USG e-clips for November 11, 2022

University System News:

Dalton Daily Citizen

Perdue to give keynote address at Dalton chamber banquet

Submitted by the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce

Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce banquet on Tuesday, Nov. 29. The evening will begin at 6 at the Dalton Convention Center with a one-hour reception, with dinner and the program following. The evening will include recognition of the Diplomat of the Year and the Chairman’s Award. Chairman of the Board Margaret Venable (Dalton State College) will pass the gavel to incoming chair Amanda Reed (HealthOne Alliance, Alliant Health Plans and Live4It Community).

WTOC

Georgia Southern honors thousands of veterans connected to university

By Dal Cannady

Georgia Southern University is recognizing students this week with military connections as part of Veterans Week. University leaders hope dozens of ribbons help call attention to the thousands of students with military backgrounds. They gathered to call attention to Veterans Week activities on all three campuses. The list included receptions, cookouts, and other things to show those students how many others share their background – directly or indirectly.

Albany Herald

Georgia Groundbreakers: UGA alumnus honored for his bravery in France in 1944

By Sharon Dowdy

Daniel Warnell Lee didn’t complain about the severe wounds he suffered in battle during World War II. He also didn’t boast about receiving the nation’s highest military distinction — commonly called the Congressional Medal of Honor — for his acts of valor during that battle. His medal was not prominently displayed at home, said his daughter, Beth Lee von Mersveldt. …Lee — who enlisted in the Army after graduating from the University of Georgia — was decorated on Jan. 23, 1946, by President Harry S. Truman. His official Medal of Honor citation dramatically details his actions.

The McDuffie Progress

Georgia State’s ‘Ground Crew’ to receive honorary degrees

From staff reports

The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents unanimously approved honorary degrees for Georgia State’s “Ground Crew” – the three women who worked tirelessly to desegregate Georgia State University. Despite a federal desegregation mandate and the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, public colleges and universities in Georgia remained racially segregated in 1956. Despite this, three black women — Myra Payne Elliott, Barbara Pace Hunt and Iris Mae Welch — applied to attend the Georgia State College of Business Administration (now Georgia State University). They were denied admission.

Times-Georgian

Directing her career path: UWG grad sets sights on dream job following internship on ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES-GEORGIAN

Taajera Jones is quickly making her mark in the film and television industry and hopes to use her experiences soon to instruct others in the art of directing. Jones recently completed an internship on the upcoming film, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and is earning respect in the industry with aspirations of becoming the “next great director.” Jones, a Lithonia resident and recent University of West Georgia graduate, landed her internship on the highly anticipated second installment of the Black Panther series through the Georgia Film Academy while a college student.

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

Fort Valley State University Enters Partnership Agreement With Utah State University

Historically Black Fort Valley State University has signed a partnership agreement with Utah State University in Logan. The agreement calls for the development of research collaboration, educational program development, student support, and involvement services, and to maintain and promote channels of cooperation and communication, promote faculty and student exchanges, collaborative training of students, and undertake joint or collaborative research, training, and outreach or public education.

Albany Herald

State to host 25th annual Southeast Model African Union Conference

From staff reports

Albany State University will host the 25th annual Southeast Model African Union Conference in collaboration with the University System African Council Wednesday-Saturday. This will be the first time ASU is hosting the prestigious conference. College students will travel from all over the Southeast to participate in the mock trial experience as an exercise in international diplomacy. The students will simulate the activities of the African Union heads of state representing 55 countries of Africa at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While acting as delegates, students will debate issues that affect African nations.

Athens CEO

Fortune Ranks UGA’s Executive MBA Program No. 6 Among Public Business Schools

Ed Morales

The Executive MBA program at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business was named one of the top 15 EMBA programs overall — and a top six public program nationwide — according to a new ranking by Fortune magazine. Fortune ranked the Terry EMBA program No. 14 among EMBA programs in the United States and No. 6 among public business schools. It is the highest-ranked EMBA program in Georgia.

Tifton CEO

New Agricultural Technology Management Degree Opens at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Staff Report

Graduates from the newest bachelor’s degree program at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will be ready to tackle the job market with skills perfectly suited for the workplace. ABAC’s Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Technology Management (ATM) promises to fill many existing needs in the agriculture industry nationwide. Dr. Mark Kistler, Dean of ABAC’s School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, said the program is broad in scope as it prepares students for a wide variety of jobs. Technical careers that include sales or management in the production, processing, or manufacturing of agricultural materials are possibilities for graduates.

