AP News
Tuition, fees at Georgia public universities to hold steady in fall 2023 despite budget worries
Jeff Amy, Associated Press
The cost of attending Georgia’s public universities and colleges will remain mostly flat in the 2023-2024 academic year, despite concerns that declining enrollment and a legislative funding cut are stressing school budgets. Regents voted Tuesday to increase tuition or fees at only four of the system’s 26 schools — Middle Georgia State University, Georgia College and State University, the University of West Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. … Last year, student costs fell 7.6% systemwide, as regents eliminated a fee charged on top of tuition. … Chancellor Sonny Perdue said the decision to hold student costs mostly flat despite the cuts shows how committed regents are to affordability and should encourage lawmakers to give more state money to maintain instructional quality at current prices. … “We’re about to reach a tipping point here in our university system, where we’re going to need more resources in the future to maintain the quality of our academic programs and our college experiences, so that our students and families continue to receive a great education for their money here,” Perdue said.
See also:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Recorder, U.S. News and World Report, WSB Radio, Albany Herald, yahoo!news, WGXA, Rome News-Tribune, SFGate, Clayton News-Daily, Gwinnett Daily Post, The Center Square, Statesboro Herald, The Seattle Times, GPB, Creative Loafing, WGAU Radio, Gainesville Times, WRDW, The Griffin Daily News, CT Insider
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New freshman dorm, dining hall coming to University of Georgia
By Vanessa McCray
Two big new building projects, totaling a combined cost of $134.7 million, have been approved for the University of Georgia. The Georgia Board of Regents on Tuesday authorized construction of a $74 million, 565-bed residence hall for first-year students. It will be built on what is now a parking lot at the corner of Lumpkin and Wray streets. The 125,000-square-foot facility is aimed at adding more campus housing for UGA’s growing freshman classes. Board documents say the Athens campus currently has a deficit of more than 500 beds for first-year students. Unlike many schools within the University System of Georgia, UGA has seen enrollment gains in recent years. Last fall, 40,607 students enrolled, up 1.2% from the prior year.
The Tifton Gazette
Regents OK ABAC proposal for four-year athletics, return of basketball
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will transition to four-year athletics and will bring back men’s and women’s basketball beginning in 2024-25, college officials announced Tuesday afternoon. The proposal was approved by the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents at its monthly meeting Tuesday. “This is a tremendous day for ABAC,” President Tracy Brundage said. “I’m not just talking about athletics. This a great day for the entire college and our community. This directly aligns with our goals and strategic initiatives in enrollment and brand recognition. The support that ABAC received from many community partners, as well as the plan our team put together, proved to the Board of Regents that this was the right decision.”
Grice Connect
Georgia Southern graduates building the booming Savannah sports market
Jackson Hamilton and Jalen Johnson will use their Georgia Southern degrees to work in the exciting and growing field of sports broadcasting.
It wasn’t the original plan. In fact, the opportunity didn’t exist until after they began attending school. Now, they’re helping to build one of the fastest-growing sports markets in the country. Jackson Hamilton was born and raised near coastal Georgia. His father, a former employee of Georgia Southern University, would bring Hamilton to campus with him when he was growing up. He learned the value of hard work from watching his father, while also becoming a young member of Eagle Nation. When it was time to enroll and select a major, Hamilton didn’t need to think too hard about it. His mom holds a master’s degree in musical performance. In a similar vein, Hamilton loved to sing for most of his childhood. Putting on a show was in his blood. When he arrived at Georgia Southern University, he enrolled as a vocal performance major.
Times-Georgian
1,350 graduate in UWG’s Spring Commencement ceremonies
By Miranda Pepe SPECIAL TO THE TIMES-GEORGIAN
The University of West Georgia conferred 1,350 degrees over the weekend during its Spring 2023 Commencement as a new class of Wolves turned their tassels. Of the degrees conferred, 846 were at the undergraduate level, with the remaining 504 degrees being earned at the graduate level. In his Commencement remarks, UWG President Dr. Brendan Kelly encouraged graduates to continue in their personal development as they become who they want to be.
