WRDW
AU deal blamed for $66M cut – and universities want it back
By Staff and wire reports
Georgia higher education chief Sonny Perdue says he hopes state lawmakers will restore $66 million they cut from the state university system’s budget. It’s a funding cut linked to Augusta University. The cut was related to a push by Lt. Gov Burt Jones to allow hospitals to be built in rural counties, including his home of Butts County, without state permits. That push was opposed by Marietta-based Wellstar Health System, which owns a hospital in Butts County that would face competition. Wellstar is also taking over AU Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta, and Jones attacked that deal and the university system, using the budget cut as pressure. Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia, wants to get that money back.
Jagwire
Augusta University to remain test optional for 2024-25 academic year, waiving SAT/ACT requirements
Monique Williams
Augusta University’s Division of Enrollment and Student Affairs is embracing the recent decision by the University System of Georgia to waive SAT/ACT test requirements for another academic year. Augusta University is one of 23 USG institutions included in the waiver for the 2024 admissions cycle. Twenty-six institutions are governed by USG Board of Regents. “Augusta University is excited to continue offering test-optional admissions for qualified first-year applicants,” said Nathan Rice, director of undergraduate admissions. “This policy has allowed us to provide expanded access to our wonderful opportunities, and we are delighted for it to continue. We are committed to working with students and providing them multiple avenues to become Jaguars.”
yahoo!news
Inauguration set in September for the fifth president of GHC
Marietta Daily Journal, Ga.
Dr. Mike Hobbs became the fifth president of Georgia Highlands College in July 2022 and now the college and the University System of Georgia have set the date for the official inauguration in September of this year. The investiture ceremony will take place on Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. in Rome on the GHC Floyd Campus and the Highlands Scholarship Gala will take place on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Clarence Brown Conference Center in Cartersville. Georgia Highlands College welcomed Hobbs as the new president in July 2022 alongside the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. He is a first-generation high school graduate and a first-generation college graduate originally from Ensley, Alabama.
WGAU Radio
University provost takes part in White House summit
By Tim Bryant
University of Georgia provost Jack Hu is back from the White House, where he took part in a panel discussion on workforce development. Hu highlighted what he says is UGA’s commitment to teaching, research, and public service.
From Mike Wooten, Sarah Buckleitner, UGA Today…
During a panel discussion at the White House focused on restoring nature and providing communities tools to be resilient, the University of Georgia’s commitment to teaching, research and public service was highlighted on the national level. Jack Hu, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, participated in a panel discussion on workforce development during the Invest in Nature Summit, hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The event on April 20 focused on leveraging nature-based solutions to address the nation’s climate challenges while supporting investments in jobs, youth programs and resilient communities.
accessWDUN
UNG to honor three students in annual remembrance day
By Caleb Hutchins Reporter
The University of North Georgia will memorialize three students who passed away during this past academic year in its annual “UNG Remembers Day” this week. In a release on the school’s website, officials said two students, Matthew Ryan Campbell and Conor James Rahiya, will be memorialized at the Oconee campus in Watkinsville while one, Ryan Bennett Joiner, will be honored at the Dahlonega campus. The annual service has been held every year since 2017. Dean of Students for the school’s Oconee campus, Dr. Michelle Brown, said it’s an important day for students and staff at the university.
Athens CEO
Ox Sox Translates Foot Funk into $10,000 at UGA Next Top Entrepreneur Contest
Merritt Melancon
Matt Tesvich’s mission is making the world smell better — one pair of socks at a time. Since launching his line of odor-killing Ox Sox, the Terry College management information systems major sold nearly 4,400 pairs and grossed $63,000. Judges at the UGA Next Top Entrepreneur Competition, hosted by the UGA Entrepreneurship Program, were impressed by his use of social media and word-of-mouth marketing to propel the brand in such short time and awarded him the $10,000 first prize.
Jagwire
Augusta University introduces Jags4Jags Mentorship Program
Adapting to university life can be difficult for first-year students, especially those who are away from home for the first time or are the first in their families to attend college. On top of learning to navigate a new location and new programs, as well as managing the academic calendar, it can also be difficult for students to ask for help or know where to turn. To help Augusta University students be more successful from the start, the university is launching a new initiative this fall in the Jags4Jags Mentoring Program.
Albany Herald
Fields, Williams named UGA-Griffin Employees of Year
By Ashley N. Biles UGA/CAES
The University of Georgia Griffin campus recently honored Ben Fields and Seth Williams as the 2023 Classified Employees of the Year at the 34th annual Employee Recognition ceremony. The award is presented to classified personnel who have made the most significant impact on UGA-Griffin programs through their job knowledge and performance, work attitude, initiative, dependability and time management. Nominees for the award are selected by their operating unit and must have been employed full-time on campus for three consecutive years. The award recipients are determined by a committee of their peers.
