University System News:
Athens Banner-Herald
University System of Georgia joins effort to make financial aid info clear and standardized
By Abraham Kenmore
The University System of Georgia recently joined the College Cost Transparency Initiative, joining hundreds of other schools to standardize the language around aid offered to prospective students. The goal is to make the cost of college easily understandable. “All 26 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia are committed to the principles and standards for college cost and transparency in the College Cost Transparency Initiative,” noted a statement from USG. “In fact, this national initiative furthers the work already being done by USG to better inform students and families about options to borrow less money while making affordability a top priority.”
Forbes
Georgia launches statewide direct college admissions program for high school seniors
By Michael T. Nietzel
The state of Georgia will soon mail letters to its 120,000 high school seniors informing them which public colleges and universities in the state they’re eligible to be admitted to if they apply. The program, dubbed GEORGIA MATCH, is one of the largest state-run direct admissions initiatives in the nation, according to a release from the office of Governor Brian Kemp, who announced the program at a workforce summit on Thursday in Atlanta. … All students will receive a letter of eligibility for admission to the twenty-two Technical College System of Georgia institutions, and those students with higher GPAs will also see offers of admission at up to twenty-three University System of Georgia institutions.
WGAU
Investiture ceremony scheduled for UNG’s Shannon
The University of North Georgia will celebrate the investiture of Michael P. “Mike” Shannon as the university’s 21st president on Friday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m. in the Convocation Center at UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. An investiture ceremony is a long-standing academic tradition that is typically held during a president’s first year of office to signify a new chapter of leadership for the university. The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia named Shannon as UNG’s president on June 1, and he took office July 1. A retired U.S. Army officer, Shannon most recently served as interim executive vice president for Administration and Finance and interim chief business officer at Georgia Institute of Technology.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia universities check for students in Israel after attacks
By Vanessa McCray
Two Emory University students in Israel are safe as war rages between Israel and Hamas militants, according to the school. … More than 1,000 people on both sides of the conflict have been killed and about 150 people kidnapped by Hamas and other groups after Hamas militants waged a surprise attack over the weekend. Israel’s military has launched airstrikes in Gaza, where thousands of residents have fled. Georgia universities with study abroad programs and international students have been monitoring the conflict. …Georgia Tech spokesman Blair Meeks said no students or faculty are in Israel at this time, although some students have family members there. … The University of Georgia’s Office of Global Engagement reported no students studying abroad in the region this semester, according to UGA spokesman Greg Trevor. Kennesaw State University also said none of its students are studying in the area.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Fort Valley State University launches major new tutoring program
Historically Black Fort Valley State University in Georgia has announced a transformative partnership with Knack Tutoring. Through this collaboration, students enrolled in any course will gain access to free on-demand tutoring services. Prospective peer tutors will receive comprehensive training endorsed by the College Reading and Learning Association. The collaboration will also grant students access to a network of on-demand professional tutors. This dual support system aims to address the diverse academic needs of FVSU students, ensuring they receive timely help when they need it the most.
Athens Banner-HeraldUGA opens new $54.1 million Poultry Science Building
By Abraham Kenmore
The University of Georgia’s new $54.1 million Poultry Science Building opened Friday. The new building is 70,000 square feet and includes labs, meeting spaces and classrooms and was funded through state, university and private funds. “At UGA, we have been conducting transformational poultry research, instruction and extension outreach for decades,” Nick Place, dean and director of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, was quoted as saying in a press release. “… I look forward to our work together as we continue to show the world that here in Athens, Georgia, UGA and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are leading the way in poultry science.”
Albany HeraldGeorgia State receives $10 million artificial intelligence research grant
Jonathan Shihao Ji, a computer science professor at Georgia State University, has received a $10 million grant from the Department of Defense to address critical problems in artificial intelligence and robotics with a focus on human-robot interaction, 3D virtual environment reconstruction, edge computing and trustworthy AI. In recent years, AI has become more and more prevalent in our world, powering search engines, voice assistants and self-driving cars. But Ji said he thinks it can do more. “It has been claimed recently that AI is the new electricity,” Ji said. “It can empower and will transform almost every industry in the next several years.”
