University System News:
Times-Georgian
Legacy of excellence: UWG alumnus receives prestigious Board of Regents award
By Miranda Pepe
In a remarkable journey that weaves together entrepreneurship, philanthropy and an unyielding commitment to community, David Johnson ’96, a distinguished alumnus of the University of West Georgia, has been honored with the prestigious Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award given by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Johnson’s story is a testament to the possibilities that emerge when passion, integrity and the relentless pursuit of excellence converge. An esteemed executive leader, Johnson owns several fin-tech consulting firms, including Cane Bay Partners VI, LLLP in St. Croix, and is a seasoned investor with a diverse portfolio. From his professional achievements as a business leader to his profound impact on communities near and far, his achievements transcend mere milestones in a career.
Athens CEO
Sahm Award extends resources to Athens nonprofit
A partnership between the University of Georgia and an Athens nonprofit is helping elementary and middle school kids learn about healthy eating, urban agriculture and working in the food industry. The work between the UGA School of Social Work and Farm to Neighborhood is one of five local projects selected for 2023 to receive a total of nearly $40,000 in awards from the Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Award program facilitated by UGA Public Service and Outreach. The endowment established by Sahm, an Athens native and UGA alumna, helps UGA make an impact in the Athens-Clarke County community by partnering with local organizations to help address local challenges. … Inspired by the gift and the local impact it will have, UGA President Jere W. Morehead directed a $100,000 contribution to this fund using discretionary funds provided to him by the UGA Athletic Association.
Savannah Morning News
Georgia Southern reports regional economy gives up some ground
By Amy Paige Condon
Remember the prognostications at the end of 2022 that the country would be plunged into a debilitating recession by the summer of 2023? Based upon the most recent Coastal Empire Economic Monitor released this week by Georgia Southern University, those dire predictions ― “the most forecasted recession ever that still hasn’t happened” ― may not come to pass, even though the regional economy “gave up some ground” in the second quarter of this year. As Michael Toma, the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics at Georgia Southern University, explained, “There was some anticipation that as a result of the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in an unprecedented manner through 2022 ― meaning at the fastest rate, basically, in 40 years ― there was some concern among national forecasters that the economy was going to be pushed into recession.”
TMJ4
Food and care pantries becoming core component at many colleges
By Matt Pearl
Georgia Gwinnett College isn’t very well known outside of Georgia, or even outside of Gwinnett County. It’s a regional four-year college with 12,000 undergraduate students. In other words, it’s the type of college that educates nearly half of all undergrads in America. It’s also where we meet Amani Anderson. “I used up all my money for bills, and I didn’t budget out my money to get groceries,” Anderson told Scripps News. “And so, I know that the care pantry is there for me if I run out of money.” At the height of the pandemic, fewer than half of college students in a national survey said they had a high level of food security. More than a third said they worried their food would run out before they got money to buy more. It was the climax of a trend that had been building for years, along with a stopgap solution.
Marietta Daily Journal
PTK officers launch student ambassador program at GHC this fall
Officers of the Alpha Psi Omicron chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society at Georgia Highlands College are taking their leadership and organizational skills to the next level by helping launch the Student Ambassador Program this fall. PTK chapter President and student April Cole, who helped spearhead the initiative alongside 2023 GHC graduate and PTK Officer Katie Weatherford, says the primary goal of the SAP is to provide student leaders with a platform to share information on the endless opportunities GHC has for self-development, helping them to shape and impact the lives of future and current students at GHC.
Savannah Morning News‘Everyone is welcome’: Savannah State University’s Art Club offers openness, acceptance
“It’s not like a traditional club where it’s a certain thing you have to do or it’s a certain way you have to do it,” said Kortez Taylor, vice president of Savannah State University’s Art Club. “No. It’s a group of friends who all enjoy art, love art, love each other, and hang out.” The affable Taylor was one of about a dozen SSU students who met with me recently at the Kennedy Fine Arts Building on the HBCU’s campus. Our goal was to discuss all things art, and that we did, but for many of the young people gathered together that day, Art Club is about so much more than just painting and sculpture. “Art Club is just a place I can come to so I don’t feel entirely alone anymore,” noted Ellen Hunter, a journalism student with a passion for drawing. She joined the group after a difficult pandemic-dominated freshman year, a year where she “basically [had] a mental breakdown.”