Grice Connect

Eagles become active citizens of the community in Serve912

John Caesar

by John Caesar

Georgia Southern not only educates its students but also gives them opportunities to give back to the community they’re a part of. One of the ways they do this is through the Serve912 Program, part of the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement. Serve912 is a community outreach program that allows students to engage with the Statesboro community through year-round acts of service.

Athens CEO

UGA MFA Film Program Gains Momentum in Year Three

Staff Report

Like any good script, the plot of the UGA MFA Film program is continuously adding developments and enriching its story. The Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television and Digital Media is accepting applications for its fourth cohort with some exciting plot developments including a partnership with the new Athena Studios, less than five miles from the UGA campus; growth of the Distinguished Industry Mentor program that includes professionals like Chuck Hayward (“WandaVision”), Davita Scarlett (“The Good Fight”) and Damon Lindelof (“Watchmen”); and the ongoing partnership with Georgia Film Academy at the program’s second-year homebase, Trilith Studios.

Savannah CEO

Coastal Care Partners Names New VP of Finance

Staff Report

Coastal Care Partners has named Karen Osterman as its Vice President of Finance. Osterman brings more than 20 years of healthcare industry experience to  Coastal Care Partners, Savannah’s premier customer-focused healthcare company. …She is currently a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as well as the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Osterman attended Georgia Southern University (GSU), where she earned a Master of Science degree in Nursing, Nurse Practitioner; and a Master of Science degree, Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist. She also received her B.S. degree in Nursing from GSU.

11Alive

NFL, UGA partner for head impact research

Video

The University of Georgia is teaming up with the NFL to help collect data about head impacts for football players.

Gwinnett Daily Post

Georgia Gwinnett College’s Karim Tmimi, Emanuele Sordi, Steve DeCou lead conference honors

From Staff Reports

Record-setting Georgia Gwinnett College forward Karim Tmimi joined teammate Emanuele Sordi and head coach Steve DeCou in receiving 2022 Continental Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer special awards on the eve of the Grizzlies hosting this weekend’s championship tournament. Tmimi was Player of the Year, Sordi was co-Newcomer of the Year and DeCou was Coach of the Year. Meanwhile, nine other GGC players earned first and second all-CAC honors this season.

The Tifton Gazette

ABAC golf receives trophy

The ABAC Stallions golf team recently received the physical proof of their NJCAA All-Academic award. The Stallions were third nationally in the NJCAA with 3.68 team grade-point average. Academics is a priority for head coach Larry Byrnes.

Savannah CEO

Georgia Southern Libraries designated as U.S. Patent and Trademark Resource Center, Supports Community Inventors and Entrepreneurs

Staff Report

Georgia Southern University Libraries has been designated as a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. PTRCs comprise a network of 84 libraries nationwide that disseminate patent and trademark information and support the diverse intellectual property needs of the public. Georgia Southern Libraries is one of two officially designated PTRCs in Georgia. “This designation places the Georgia Southern Libraries as a local face of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and helps to cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,” stated Georgia Southern’s Henderson Library Research Services manager John Schlipp. “Our PTRC designation enables the research customers of Georgia Southern Libraries to access the vast resources provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This new library service helps inventors and entrepreneurs to protect their intellectual properties ranging from patents, trade secrets, trademarks and copyrights.”

Greenhouse Power

University of Georgia Plant Trials: Mild Weather Leads to a Great Year

By Greenhouse Grower staff

The Trial Gardens at University of Georgia had a great year in 2021 according to Trial Gardens Manager Sandra Lynn Begani. The growing season began with abundant sun and heat, and the weather stayed milder in the Southeast than in many parts of the world experiencing heat waves. …The biggest challenge the growing team at the University of Georgia is facing now is rose rosette disease.

Higher Education News:

The Wall Street Journal

More Colleges Offering Admission to Students Who Never Applied

Direct admissions allow colleges to send offers to students based just on GPAs or a few other criteria

By Melissa Korn

It sounds too good to be true: Get into college, with a guaranteed scholarship, without ever applying. This fall, tens of thousands of students will receive such offers from schools around the country. Direct admissions, as the approach is often called, allow colleges to send offers to students based just on their GPAs or a few other criteria, such as intended major or geographic location, without the hassle of essays, recommendation letters and months of uncertainty. More than 85% of four-year schools admit at least half their applicants, federal data show. They just make those candidates jump through hoops first. The aim with direct admissions, participants say, is to make the process less cumbersome, show low-income and first-generation students that college is within reach, and funnel more prospects toward institutions desperate to meet enrollment goals.

