University System News:
Albany Herald
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College completes facility transfer to Early County schools
From staff reports
A facility that formerly served as Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College’s campus in Blakely was officially transferred to the Early County School System in a ceremony held at the site located on Harold Ragan Drive. Officials from ABAC and Early County Schools were joined by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue and other state officials for the ceremony. “This project is an example of a fantastic partnership,” ABAC President Tracy Brundage said. “Our mission and the mission of the Early County School System is to improve the educational landscape for young people in south Georgia. A lot of people worked together to make this a reality, and we are thankful for all of them.” …“It gives me great pleasure to turn this campus back to local control by transferring ownership of the campus from the Board of Regents to the Early County School System,” University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “I’m confident this will save Georgia taxpayers and Early County the millions of dollars that would be needed to construct new middle and high school facilities, and that this campus will continue to be a source of pride for this great community. Most importantly, it will continue to transform the lives of students through education.”
See also:
Early County News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia universities’ response to lt. gov: millions spent on diversity efforts
By Vanessa McCray and James Salzer
Unhappy with the University System of Georgia’s response to budget cuts, Lt. Gov Burt Jones wanted to know how much state colleges spend on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Last week, Chancellor Sonny Perdue sent a nearly 200-page answer. The total amount is difficult to calculate. The report doesn’t add up the costs from all 26 colleges in one tidy sum. Instead, it lists millions of dollars worth of salaries for diversity staffers and describes the scope of their work. It also includes millions in need-based aid for students and programs Perdue said fulfill federal requirements. The broad array of costs highlighted in the report represent more “than what some may view as controversial about DEI,” Perdue wrote. … The University System’s response also included work to support rural and migrant students, veterans and women in science fields, those who are the first in their family to go to college and students with disabilities.
See also:
InsiderAdvantage
Fox News
Alaska Commons
WGAU Radio
Morehead marks ten years as president at UGA
By UGA Today
On July 1, Jere W. Morehead JD ‘80 concluded his 10th year as president of the University of Georgia. To mark the occasion, Georgia Magazine sat down with UGA’s 22nd president to discuss some highlights of the past decade and where the university is headed. Georgia Magazine: Congratulations on celebrating your 10th anniversary as president of the University of Georgia. In those 10 years, what are the accomplishments of which you are most proud? President Jere W. Morehead: The past decade has been a remarkable period of achievement for our university.
The Union-Recorder
GCSU awarded $650,000 to train rural health providers
Special to The U-R
To increase the number of available healthcare professionals in rural Georgia, Georgia College & State University has received the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant. Georgia is one of the most populous states in the nation yet lacks access to primary care in 149 counties, according to the grant proposal by Dr. Sallie Coke, professor of nursing, and Dr. Monica Ketchie, associate professor of nursing. The $650,000 award is the third of its kind received by the School of Nursing since 2017 and will run for the next four years. The $2.6 million over that period brings the amount used to train nurse practitioners and midwives in rural Georgia to $6.8 million. That makes Georgia College one of only a few schools in the country to receive this grant for a full 10-years.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA rates high in new ranking from Money magazine
Staff Reports
The University of Georgia continues to earn national accolades for its academic accomplishments, with the latest honor coming from Money magazine. UGA recently was named one of the best colleges in the country in the magazine’s annual “Best Colleges in America” list. According to a UGA news release, Money magazine this year altered its analysis from a numbered ranking system to a star rating, handing out one to five stars based on a variety of criteria, including affordability and student outcomes. Noting a specific emphasis on high graduation rates and scholarship support, the magazine gave Georgia 4.5 stars in the new ranking system.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kennesaw State’s rare Declaration of Independence copy to get touch-up
By Vanessa McCray
…Here, in the backroom stacks of a Kennesaw State University library, is history. The rare 1843 copy of the Declaration of Independence is one of the most notable pieces in the school’s Bentley Rare Book Museum. …But the copy, valued at $15,000 to $25,000, is in need of conservation. In recent years, the document has been in storage, only coming out once or twice a year for special programs. …Experts at the Georgia Archives in Morrow will inspect the document and mend and stabilize the paper. The Georgia Archives, like Kennesaw State, is part of the University System of Georgia. Its staff collects and preserves the state’s historical documents.
