Capitol Beat News Service
University system extends waiver of test requirements
by Dave Williams
The University System of Georgia (USG) will waive SAT and ACT test requirements at most of the system’s 26 institutions for another academic year. The waiver will apply to all of the system’s colleges and universities except the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Georgia College & State University. The university system began waiving the test requirements in March 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The waiver has been in effect for all but 10 months since then. Most academic researchers have concluded that high school grade-point averages are a better indicator of future success in college than test scores, system Chancellor Sonny Perdue told members of the system’s Board of Regents Wednesday.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
University System of Ga. may raise tuition to fill state budget cut
By Vanessa McCray
University System of Georgia officials said Tuesday they’re considering several options, including a tuition hike, to help fill a budget hole after state lawmakers unexpectedly cut its funding for the next fiscal year. The Georgia Board of Regents typically makes tuition decisions at its April meeting but plans to wait until May to consider potential tuition and fee increases for the state’s 26 public colleges. Officials said that will give them several more weeks to review revenue options, which also could include strategically allocating state funds to schools most in need and dipping into a portion of “carry forward” funds left over in college budgets.
Capitol Beat News Service
University System of Georgia enrollment still on decline
by Dave Williams
Student enrollment is continuing to decline at the University System of Georgia. Overall enrollment for the spring semester at the system’s 26 institutions fell to 311,484, down 0.9% from last spring, Angela Bell, the system’s vice chancellor of research and policy analysis, told members of the Board of Regents Tuesday. The system’s enrollment grew steadily from 2014 through 2021, Bell said during the regents April meeting on the campus of the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. But enrollment has declined during the last couple of years to the point where it stands only about 500 students above 2019, she said. The enrollment drop in Georgia is part of a national trend researchers say reflects low unemployment, financial uncertainty, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. But the declining numbers are not showing up uniformly in every category of student or every category of school within the university system.
See also:
Inside Higher Ed
Another Posttenure Review Change Criticized
The American Association of University Professors censured the University System of Georgia for past posttenure-review changes. The system’s new proposals aren’t winning AAUP staff back.
By Ryan Quinn
The University System of Georgia, which oversees 26 institutions in that state, including all public four-year universities, landed on the American Association of University Professors’ censure list about a year ago for changes to its posttenure review policy. Those changes had decoupled posttenure review from dismissal policies and their due process protections. Faculty members protested, but the system’s Board of Regents nonetheless carried out the changes. Today, the board is set to consider more modifications to the relevant policies—but not ones that AAUP staff believe solve the fundamental issues with the prior alterations.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC On Campus: Georgia Tech honors CNN anchor, Iceman scholar to speak
By Vanessa McCray
A roundup of news and happenings from Georgia colleges and universities
Georgia Tech is giving CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour a prestigious award, a homecoming of sorts for the international reporter whose career began in Atlanta. In this edition of AJC On Campus, we also introduce you to an Iceman scholar from Italy, an interim college president returning from Pennsylvania and a Truman Scholar from Georgia College & State University. Georgia Tech award … Georgia College’s first Truman Scholar …Ötzi the Iceman, University of West Georgia …Gordon State’s interim president
Times-Georgian
By Miranda Pepe Special To The Times Georgian
The University of West Georgia is committed to launching students careers before graduation – if not before. Recently, the International Languages and Cultures (ILC) program was recognized for these student-focused efforts by the University System of Georgia (USG) with a Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award. Each year, only nine distinct awards are given statewide by USG. For 2023, UWG’s ILC program received the Regents’ Momentum Award for Excellence in Teaching and Curricular Innovation.
WALB
Albany State secures $80K Home Depot grant for 3rd consecutive year
The funding will go towards several projects.
By Felicity Felder
Albany State University competed in the 2023 Retool Your School competition and was given an $80,000 grant for the third year in a row. The Campus Involvement Grant was categorized into three groups based on the school population. The top 10 schools with the most votes were able to receive funds varying from $40,000 to $150,000. “Thank you to the ‘Ramily’ and all who voted for ASU in the Home Depot Retool Your School Challenge. The continuous support of our community allows us to enhance our campus aesthetics while building an environment where students can create a community. The investment from this grant will add to the sustainability of ASU and further our institutional mission of cultivating an environment of excellence,” Albany State University President, Marion Ross Fedrick said.
Albany Herald
Karli Williams named ABAC’s Woodroof Scholar Award winner
From staff reports
Karli Williams, a biology major from Hazlehurst, was presented the J.G. Woodroof Scholar Award by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College President Tracy Brundage during the school’s annual Academic Recognition Ceremony. The award, named for ABAC’s first president, J.G. Woodroof, is given to the top academic scholar at the college. Four other students were recognized as the best in their respective schools. Jessica Garrason, an agricultural education major from Ludowici, was named the top student from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Gracie White, a biology major from Moultrie, won the School of Arts of Sciences; Brittany Johnson, a nursing major from Tifton, won the award for the School of Nursing and Health Sciences; and Clara Wiley, a business major from Irwinville, won the award from the Stafford School of Business. Winners were presented with their award from the dean of the respective school.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett College earns reaccreditation for its School of Business
From Staff Reports
Georgia Gwinnett College’s School of Business successfully earned reaccreditation through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, an international accreditation body. “AACSB accreditation ensures both a high-quality standard of teaching, research, curriculum, and learner success, and a relevancy and impact to the communities the business school serves,” said Dr. Tyler Yu, dean of GGC’s SBA.
Patch
Savannah Area Chamber: The Chamber And Visit Savannah Thank Erica Backus For 25 Years Of Service
The Chamber and Visit Savannah thank Erica Backus for 25 years of service to our organization. Erica began an internship in 1998 while earning a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University.
