University System News:
Associated Press
Georgia Tech administrator tapped to lead University of North Georgia
A high-ranking Georgia Tech administrator is in line to become the next president of the University of North Georgia. The Board of Regents voted Wednesday to name Mike Shannon as the sole finalist to lead the 18,000-student university, which is based in Dahlonega and has campuses in Gainesville, Cumming, Blue Ridge and Watkinsville. …University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue called Shannon “an ideal candidate” in a statement, saying “Mike likes to say he leads from the front and then gets out of the way.”
See also: Retired Army officer named finalist for president at University of North Georgia
WABE
Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue discusses DEI and $66 million budget cut
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue says Georgia has a commitment to investing in education and he’s certain that the funding recently cut from his system will be restored. “Most people understand that higher education is the ticket to a transformative lifestyle,” said the longtime politician who now oversees 26 public colleges and universities that are part of the University System of Georgia (USG).
Gwinnett Daily Post
’10 years in the making’ — Georgia Gwinnett College grad proves it’s never too late to change course
Floyee Gresham wanted to be a teacher since she was a high school student in Villa Rica. She pursued that path until she found herself working as a paraprofessional supporting students and teachers in the Gwinnett County school system. She enjoyed that career, but the desire to be a full-time teacher never left her. In 2018, she caught wind of Georgia Gwinnett College’s paraprofessional track for the Bachelor of Science in Education in special education. With this degree, paraprofessionals can gain initial certification in special education from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission by taking coursework at nights and on Saturdays.
Emanuel County Live
Spring Commencement held at East Georgia State College
East Georgia State College (EGSC) held its Spring Commencement Ceremony Friday, May 12, 2023, at 6 p.m. The ceremony was held in the gymnasium on the EGSC Swainsboro campus.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the EGSC Alumni Awards were presented. Matt Donaldson, the president of the EGSC Alumni Association and Foundation Trustee, presented the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Rising Star Award.
The Current
Medical College plans 4-year branch at Armstrong campus
By Benjamin Payne
Georgia’s only public medical school plans to open a four-year campus in Savannah by fall 2024, as the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University on Thursday announced approval of state funding to expand to Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus on the city’s south side.
WTOC 11
Georgia Southern to offer new Ph.D. program in engineering
By Dal Cannady
Georgia Southern University will begin offering Ph.D.’s in engineering for the first time. …University leaders say the new doctorate degrees in engineering will help them keep good students and attract some new ones. The Board of Regents approved doctorate degrees for Georgia Southern in engineering and in computing. Southern’s provost says the doctorate programs will serve students who have four-year and master’s degrees and want to take the next step. “This will be a research degree. We will focus on applied computing and applied engineering. It will have direct implications to what our partners are doing in the region,” said Dr. Carl Reiber.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech incubator aims to become catalyst for life sciences
By Zachary Hansen
It’s not easy to court an industry, especially one as technical and costly as the future of medicine. A market needs specialized infrastructure and a flowing pipeline of skilled scientists, but most of all, an industry that relies on experimentation needs copious amounts of cash and a roster of financial backers — something Atlanta is trying to attract. “Great science has to be matched with great money,” said John Flavin, CEO and founder of Portal Innovations, a life sciences venture capital fund.
Americus Times-Recorder
State budget includes $5 million to renovate GSW’s James Earl Carter Library
By Chelsea Collins
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the $32.4 billion Fiscal Year 2024 state budget (House Bill 19) Friday, May 5. Included in the upcoming year’s spending plan is a $5 million bond package to renovate Georgia Southwestern State University’s (GSW) James Earl Carter Library. “This is exciting news for the Georgia Southwestern and Americus communities,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “We worked very closely with University System of Georgia and our delegation in the General Assembly to secure the funding for this project. Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, Rep. Mike Cheokas and Rep. Patty Bentley were great advocates throughout the legislative session.”
Americus Times-Recorder
Dr. Jill Drake named Georgia Southwestern provost and vice president of Academic Affairs
By Chelsea Collins
Jill Drake, Ed.D., has been named provost and vice president of Academic Affairs (VPAA) at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) after serving as interim for just over a month. She will begin her full-time duties on July 1. … Prior to joining GSW as interim provost, Drake served as the associate vice president for Academic Affairs at the University of West Georgia (UWG) in Carrollton.