AllOnGeorgia
Georgia Southern Faculty Receive $424,000 Grants to Advance Cancer Treatments
Karelle Aiken, Ph.D., professor of organic chemistry, and Jannet Kocerha, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, are using a $424,000 grant to pursue new cancer drug treatments. This is the first time Georgia Southern has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute. “The exciting research being done by Drs. Aiken and Kocerha is cutting-edge and aligns perfectly with Georgia Southern’s public impact mission to produce innovative ways to solve modern problems,” said Provost and Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “This grant validates their extraordinary efforts, and I applaud them for their hard work and dedication.”
WSB-TV
UGA camp aims to inspire aspiring veterinarians
By Lori Wilson, WSB-TV
In some counties in Georgia, a trip to the veterinarian can mean driving 50 miles or more. That is something UGA is trying to fix by hosting a camp for young people and showing them “a day in the life” of a vet student. Channel 2′s Lori Wilson made the trip to Athens to see what makes this camp so special.
The McDuffie Progress
UGA Ratcliffe Scholars deepen classroom learning with immersive experiences
By Claire Sanders UGA/CAES
In the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, students are exposed to new ideas, concepts and methods in classrooms and labs every day. By the time they leave those labs and classrooms, students have gained experiences that can transform not only their college years, but the trajectory of their careers. The Ratcliffe Scholars Program, part of the college’s experiential learning programming, supports undergraduate students as they deepen their understanding of their chosen fields through internships, study-abroad programs and other immersive learning experiences. Five CAES students were chosen for the 2022-23 class of Ratcliffe Scholars and awarded $5,000 scholarships: Chloe Cerna, Ariana Cohen, Abby Lauterbach, Taylor Pearson and Alexandra Thompson.
The Georgia Virtue
Georgia Southern University launches new School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
By Press
On July 1, the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University will launch a new School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability. The SEES will bring together the geosciences program and the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of positions in environmental sciences is increasing 5% every year. The typical entry-level position requires a bachelor’s degree. …On July 1, the College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University will launch a new school that will blend several science disciplines to better serve a growing student demand for sustainability and environmental science. The SEES will bring together the geosciences program and the James H. Oliver, Jr., Institute for Coastal Plain Science (ICPS).
41NBC
Georgia College & State University hires new Chief Diversity Officer
By Haley Janes
Georgia College & State University has hired a new chief diversity officer. GCSU says Dr. Michael Snowden started in his position as chief diversity officer on July 1st, and that he’ll be welcoming one of the largest and most diverse freshmen classes in years. Snowden previously served as the vice president of Inclusion and Diversity at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, where he developed a strategic plan for diversity, equity and inclusivity, and established training and coaching seminars. He’s also worked as the director of Multicultural affairs at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah. GCSU says Snowden is a leader who recognizes the essential values of diversity and inclusion in higher education, and, as Georgia College President Cathy Cox says– “We believe Dr. Snowden’s leadership will help us continue and strengthen a welcoming and inclusive campus climate at Georgia College,”…“that allows every member of our community to succeed, be respected as individuals and feel a sense of belonging here.”
Metro Atlanta CEO
Georgia’s Life Sciences Make an Impact
Life Sciences is the fastest-growing industry in the nation, and in Georgia, industry growth is outpacing the national average. In 2021, Georgia’s life sciences companies generated $27.2 billion in direct economic impact and employed more than 78,000 Georgians. This June, a delegation of 15 economic development partners joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development in representing the state at BIO International, one of the largest conferences and trade shows in the industry. This conference consistently generates successful leads resulting in new investments in the state. Following is a sample of some the questions that we received. …Let’s talk R&D…?
Georgia houses headquarters for some the world’s largest health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Cancer Society. We also have top-ranked research universities including Emory University, Georgia Tech, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia State University, Augusta University, Mercer University, and the University of Georgia, just to name a few. Expenditures by Georgia’s research universities outpaced the national average from 2015 – 2020.
accessWDUN
10-year UGA, Gainesville relationship serving as ‘model for smart economic growth’
By Christian Ashliman Anchor/Reporter
A relationship between the UGA Institute of Government and the City of Gainesville is paying off as downtown growth and economic development continue to boom. Over the last five years, Gainesville has received approximately $318 million in private investment for the downtown and midland sections of the city, allowing area officials to capitalize on a “unique strategic planning process” developed by the University of Georgia Vinson Institute of Government, UGA Today’s Margaret Blanchard reports. The area more recently received $4.4 million from the governor’s office in support of projects included in the “Vision for the Athens Street and 129 South Corridors” plan. The community-driven proposal aims to increase green space and overall connectivity and was created by the UGA Institute of Government.