Monroe Local
Local cadets excel at UNG Advanced Camp
By Sharon Swanepoel
The University of North Georgia (UNG) tradition of excellence continued at Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky, as 94 cadets completed the summer training. Those from UNG included: Olamide Adekola and Tristan Rudisail of Loganville. Advanced Camp is a mandatory training event for rising seniors within the Corps of Cadets who plan to commission. They demonstrate their proficiency in military and leadership skills tested over one month under the direction of the U.S. Army Cadet Command.
Marietta Daily Journal
UGA captures economic impact of Georgia agriculture
By Maria M. Lameiras
If you’ve ever driven down a rural road lined with fields of cotton plants festooned with fluffy bolls and wondered how much cotton is grown in your county, forget Google — the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development has what you need. Each year experts in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences perform the Sisyphean task of compiling agricultural production data for every commodity produced in the state down to county-level figures through the Farm Gate Value Report.
WSB-TV
UGA Bugwood Center holds picture contest for spotting parachuting Joro spiders in Georgia
The Atlanta area has long been home to immigrants and residents looking for new homes, but in recent years, it’s not just people moving to the metro. Instead, new residents of the Atlanta metro and other parts of Georgia include more exotic transplants, the Joro Spider, a brightly colored orb-weaver from Korea, Taiwan, China and Japan. They’ve been spreading through Georgia since arriving in 2013, according to UGA. Now, the Bugwood Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, part of UGA, is asking metro residents to send in pictures of the colorful arachnids as part of a new initiative, called Joro Watch. As part of their photo contest, the Bugwood Center will send prizes to those with the most verified accurate reports of Joro spiders, for those in counties with the most verified reports, and for the first verified reports in each county.
WSAV
Hyundai Metaplant ‘aggressively hiring’ thousands of employees
By Sarah Smith
Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) is aggressively hiring for positions across the board. Commercial production isn’t expected to start until 2025, but the company is wasting no time. HMGMA already has around 200 employees. Once they reach full production, 8,500 employees will be on the payroll. Joe LaMuraglia, HMGMA head of communications, says line workers will start at $20.40 an hour — working up to salary positions as well. They are hosting several hiring events with Savannah Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, Georgia Southern, Coastal Pines, and Southeastern Technical College.
The City MenusUndeniably ‘DOPE’: UWG alumnus achieves success as a composer
Katahj Copley ’21 crept into his collegiate career at the University of West Georgia with a dubious demeanor and emerged as a harmonious force in musicianship and composing. He began his journey locally at Carrollton High School and quickly intertwined with his passion for music composition upon his arrival at UWG. Due to the unwavering belief of his mentors, his baby steps swiftly turned into confident strides toward the music of his dreams. “My first lesson at UWG, I was late,” Copley said. “I began learning from Professor of Saxophone Dr. John Bleuel, who, despite my tardiness, entrusted me with writing ensembles even as a freshman. I was so scared, but once I got into it, the music started flowing from me.”
Marietta Daily Journal
Opinion: A renowned hero at Kennesaw State and the anonymous hero who helped him
By Dick Yarbrough
The current issue of the Kennesaw State University magazine – a very good magazine, by the way – includes an article titled “From Homeless to Hero,” featuring Dr. Ali Shilatifard, a 1990 graduate of KSU, who currently serves as chair of the department of biochemistry and molecular genetics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, as well as a professor of pediatrics. Dr. Shilatifard is world-renowned for his work in the study of childhood cancers. He has spent three decades researching childhood leukemia in hopes of finding a cure. He was also recently elected to the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Grice Connect
Statesboro locals named to Georgia Southern University’s ‘40 Under 40’
Statesboro locals Jennifer Lewis, Katrina McNair and Christopher Wiggins have been named to the Georgia Southern University Alumni Association’s “40 Under 40” Class of 2023. The honor recognizes alumni who have made significant strides in business, leadership, community, educational or philanthropic endeavors. Lewis is a Double Eagle who earned a bachelor’s in secondary English education in 2008 and a master’s in counselor education in 2010. Today, she serves as assistant principal of Candler County School District. McNair graduated in 2011 with bachelor’s in business administration degrees in both accounting and management and is the chief audit officer for Georgia Southern. Wiggins, also a Double Eagle, earned a bachelor’s in general studies in 2016 and an MBA in 2023. He is currently the retail market manager for Synovus in Statesboro.