The Tifton Gazette
ABAC faculty promoted, earned tenure
Eleven faculty members will receive promotions and seven faculty members will be granted tenure when the 2023-24 academic year begins at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Dr. Amy Willis, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the promotions and tenure become effective July 1 for 12-month faculty members and Aug. 1 for 10-month faculty members. The 2023 ABAC fall semester begins Aug. 14.
Valdosta Daily Times
Orkin Establishes Urban Entomology Professorship at the University of Georgia
PR Newswire
Orkin, an industry leader in pest control services and protection, has created an endowment to establish the Orkin Professorship in Urban Entomology at the University of Georgia to help strengthen the entomology program in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). By supporting the CAES Department of Entomology, Orkin is supporting science that delivers transformative research to the world and helping to ensure that UGA faculty in urban entomology are leaders in their field. Orkin’s professorship paves the way for new research partnerships that advance the industry, create new businesses and generate new jobs.
WALB
Peanut farmers have smaller window to plant for 2023 season
By Anthony Bordanaro
An agriculture expert says peanut farmers have a smaller window to plant their crop this year. Bob Kemerait has been in the agriculture industry for many decades. After a difficult year in 2022, he says it’s important for farmers to get started off correctly. …Kemerait has seen farmers under more stress. He said this trend is likely because farm sizes are increasing and fewer workers are available to help. With a smaller window to plant, Kemerait expects farmers to be under high stress in early May when planting. “The stress with farming has not been greater. An increased acreage associated with the need for profitability and the requirement for profitability gets increasingly difficult for our growers. They manage the diseases, the insects, the weeds, to increase the opportunity for the best yields,” Kemerait said. Kemerait, along with the University of Georgia Extension agents are more aware of this issue and recently have provided avenues for farmers to get help.
Advance Media
‘You’ll see this around the country.’ A Rutgers agreement could bring change to other schools
By Tina Kelley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Long before the historic Rutgers strike, union leader Rebecca Givan hoped that whatever replaced the faculty contracts that expired July 1 would put the state university at the forefront in improving conditions for lower-ranking school employees. In an interview with NJ Advance Media in late February, she spoke about her aspirations, including the chance to win equal pay per class for part-time adjuncts, who do the same work as full-time professors. “Rutgers could be in the lead on that,” Givan said. While awaiting the final results of bargaining, some education experts see the preliminary agreement at Rutgers as groundbreaking in reducing universities’ reliance on underpaid workers lacking job security. “By uniting faculty members from the most senior to the most financially vulnerable, the Rutgers strikers were noteworthy,” said Tim Cain, an associate professor at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education. Their gains, he said, “demonstrate the power that workers and their unions can gain by working together to improve not just their own individual conditions but the conditions in which their colleagues work, and their students learn.”
Calhoun Times
Greg Bowman: Growing home garden cucumbers
LOCAL COLUMNIST Greg Bowman
Growing home garden cucumbers is an annual hobby of many gardeners. You have two types of cucumbers grown in our area. You have cucumber types grown for fresh slicing and types used for pickling. As a county agent, one common call that I will receive on cucumbers is the complaints of bitter taste when a person is consuming a sliced cucumber. Many times, the bitter flavor is associated with lack of moisture when the fruit is maturing. Today, I will be sharing home garden cucumber growing tips by way of a UGA publication by Bob Westerfield, UGA Extension Horticulturist.
Savannah Morning News
Tax day no more? The pros and cons of Rep. Buddy Carter’s Fair Tax Act, explained
Georgia congressman’s Fair Tax Act proposal would eliminate the federal income tax, payroll taxes for Medicare and Social Security and estate and gift taxes. Plan would also abolish the IRS.
Abraham Kenmore, Augusta Chronicle
Tax day has come and gone — and Rep. Buddy Carter, R- Pooler, has some strong feelings about the occasion. “Mr. Chairman, today could be – could be! – the last tax day our country ever has,” Carter said Tuesday afternoon during a presentation to the U.S. House of Representatives. “Let that sink in, today could be the last tax day our country ever has. Monday, April 15, 2024, could just be another spring day if Congress acts now and passes the only tax proposal ever to make it on the New York Times bestseller list, the Fair Tax Act.” …What would the Fair Tax Act do?
Carter made a point to highlight potential criticism of the bill in his speech on the House floor. A major one is that the tax is regressive, hitting lower-income people harder. Wealthy people are more likely to spend money on assets, like investments, which would not be taxed, while lower-income people spend most of their income on consumption, said Richard McGrath, professor of economics at Georgia Southern University.