Baldwin2K News
Southside neighborhood to receive a multi-million-dollar makeover
Christian McKearney Editor
Oconee Heights originally was a bedroom community of Central State Hospital, a place with well-manicured lawns and unlocked doors. However, as Central State started to decline and decay over the years, Oconee Heights started to decline and decay, as well. These days, mobile homes largely have replaced the original houses in Oconee Heights, which can be loosely defined as everything between Caraker Avenue and the Milledgeville Manor, running north and south, and everything between Swint Avenue and the Vinson Highway, running east and west. …Added Tobar: “The Oconee Heights Streetscape and Safety Improvements project was the brainchild of two University of Georgia classes that made Oconee Heights its thesis project. … The man with the plan around Oconee Heights has been Georgia College & State University Professor Damian Francis. Immediately below is an article written and compiled by the GCSU Office of Communications last year that offers much more context about the ongoing revitalization efforts around Oconee Heights:
See also:
The Union-Recorder
Clayton News-Daily
Former Clayton County corrections officer to lead GBI Middle Georgia Gang Task Force
From staff reports
A Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent who began his career with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office has been promoted to special agent in charge of the GBI’s Middle Georgia Gang Task Force. Klay Kilcrease will be responsible for the supervision of staff within this unit — which conducts investigations involving criminal street gangs, drugs, and gun violence, specifically in the Middle Georgia area. … Kilcrease graduated from the University of West Georgia with a bachelor of science in criminology in 1999. Kilcrease also graduated from Columbus State University with a master of public administration in 2020 upon completion of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.
Albany CEO
Gov. Kemp Announces New Agency Head Appointments for OPB, DNR, EPD, & DCH
Staff Report
On Friday, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced his appointment of Richard “Rick” Dunn as Director of the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB), effective July 1. Dunn currently serves as Director of the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Environmental Protection Division (EPD). …The governor also announced his appointment of …Richard “Rick” Dunn currently serves as Director of the Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division. ..He earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. … David Dove serves as Executive Counsel for the Office of Governor Brian Kemp. …Originally from Athens, he remains active on campus at the University of Georgia where he earned his undergraduate and juris doctorate degrees. … Russel Carlson currently serves as the Chief Health Policy Officer at the Department of Community Health. …Carlson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. … Walter Rabon currently serves as Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Natural Resources. …Rabon earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Brenau University and a master’s degree from
Columbus State University.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia pecan growers rebound from tariffs, a pandemic and hurricanes
By Evan Lasseter
Farmers and sellers show optimism after years of turmoil and trade wars
South Georgia pecan farmer Scott Hudson returned recently from Shanghai after one of the world’s largest trade shows. It was his first trip to China since the COVID-19 pandemic hit more than three years ago. Hudson is president and CFO of Hudson Pecan Company in Ocilla, more than 180 miles southeast of Atlanta. The company has about 2,300 acres of pecan trees, and China is one of its biggest buyers. Before the pandemic, Hudson would visit the country two-to-three times a year, he said. …Georgia’s pecan production was valued at $212.6 million in 2022, according to the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Pecan production sits behind only peanuts, cotton, and corn statewide. That makes Georgia the largest pecan supplier in the U.S., accounting for one-third of all domestic production, according to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. The extension service provides research and assistance to farmers across the state.
Stars and Stripes
Russia is tightening its grip on the world’s wheat supply
By ÁINE QUINN
Russia has tightened its hold on the world’s wheat supplies following its invasion of Ukraine, bolstering the Kremlin’s role in global food supply to secure political support and hard currency. With Russia’s internal politics in disarray after an aborted armed mutiny and its international standing damaged by the war, grain remains a major source of influence, and Moscow has been expanding its sway over the market at home and abroad. With another bumper harvest starting in fertile farmlands like the North Caucasus region, Russia will be the source of one in five cargoes of exported wheat in the season that starts July 1, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. …”Grain is not just important for feeding Russians, but also it’s a primary export that enhances Russia’s soft power,” said Scott Reynolds Nelson, a history professor at the University of Georgia. “Being the world’s number one wheat exporter is an accomplishment that’s well understood in Moscow.”
