James Magazine
Sonny Perdue on USG’s upcoming gala
by IAG Staff
Former Governor, Secretary of Agriculture, and current Chancellor of the University System of Georgia Sonny Perdue gives details on the upcoming Scholarship & Awards Gala set for September 8th at the Atlanta History Center.
Americus Times-Recorder
Georgia Southwestern State University is anticipating its largest enrollment in school history.
By Ken Gustafson
Following a 7.3% enrollment increase in summer semester, Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) continues the upward trend with an increase of over 10% for Fall 2023. With more than 3,300 students currently enrolled for fall semester, early numbers indicate GSW will see its highest enrollment in the institution’s history. “Georgia Southwestern continues to be a leading institution in the state,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “GSW provides a tremendous value to our students and to our region. The entire campus is focused on ensuring student success, enhancing the overall campus experience, providing programs relevant to our economy and graduating more students who will make a real impact in our region’s workforce.” Much of GSW’s enrollment success this fall can be attributed to an aggressive recruitment strategy, scholarship expansion, student success initiatives and quality programs that are both top-ranked regionally and nationally — all at an affordable cost.
Albany CEO
Augusta University President Advocates for Rural Health Care during Southwest Georgia Tour
Heather Henley
Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, recently embarked on a meaningful visit to Southwest Georgia, where he hosted alumni receptions, engaged with local Rotary Clubs, and met with regional business, community, and legislative leaders. The July visit aimed to underscore Augusta University’s dedication to tackling rural health care challenges and fostering stronger health care outcomes for all Georgians. “The student experience is at the heart of our mission at Augusta University. Our visit to the Southwest Campus allowed us to witness firsthand the transformative learning opportunities that our students receive here,” Keel said. “By training students in rural areas, we are nurturing a strong sense of community and collaboration, ensuring that our graduates are equipped and inspired to make a profound impact on health care access in underserved regions.”
WGAU Radio
UGA’s Selig Center assesses USG’s economic impact
By Tim Bryant
The Selig Center for Growth in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia helped compile the latest economic impact study. The report says UGA and the other 25 schools in the University System of Georgia had an economic impact of more than $20 billion on the state during the fiscal year that ended in June. That’s an $800 million increase over last year.
From the USG website…
The University System of Georgia contributed a total of $20.1 billion to Georgia’s economy between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, a $800 million or 4.14% increase over the previous year, a new study shows. Conducted on behalf of USG by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, the study also showed USG over the same period generated 159,034 full- and part-time jobs across Georgia.
Clayton News-Daily
USG study reveals positive financial, job growth at Clayton State University
Alice Queen
According to a recent economic impact report commissioned by the University System of Georgia, the USG contributed a total of $20.1 billion to Georgia’s economy between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022 – an $800 million or 4.14% increase over the previous year. The study further revealed that the USG generated a total of 159,034 new full-time and part-time jobs statewide and that its institutions “create the same employment impact in the state as Georgia’s top five employers combined.” Specifically at Clayton State, the data revealed that the university’s regional economy was greatly, positively impacted in fiscal year 22.
Gwinnett Daily Post
New study shows Georgia Gwinnett College’s economic impact is over $521 million
From staff reports
Georgia Gwinnett College contributed more than $521 million to the economy of Gwinnett County and the Atlanta metropolitan area during fiscal year 2022, according to an economic impact study released by the University System of Georgia. That’s up more than $8.8 million dollars over last year. Including its capital outlay for construction projects, GGC has generated more than $5.8 billion in cumulative economic impact since the college has been included in the study, officials said.
Athens Banner-Herald
UGA tops ranking of commercial products developed from research
Abraham Kenmore
The University of Georgia is once again the top of the list for commercial products based on research, according to a survey by AUTM, a nonprofit that supports academic research and commercialization. The report lists 60 products that came to market from UGA research, ranging from poultry vaccines and crop variety’s to software in fiscal year 2022. “Reaching the No. 1 spot again shows UGA’s commitment to working with our industry collaborators to apply our research activities to address real-world needs,” Derek Eberhart, associate vice president for research, was quoted as saying in the press release. According to the release from UGA, more than 1,100 products have reached the market based on UGA research. Many of these are related to agriculture.
Times-Georgian
By Special To The Times-Georgian
Supporters of the University of West Georgia helped the institution reach a record-breaking fundraising achievement during the past fiscal year — one that surpasses the previous institutional record by 156%. With overwhelming support from its dedicated community of donors and alumni, UWG raised more than $16,076,000 from July 1, 2022, through June 2023, while also increasing the number of donors by 54% and the number of gifts by 7% over the previous fiscal year. The $16 million achievement far surpasses any previously set record since UWG’s founding in 1906.
