University System News:
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta University Health, Wellstar merger becomes official in Wednesday signing ceremony
By Abraham Kenmore
It is official — as of Wednesday morning, Wellstar Health System and Augusta University Health System are unified after months of negotiations. The transaction, formalized in a signing ceremony on the downtown campus for AU Health, will see Wellstar step in as the sole corporate member of AU Health. Chancellor Sonny Perdue told the Augusta Chronicle that the new $797 million deal with benefit not only the Augusta region but the entire state. “This only is going to go to enhance the brand of MCG, which is powerful across the state and the region, and expand that in modern clinical environments across the state of Georgia, through modern technology of telemedicine, healthcare, and in ways that I don’t even think we can foretell just yet,” he said. “But it’s a good partnership.”
See also: AJC: Wellstar, state regents finalize Augusta University Health takeover, Capitol Beat: Wellstar, Augusta University partnership up and running, AP: An Atlanta-area hospital system has completed its takeover of Augusta University’s hospitals
WSB-TVHURRICANE IDALIA: Ga. colleges announce closures as hurricane inches closer to landfall
Several colleges and universities in south and coastal Georgia are closing down their campuses as they prepare to see the effects of Hurricane Idalia. … The storm is expected to rapidly intensify into an “extremely dangerous major hurricane” before its projected landfall on the Florida Gulf coast sometime Wednesday.
See also: Fox 5: Anticipated Georgia arrival forces college campus closures
Clayton County RegisterGeorgia leaders virtually ring in college football season at Mercedes Benz Stadium
By Jorge Diaz
Georgia’s political leaders, including Governor Brian Kemp and Mayor Andre Dickens, will come together at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on Friday for a unique tradition to kick off the college football season. In a remote location, they will have the honor of ringing the iconic New York Stock Exchange opening bell. This marks the second year of this special ceremony, held ahead of the inaugural Aflac Kickoff game between Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jackets and the Louisville Cardinals. … The presence of not only political leaders but also figures like Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, and Georgia Tech Athletic Director J Batt further adds to the significance of the event.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
University System of Georgia bars diversity statements in hiring
By Vanessa McCray
Georgia’s public universities can no longer require job applicants to submit a diversity statement, prompting schools to revise faculty hiring practices. The University System of Georgia in July issued a new employee recruitment policy barring such statements, typically one-to-two-page documents in which applicants describe their understanding of diversity and detail experiences and goals related to advancing it. Another revised human resources policy states that mandatory employee training cannot include diversity statements.
WGAU
UGA student wins Voyager Scholarship
By Tim Bryant
A University of Georgia student from Kentucky is one of one hundred college students from across the country selected for the Voyager Scholarship: Julianna Ross wins an Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. It’s a scholarship established two years ago by the foundation of the former President and Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky. Ross is a journalism major at UGA.
Marietta Daily Journal
KSU cuts ribbon on renovated Marietta recreation center
By Jake Busch
Kennesaw State University’s Marietta campus is carrying its weight with a newly renovated recreation and wellness center. About half of the 36,000-square-foot facility received a $7.4 million internal makeover, including brand new weights and machines, a study room, a fitness studio, and racquetball courts. There are more than 70 new pieces of strength and cardiovascular equipment. In all, 83% of the facility’s equipment is new. Members of KSU’s leadership team spoke about the new facility and all it has to offer at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday.
India Education Diary
Georgia Institute of Technology experts receive 2023 Regents’ distinctions
The University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents announced 12 first-time Georgia Tech appointments to Regents’ distinctions for 2023 and affirmed the renewal of existing distinctions for four esteemed faculty members. Regents’ distinctions may be granted for a period of three years by the Board of Regents (BOR) to outstanding faculty members from Georgia Tech, Augusta University, Georgia State University, the University of Georgia, and, in special circumstances, other USG institutions.
The George-Anne
Office of Student Activities mourns the loss of Paul Bradley, Jr.
