Accreditation
Jennifer Hilliard Scott
The Medical College of Georgia’s Educational Simulation program is the first in Georgia to earn full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s (SSH) Accreditation Council. The program provides immersive simulated clinical experiences using low- and high-fidelity mannequins, standardized patients, task trainers and other hands-on technology to create individual, group and interprofessional learning opportunities for MCG students. MCG Educational Simulation earned full accreditation in the core standards required for all accredited programs, which include mission, resource management, program improvement and integrity. The program also earned accreditation in two additional, optional standards: research and teaching/education.
Savannah CEO
Goodwill Southeast Georgia Celebrates National Intern Day
Staff Report
In celebration of National Intern Day, Goodwill Southeast Georgia recognizes Sarah Kate Maher, rising senior at Savannah Arts Academy and Andre’l Shuman, rising freshman at Augusta University, for completing their summer internship in partnership with Bank of America Student Leaders® program. The Student Leaders® program recognizes and rewards high school juniors and seniors for their passion and commitment to community service by placing them in paid internships across the U.S. These internships provide opportunities to develop and apply leadership tools and skills through hands-on community work and leadership experiences while raising students’ awareness of community issues and challenges.
Medical Device News Magazine
American Academy of Nursing Announces the 2022 Class of New Fellows, its Largest Cohort to Date
The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) announces today that it has selected 250 distinguished nurse leaders to be inducted into the 2022 Class of Fellows. The inductees will be recognized for their significant contributions to health and health care at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference, taking place on October 27-29, 2022 in Washington, DC. This year’s conference theme is “From Reflection to Impact: Positioning Nursing’s Future.” The newest Fellows represent 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 17 countries. In welcoming these Fellows, the Academy will be comprised of more than 3,000 leaders who are experts in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia that champion health and wellness, locally and globally.
2022 Academy Fellows
Jerry Hooks Jr., PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, NEA-BC, PMHNP-BC, FACHE, FAANP – Augusta University
Tifton CEO
ABAC President David Bridges Says Farewell to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in TV Interview
Staff Report
In his final television appearance as the president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Dr. David Bridges reminisces about his ABAC tenure with Acting Vice President for Communications and Transition Mike Chason. “Serving as President of ABAC has been a great capstone to my career in higher education,” Bridges said. “My time in higher education started at ABAC when I was a student here, and now it ends as I retire from the position of president.” Bridges retires on July 31 exactly one month into his 17th year as the ABAC President.
Patch
Whitney Nash, Ph.D., APRN, has been selected as Dean of Georgia Southern University’s Waters College of Health Professions and will begin leading the college on Aug. 1. She comes to Georgia Southern from the University of Louisville, a highly ranked research institution with a strong reputation in the health professions, where she served as a professor in the School of Nursing, associate dean of practice and service, and associate vice president of interprofessional practice.
Grice Connect
Georgia Southern University Army ROTC welcomes new professor
Meet Lt. Col. Sean Hollars, the ROTC’s new Professor of Military Science.
by Grice Connect
The Georgia Southern University Army ROTC program recently transitioned to new leadership under Lt. Col. Sean Hollars, who serves as the new Professor of Military Science. In his role, Hollars is responsible for leading the ROTC program and preparing cadets in the Eagle Battalion for a future in the Army. Read on to learn more about Hollars and his plans for his new role.
Marietta Daily Journal
KSU’s Johnson nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award
Staff reports
Kennesaw State basketball guard Amani Johnson was named one of two ASUN Conference nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. “What an incredible honor of recognition for Amani,” Owls coach Octavia Blue said in a release. “She is a true example of ‘how you do anything is how you do everything.’ All of the people here at KSU and the folks in the ASUN Conference know how special Amani is. Now, the country will soon find out. There is no one more deserving of being crowned NCAA Woman of the Year.” The NCAA Woman of the Year program recognizes graduating female athletes from all three divisions for their leadership, community involvement, athletic performance and academic success. Johnson, a graduate student, was selected for the award due to her athletic and academic achievements.
Athens Banner-Herald
Here’s what UGA is paying athletic director Josh Brooks after boost to total compensation
Marc Weiszer
Football coach Kirby Smart’s huge jump in pay announced last week wasn’t the only boost in compensation for a prominent person in UGA athletics. AD Josh Brooks, his boss, is getting a $55,000 raise to bring his total compensation to $855,000. Brooks was due to be paid $800,000 in the next fiscal year that started July 1 under terms of his contract after taking over as athletic director in January 2021. He was paid $775,000 in the previous fiscal year. His base salary rose $30,000 to $780,000, according to an open records request. His retention bonus is also rising from $50,000 to $75,000. UGA president Jere Morehead said at an athletic board meeting in May that Brooks salary would be increasing. His contract still runs through June 30, 2025.
MSN
I-TEAM UPDATE: Judge says he’ll make decisions in the future about how case moves forward
Meredith Anderson
We have an update on an I-Team investigation into allegations of fraud, forgery, and a cover-up at Augusta University. Back in 2017, we uncovered claims the university lied to the federal government about how a research animal died. Now, a whistleblower case is unfolding in court. It sure looks like Augusta University wants to make this go away, but after five years and 200,000 documents, it’s slowly moving forward. Three years ago, state lawyers tried to get the whole thing thrown out on a technicality and the judge said no. Wednesday, they were in court arguing the case shouldn’t go before a jury. Judge Stone said he needed more time to make that decision. He says he’ll make his decision in 30 days. …Fast forward five years and AU lawyers have now enlisted the help of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office to fight this in court.
