University System News
Associated Press
Georgia public colleges ban TikTok on school-owned devices
By Associated Press
The University System of Georgia is following Gov. Brian Kemp’s lead and banning the use of TikTok, WeChat and Telegram on computers and phones owned by the system or any of its 26 universities and colleges. Chancellor Sonny Perdue said in a memo that state-owned devices can only be used to access the programs for law enforcement and security purposes. Perdue said the students, faculty and staff could still access the sites on their own computers and phones, or those owned by university-related foundations, as long as employees don’t also use those devices to access personal information or sensitive information related to university business.
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Fortune
U.S. public university students may soon have one less distraction: TikTok
WSB-TV
Georgia’s public colleges are now banning TikTok on school-owned devices
Savannah CEO
By Staff Report
Savannah-area high school students are getting a first-hand look at engineering concepts through the Eagle Engineering Ambassadors (EAA) program, a new NASA-funded mentorship program that partners students in Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing with teams of high school students. The new program, much like its predecessor the Engineering Design Challenge (EDC), introduces high schoolers to engineering concepts through hands-on projects and mentorship from Georgia Southern students. Led by Priya Goeser, Ph.D., professor of mechanical engineering, and Thomas Murphy, Ph.D., associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, the program is funded through a grant from the Georgia Space Grant Consortium.
Savannah Morning News
‘I’ve really grown here’: Effingham College and Career Academy providing employment pathways
By Latrice Williams
Breanna Harris grabs a pile of compost and drops it through a sifter. Harris, a senior at Effingham College and Career Academy (ECCA), developed the school’s first compost program. The students use food waste from the cafeteria and shredded paper to make the material. The goal is to reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill. A finalist for her proficiency in Future Farmers of America, Harris plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College so she can give back to future generations.
Savannah Morning News
International teacher recruitment program fills ‘critical need’ for teachers, diversity
By Zoe Nicholson
The first time Kaleb Ceaser met Sallyann Gray, the teacher’s vibrant, commanding presence made him snap to attention. Gray was speaking at an event at Savannah State University, telling the crowd her life story of growing up in Jamaica and being kicked out of high school due to her ADHD diagnosis, putting her behind academically. Gray was one of the first teachers recruited to teach within the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) as part of the International Teacher Program, which sponsors teachers green cards in exchange for a job within the district.
Savannah Morning News
Shrimpers and scientists collaborate to study parasite worsened by climate change
By Marisa Mecke
Georgia’s shrimpers are already facing plenty of challenges like high gas prices, inflation and international competition. But climate change is exacerbating a new problem: black gill, a parasite that is decreasing shrimp populations and is worsening with rising ocean temperatures. On Dec. 15, the University of Georgia’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography invited shrimpers, researchers and other local stakeholders aboard the R/V Savannah to collect samples in the Wassaw Sound and discuss the current research and on-the-water observations of black gill.
Grice Connect
By Grice Connect
Georgia Southern University’s latest Economic Monitor, which reflects Q3 2022, reports Savannah metro economy continued to grow, albeit at a slower and more sustainable pace. Notably, the business forecasting index fell for the second consecutive quarter as weakness in the housing and labor markets pulled the index down. Issuance of building permits for single-family homes declined significantly again. Further, new claims for unemployment insurance jumped.
Other News
Savannah CEO
Georgia Lottery Reaches Milestone $25B Generated for Education in Georgia
By Staff Report
Governor Brian P. Kemp is excited to announce the Georgia Lottery Corp. has raised $25 billion for education in the State of Georgia since its inception in 1993. These funds have allowed thousands of Georgians to receive essential early learning and provided the opportunity for higher education through the HOPE Scholarship.
WABE
American Business Chronicle
Gen Z’s value proposition: One critical key to attracting and retaining young talent
By Meera Raman
Over a third of Gen Zers have quit their job during the Great Resignation because it didn’t offer enough flexibility, according to the 2022 Randstad Workmonitor global survey. But workplace flexibility is only one piece of the puzzle for Gen Z, which values that balance but also wants to feel valued within their organization. Many employers have found it difficult to meet that mark.
Higher Education News
NBC News
Ransomware hackers take demands directly to college students: ‘For you, it’s a sad day’
By Kevin Collier
A hacker group known as Hive had broken into the college’s computer system and gained access to student data, a common ransomware tactic. But this group had a new wrinkle for Knox students. The incident at Knox College marks the first known case in which hackers used their access to contact students directly in order to intimidate them. It highlights how the ongoing scourge of ransomware — which cost the U.S. an estimated $886 million last year — is also one in which hackers are escalating their efforts to get institutions to pay up.
Inside Higher Ed
Congress to Boost Pell Grant by $500
By Katherine Knott
Congress is planning to increase the maximum Pell Grant award to $7,395—a $500 increase—and put more money toward several student success grant programs as part of a $1.7 trillion spending package for fiscal year 2023. The 4,155-page draft spending plan, unveiled early Tuesday morning, will be voted on this week as lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives plan to work quickly to avoid a government shutdown. The resolution currently funding the government expires Dec. 23.
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
Community College of Vermont and Hospital Pay Students to Take Classes
By Jon Edelman
Facing a national shortage of early childhood educators, the Community College of Vermont (CCV) and the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC) have teamed up for an innovative solution: paying students to reduce their hours at their jobs in favor of taking more classes. The goal is to make students, many of whom work while attending school part-time, more likely to complete a credential while putting new workers into the pipeline more quickly.
Higher Ed Dive
Fix HBCU underfunding with bipartisan legislation, report says
By Laura Spitalniak
Garnering bipartisan support can help state leaders resolve HBCU underfunding challenges, according to the Hunt Institute’s research. By proactively seeking legislative solutions to HBCU underfunding, state lawmakers can avoid potential lawsuits, according to the research. One example of this is Tennessee, according to the Hunt Institute.
Associated Press
Esports seen as pathway to boost diversity in STEM careers
By Claire Savage
By channeling students’ enthusiasm for esports — multiplayer competitive video games — schools and businesses like Black entrepreneur Kevin Fair’s aim to prepare them for careers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, at a time when the fields lack racial diversity.
Higher Ed Dive
A look at trends in college consolidation since 2016
By Higher Ed Dive Team
The last few years have been tumultuous for many U.S. colleges. Pressure to lower tuition, stagnating state funding and a shrinking pool of high school graduates has strained many institutions’ bottom lines and questioned their long-term viability. Those pressures have caused some to close. For many still in operation, the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact is adding a host of uncertainties to already tight operations.
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education
Report Finds Broad Base Skills Help Students Post-Graduation, But Inequity Remains
By Liann Herder
Not all graduates experience the same economic benefits. Female graduates are less likely than their male peers to earn a family-sustaining wage after graduation. First-generation students are less likely to earn over $50,000 after graduation, and Black graduates are the least likely to experience both economic and noneconomic benefits after acquiring these skills. These marginalized students are less likely to agree that the cost of their education was worth its price.