Barnesville Dispatch
Gordon State College Hosts Annual Scholarship Luncheon
Gordon State College hosted its annual Scholarship Luncheon in-person on April 28th, at the GSC Collaborative Learning Center in the Nursing, Health, and Natural Sciences building. Montrese Adger Fuller, GSC vice president for advancement, external relations, and marketing opened the event with a welcome and gave special thanks to the scholarship donors for their support for GSC and its students. Sixteen scholarship donors and/or representatives and 17 student recipients attended the special occasion. This year’s celebration surpassed 2022 Scholarship Luncheon attendance comprised of 11 donors and 14 students.
Times-Georgian
UWG athletic programs win Red Clay Rivalry Trophy
By Jared Boggus UWG Sports
The 2022-23 athletic year has officially ended, and for the first time since its inception, the Red Clay Rivalry trophy will be housed in Carrollton for the next 12 months. The Red Clay Rivalry, an annual, season-long competition between the University of West Georgia and Valdosta State athletic departments began prior to the 2021-22 season, and this year the Wolves defeated the Blazers, winning 6.5 of the available 11 points over the course of competitions between the in-state rivals in 11 sports.
The Baldwin Bulletin
GCSU artist paints picture for Baldwin/Putnam nonprofits
By Bailey Ballard
Georgia College & State University graduate Maggie Morgan gave back to the Baldwin and Putnam communities through her senior CAPSTONE project. Morgan is a studio art major with a concentration in graphic design and recently presented her CAPSTONE project at the Paragon exhibition on April 18 at the Leland Gallery inside GCSU’s Ennis Hall.
Athens CEO
UGA Entrepreneurship’s Kickstart Fund Closes Year Marked by Branching Out, Planning Growth
Merritt Melancon
While the Terry College of Business student-run venture capital fund, the Kickstart Fund, helped to launch 70 startup companies over the last five years, there is still room to learn. Student partners and associates refine the fund’s operation each year and build on the prior year’s success, said Vivian Turriago, a co-managing partner for this year’s Kickstart Fund board.
Athens Banner-Herald
Brantley Gilbert among country artists in UGA collective’s ‘not your normal NIL fundraiser’
Marc Weiszer
Ten years ago — yes, it’s been that long — more than 60,000 fans poured into Sanford Stadium but not for a Georgia football game. It will be a much more intimate setting Thursday night in the Rialto Room at Hotel Indigo in downtown Athens for another country music concert. This one — “Georgia Roots,” featuring songwriters from the state — will raise money for Bulldog athletes in an NIL event for the Classic City Collective, which is backed by UGA athletics.
41NBC
With the U.S. Congress racing against the clock to agree on debt ceiling legislation before the June 1 deadline, Middle Georgia could face an economic fallout, according to a local expert.
By Edward Smart
With the U.S. Congress racing against the clock to agree on debt ceiling legislation before the June 1 deadline, Middle Georgia could face an economic fallout, according to a local expert. Cullen Wallace, an Economics Assistant Professor at Georgia College and State University, explained the possible consequences. “So, if you didn’t know what price you had to get a loan for capital improvement, or to make investments in your business, or to take out a mortgage, all those things would instantly become more expensive,” he said.
Albany Herald
UGA will continue to host southern ag research program
From staff reports
The University of Georgia will continue to serve as host institution for the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture program has funded farmer-driven grants and grassroots education programs resulting in climate-smart solutions for farms and ranches in every state and island protectorate since 1988. UGA leads a consortium of institutions in administering the Southern SARE program, including Fort Valley State University in middle Georgia and The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Oklahoma.
Albany Herald
UGA plant geneticist uncovers what influences tomato shape
By Maria M. Lameiras UGA/CAES
The shape of a tomato is more important than many of us realize. While some breeding programs focus on disease resistance, higher yield or drought tolerance, University of Georgia plant geneticist Esther van der Knaap and her research team are one step closer to elucidating the protein interactions that regulate the fruit shape of tomatoes. “The whole appearance of the produce has to be correct for the particular market class, so a slicing tomato has a different shape than a tomato that you use for stews and soups or one that you consume as a snack,” van der Knaap said. “Consumers recognize that, but there are also practical reasons for tomato shape selection.
