Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Board of Regents hires president for University of North Georgia
By Vanessa McCray
The University of North Georgia has its next president. The Georgia Board of Regents on Thursday hired Michael P. Shannon, an administrator at Georgia Tech, for the top job at the University of North Georgia. The vote came a week after the board named Shannon its sole finalist for the position. Shannon’s new job will start July 1.
The Gainesville Times
North Georgia wins 2023 DII softball national championship
By David Friedlander
University of North Georgia junior right-hander Kristen Davis threw a complete-game shutout Tuesday as it knocked off Grand Valley State 3-0 for a two-game sweep in the Division-II national championship series at Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. The victory secured a series sweep and locked up the No. 2 Nighthawks’ (64-7) second NCAA Division-II championship.
See also: AccessWDUN: UNG softball team wins NCAA D2 National Championship
Capitol Beat
Professors lose challenge to law allowing weapons on campus
By Dave Williams
The Georgia Supreme Court Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit five University System of Georgia professors brought challenging a 2017 amendment to state law that did away with a ban on weapons on public college and university campuses.
See also: WABE: Georgia Supreme Court dismisses challenge to law allowing guns on public college campuses; Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia Supreme Court upholds dismissal of professors’ campus gun lawsuit
Incremental Group
Columbus State University students explore digital transformation at Incremental
On Friday 26 May 2023, a group of 11 Columbus State University students, accompanied by their professors, visited Incremental’s Glasgow office for a half day event packed with exciting and interactive sessions on what it’s like to work in the technology industry. The visit aimed to expose the students to real-world applications of digital innovation and provide them with a glimpse into the dynamic field of technology, highlighting the similarities and differences between British and American organisations.
Rome News-Tribune
Janet Koposko selected for top advising award at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Janet Koposko, associate professor from the Department of Rural Studies in the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College School of Arts and Sciences, has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Excellence in Advising Award.
Albany Herald
GSW School of Health Sciences adds exercise science programs
Georgia Southwestern State University’s School of Health Sciences will offer two new stand-alone exercise science programs beginning in fall 2023, in addition to the existing bachelor’s degree in exercise science, based on feedback from the regional work force in the health sciences field. The Exercise Physiology Endorsement, a 9-credit-hour program, is designed to encourage a deeper understanding of exercise physiology, including both the fundamentals of the science and the application to various healthy and clinical populations.
Times-Georgian
UWG launches new Materials Science Lab
It is imperative for students pursuing a scientific track to be well-rounded as both scientists and professionals in their discipline. The University of West Georgia’s collaborative Materials Science Lab aims to provide chemistry and physics students with interdisciplinary skills to translate into varying branches of scientific knowledge in a hands-on learning environment that takes them beyond the classroom.
Columbus CEO
Current, future renovation projects strengthen the legacy of Columbus author Carson McCullers
In an unassuming home on Stark Avenue in Columbus, Georgia, a larger-than-life literary legacy is being preserved. The Smith-McCullers House, known as the childhood home of author Carson McCullers, has since 2003 headquartered Columbus State University’s Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians. And, on April 20, the university celebrated the center’s 20th anniversary with a “Renovation Celebration” spotlighting recent efforts to preserve the author’s home—and her legacy.
WTOC 11
New report from Georgia Southern University shows slowing economy in Savannah
By Flynn Snyder
Georgia Southern University’s regional economic monitor paints a slowing picture of Savannah’s economy.
In the first quarter of this year, the report says Savannah port traffic has slowed and construction permits for new area homes were down 7% from a year ago. “The big headline is that the economy continues to slow and has grown at its slowest pace in the first quarter of this year since exiting the pandemic recession,” said Dr. Michael Toma. Dr. Michael Toma is an economics professor at Georgia Southern University.
Athens Banner-Herald
Sports betting draws ‘a high level of attention,’ at UGA and in SEC
By Marc Weiszer
There were no head coach firings or major headlines when UGA learned about a violation of NCAA sports gambling rules last year. It was considered a minor violation — Level III in NCAA parlance — when a Bulldog athlete placed a bet on a fantasy sports app. Betting on any sport that is sponsored by the NCAA is a violation for athletes or coaches even if in a pro league or international competition.
The Savannah Tribune
GSO celebrates 80 years of sisterhood and service
This year marks the 80th anniversary of The Gamma Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The commemorative “80th Anniversary Tea Party” was held on Sunday, May 21, at the historic Pirates’ House in downtown Savannah, Georgia. GSO is also honored to mentor and sponsor two undergraduate chapters in Savannah, Gamma Upsilon at Savannah State University and Sigma Tau, which is located on the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University.
Other News:
Atlanta Business ChronicleBooming film industry leads Atlanta’s creative workforce growth
By Tyler Wilkins
Atlanta is continuing to grow as a hub for creative professionals, especially for those who work in the film and video industry. The metro area experienced annual job growth of 1.9% for creative positions between 2016 to 2021, surpassing the average growth of 1.1% across all industries, according to a recent report from Atlanta Regional Commission. The film and video industry led the way, with the number of actor positions growing by 15% and producer and director roles by 10%.
Higher Education News:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Are diversity statements illegal?
By Adrienne Lu
As a growing number of colleges around the country have stopped using diversity statements, a lawsuit filed against the University of California system in May appears to be the first to directly challenge their legality. Experts are divided on whether the use of such statements by public colleges will pass legal muster.
Higher Ed Dive
Connecticut poised to partly ban college transcript holds over student debts
By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
Connecticut is poised to partly ban colleges in the state from withholding transcripts from students who owe them debts. Under a bill that passed the state’s House of Representatives on Tuesday, colleges generally wouldn’t be able to turn down students seeking their transcripts for jobs or prospective positions, or if they were applying to enter the U.S. military. However, the bill would not block colleges from withholding paperwork if students want to apply to or transfer to other institutions. The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat.
Higher Ed Dive
ACT to be piloted online starting in December
By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
The ACT college admissions exam will start to be administered online more broadly beginning in December, according to a Tuesday announcement. The company that administers the assessment — also called the ACT — has offered online options since 2016 for students who test during the weekday because their school districts or states have an agreement with the exam provider. However, the ACT is now expanding the digital version of the assessment to other test takers.
Inside Higher Ed
Alabama passes collegiate trans athlete ban
By Josh Moody
Alabama governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill barring transgender athletes from competing in collegiate sports that do not correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth, expanding legislation passed last year that introduced similar regulations for K-12 athletic participation. “Look, if you are a biological male, you are not going to be competing in women’s and girls’ sports in Alabama. It’s about fairness, plain and simple,” Ivey, a Republican, said in a statement.
Inside Higher Ed
Turnitin’s AI detector: Higher-than-expected false positives
By Susan D’Agostino
Turnitin’s AI writing–detection tool has a higher false positive rate than the company originally asserted, according to Annie Chechitelli, the company’s chief product officer. When the product was released in April, Turnitin promoted it has having a less than 1 percent false positive rate. Now, the company has not disclosed the new document-level false positive rate.