Statesboro Herald
Fundraiser for local woman battling cancer a success
Phi Mu, Sigma Chi raise $19,700 to help Bryn Green
Jim Healy
A fundraiser to help a friend battling breast cancer went “really well,” said two of the event’s organizers. The “Sigma Chi/Phi Mu Fundraiser Benefiting Bryn Green” event was held April 16 at the Sigma Chi House on the Georgia Southern University campus and raised $19,700 to assist the Statesboro native in her cancer treatment. Fischer Sharp, a childhood friend of Green’s and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity at GS, said the partnership with Phi Mu Sorority worked “great.” A committee comprised of members from both houses organized the barbecue chicken-plate fundraiser, that also included a raffle and T-shirt sales.
Rockdale Newton Citizen
Rockdale Schools Superintendent Oatts honored with President’s Award
From Staff Reports
Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Superintendent Dr. Terry Oatts was recently awarded the 2023 Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) President’s Award. Oatts was surprised with the presentation of the award at the 2023 Spring Bootstrap Conference in Savannah April 12-13. “We are proud of Dr. Oatts for receiving the GSSA President’s Award,” said Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Pam Brown. “He consistently demonstrates exemplary leadership and works tirelessly for the students and staff of Rockdale County Public Schools.” …Oatts holds a B.S. degree in communication arts and three graduate degrees in education all from Georgia Southern University.
The Tifton Gazette
Public Health, ABAC host Health Equity Summit
Access to health care and health resources is critical for all individuals to reach their highest health quality possible. In an effort to continue the push for health equity, Georgia Department of Public Health’s South Health District in conjunction with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, hosted a Health Equity Summit on April 17 at the ABAC campus. The event brought together experts in the field of public health, epidemiology and health policy and focused on the importance of health equity and the steps communities and individuals can take to improve health equity, health officials said in a statement.
The Red & Black
UGA Dance Company presents variety at Spring Concert
Felix Scheyer
A season’s worth of dedication, determination and dance hit the floors of the New Dance Theatre this weekend at the University of Georgia Dance Company’s Spring Concert. The show, which consisted of a variety of dances choreographed by faculty members, centered around celebration and passion for the craft, a sentiment that rang true with every jump, twirl and kick. The concert debuted on Thursday night, with performances continuing on Friday and Saturday. Nika Shlomi, a freshman at UGA and a member of the UGA Dance Company, described the event as one that allowed her, and all watching, to be true to oneself. …The line-up included aerial performances, ballet and ballroom numbers, high-energy contemporary pieces, West African dance, and a variety of cinematic short films demonstrating the power behind movement and collaboration. One such short film was a joint effort between the dancers of the UGA Dance Company and those studying at the University of Ghana.
Savannah CEO
Staff Report
Savannah SCORE and Wells Fargo will present The 10th Annual State of Small Business in Chatham County on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. The free event will be held from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the Torian Auditorium at Savannah State University, located in the Howard Jordan building of the College of Business Administration. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Savannah area business leaders from different sectors will each have three minutes to present a brief overview of the current state of affairs in Chatham County as it pertains to their industries. They will then offer their key insights into what this means to the future of Savannah and the small business owner. …The 2023 State of Small Business in Chatham County presenters are: …SPEAKER: Michael Toma, Ph.D., professor of economics, Georgia Southern University in Savannah
TOPIC: Small Business Statistical Overview …SPEAKER: Becky Brownlee, area director, Small Business Development Center, UGA
TOPIC: 2023 Small Businesses Credit Survey
The Red & Black
Understanding the relationship between UGA and UGA Athletics
Owen Warden
Despite the University of Georgia Athletic Association’s close ties to UGA’s administration, it is a separate entity of its own — a distinction that can often be confusing for those not familiar with the boundaries of each organization. With the recent deaths of football player Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandler LeCroy in a Jan. 15 car accident, the UGAAA has made headlines and raised questions about oversight and transparency. While who bears the most responsibility for the crash is still under investigation, understanding the division between the UGAAA and the university is the first step in analyzing the relationship and policies that dictate the jurisdictions and responsibilities of the two entities. The UGAAA handles all matters concerning sports and athletics, while UGA oversees academics and student life.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Metro Atlanta college students protest police training center
By Vanessa McCray
Emory University students rallied against Atlanta’s planned public safety training center, one of several coordinated protests scheduled to take place Monday across seven local college campuses. About 100 students gathered on one end of the grassy quad where they chanted “No justice, no peace” and strung a large sheet emblazoned with “#StopCopCity” between two light fixtures at the entrance to Emory’s administration building. They demanded that Emory condemn the training center project. Jaanaki Radhakrishnan, a first-year student at Emory, said a wide coalition of students at her school and at other Atlanta colleges have worked together on the events. …The coordinated actions Monday by students, in different parts of metro Atlanta, was rare. Georgia Tech students met for study sessions, teach-ins and other activities at the large lawn of Tech Green, while some at Georgia State University planned a town hall. At Agnes Scott College, participants planned a rally and a potluck dinner.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
The ‘Some College, No Credential’ Cohort Grows
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report documents an increase in learners with college credits but no credential and finds they are returning to college at lower rates than in the past.