The Brunswick News
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes sheds light on domestic violence
The Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event ended as a speedy shuffle across the finish line for many of the participants wearing large red high heels in support of the day’s mission. College of Coastal Georgia hosted its third annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event Wednesday to bring awareness to sexual violence and in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October. “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a powerful way for us to bring awareness and to rally the community on the serious effects of domestic and sexual violence,” said Michelle Johnston, president of CCGA. “We honor those who have lost their lives and those who are survivors of domestic violence today.”
Dalton Daily Citizen
Panelists discuss improvements and challenges during Hispanic History Month event
By Brady Hix
With Hispanic Heritage Month coming to a close this Sunday, Dalton State College held a panel discussion on Thursday that highlighted the contributions and experiences of the members of the city’s Hispanic community. The event, hosted by Dalton State’s Society ’63 Alumni Association, the National Podcast Project, Dalton Public Schools and Shaw Industries, featured eight panelists, all considered key figures in the Dalton community, speaking about the successes, challenges and improvements Hispanics have experienced in the area to students from Hammond Creek Middle School, Dalton Junior High School and The Dalton Academy.
Morning Ag Clips
UGA faculty to be honored at D.W. Brooks Lecture
Plant geneticist Edward Buckler will give insight into how quantitative genetics and genomics hold the potential for greater agricultural sustainability when he presents the keynote for this year’s D.W. Brooks Lecture. The annual event, which will recognize six University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension faculty, will be held at the Georgia Center’s Mahler Hall at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 16. … This year, the college will honor six CAES and Extension faculty who have excelled in service to the land-grant mission at UGA. … Samuel “Sammy” Aggrey honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Diversity. … Alison Berg honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Extension. … Tammy Cheely honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Public Service Extension. … Brian Kiepper honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Teaching. … Woo Kyun Kim honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in International Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. … John Snider honored with the D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in Research.
Middle Georgia CEO
By ChaNae’ Bradley
Seeing her students succeed in their field of study is the hallmark of Dr. Oreta Samples’ teaching career. One recent graduate is now praising her for the impact she has made in her life while studying at Fort Valley State University (FVSU) in the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program. Alumna Caroline Obi nominated Samples, FVSU assistant professor and MPH Program coordinator, for the National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) Dr. Bailus Walker Jr. Diversity and Inclusion Awareness Award. NEHA is the accrediting body for FVSU’s MPH Program. This prestigious award honors faculty members involved in environmental health sciences who have made significant achievements in the development and enhancement of a more culturally diverse, inclusive and competent environment.
Valdosta Today
Valdosta native completes UNG Advanced Camp summer training
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 Dylan Hennly from Valdosta, GA. 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.
Georgia Law News
Joon Georgia plans production facility in Bulloch County, Georgia
Joon Georgia, Inc., an automotive parts manufacturer, will build a new manufacturing facility in Bulloch County, Georgia. The $317 million project is expected to create 317 jobs. The facility is located in the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park, formerly known as the Southern Gateway Commerce Park, and will make the company the first confirmed supplier for Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Bryan County. Operations are scheduled to begin in mid-2024. … “The Bulloch County Development Authority is honored and proud to welcome Joon Georgia to the Statesboro-Bulloch County community and our region,” said Billy Allen, chairman of the development authority. “We believe our great location at Bruce Yawn Commerce Park and proximity to Hyundai Motor Group’s new Metaplant America will serve the company well, and we know our great educational resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will contribute to this. “Decisive support from the workforce to help Joon Georgia succeed.”
CoStar News
Student Quarters buys Atlanta apartment tower near Georgia Tech
By Andy Peters
Student Quarters, an investor that specializes in student housing, acquired for $181 million an Atlanta apartment tower that caters to Georgia Institute of Technology students. CA Ventures sold the 30-story Here Atlanta tower to Student Quarters, John Diedrich, managing principal and chief investment officer at CA Ventures, said in an email to CoStar News. American General Life Insurance provided a $105.5 million loan for the acquisition. Private investment in student housing properties has increased this year as college students return to campuses following the pandemic, according to a recent report by the National Association of Home Builders. Investment in student dorms rose to $3.6 billion in the second quarter, an 8.7% rise from the same period a year earlier.