yahoo!finance
Is Privatized Social Security the Answer? Experts Weigh In
Jordan Rosenfeld
Every so often, one Congressperson or another puts forth an attempt to do away with government-funded Social Security by privatizing it, citing data that Social Security will run out of reserves in the near future. As recently as December, 2022, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) proposed cutting it and Medicare, with the backing of other Republicans. These attempts have mostly failed, probably because, as a Data For Progress survey found, 74% of Americans are against cutting it and prefer to leave it as it is. Social Security is not likely to go completely bankrupt, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). It is likely to be able to pay out full benefits for another decade and three-quarters of benefits owed for another 30 years if nothing is done to shore up the program. But there are questions about its longevity. …Nicolas B. Creel, assistant professor of business law at Georgia College & State University, who also has a Ph.D. in political science, is unequivocal in his opinion: “It is a colossally bad idea to privatize Social Security.” He added, “Social Security is meant to be a program that guarantees at least a minimal level of income in retirement so as to prevent people from dying in abject poverty as they age out of the workforce.”
WalletHub
What Is a Good Credit Score?
John S Kiernan, WalletHub Managing Editor
June 10, 2023
A good credit score is a credit score of 700 to 749, based on the standard 300-to-850 scale. More than 14% of people have a good credit score, by that definition. A score of 750 or above is considered excellent credit, while scores from 640 to 699 are fair. If you’re curious about whether or not you have good credit, you can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub. …Ask the Experts: Great Tips for Building Good Credit
For more insight into what good credit means and how people can get it, we posed the following questions to a panel of personal finance experts. You can check out their bios and responses below. …Brent A. Evans Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics, Georgia College & State University
Do you think the average person appreciates the importance of having a good credit score? I think the average person probably understands the importance of credit scores but may not fully comprehend their significance or how to maintain an adequate score. …
11Alive
What the SCOTUS student loan forgiveness decisions means for borrowers: VERIFY Fact Sheet
VERIFY breaks down what borrowers need to know after the Supreme Court blocked Biden’s plan for one-time student loan forgiveness.
Author: Megan Loe
The Supreme Court ruled on June 30 that President Joe Biden’s administration overstepped its authority in trying to implement a one-time student debt relief plan. Biden’s plan would have forgiven between $10,000 and $20,000 of federal student loan debt for people with annual incomes of less than $125,000 for individual borrowers and less than $250,000 for households. …VERIFY is breaking down what borrowers need to know after the Supreme Court’s decision, including when payments will restart and if the Biden administration is looking into other options for debt relief. … “The law that President Biden is using is not as overtly clear as when these types of mass forgiveness programs can be done,” Nicholas Creel, a constitutional law expert at Georgia College and State University, said.
AllOnGeorgia
Preparation, Prevention and Personal Safety Are Key to Staying Healthy During Busy Summer Travel Season
As millions of Americans hit the road for what is expected to be the busiest summer travel season yet, a member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) advises travelers to pack a healthy dose of common sense measures to prepare for and prevent common health issues that arise during travel. Shirley L. Sharp, DO, MS, FACOFP, a board-certified physician in family and emergency medicine and faculty member at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, presented a session on travel preparation at the ACOFP’s recent annual convention.
Statesboro Herald
Shark Week bares its teeth July 9-15 at Georgia Southern University Museum
Six days of events include live contact with research ship, STEM, story time and ‘Jaws’
Al Hackle
After a modestly successful debut last year, Shark Week returns to the Georgia Southern Museum with six events over seven days, July 9-15, 2023. New attractions include live two-way communication with a research vessel operating off the coast of Iceland on Wednesday afternoon, July 12, and a free, open-air screening of a certain famous or infamous shark movie – yes, “Jaws” – to cap the week on Saturday night, July 15. Georgia Southern University’s Center for STEM Education now is also playing a role in the museum’s effort to reel in families for fun events with serious scientific content.
BVM Sports
Georgia Southern Swim and Dive Earns CSCAA Scholar All-American Team Honors
The Georgia Southern Swimming & Diving team earned CSCAA Scholar All-American Team honors after earning a team GPA of 3.63 for the Spring 2023 semester. “Since its inception, Georgia Southern University continues to provide a world-class learning environment extending far beyond the boundaries of the classroom,” said head coach Allyson Sweeney.