Albany Herald
UGA students get the art and science of the grill
By Amanda Budd
At the University of Georgia, undergraduate students spend their first years as young adults gaining vital skills that last a lifetime: deeper knowledge, practical capabilities and, in select cases, grill master status. The first-year seminar class “BBQ and You,” taught by John Michael Gonzalez and Alexander Stelzleni in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is tailored for students interested in improving their barbecue technique.
Savannah Morning NewsA pathway to the past: Tybee Black History Trail dedicated
The ribbon was bright red and ceremonial, but its cutting on May 16 opened a virtual gateway to a historical trail. The ribbon cutting was part of the dedication of the Tybee Black History Trail, a two-year collaboration between the Tybee Island Historical Society, Georgia Southern University and the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization. The trail features 13 stops, with many more planned.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Four Georgia Gwinnett College women’s tennis players named All-Americans
Four Georgia Gwinnett College women’s tennis players have earned NAIA All-America honors for their strong play on the court during the 2023 national championship season, announced Tuesday, May 23, by the national office. Senior Tereza Koplova joined juniors Teodora Jovic and Justine Lespes on the organization’s first-team list, while junior Stephanie Fernandez garnered second NAIA All-America team accolades.
Related: Five Georgia Gwinnett College men’s tennis players named All-Americans
WSB-TV
Another UGA football player arrested on reckless driving charges
A fourth University of Georgia football player has been arrested on driving charges in four months. According to Athens-Clarke County Jail records, wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint was arrested on Tuesday afternoon. Rosemy-Jacksaint faces charges of reckless driving and speeding. He was released from jail approximately 55 minutes after being booked, jail records show. The exact details of the incident leading to Rosemy-Jacksaint’s arrest have not been made clear.
Other News:
Forsyth County News
Report: Book removals in Forsyth County Schools may have violated students’ civil rights
By Sabrina KernsThe U.S. Department of Education recently stated that Forsyth County Schools’ removal of library books containing Black or LGBTQ themes or characters last year “may have created a hostile environment for students,” potentially violating their civil rights.
Savannah Morning News
Hanon Systems investing more than $40 million in manufacturing facility in Bulloch County
By Latrice Williams
Another Hyundai supplier is coming soon to the Savannah area. On Tuesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s office announced Hanon Systems, which specializes in automotive climate control systems, will invest more than $40 million for a manufacturing facility in Bulloch County. The move is expected to create 160 jobs.
The Neighbor
Georgia Department of Driver Services launches digital drivers license
By Skyler Heath
Commissioner Spencer R. Moore announced May 18 that the Georgia Department of Driver Services now offers residents the option to add a valid, Georgia-issued drivers license and ID to their iPhone and Apple Watch. Once added, customers can securely present their digital drivers license and ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch at select Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints, including those within Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Higher Education News:
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Community colleges up, four-year schools down in latest enrollment data
By Jon Edelman
After large pandemic-related declines the past several years, community college enrollment grew this spring by 0.5%, or 22,000 students, compared to spring 2022. However, undergraduate enrollment at non-profit four-year institutions continued its decline, dropping 0.5% at public schools and 0.2% at private ones.
See also: Undergraduate enrollment stayed steady this spring. It’s still 1 million students below pre-pandemic levels.; Undergraduate losses slow — but enrollment is still well below pre-COVID levels
New America
What we do (and don’t) know about noncredit workforce programs
By Gelsey Mehl
The federal government, states, institutional leaders, and researchers are striving to understand the entirety of workforce offerings in the United States. But there is a huge blind spot: noncredit offerings. While colleges, states, and the federal government collect data on for-credit offerings, the data on noncredit offerings, student participation, and outcomes is fragmented—and sometimes nonexistent.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Why colleges didn’t rein in their police
By Kate Hidalgo Bellows
This spring, amid a spate of mass shootings and rising concern about gun crime, two universities made plans to fortify their campus-police forces. George Washington University’s police department will begin arming some officers this fall for the first time. Portland State University quietly moved away from a 2021 policy change that had restricted its officers’ ability to patrol with weapons.