WGAU Radio
Area briefs: UGA summer classes begin, climate conference continues
By Tim Bryant
Today is the first day of the University of Georgia’s Maymester classes. Extended summer session classes are also underway today at UGA. Today is Day 3 of the Georgia Climate Conference: it’s continuing at the University of Georgia’s Georgia Center.
Higher Education News:
Higher Ed Dive
2023 college grads lower their expectations as they face a cooling job market
Caroline Colvin, Reporter
Dive Brief:
As the economy remains deeply uncertain, recent college graduates entering the workforce are skittish about Q2 through Q4, researchers at job platform Monster reported. About 3 in 4 graduates (74%) said they’re worried about economic conditions. And while the majority of respondents told Monster they’re confident they’ll land a job, 79% of soon-to-be-college graduates still expressed fears around security and stability. A final brutal assessment about the future of work: About half of graduates say they don’t expect to find a job at the company they prefer.
Higher Ed Dive
3 trends that are shaking up higher education companies
MOOC platforms touted the benefits of AI, while online program management companies responded to threats to tuition-sharing agreements.
Natalie Schwartz, Editor
Publicly traded higher education companies wrapped up reporting their quarterly earnings last week, offering a look into the trends affecting them — as well as the larger college and university ecosystem. Several major developments surfaced, including the ways ChatGPT and artificial intelligence are changing how instructors build courses and students access information. Meanwhile, some ed tech companies are dealing with potential regulatory changes that could seriously harm their business models. Below, we highlight three trends that higher education companies confronted during the first quarter of 2023.
Inside Higher Ed
A group of undocumented students and legal scholars are arguing that the University of California system legally can and should employ these students on their campuses.
By Sara Weissman
Undocumented students in California, backed by prominent legal scholars, are advocating for the University of California system to allow them to work on its various campuses. After a months-long campaign, the system’s Board of Regents is scheduled to review the students’ proposal on Thursday, EdSource reported. Hundreds of undocumented students and their advocates plan to rally in support of the proposal at the University of California, Los Angeles, today.
Inside Higher Ed
AAUP Censures Emporia State, Collin
By Ryan Quinn
The American Association of University Professors’ governing council has placed the administrations of both Texas’ Collin College and Kansas’ Emporia State University on its censure list, the association announced Tuesday. AAUP says it publishes its censure list “for the purpose of informing association members, the profession at large and the public that unsatisfactory conditions of academic freedom and tenure have been found to prevail at these institutions.”
Inside Higher Ed
Cardona Clashes With Republicans
Secretary Cardona fielded questions about the Education Department’s student loan policies and proposals for transgender student athletes during the nearly five-hour hearing, which became contentious at times.
By Katherine Knott
House Republicans’ frustrations with the Biden administration’s education policies and embrace of the culture wars over education were on full display Tuesday when Education Secretary Miguel Cardona testified before the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “What color is your suit?” asked Michigan representative Lisa McClain, a Republican, during a heated exchange. “I’m just trying to figure out if we can answer a question.” The nearly five-hour hearing, which became contentious at times, featured questions, talking points and discussion about a wide range of higher education–related topics from the administration’s budget proposal to the influence of the Chinese government on American universities to student loan policies.
Inside Higher Ed
U of Maryland Students Warned to Curb Offerings to Mascot
By Johanna Alonso
Administrators at the University of Maryland are imploring students not to dump “bulk trash, alcohol, road signs, residence hall property, and other dangerous items” under a statue of the institution’s terrapin mascot, Testudo. In a long-standing campus tradition, students place flowers and other offerings by the statue during finals week as a way to foster “goodwill and camaraderie in the face of academic stress,” according to an email sent to students by Dean of Students Andrea J. Goodwin. (Some students on social media described the items as “sacrifices” to the turtle, intended to net them good luck and good grades at the end of the semester.) But offerings this year have increasingly included stolen property—such as multiple electric scooters and streetlamps ripped from the ground—and blocked the sidewalk.