CNN
Exclusive: US government agencies hit in global cyberattack
By Sean Lyngaas
Several US federal government agencies have been hit in a global cyberattack by Russian cybercriminals that exploits a vulnerability in widely used software, according to a top US cybersecurity agency. …Aside from US government agencies, “several hundred” companies and organizations in the US could be affected by the hacking spree, a senior CISA official told reporters later Thursday, citing estimates from private experts. … Meanwhile, Georgia’s state-wide university system – which spans the 40,000-student University of Georgia along with over a dozen other state colleges and universities – confirmed it was investigating the “scope and severity” of the hack.
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WSB-TV, The New York Times, 11Alive, Savannah Morning News, RollingStone, Reuters, The News International, LokMat Times, ThePrint
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
U.S. cybersecurity agency: These are steps to mitigate ransomware risk on file-transfer software
By Staff and wire reports
U.S. cybersecurity officials have warned a Russian cyber-extortion gang’s hack of a file-transfer program popular with corporations could have widespread global impact. In Georgia, the victims may include the University System of Georgia, among others. The hack attributed to the Cl0p ransomware syndicate is aimed at users of the MOVEit Secure File Transfer and Automation software. …Here are some of the steps the U.S. advisory recommended to minimize the risk to customers of the MoveIt software:
Albany Herald
Albany State students among group selected for Coca-Cola internships
From staff reports
Two Albany State University students were among 32 selected by Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Inc. for the 2023 class of its Pay It Forward internship program, a week-long experience that provides students attending historically black colleges and universities an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and build on their success. Jarvis Washington and Carmen Adams were the Albany State students selected from the company’s East Region for the honor.
WGAU Radio
UGA’s Hodgson Singers celebrate second-place finish in international competition
By Shaun Baer, UGA Today
The University of Georgia Hodgson Singers took second place at the prestigious 18th Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany, May 26-30. Twelve choirs from around the world faced four days of competitive rounds, master classes, concerts and cultural exchange, and the Hodgson Singers were awarded the highest level of achievement—Excellence at an International Level. They won the second-place prize alongside St. Nicholas Choir Litija from Slovenia.
AllOnGeorgia
Michael Huggins, Ph.D., will join Georgia Southern University on August 1 as the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Huggins to our academic leadership,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “Dr. Huggins has a distinguished career filled with research, service and mentorship. He will be a valuable partner as we move forward with our leadership goals. He brings with him the working knowledge of how to lead a College, along with the foundations needed to advance our research mission.”
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus Names Its New Provost
Jill Drake has been named provost and vice president of academic affairs at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. She had served in the role on an interim basis for only a month when her appointment to the post on a permanent basis was made. Previously, she was associate vice president for academic affairs and a professor of education at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.
Athens CEO
Digital Divide Heightens Impact on Health Care in Rural Georgia & South
Milledge Austin
Telehealth has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, a recent study published by in Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Digital Health shows there is a large divide between rural and underserved communities and other parts of the country in access to high-speed internet, making it difficult for people living in those areas to take advantage of online health services. It’s a problem that is exacerbated by the fact that rural and underserved communities also tend to have less access to regular health care and are at higher risk for many diseases and other health conditions. The study featured Neil J. MacKinnon, PhD, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of Augusta University, as the senior author alongside first author Diego Cuadros, PhD, researcher and epidemiologist with the University of Cincinnati.
Athens CEO
Dean’s Message: A Global Stage for Terry
Benjamin C. Ayers
Every five years, the Terry College of Business undergoes a rigorous accreditation review process with AACSB International, an organization that champions quality and excellence in business education. While less than 6% of the world’s business schools meet its accreditation standards, the Terry College has the distinction of being continuously accredited since 1926. I am pleased to report that Terry’s accreditation was approved for another five years. The AACSB review team commended the quality of our students, faculty and staff, our prominent programs and student outcomes, and strong alumni engagement. As the spring/summer 2023 issue of Terry magazine shows, the Terry College continues to grow its impact on the Georgia economy and global business community.
Gwinnett Daily Post
Georgia Gwinnett College hosts inaugural Juneteenth celebration
From Staff Reports
For Georgia Gwinnett College, Juneteenth is not only a celebration but a chance to reflect on the significance the holiday has for the descendants of enslaved people in the United States. To mark the occasion, GGC held its inaugural Juneteenth luncheon on Tuesday. According to event organizer Ryan Smith, there’s nothing better than food to bring people together.
Lake Oconee Breeze
Dr. Brian Brewer to join St. Mary’s Internal Medicine Associates
Dr. Brian Brewer, a native of Athens and a member of the first class of medical students at the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, joined Dr. Milene Argo and St. Mary’s Internal Medicine Associates (SIMA), effective June 1. A board-certified primary care physician, Dr. Brewer comes to SIMA from the University of Georgia Health Center, where he has practiced as a staff physician since January 2020. During his tenure there, he has served as employee occupational health physician coordinator and as postgraduate medical education training coordinator, as well as serving as a clinical assistant professor for the AU/UGA Medical Partnership.