WABE
Georgia representatives spotlight underfunding of public HBCUs
By Juma Sei
Three members of the Georgia House of Representatives met earlier this month to address the underfunding of Georgia’s public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). … Scott and her colleagues called their meeting because of a letter written last month to Gov. Brian Kemp from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack. Cardona and Vilsack allege that Georgia has not funded the state’s predominantly Black land-grant university, Fort Valley State University (FVSU), on par with its predominantly white land-grant university, the University of Georgia (UGA). … “There would be no one in our system who would be surprised by the sum of this narrative,” said FVSU President Paul Jones, referencing the consortium of other 1890 land-grant HBCUs. …Despite this inequality, Jones said this is not “simply a Black-white issue.” Agriculture is the number one industry in the state of Georgia, and “needs don’t come in colors. …We have a great working relationship with the University of Georgia,” Jones said. “We understand [the] importance of collaboration.” … The governor’s office referred the comment to the University System of Georgia, who said they are working to collect data and facts before issuing an official address.
Bryan County News
Join the True Blue 5K and Abbie’s Adventure Race on Oct. 21
Once again the Abbie DeLoach Foundation (ADF) is a proud sponsor of the annual True Blue 5K/Abbie’s Adventure Race, held in partnership with Georgia Southern University (GSU) Campus Recreation and Intramurals. This year the races will be held during the school’s homecoming weekend on Saturday, Oct. 21, starting at the Recreation Activity Center (RAC), 2687 Akins Blvd. in Statesboro, with a path going through the beautiful campus. These fun run, walk, run/walk events provide a great kickoff leading up to the GSU football game against the University of Louisiana Monroe.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
A day of tension and protests on campus
By Johanna Alonso, Ryan Quinn, Katherine Knott and Susan H. Greenberg
Tensions flared on campuses across the country Thursday as groups of students gathered to show their support for Israelis or Palestinians in the midst of an escalating war between Israel and Hamas. Students for Justice in Palestine declared Thursday a “day of resistance,” calling on individual campus chapters to rally in support of Palestinian liberation. “As the Palestinian student movement, we have a responsibility to join the call for mass mobilization. National SJP is calling on all chapters and allied student orgs to join a National Day of Action on Thursday, October 12,” the Instagram post read.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Amid firestorm over statements on Israel, some presidents criticize their counterparts
By Calli McMurray
Some colleges have drawn backlash this week from their students and on social media for vague statements acknowledging Hamas’s attacks on Israel. Now criticism is coming from another corner: other college presidents. In a message addressed to the University of Florida’s Jewish alumni, President Ben Sasse called the Hamas attack “evil” and condemned other institutions for not doing the same. “This shouldn’t be hard,” he wrote. … Administrators from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, including its president, Asher Cohen, sent letters to the presidents of Harvard and Stanford Universities on Wednesday for their “shockingly feeble condemnations” of “Hamas’s recent barbaric assault on Israel.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Dual enrollment is exploding. How can colleges make sure it’s equitable?
By Charlotte Matherly
Dual enrollment has long functioned as a “program of privilege,” researcher John Fink says. The system that allows students to knock out high school and college courses at once, at little-to-no cost, often favors white people, native English speakers, and those of a higher socioeconomic standing. As participation in dual enrollment skyrockets, Fink and his research partner, Davis Jenkins, argue it’s time for that to change. In new reports released Tuesday, the duo from the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College presents a framework aimed at ensuring that all students can take advantage of such programs. The goal is to get more students on a college track early, saving them time and money en route to a degree.
Higher Ed Dive
Moody’s: Student housing sees rebound
By Leslie Shaver
Although owners of privatized student housing projects have seen occupancy rebound since the end of COVID-19 challenges, they will continue to face headwinds in the form of reduced demand and higher costs due to inflation, which could leave them susceptible to a light decline in credit quality, according to a recent report from credit rating agency Moody’s Investor Service. During the pandemic, many projects were able to overcome problems due to “extraordinary university support” in the form of discretionary occupancy or financial support, including help covering rental refunds and refunding projects’ bonds, according to Moody’s. More than a third of projects rated by the firm used project funds, separate from their debt service reserve fund, for unintended uses or they received university support.