WGAU Radio
By Tim Bryant
With now five days to go before the start of the University of Georgia’s fall semester, today begins the move-in period for students who will live in UGA residence halls. The University’s fall classes begin next Wednesday.
From the University of Georgia website…
For most students, move in for fall 2023 begins at 8 a.m. Friday, August 11. University Housing will provide updates via students’ UGA email and on this page throughout the summer.
Athens CEO
UGA Increases Space for Student Organizations, Gatherings
The university is adding new locations to meet the social and extracurricular needs of students
Through a host of projects and initiatives now underway, the University of Georgia is expanding the number of spaces available for student groups to meet, network and hold events. The additional auditoriums, multipurpose rooms and other locations will augment UGA’s significant lineup of venues available to student organizations across campus. The university’s strategy is to add high-quality meeting and activity spaces incrementally because, without a defined source of funding such as mandatory student fees, the institution is unable to construct designated student space. All of these new areas are being introduced without increases in mandatory student fees to support the spaces.
accessWDUN
UNG has highest nursing exam pass rate in Georgia
By AccessWDUN Staff
Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates at the University of North Georgia had the highest nursing exam pass rate in the state over a four-year period, according to newly released data. UNG BSN graduates had an average pass rate of 94.87% on the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, between 2019 and 2022, according to The College Application. The Department of Nursing at UNG graduates about 200 students per academic year from its traditional four-year BSN track. UNG launched the first cohort of its accelerated BSN track and is currently accepting students for the second cohort. The second cohort is expected to begin in January 2024.
Georgia Trend
Georgia Trend has compiled a list of nursing schools in the state to accompany our feature on the changing landscape of this healthcare profession.
Susana Hills
In our August 2023 issue, Georgia Trend covers the new challenges that nurses face. This list of universities and colleges represents the state-wide education opportunities that Georgia offers new nurses. From the feature: A number of partnerships between health systems and community colleges are encouraging students to explore nursing and even gain training and work experience while they are still in high school. Another trend is for nursing students to start later – often after years in a different career. Several nursing schools in Georgia – including Albany State University, Emory University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University and Valdosta State University – offer accelerated BSN degree programs for people who already hold a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field. An accelerated BSN program launched this year at the University of North Georgia for people with an existing but unrelated bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Could Columbus see 100% clean energy by 2040? Local coalition asks city leaders to commit
By Kala Hunter
Columbus could be the eighth city in Georgia to commit to reducing city emissions and addressing climate change. Deputy City Manager Lisa Goodwin asked city leaders Tuesday to agree to form a plan to being fully powered by clean energy by 2020. Goodwin was backed by dozens of Clean Energy Columbus (CEC) members, who wore their CEC emblems. Some spoke directly to Mayor Skip Henderson and City Council about why the Columbus should commit to a clean energy plan. …“There are seven cities in Georgia who have adopted a clean energy resolution,” Louisa Childs, founding member of CEC. “Some have been more successful than others and that is due to the presence of a plan.” A Columbus native, a lawyer and a concerned parent, Childs was joined by Troy Keller, a Columbus State University environmental science professor. Together they formed the CEC organization last year. Goodwin has worked with CEC over the past year and noted that the resolution has been vetted by them.
Columbus CEO
Susan Lovell of CSU on Engaging Military Students
Director of Military Enrollment at Columbus State University Susan Lovell talks about the ways her department helps military students succeed at Columbus State.
Morning AgClips
Revitalizing its legacy, UGA-Tifton invests in the next century of research and innovation
Campus was originally founded in 1918 as the Coastal Plain Experiment Station
To meet the needs of a rapidly changing agricultural landscape and a growing campus population, the University of Georgia Tifton campus is undergoing crucial infrastructure upgrades to bring its more than century-old facilities up to 21st-century standards. Michael Toews, assistant dean for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the Tifton campus, said the renovations will both encourage innovative research programs and create an environment where faculty can thrive for the next 100 years. “This is the premier destination for applied agricultural sciences,” said Toews. “With a blend of renovated classrooms, labs and access to land, faculty have the freedom to focus on their research rather than logistical constraints.”
The Print
Study reveals when regulatory T cells go bad
Thanks to a new study led by scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University, scientists can finally track down a dangerous type of human T cell. Immune cells called ex-T regulatory cells (exTregs) tend to be rare in the body and, so far, impossible to detect in human samples. The new study gives scientists a reliable way to find human exTregs and provides a window into how exTregs contribute to inflammation and cardiovascular disease.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wild Georgia: Take time to count bees, flies and other pollinators
By Charles Seabrook – For the AJC
Several years ago, so many bees, flies, wasps and other pollinating insects would be buzzing around blooming flowers in our gardens, orchards, woodlands and fields that we took the creatures for granted. It was hard to imagine the situation that exists now — a nationwide alarm over the decline of the insects, which are vital for pollinating billions of dollars worth of food crops every year. Pollinators transfer pollen from male to female flower parts, a necessary step for plant fertilization that produces seeds, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Most plants depend on pollinators to spread their pollen. That includes some 100 crops in the United States — including apples and blueberries — worth $30 billion annually. The value in Georgia is some $500 million, according to a University of Georgia study.