Psychiatric Times
Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, and Suicide in Bipolar Disorder
Author: Brian Miller, MD, PhD, MPH
Dr. Miller is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia. He is on the Editorial Board and serves as the schizophrenia section chief for Psychiatric Times. The author reports that he receives research support from Augusta University, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Stanley Medical Research Institute.
Cardiometabolic risk factors for suicide? Researchers investigated associations between obesity/metabolic syndrome and suicidality in patients with bipolar disorder….One previous study found that suicide attempts were more likely in patients with (versus without) metabolic syndrome and obesity.
Study Conclusions
The authors concluded that there was no significant association between the metabolic syndrome, lipid levels, and suicidality in the study sample. Subjects with normal weight had more lifetime suicidal ideation than the other groups. Study limitations included the cross-sectional study design and the absence of a standardized questionnaire on suicide; the authors also did not control for potential confounding effects of medications.
The Bottom Line
This study did not confirm an association between metabolic syndrome and suicidality in patients with bipolar disorder. However, BMI warrants further investigation as a potential risk marker for suicide in this population.
Higher Education News:
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
When Prior Presidents Stick Around Campus
Rebecca Kelliher
Retired university presidents are sometimes still active at the institution that they once led, such as teaching courses as a tenured faculty member. During leadership transitions, that can mean a new president must strike a careful balance between their vision and the prior president’s institutional memory. “For the most part, I don’t think this is a problem, though it depends on the prior president’s level of involvement in the institution,” said Dr. Robert T. Palmer, an associate professor and chair in the department of educational leadership and policy studies at Howard University. “A prior president staying around can be a role model for current students by teaching a course or by serving the institution in some other beneficial capacity. I think this becomes a challenge if that person gets really involved in trying to sway the administration, to exert influence without allowing the new president to give life to his or her vision.”
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Pennsylvania Legislature Gives $1 Million to Colleges to Address Student Food Insecurity
Arrman Kyaw
The Pennsylvania Legislature is giving $1 million to college campuses for the coming school year to address student food insecurity, The Center Square reported. Pantry The Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program will help schools create or expand campus food pantries and increase awareness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Money also will be used to help determine nutritional needs of students. A study by Penn State University discovered 35% of students across the commonwealth have some level of food insecurity. Swipe Out Hunger, a nonprofit aiming to address hunger among students, surveyed 86,000 students from 123 two- and four-year higher ed institutions, discovering that 45% suffered food insecurity last month.
Inside Higher Ed
Senate Passes Boost to Science Research Funding
Meghan Brink
The Senate passed a $280 billion bill that will provide additional funding for scientific research focused on increasing the United States’ domestic capacity to produce semiconductor chips. The Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act of 2022, better known as the CHIPS Act, was approved in a 64-to-33 vote in the Senate Wednesday. The bill is expected to pass swiftly in the House of Representatives. “This legislation is an important step toward maintaining America’s scientific leadership on an increasingly competitive global stage,” said Barbara Snyder, president of the Association of American Universities, which represents the nation’s top private research universities. The bill provides $52.7 billion to semiconductor companies to develop infrastructure and research projects in the U.S. The bill will also authorize $200 billion in science and technology research across many government agencies for the next few years and prohibit colleges from entering partnerships with China such as the Confucius Institutes.
Inside Higher Ed
Dissecting the Campus Speech Problem
A gathering of academic administrators gets schooled in why students see their speech rights slipping—and what colleges can do about it.
By Doug Lederman
The provosts, deans and other academic administrators who gathered here last weekend at a meeting convened by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities are understandably concerned about the growing number of states that have considered or passed bills to restrict what is taught and said on college campuses—legislation that the arts and free expression group PEN America collectively calls “educational gag orders.” ”We’re seeing an avalanche of proposed or passed legislative restrictions on the freedom to learn and the freedom to teach,” Jeremy C. Young, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, told the group of officials from regional public colleges and universities. “We’ve seen nearly 200 of these bills proposed in the last 18 months, and 19 states have some version of educational gag order enforced by either law or policy.” (PEN America maintains a database of these sorts of measures.) Some in the audience suggested the legislation was a solution in search of a problem. “I just don’t understand what the intention of the other side is,” said the provost at one university, who described himself as a liberal Democrat.
Inside Higher Ed
Congress Eyes Income-Share Agreement Reform, Again
The bipartisan bill would create new guardrails for income-share agreements used in higher education programs and is supported by ISA providers. Critics, however, view ISAs as a predatory form of financial aid and a bad solution to making college affordable.
By Meghan Brink
A bipartisan bill introduced last week would add new guardrails around income-share agreements, a student aid alternative that, until recently, had limited federal oversight. ISA lenders and consumer advocates alike have been calling for clarification on the legal rules they must follow since the Education Department clarified in March that ISAs are considered private student loans. The announcement from the department subjected ISAs to the same set of consumer protection laws as private student loans. However, since ISAs, which are based on a student’s income, are different from traditional private student loans, ISA providers have been confused on how to interpret these laws. The ISA Student Protection Act would essentially create a separate regulatory system tailored to ISAs. The bill was introduced by Senators Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia; Todd Young, a Republican from Indiana; Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida; and Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware.