Inside Higher Ed
By Doug Lederman
…Michael P. Shannon, interim executive vice president for administration and finance and interim chief business officer at Georgia Institute of Technology, has been chosen as president of the University of North Georgia. Robert T. Smith, provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of mathematics at Valdosta State University, in Georgia, has been named president of Louisiana State University at Shreveport.
41WMGT
GCSU hosts annual Governor’s Summit on Early Language and Literacy
The Governor’s Summit on Early Language and Literacy, hosted by Georgia College, aims to enhance early reading skills amid concerns over Georgia’s low literacy rates.
by Edward Smart
The Annual Governor’s Summit on Early Language and Literacy started on Wednesday at Georgia College & State University, aiming to bolster early reading skills across the state. The summit was organized by the Sandra Dunagan Deal Center for Early Language and Literacy as part of an initiative to enhance Georgia’s literacy levels. “Approximately two-thirds of our third graders are not reading on grade level, so we have a lot of work to do to move the needle in this state,” Executive Director of the center Lindee Morgan said. The center strives to provide evidence-based practices for young children in the state to boost literacy.
Business Wire
Georgia Southern University Establishes Yamaha Rightwaters Conservation Scholarship
First Recipient Working to Pursue Career as a Fisheries Biologist
Georgia Southern University announced today the establishment of the Yamaha Rightwaters™ Conservation Scholarship. Supported by an ongoing endowment from Yamaha Rightwaters, the scholarship awards $5K annually to a student who exhibits outstanding efforts and commitment to improve coastal sustainability. … Patrick Lewis, a Georgia Southern® graduate student pursuing a Master of Science degree in Biology, is the first recipient of the Yamaha Rightwaters Conservation Scholarship. Lewis plans to use the funds to finalize the research needed to defend his thesis, which seeks to understand the variations in fish ecologies at the individual and community levels in response to environmental variables that act together to affect fish. He’s also studying how these relationships vary across regions of Georgia.
WRBL
Students preparing to pay back loans; CSU weighs in on economic impact, payment tips
by: Hannah James
This October, 43 million Americans will resume payments on their federal student loans with no debt relief on the way. The Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 per person. That plan would have completely erased nearly 20 million student’s debt. “It is more expensive to be a student now because the cost of education went from $4,000 in 2003 to $11,500 in 2023,” Associate Professor of Economics at Columbus State University Dr. Fady Mansour told WBRL. “Even if you account for inflation, it goes from $6,000 [2003] to $11,000 [2023]. So, it’s double.” Not only is obtaining a degree more expensive, but Dr. Mansour also says more jobs require workers to have a degree.
WSB-TV
UGA study claims student loan debt driving mental health issues for students
By WSBTV.com News Staff
Recent research by the University of Georgia links mental health issues among college students and student loan debt. A release from the university published Tuesday said the rejection of a student loan relief plan in June by the U.S. Supreme Court may have a long-term impact on the mental health of college students and graduates. To come to this conclusion, researchers analyzed almost 90,000 posts on social media related to student loans, posted between 2009 and 2020.
Athens Banner-Herald
Entrepreneurs, healthcare leaders among UGA Alumni Association’s 2023 40 under 40 class
Lindsay Tuck Morris University of Georgia
The University of Georgia Alumni Association has unveiled the 40 Under 40 Class of 2023, a group that includes a Country Music Award-winning musician, a New York Times bestselling author, a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and more. 40 Under 40 celebrates the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of successful UGA graduates under the age of 40. The honorees will be recognized during the 13th annual 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon on campus this fall.
The Union-Recorder
BCSD board member John Jackson elected president-elect of Georgia School Boards Association
Grace Wood
Baldwin County School Board Member John Jackson has been elected to serve as president-elect of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA). “Over the next year, I plan on expanding my operational knowledge of the Georgia School Boards Association and supporting the initiatives of the current president, Mr. Coleman Landers,” said Jackson. “I will also [work] on supporting interest to enhance school board training for school safety … something that I’m personally passionate about and something that has changed drastically over the last several years.” …Jackson’s background includes a bachelor’s and master’s in business administration from Georgia College & State University, and he currently works as director of Parking and Transportation at Georgia College.
The Brunswick News
Youth orchestra offers week of music education during summer camp
By Lauren McDonald
It was possible to navigate the hallways of Lakeside Village on College of Coastal Georgia’s campus Wednesday not by map but simply by listening closely to the music emanating throughout the building. Violas and violins could be heard behind one door, and a few steps down the hall brought the sounds of brass instruments. Upstairs and down a long hallway, sounds of a saxophone emerged. More than 30 students at this year’s orchestra camp hosted by the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra were separated into small ensembles for their afternoon session with the camp’s instructors, many of whom come in from out of town to support the program each summer. The campers are spending the week on College of Coastal Georgia’s Brunswick campus, filling their days with private lessons, music theory instruction and ensemble rehearsals, along with a daily opportunity to play as a full orchestra.