Higher Ed Dive

How higher ed can engage veterans — from a university president who is a veteran

Identify how veterans differ from traditional students and support them accordingly, says the president of the University of Montana.

Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor

Colleges have long recruited military veterans as students, incentivized in part by the original 1944 GI Bill and its successors to fund higher education for members of the armed services. But a singular focus on getting veterans enrolled can leave them on their own once they’ve entered the classroom. Having students and staff with military experience is valuable as more than a financial boon to campuses, and colleges need to reconsider how to engage with them, according to Seth Bodnar, president of the University of Montana. Bodnar is an Army veteran and remains a member of the National Guard. Before joining the University of Montana, he was a senior executive at General Electric and taught economics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his alma mater. Bodnar shared his thoughts on how his Army background influences his leadership style, how colleges can recruit veterans as students and employees, and the benefits of engaging with student protests.

Inside Higher Ed

Moving Forward on FAFSA Simplification

Colleges and universities have to update their cost of attendance calculations now that the Education Department has said it is carrying out that change and others for the 2023–24 academic year.

By Katherine Knott

The U.S. Education Department is moving forward to carry out some parts of the FAFSA Simplification Act before unveiling a simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid next fall. For colleges and universities, that means updating how the total cost of attendance is calculated—a key measure used to add up financial aid offers. Guidance released this week provides institutions with details on how to calculate a new cost-of-attendance figure, which will be used to calculate financial aid awards for the 2023–24 academic year. Cost of attendance currently includes tuition and fees, room and board, and other expenses, though the new law changed definitions of the different components used in the calculation and added new requirements to include more money for housing and food, among other changes.

Inside Higher Ed

UNO Students Vote Against Student Experience Fee

By Johanna Alonso

Students at the University of New Orleans voted against a $300-per-semester fee that would have allowed the university to start several new sports programs, according to a Wednesday press release from the university’s athletics department. The referendum was struck down by a 38 percent margin, with 69 percent voting against and 31 percent voting for the measure. In total, just under 30 percent of UNO’s student body voted. According to the press release, student government leaders requested the university put the fee up to a vote rather than just instate it without student input. Had the referendum succeeded, it would have funded intercollegiate football, women’s soccer, women’s golf and marching band, along with several other activities and programs on campus.

Inside Higher Ed

Florida Supreme Court to Hear Campus Shutdown Case

The University of South Florida asked the court to dismiss a lawsuit alleging breach of contract for COVID shutdowns. Its case rests on a broad interpretation of “sovereign immunity.”

By Liam Knox

The Florida state Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it would hear a lawsuit against the University of South Florida over campus shutdowns and remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The higher court could overturn an earlier decision by a circuit court in June that denied USF’s motion for dismissal and paved the way for an eventual jury trial. Lawyers for the university filed a petition for the appeal last week. Doctoral student ValerieMarie Moore initially filed a class action lawsuit against USF last March on behalf of herself and her peers. It alleges that the university was in breach of contract when it switched to remote learning in 2020 and again in spring 2021 and failed to provide services paid for by student fees.

Inside Higher Ed

Ex-Coach at Yale Sentenced to 5 Months in Prison

By Scott Jaschik

U.S. District Court Judge Mark L. Wolf sentenced Rudolph Meredith, formerly the head women’s soccer coach at Yale University, to five months in prison for his role in the Varsity Blues admissions scandal. In 2019, Meredith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and one count of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. He has also helped the prosecution with its cases against parents.

Inside Higher Ed

Protesters Interrupt Ann Coulter’s Speech at Cornell

By Johanna Alonso

A speech by controversial conservative pundit Ann Coulter at Cornell University, her alma mater, was interrupted by student protesters on Wednesday, according to a video of the event, posted to YouTube by an attendee. Coulter was speaking at an event hosted by Cornell’s chapter of Leadership Institute, a nonprofit organization that trains conservative organizers and leaders, and Network of Enlightened Women, an organization for conservative women. The event was interrupted by protesters and hecklers several times, with one individual loudly playing “Entrance of the Gladiators,” a late-19th-century military march often associated with circuses and clowns, as Coulter stepped up to the podium to speak. That individual and a handful of other disrupters were asked to leave or escorted out, according to another video of the event, posted by Zach Winn, the recently defeated Republican candidate for mayor of Ithaca, N.Y., where Cornell is located.