Fox5 Atlanta
$10K in illegal street drugs removed during Carrollton drug bust
By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
In a targeted operation following an extensive illegal drug distribution investigation, Carrollton Police Department’s Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Unit executed a search warrant at a residence on North Aycock Street on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of two individuals and the seizure of a significant amount of illegal drugs. The operation, which involved the collaborative efforts of the Carrollton Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of West Georgia Police Department, culminated in the apprehension of Mardricus Johnson, 32, and Makia Boyd, 27, both residents of Carrollton. …The Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Unit (ACE) serves Carroll County and represents a collaborative partnership between the Carrollton Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of West Georgia Police Department.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Student Spending on Course Materials Falls to Decade Low
By Susan H. Greenberg
Average annual spending on college course materials fell to a decade low of $285 in the 2022–23 academic year, Student Watch found, according to a press release from the Association of American Publishers. That marks a 57 percent decline since 2012–13. “We’ve noticed a really consistent decrease in student course material spending over time,” said Lacey Wallace, research analyst for the National Association of College Stores, which produced the Student Watch report. “As the space shifts to digital, costs do decrease. A lot of inclusive-access programs are digital first.”
Inside Higher Ed
Tennessee College-Going Rate on the Rise
By Sara Weissman
The Tennessee college-going rate, the share of high school graduates who enrolled in college immediately after graduation, rose for the Class of 2022, according to a new report from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The college-going rate for the most recent class is 54.3 percent, a one-and-a-half-percentage-point increase compared to the Class of 2021. It’s the largest statewide increase since the launch of Tennessee Promise, a free community college program, in 2015. The college-going rate has also increased across racial groups and genders. Black students of both genders, Latina students and white men all had college-going rates that surpassed the level of statewide growth.
Higher Ed Dive
West Virginia University to merge two colleges in the face of deep budget deficit
The state public flagship will fuse its colleges of creative arts and media as it braces for continued enrollment declines.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
West Virginia University announced Wednesday a merger of its College of Creative Arts and the Reed College of Media, heralding it as a “creative and innovative collaboration.” But in the same breath it cast the consolidation as inventive, it acknowledged it was staring down “a challenging collegiate landscape,” which for the public flagship means an estimated $45 million budget deficit for the coming academic year. The merger is part of a broader restructuring of the university’s academic programs and finances, which it expects will bring administrative and other cost savings.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Striking a Balance: Preserving the Essence and Embracing Diversity at HBCUs
by Mashref Hoque
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have long been important institutions in the United States, serving as beacons of hope and educational opportunities for Black Americans. Established during the era of segregation when access to higher education was limited for people of color, HBCUs have not only provided education but also served as pillars of support, cultural identity, and community for Black students. In recent years, HBCUs have witnessed a shift in their demographics, with an increasing number of non-Black students enrolling in these institutions. While this trend has its merits, concerns have been raised about the potential dilution of the unique culture and purpose of HBCUs. It is crucial to strike a balance between increasing diversity and preserving the essence and mission of these institutions.
Inside Higher Ed
Striking U of Washington Postdocs, Scientists Reach Tentative Deal
By Ryan Quinn
University of Washington postdoctoral researchers and research scientists and engineers announced Thursday that they have paused their strike after reaching tentative agreements with the institution that would grant significant raises, among other things. The strike began June 7. In an email, the university said, “We are pleased to have reached agreements with the postdocs and the research scientists and engineers. Details on the agreements will be available once the contracts are ratified.”
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Real Faculty Wages Decline for Third Straight Year
Jon Edelman
Any recent gains in salary for full-time faculty members have been swallowed up by soaring inflation. That’s the main takeaway from the Annual Report on the Economic Status of the Profession, 2022-23, recently released by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). Full-time faculty saw a 4% bump for the year ending fall 2022, the largest single-year gain since 1991. But skyrocketing inflation caused a 2.4% drop in real wages, the third straight sharp decline, for a cumulative loss of 7.5%
Inside Higher Ed
Mass. Governor Appoints Panel ‘to Promote Representation in Education’
By Scott Jaschik
Massachusetts governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, has appointed a panel to consider what the state should do if the Supreme Court, as expected, bans affirmative action. The Advisory Council for the Advancement of Representation in Education will work to assure that “Massachusetts will always be open, welcoming, and inclusive of students of color and other students typically underrepresented in higher education.” Healy is also making MEFA Pathway, an online college- and career-planning resource, available for free to all current students in Massachusetts through a comprehensive outreach campaign.
Inside Higher Ed
Instructor to Be Charged With Threats to Dean and Students
By Scott Jaschik
Richard Gregory Fine, an instructor at Fresno City College, has been detained after allegedly making threats to a dean and students, KFSN News reported. The campus was also placed on a lockdown, but officials said that was a precaution. “I want to thank all personnel involved in handling this urgent situation who helped bring the incident to a quick conclusion,” said Robert Pimentel, the president. “We are relieved that no harm came to anyone during this frightening episode.”