Statesboro Herald
‘Fix-It Friday’ debuts downtown July 14
From staff reports
Statesboro’s city Greener Boro Commission and the Fab Lab at Georgia Southern University’s downtown City Center are teaming up to host monthly Fix-It Fridays beginning this Friday, July 14, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Fab Lab, 62 East Main St. The greener purpose is to give people an opportunity to repair broken items for free and keep them in use and avoid throwing them away, Greener Boro Chair Lissa Leege explained in an email. Free hamburgers “and camaraderie with the repair experts,” will be added attractions for this Friday’s event, she said. Leege, Ph.D., a Georgia Southern biology professor and previous Center for Sustainability director, described Fix-It Fridays as “part of an ongoing campaign to reduce waste and encourage innovation.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Bulldogs’ head of academics resigns
By Chip Towers
The Georgia Bulldogs’ head of academics resigned. Magdi El Shahawy, deputy athletic director for academics and student development since 2018, informed UGA Athletic Director Josh Brooks of his decision to step down last week. The Bulldogs recorded their strongest academic performance in history during El Shahawy’s tenure. “Quite simply, this is a case of burnout,” El Shahawy told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Wednesday. “I needed to take a break to recharge as well as spend more time with my boys.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former UGA football staffer files suit over fatal crash
By Alan Judd
Lawsuit claims athletic association made false statements regarding rental vehicle use
A survivor of a fatal car crash that stunned the University of Georgia football program has filed a lawsuit that blames the accident in part on negligence by the university’s athletic association. The lawsuit, filed late Wednesday by Victoria S. Bowles, a former recruiting analyst for the football team, also says university officials made false public statements about events that preceded the Jan. 15 crash.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Christopher Eubanks sets record despite loss at Wimbledon
By Staff and wire reports
Christopher Eubanks might have lost, but he put his name in the Wimbledon record books on his way out. The remarkable run for Eubanks ended with a five-set loss to No. 3 Danill Medvedev in the quarterfinals of the Grand Slam on Wednesday. The Atlanta native from Westlake High and Georgia Tech finished with more winners than Medvedev, 74-52, and raised his tournament total to 321. That broke break Andre Agassi’s 1992 mark for most winners at a single Wimbledon (since 1977).
Higher Education News:
Cybersecurity Dive
What to watch for as the MOVEit breach hits higher ed
We spoke to Brett Callow, threat analyst at Emsisoft, to learn about the scope of the attack and what could be coming next.
Natalie Schwartz, Editor
The higher education sector is reeling from the MOVEit breach, a mass hack of Progress Software’s file transfer service used by hundreds of organizations. Colleges and higher education groups alike — from the University of California, Los Angeles to the National Student Clearinghouse — have been caught up in the cybersecurity incident. Even firms that weren’t directly hit are suffering from the attack. TIAA, a retirement services provider widely used by academics and teachers, alerted its members that the breach affected one of its vendors, PBI Research Services. The vendor audits member deaths and locates beneficiaries, handling sensitive data like Social Security numbers. Clop, the group behind the attack, exploited the MOVEit software through a zero-day vulnerability, which refers to a security flaw that an attacker discovered before the company did.
Inside Higher Ed
Supreme Court Justices’ Campus Appearances Raise Ethical Issues
By Scott Jaschik
The Associated Press ran a story about Supreme Court justices’ appearances on campuses and how some of those events become fundraisers for institutions. The conduct would be banned for lower court federal judges. The story details appearances by both conservative and liberal justices but highlights Justice Clarence Thomas. The article was based on open records requests to the colleges and universities. …In some cases, the justices questioned the practices. Justice Sonia Sotomayor rejected an invitation in 2012.
Higher Ed Dive
Supreme Court victor SFFA sets sights on military academies’ race-conscious admissions policies
Students for Fair Admissions is seeking students who may have been rejected from institutions like the U.S. Air Force Academy.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Legal group Students for Fair Admissions has been angling to overturn colleges’ race-conscious admissions practices for more than a decade — and last month won big at the U.S. Supreme Court. But it appears SFFA’s legal crusade isn’t over. Edward Blum, the organization’s founder and president, last week emailed members and donors informing them that it may challenge race-conscious policies at military academies. “SFFA is exploring the legality of using race at these institutions — West Point, Annapolis and the Air Force Academy,” Blum wrote. “If you know of any student who was recently rejected from these institutions, or any students who will be applying to any of them, please contact me.”
Higher Ed Dive
Cal State system names new chancellor
Mildred García is currently president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and formerly led two California State institutions.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
Mildred García, an influential higher education administrator, Wednesday was named the new chancellor of California State University, the nation’s largest four-year public higher education system. García is currently president and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the leading higher ed group representing nearly 400 institutions. She formerly served as president of Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Fullerton. She will be the first Latina to helm the 23-campus system when she starts Oct. 1, Cal State officials said. García will be taking over at a trying time for the system, as it grapples with a $1.5 billion budget deficit and sexual misconduct controversies.
See also:
Inside Higher Ed
Hackers Sent Hoax Email Claiming Death of UConn President
By Lauren Coffey
Hackers took aim at the University of Connecticut last week, sending students a hoax email that falsely announced the death of UConn president Radenka Maric. The university said in a statement it had determined how the hackers got access to the UConn Daily Digest email and “took corrective action to prevent it from occurring again.” …A person claiming to be the leader of a hacking group called “SiegedSec” told The Hartford Courant in an online chat that there was no political motivation for the July 5 attack against the university.