Time News
Venomous Spider Shuts Down Austrian Supermarket: Causes Long-Lasting Erections
By Jane Herz
A supermarket in Austria had to close its doors this week after a venomous Brazilian wandering spider was found roaming among the bananas. According to TMZ, there were concerns that a bite from this deadly spider could result in long-lasting and painful erections. The Penny market in Krems an der Donau, located about 45 minutes west of Vienna, the nation’s capital, has been closed since Tuesday. The store manager immediately called the fire department upon spotting the 4-inch black-and-red spider. Although the crates of bananas were sealed to contain the spider, it has not been captured yet, as reported by The Mirror. The venom of the Brazilian wandering spider is known to stimulate erections that can last for hours. Those who are bitten not only experience high blood pressure but also widespread pain throughout their bodies. Dr. Romulo Leite from the Medical College of Georgia, who has studied this spider, stated that the erection is a side effect that accompanies the pain and discomfort.
Ag Information Network
With your Southeast Regional Ag News, I am Haylie Shipp. This is the Ag Information Network.
Is it time for a fungicide in your cotton? Robert Kemerait, Professor and Extension Specialist with the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia… “Twenty years ago, we didn’t talk about fungicides being used on cotton except for in-furrow applications in Georgia. And that’s changed a lot. We still depend a lot upon in-furrow fungicide applications, either seed treatments or sometimes in-furrow, to protect against seedling disease. But in that 20-year period we’ve become much more aware of two foliar disease, specifically target spot and now Areolate mildew, also known in some places of the world as Ramularia leaf spot.” Both diseases are challenges, robbing some crops of yield potential, but how do you know when to say “go” when it comes to a fungicide application?
Columbus CEO
Joint Bo Bartlett Center-Pasaquan Exhibition to Celebrate St. EOM’s Impact on Art, Spirituality
As unique as visionary artist St. EOM himself, an upcoming joint art exhibition by the Bo Bartlett Center and Pasaquan will celebrate the profound impact the Pasaquan founder has had on contemporary artists who have been deeply moved by Pasaquan and its spiritual essence. So unique in fact is “Unstuck in Time: St. EOM, Pasaquan, Here, Now” that the exhibition’s opening will span two days and two locations: Friday, Sept. 15 at the Bo Bartlett Center in Columbus, and Saturday, Sept. 16 on the Pasaquan grounds in Buena Vista. At the exhibition’s core lies the enduring legacy of St. EOM — born Eddie Owens Martin, and whose visionary creation, Pasaquan, has become an emblem of artistic expression and spiritual exploration. Nestled in the pines of Marion County, Georgia, Pasaquan has not only nurtured emerging creative talents but has also ignited a profound exploration of LGBTQ+ themes within the visual arts. The two Columbus State University programs come together to celebrate St. EOM’s groundbreaking ideas by embracing his impact on contemporary artists as they venture into new realms of creativity and expression.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Louise Florencourt, gatekeeper of Flannery O’Connor’s legacy, dies
Florencourt, O’Connor’s cousin, was famous for saying ‘no’
By Bo Emerson
Louise Florencourt was small in stature but terrifying in reputation. Scholars who tried to pursue studies of the noted Georgia writer Flannery O’Connor often found a diminutive, elegant, steel magnolia standing in their way. “Many a doctoral dissertation or book was held up because of Louise’s keeping of the gate, so to speak,” said Sarah Gordon, professor of English emerita at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, and former editor of the GCSU publication the “Flannery O’Connor Review.” … O’Connor lived most of her life in Milledgeville, attending college (at a GCSU predecessor) and graduate school at the University of Iowa.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
San Francisco to Clear City College Students’ Debts
By Johanna Alonso
The city of San Francisco is clearing the debts of 13,000 people who could not take courses at the local community college because they owed it money. The debts, totaling $2.1 million, ranged from $10 to $200 and were accrued by residents who attended the City College of San Francisco between August 2017 and December 2022, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. City College tuition is free for San Francisco residents through the Free City program, although students are charged the course fee if they drop the class after the deadline has passed. The program doesn’t typically waive fees.
Inside Higher Ed
Poaching From the Neighbor’s Yard
Enrollment and demographic declines are leading some regional public colleges to entice students from neighboring states, stoking tensions and spurring competition.