Albany Herald
H.E.A.R.T., ASU host Pandemic Warriors Game Day
From staff reports
The H.E.A.R.T. (Hands Extended Across Reaching Together) Organization Inc. will host the Pandemic Warriors Game Day on Saturday and invites the community to “bounce on over for a day of fun.” The Pandemic Warriors Game Day will engage participants with information on mental health as well as information about the virus that causes COVID-19. Dr. Jaye Rodriquez, a mental health professional, will be the speaker. The Monroe High School cheerleaders will kick the event off, followed by plenty of fun with a bounce house obstacle course, giant Jenga, along with a TikTok showdown and much more.
WGAU Radio
By Tim Bryant
Earth Day is Saturday. The University of Georgia marks the occasion with today’s Earth Day Fair and Market. The activities that include a student-run farmers market are sponsored by UGA’s Office of Sustainability are underway at 11 o’clock this morning and continues through 3 o’clock this afternoon on the University’s Tate Center Plaza.
Athens Banner-Herald
Georgia football DB Tykee Smith grounded by his Muslim faith and family back home
Marc Weiszer
Tykee Smith wears a Georgia “G” on his helmet on game days, but off the field, he keeps his head covered with a scarf or hat. The senior defensive back from Philadelphia was born and raised a Muslim. His 14-month old daughter Zyla’s middle name is Bahayah. “It means beautiful in Arabic,” he said. In the Deep South, college football is king with Saturday tailgating on par with going to church on Sundays for some. In his role as Georgia football head coach, Kirby Smart doesn’t talk much about religion or his faith, but each week during the season he attends a team chapel service four and a half hours before kickoff. It is optional for players.
Walker County Messenger
Cody Bowling: UGA H.E.R.D program
UGA is home to some of the greatest sports and athletes in the entire country. With our back-to-back football championships, we are certainly setting the stage for what I hope is a dynasty. Although we are well known in the sports world, our school’s research has improved and impacted millions of lives around the world. One aspect of the research we do here is focused on improving agriculture and livestock production. Locally, livestock production is a big business for Catoosa and surrounding counties. That’s why I thought today would be a good day to talk about the UGA H.E.R.D program.
WJCL
Shooting Outbreak in Statesboro: Police investigating after 1 person killed, several injured
Police in Statesboro are investigating after multiple shootings in recent days killed one person and injured several others.
Graham Cawthon, Digital Media Manager
Police in Statesboro are investigating after multiple shootings in recent days killed one person and injured several others. Hundreds of students packed into the Shuga Shack on East Vine Street when a fight broke out Saturday night. That’s when one student was shot in the leg. Officers then responded Monday night to an apartment complex by Georgia Southern University and found 19-year-old Cameron Anderson shot. Anderson was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center where he died from his wounds.
Campus Reform
Student paper erects Planned Parenthood advertisements on campus
Planned Parenthood has been known to target college campuses to appeal to students. The group also offers financial assistance for women to travel to another state to obtain an abortion.
Ben Mincey ’25 | Georgia Campus Correspondent
The George-Anne Media Group, a student-led newspaper at Georgia Southern University (GSU), is advertising Planned Parenthood across campus and on its website. Campus Reform has obtained pictures of two separate advertisements on GSU’s Statesboro campus that read “Planned Parenthood believes your body is your own.” …GSU told Campus Reform, “The George-Anne is a student-run organization where student editors make all the decisions about accepting advertisements. Planned Parenthood is one of several organizations that has purchased advertising on the George-Anne’s website.”
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
TICAS Report Shows Path to Debt-Free College
By Katherine Knott
A new 100-page report featuring six papers from the Institute for College Access and Success explores how the federal government can partner with states to make college debt-free for all students. … Collectively, the papers are aimed at informing the public policy conversation about how the federal government can partner with states, local governments and colleges to support universal and open access to a variety of postsecondary programs, according to the report.
Inside Higher Ed
Colleges Fall Victim to Fake Shooter Threats
Nearly two dozen colleges have fallen victim to “swatting” threats in recent weeks. Public safety officials say they must be treated as real; for students, they often feel that way.
By Johanna Alonso
There were a few red flags in the 911 call that alerted Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., of a supposed active shooter on the Catholic University of America’s campus. Rather than report a specific location, the caller vaguely mentioned a “computer lab.” And no other calls came in reporting the alleged attack. The situation ended up being nothing more than an incident of “swatting,” shorthand for falsely reporting an act of violence in the hopes of getting a SWAT team to intervene. But despite the early warning signs that the call might be a hoax or a prank, it is far too risky for an institution to approach such episodes as anything other than a legitimate threat, Kirk McLean, Catholic’s associate vice president for public safety and emergency management, told Inside Higher Ed.
Inside Higher Ed
Deal Ends Strike at Governors State U
By Scott Jaschik
Faculty members at Governors State University resumed teaching Tuesday after the union reached a tentative deal with the administration to settle a strike, CBS News Chicago reported. “We’re relieved that we’ve come out of this process with a contract that addresses workload concerns so that we can better support students, and that gives our outstanding faculty and staff fair compensation for the great work they do every day,” said the union president, Mike Hart. “This contract is a step towards strengthening our university and the support we can give our students, and it will contribute to attracting high-quality educators and retaining the excellent faculty and staff we have. We are looking forward to reviewing the details with our members and will hold a vote to ratify the contract.” Faculty members at two other Illinois institutions, Chicago State and Eastern Illinois Universities, ended strikes Monday.