Savannah CEO
Celebrate: Together Festival returns to the Armstrong campus on October 12
Celebrate: Together, a festival that celebrates the Georgia Southern University community on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah, will return this year on Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Residential Plaza. The event is free and open to the public. “Celebrate: Together is the continuation of a long-standing Armstrong Campus tradition originating in the 1990s,” said festival committee chair Carson Myrick. “We celebrate our student organizations, campus departments and the University by hosting this legendary event. Celebrate: Together draws students, faculty and staff from our Statesboro and Hinesville campuses to Savannah for a day of fun, food and activities. This event brings everyone together and evokes pride in the community.”
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia’s highest-paid professors double as doctors
By Erin Schilling
The 10 highest-paid public professors in Georgia all work at Augusta University — and double as doctors. That’s according to the State of Georgia’s salary data for fiscal year 2022, which ended June 30, 2022. The compensation does not include bonuses or travel reimbursements. Dr. James St. Louis earned a $1.6 million salary in 2022, making him the sixth-highest-paid employee in the state. St. Louis is the chief of Augusta University’s pediatric and congenital heart surgery department and the co-director of the pediatric and congenital heart program. Dr. Richard Lee, a fellow Augusta University professor and surgeon, is the only other instructor to earn above seven figures, with a $1.2 million salary.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s rising public high school graduation rate hits record in 2023
By Jeff Amy
Georgia’s rising public high school graduation rate hit a record in 2023, with the state Department of Education saying Tuesday that 84.4% of seniors graduated on time in the spring. That’s up slightly from 84.1% last year, and a record high since Georgia began using calculations that require a student to graduate in four years with a regular high school diploma.
Savannah CEOGeorgia’s business is booming: New study reveals how much business has grown in the state
New research has revealed the best states for business growth, with Georgia taking the top spot. Business consulting firm Venture Smarter analyzed data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover the business growth rate in each state based on the number of establishments in December 2021 compared to December 2022. Top of the list is Georgia, with a business growth rate of 13.50%. In December 2022, there were 397,515 business establishments compared to 350,189 in December 2021. Corporate income tax is set at a reasonable rate of 5.75% in Georgia, with the state also offering job tax credit to reduce corporate tax liability for eligible businesses.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Ed Department: Mass loan cancellation is off the table
By Katherine Knott
Ever since President Biden said that his administration would try again to offer broad student debt relief after the Supreme Court struck down his first plan, experts and advocates have wondered what shape that relief would take. On Tuesday, the department offered its clearest answer yet—at least about what it is not planning to do. “We’re not looking at a broad-based debt cancellation where we are going to wipe off debt in its entirety,” said Tamy Abernathy, director of the policy coordination group at the Education Department’s Office of Postsecondary Education. “That doesn’t mean that, in some cases, there wouldn’t be cancellation.”
See also: Higher Ed Dive: Biden administration takes second swing at mass student loan cancellation
Inside Higher EdColleges draw criticism for slow response to Hamas attacks
By Johanna Alonso
Pro-Palestinian student groups on many U.S. college campuses have drawn ire this week for their celebratory response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks against Israeli civilians, one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in the Jewish state’s history. Various campus chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, a national organization that advocates for Palestinian liberation, released statements applauding the attack. In an Instagram post on Saturday, the SJP chapter at Ohio State University wrote, “An unprecedented but historical series of events has taken place, led by our heroic resistance in Gaza who have shown the world yet again that the spirit of the Palestinian people cannot and will not be trampled.”