By Liam Knox
Ahigh school student in Davenport, Iowa, or St. Louis, Missouri, will soon be able to attend the University of Illinois Springfield for the same price as an Illinois resident, thanks to a tuition-matching program approved last month by the UI system board of trustees. Designed to attract a larger pool of applicants and shore up falling in-state enrollment, the program, set to begin fall 2024, is just the latest example of a trend that’s picking up speed in the regions hit hardest by demographic shifts, most notably the Midwest and Northeast. Tom Harnisch, vice president for government relations at the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, said adopting tuition policies meant to entice students from neighboring states is particularly pronounced among regional four-year universities that have long relied on local populations.
Inside Higher Ed
WSJ Report Finds Sharp Spending Increase at Flagships
By Josh Moody
A Wall Street Journal analysis looking at two decades’ worth of financial documents found that spending at flagship institutions has soared even as state support has contracted nationally. The newspaper analyzed audits, archived websites and documents obtained through public records requests for the 2002, 2012 and 2022 fiscal years for institutions in all 50 states. The report found that spending climbed by 38 percent at the median flagship university between 2002 and 2022. Only the University of Idaho saw a decrease in spending over that time period.
Inside Higher Ed
How the Farm Bill Can Address Historic Underfunding of HBCU Land-Grants
Historically Black land-grant universities have been underfunded for years, but advocates and administrators say Congress could use the farm bill to change that.
By Katherine Knott
The country’s 19 historically Black land-grant universities see the upcoming update to the farm bill as an opportunity to make up for historical underfunding and invest in moving these institutions forward, advocates, administrators and experts say. The farm bill, last updated in 2018, is a wide-ranging package of legislation that authorizes programs and spending related to agriculture and nutrition, including millions for agriculture research and extension services for land-grant universities. The 2018 bill included a number of wins for the Black land-grants such as creating six new centers of excellence and $80 million in scholarship funds for HBCU students. Advocates are hoping to build on those gains in this next update. “People look at the farm bill as just another piece of agriculture policy, but really, it is one of the driving forces that provides key research, teaching and extension funding to the land-grant universities,” said Denise Smith, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation, a progressive think tank.
Higher Ed Dive
WVU to combine agriculture and extension programs amid $45M budget deficit
The merger is part of President E. Gordon Gee’s academic restructuring project, which is meant to cut costs.
Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor
Dive Brief:
West Virginia University will combine its agricultural college and its extension program beginning July 2024, as a part of its ongoing restructuring initiative amid a $45 million budget deficit. The Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design and WVU Extension already share jointly appointed faculty, as well as research and outreach projects, according to a Wednesday university statement. The announcement comes as the university is evaluating roughly half of its academic programs, with an eye toward cutting those with declining student interest.
Higher Ed Dive
Dickinson State looks to cut tenured faculty in massive academic restructuring
The president of the North Dakota college wants to distill its nine academic departments into four schools in part to counter a projected $1 million shortfall.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Stephen Easton, president of Dickinson State University, wants you to know that the North Dakota public college is not in financial crisis. On its face, that makes his decision to pursue a massive rework of the university’s academic operations, announced Wednesday, appear a little strange, he said in an interview. Easton maintains, though, that distilling the university’s nine academic departments into four schools, and cutting a yet-to-be-determined number of tenured faculty members, is necessary to get ahead of the roughly $1 million budget shortfall he’s forecasting due to inflation.
Cybersecurity Dive
New York rolls out statewide cybersecurity strategy
The strategy follows previous steps to enhance local cybersecurity and protect critical infrastructure across the state.
David Jones, Reporter
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled the state’s first cybersecurity strategy Wednesday, which will serve as a blueprint for how various public and private stakeholders will work in tandem to protect critical infrastructure and the personal data of statewide residents from malicious attacks and data breaches. New York state is considered by many to be the most important economic center in the U.S., serving as the financial center for investment and banking and a major transportation hub for air transportation and international trade. It’s a big target subject to big losses. FBI data shows more than 25,000 New Yorkers were victims of cybercrime last year, which resulted in $777 million in losses.
Cybersecurity Dive
4 ways organizations can take back the advantage from attackers
By reorienting systems defense around resilience, “we become more like attackers, we become nimble, empirical, curious,” Kelly Shortridge said at Black Hat USA 2023.
Matt Kapko, Reporter
Kelly Shortridge is on a mission — a “resilience revolution” as she describes it — to help defenders outmaneuver threat actors by using the same tactics they employ against other organizations. “In cybersecurity, we feel like attackers continually outmaneuver us as defenders. Attackers are fast, they’re ever-evolving,” the senior principal engineer in the CTO office at Fastly said Wednesday during a presentation at Black Hat USA 2023. “How can we possibly keep up, right?” “Well, the answer is we become more like attackers, we become nimble, empirical, curious,” Shortridge said. Defenders can do this by reorienting systems defense around resilience and reclaiming attacker advantages for themselves, Shortridge said.