By Sara Weissman
The number of people who attended some college but never earned a credential is growing across the country, according to the latest “Some College, No Credential” report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. The new progress report, released today, found that the population of learners who stopped out of college without completing rose 3.6 percent between July 2020 and July 2021. That’s an additional 1.4 million people on top of the 39 million reported last year. Academic outcomes for these students also worsened. The number who returned to college fell 8.4 percent, those who earned a credential within a year after re-enrolling dropped 11.8 percent and those who continued on to a second year of college after re-enrolling fell 4.3 percent.
Inside Higher Ed
Tuition Discount Rates Hit New High
According to a new NACUBO study, private college tuition discount rates hit a record 56.2 percent, continuing a pattern of annual increases.
By Josh Moody
The average tuition discount at private nonprofit colleges once again hit a record high, according to a new National Association of College and University Business Officers study released this week. A NACUBO press release noted that “the awards were, on average, the largest yet.” The average institutional tuition discount rate was 56.2 percent for first-time, full-time freshmen for the 2022–23 academic year, and 50.9 percent for all undergraduates, according to early projections from NACUBO’s annual survey, which included 341 private, nonprofit institutions.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
As Decision Day Looms, Colleges Try to Boost Minority Enrollment
Jon Edelman
Now that college acceptance letters have been sent, the pressure is on students to choose what schools to attend by May 1st, National Decision Day. But institutions are under pressure, too. The effects of the pandemic on college enrollments are still lingering, with a total enrollment decline of 1.2 million students since the fall of 2019, and notable decreases in students with several under-represented backgrounds. This year, schools have been doing everything that they can to entice students—particularly minoritized ones—to commit for next fall. The process of getting students enrolled and on-campus starts long before they’ve even applied.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
NCAA Inclusion Forum Focuses on DEI Initiatives
Jamal Watson
Amid the ongoing legislative battles that are being waged across the nation against a wide-range of diversity initiatives, student athletes, coaches and administrators gathered over the weekend to affirm their commitment to inclusion, vowing to push back against the onslaught.
Inside Higher Ed
AAUP Condemns Collin College on Academic Freedom
By Scott Jaschik
The American Association of University Professors on Monday published a report on Collin College’s dismissal of three professors, Lora Burnett, Suzanne Jones and Michael Phillips. Collin is a community college in Texas. According to the AAUP, Burnett in October 2020 tweeted about the U.S. vice presidential debate, including a tweet that urged Vice President Mike Pence to “shut his little demon mouth.” A state representative texted Collin’s president to point out that Burnett was “paid with taxpayer dollars”; the president replied that he was “aware of the situation” and “would deal with it.” In denying Burnett’s reappointment for the following year, the administration cited her “insubordinate” challenging of the administration and governing board on social media and institutional email lists during that controversy.
Inside Higher Ed
Temple Union Issues No-Confidence Vote in Administration
By Josh Moody
Ongoing tensions at Temple University were punctuated by a vote of no confidence on Monday, with members of the Temple Association of University Professionals demonstrating their lingering frustrations with Board of Trustees chair Mitchell Morgan and Provost Gregory Mandel. Over 1,000 members of the bargaining unit cast ballots, with 81 percent voting no confidence in Morgan and Mandel, according to results shared by the union on Monday. The vote comes in the wake of a clash between administrators and graduate students that prompted a walkout and a seven-week strike that ended last month with a new contract.
Higher Ed Dive
OPINION
Try these strategies to improve the student experience on campus
Drawing on past efforts, American University’s former provost suggests ways to walk in students’ shoes and rebuild processes around their needs.
By Scott Bass (professor and executive director of the Center for University Excellence at American University, in Washington, D.C.)
While today’s students face many of the same stressors as their peers in prior decades, what is different today is the psychological weight carried by Generation Z upon entry into college due to a barrage of tragic and unprecedented world events and their reliance on social media. This combination, coupled with expectations cultivated by the increasingly efficient, integrated and personalized digital-service world in which they were raised, makes our job as educators that much more challenging. That is, students arrive carrying a hefty psychological burden to a campus setting that has struggled to keep pace with the holistic service delivery systems that students are accustomed to. In order to fully promote student mental health, we need to both provide psychological support for those in need and address how we deliver many of our student services.