WRBL
Columbus State Golf ushers in new era under Lee Mccoy
by: Tyler Redmond
Columbus State University has a rich history when it comes to their Golf program. Six National Championships at the Division II level, (1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, and 1997). However, last week the University announced that it will be hiring a new Golf Director for the program. Lee Mccoy, who had quite the career throughout his college days. Attending the University of Georgia, he was a three-time All-American, and the SEC Player of the Year in 2016. His accolades do not end in college, as he later played in the PGA Tour. He would compete in 13 PGA events, with fourth place being his best finish.
Higher Education News:
InsiderAdvantage
TCSG staff chosen to train at first-ever ‘National Job Quality Academy’
by Cindy Morley
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has been tasked by Gov. Brian Kemp and Georgia lawmakers to strengthen the state’s workforce pool. In an effort to accomplish that, TCSG staff is headed to Washington DC to participate and represent Georgia in the nation’s first-ever Job Quality Academy. TCSG will lead Georgia’s delegation of five workforce development leaders participating in the program and will spend the next 4-5 months receiving intensive training and assistance toward developing a job quality action plan for Georgia’s workforce development system, WorkSource Georgia – the state’s federally-funded employment and training system. These federal funds are part of a grant program called the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WorkSource’s goal is connect talent with opportunity.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
A Rise in Job Satisfaction Among Faculty Since Pandemic
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
A new study by Course Hero, an online learning platform for educators, suggests that a rise in job satisfaction among faculty has improved since the start of the pandemic. During a time when educator retention is experiencing a sharp decline, the data suggests a trend of positive experiences and feelings by educators who are making moves to stay in their field, even as new concerns are emerging in academia. This survey provides insights on educators’ feelings towards career prospects, higher education value, emotional wellbeing and institutional changes.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Report: More than Half of All U.S. College Students in the U.S. Are First-Generation
Arrman Kyaw
More than half of all college students in the U.S. are first-generation college students, according to recent findings from Forbes Advisor. First-generation college students – defined in the report as students whose parents are without four-year college degrees – make up 56% of the nation’s postsecondary students, the report found. These students are distinct in other ways as well. They are more likely to come from low-income or minority backgrounds and more likely to be a parent, caregiver, veteran, or first-generation American. They are also less likely to use career-planning services and to engage in formal leadership roles, research with faculty, paid internships, and study abroad opportunities.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
How Biden’s new plans to address student loan debt would work
The federal government has unveiled a Plan B for student loan borrowers after Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning President Joe Biden’s effort to reduce debt for millions of borrowers. Here’s how the new proposals would work: Under the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, payments on undergraduate loans will be cut in half — from 10% to 5% — of incomes above 225% of the federal poverty level. …
See also:
Higher Ed Dive
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Inside Higher Ed
Does the Supreme Court Order Apply to Financial Aid?
Missouri attorney general tells all colleges to drop minority scholarships. University of Missouri system complies.
By Scott Jaschik
In the wake of Thursday’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional, many colleges issued statements. Most said that they disagreed with the ruling, but they would follow the law. Most said they would need to study the decision a bit before announcing policy changes. Missouri is not letting them take long. Andrew Bailey, the state’s Republican attorney general, sent a letter Thursday (the same day the decision came down) to colleges in the state, public and private, telling them they had no more time.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
OPINION
Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Decision Will Shrink an Already Narrow Pipeline to the Legal Profession
Olympia Duhart
The impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions, SFFA v. Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, will stretch far beyond the freshman lecture hall. While the 6-3 decision will certainly have a negative impact on undergraduate campuses, the Supreme Court decision to strike down race-conscious admissions practices in most colleges and universities will be felt in all aspects of industry and civil leadership. It will also have a serious negative impact on the legal profession. In a blistering dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, “the devastating impact of this decision cannot be overstated.”
Inside Higher Ed
Chinese Scientists Increasingly Leaving U.S.
A new study suggests the Department of Justice’s China Initiative investigations may have strengthened the foreign power by encouraging more scientists to relocate there.
By Ryan Quinn
When the Department of Justice announced its China Initiative in 2018, it said protecting national security was a goal. But a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests the initiative’s investigations may have caused valuable researchers of Chinese descent to leave the U.S. for China. The paper, “Caught in the crossfire: Fears of Chinese-American scientists,” doesn’t confirm causation between the initiative and the departures. Its data, from 2010 to 2021, shows that the annual number of Chinese-descent scientists leaving the U.S. was steadily increasing before 2018. But the trend greatly accelerated that year, the study found.