Two months have passed since the tragic car crash on June 30 that claimed the life of Assistant Director of Student Activities Paul Bradley Jr. His position at the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University remains vacant, leaving both a professional and personal void. “I just didn’t want to erase a person so quickly,” said Memory Littles, director of Student Activities and longtime friend of Paul.
Other News:
Associated Press
Hurricane Idalia unleashes fury on Georgia and Florida, swamping the coast and closing highways
By Daniel Kozin
Hurricane Idalia remained an extremely dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it moved into Georgia after making landfall Wednesday morning on Florida’s west coast, where it unleashed life-threatening storm surges and rainfall across an area that has never before received such pummeling. More than 242,000 customers were without electricity as trees snapped by strong winds brought down power lines and rushing water covered streets. Along the coast, some homes were submerged to near their rooftops and structures crumpled. As the eye moved inland, destructive winds shredded signs and sent sheet metal flying.
Fox 5
By Beth Galvin
As summer winds down, the virus that causes COVID-19 appears to be picking up steam. The CDC no longer counts cases, but they do track hospitalizations, which have been rising since the middle of July. Dr. Felipe Lobelo, physician director for epidemiology for Kaiser Permanente Georgia, says while the hospitalization peaks are nowhere close to what Georgia experienced in the pandemic, the virus is still circulating. “I’m pretty sure if there is a congregation of more than 30 people, someone in there is going to have COVID,” Lobelo says.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Measuring higher ed’s benefits beyond earnings
By Johanna Alonso
Would people be more likely to go to college if they knew it wouldn’t just improve their job prospects and future salaries but would make them healthier, more charitable and more neighborly? According to a new report by the Lumina Foundation and Gallup, the benefits of higher education go far beyond employment and earnings; a postsecondary degree can improve outcomes in everything from personal health and character to civic engagement and relationships.
Higher Ed DiveSurvey: Over 4 in 5 college seniors report burnout during undergraduate experience
By Natalie Schwartz
Over 4 in 5 college seniors have experienced burnout during their undergraduate experience, marked by chronic exhaustion and lack of motivation, according to a new survey from early career platform Handshake. More than one-quarter of respondents, 29%, said they frequently felt burnt out during their undergraduate career. That’s compared to 51% of seniors who reported being burnt out sometimes and 16% who said they felt that way rarely. The class of 2024 expects to carry those feelings into their early careers. A large majority of respondents, 80%, said they’re worried about burnout once they enter their professions.
Inside Higher EdUniversity of Michigan halts internet during first week of classes
By Lauren Coffey
The University of Michigan cut off internet access and online services across all three of its campuses early this week to ward off a potential cyberattack, leaving students and faculty in digital limbo during the first week of classes. The shutdown came after a “significant security concern” on Sunday afternoon, U-M said in a statement. The university did not elaborate on the attack, except that it is under investigation.
Higher Ed Dive
West Virginia University no longer plans to completely eliminate world languages
By Jeremy Bauer-Wolf
West Virginia University is sparing some of its world languages programming as it slashes its academic offerings to correct a $45 million budget shortfall. Instead of cutting language offerings entirely, the public flagship institution said Tuesday it would preserve instruction in Chinese and Spanish — but not as full majors. It will offer elective classes, and potentially minors, in those languages while phasing out all other language programming and degrees, including in German and Russian. WVU offers eight languages. Initially, WVU said it would cut all of its 24 language faculty members. Now, it will look to keep five faculty members and move them to a yet-to-be-determined department.
Chronicle of Higher EducationVassar professors sue over gender pay gap, claiming discrimination against women on the faculty
By Megan Zahneis
Five female professors at Vassar College are suing the institution, accusing it of paying them less than their male colleagues and of systemic gender-based discrimination. Another 35 female faculty members at the former women’s college, which began admitting men in 1969, signed on in support of the lawsuit, which seeks class-action status in a federal district court in New York.