USG e-clips for October 23, 2023

University System News:

Statesboro Herald

Georgia Southern University’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health receives $4 million grant

From staff reports

Georgia Southern University’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research at the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health received a $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to provide targeted technical assistance to rural hospitals nationwide.

Athens Banner-Herald

UGA gets $500,000 from Google for cybersecurity clinic

Abraham Kenmore

The University of Georgia CyberArch program has worked to provide free cyber security reviews for local government, school systems and hospitals. Now this program, which pairs student interns with organizations needing assistance, is getting $500,000 from Google. “We’re excited to receive this support from Google and combine its resources with our expertise and resources at UGA,” program coordinator Mark Lupo was quoted as saying in a news release. “This funding gives us a stronger foothold as a formalized program. We see the funding as a way to increase our ability to reach more students and to be able to serve more communities.” The grant is part of a $20 million commitment from Google.org to fund cybersecurity workforce development, and will support both expanding cybersecurity clinics like CyberArch and developing new ones.

Gwinnett Daily Post

Georgia Gwinnett College Partners With Piedmont Eastside on Patient Navigation Program

From staff reports

As part of its bachelor’s degree program in health science with a focus on patient navigation, Georgia Gwinnett College has partnered with local healthcare partners, including Piedmont Eastside, to provide students with hands-on experience in a hospital setting. Patient navigation involves guiding patients and assisting them in overcoming barriers — like financial resources and understanding care and treatment — from getting the attention they need. The college’s inaugural class had its first graduates in May, one of whom, Nellie Benjumea, spoke warmly of her experience.

11Alive

‘This is a tool’ | Georgia Tech encouraging applicants to seek help from artificial intelligence

The school’s director of admissions says ChatGPT can be a helpful tool if used responsibly

Author: Jerry Carnes

Georgia Tech is one of the few, if not the only, university in the nation encouraging and providing guidance on the use of artificial intelligence when applying for admissions. Rick Clark, Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech, says if used properly, ChatGPT and other tools like it can improve a student’s chances of being accepted.

Griffin Daily News

Gordon State College hosts annual education summit

By Karolina Philmon GSC Marketing Manager

Education community partners from multiple districts covering GSC’s 14-county primary service region met and engaged in discussions about education attainment and related initiatives during Gordon State College’s first Education Ecosystem Summit of the 2023-24 school year. Those in attendance included superintendents, principals, counselors, state and local officials, career readiness specialists, and graduation coaches with representatives from Bibb, Butts, Clayton, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Newton, Pike, Spalding, and Upson Counties. …“There’s an ongoing debate over the value of a college degree,” Green said. “We want to provide a value preposition with a graduation message and emphasize low-cost tuition. We want our statistics to reflect high graduation and success rates with great careers and high employment.”

11 Alive

Video

UGA hosts guests from ‘Extra Special People’

It’s a group that creates transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families.

The Red & Black

UGA Trial Gardens’ Classic City Award-winning plants

Francesca Vercesi

For over 40 years, the Trial Gardens at the University of Georgia have been home to a variety of different plants, locally grown to test out for vendors around the world. Nestled in the heart of campus, the garden currently boasts over 1,000 species of plants cared for by university staff and volunteers. Throughout the year, the plants are rated based on their growth speed, “flower power,” disease and insect resistance and uniformity. At the end of the season, the plants with the highest 12 ratings receive the Classic City Award, a testament to their longevity and quality. According to UGA Trial Gardens Director John Ruter, there were around 400 entries for the Classic City Award this year. The winners from this year include the “Zinnia Zesty Yellow” from Ball Ingenuity and the Torenia Catalina “Pink 2024”from Proven Winners.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Gwinnett College chief of staff to leave for private sector job

Her departure comes amid a faculty discussion of a possible no-confidence vote in school leadership

By Vanessa McCray

Georgia Gwinnett College’s chief of staff and vice president for human resources, whose dual role has been questioned by faculty considering a no-confidence vote against the school’s administration, is leaving her job. Katherine Kyle’s last day at the college will be Nov. 3, said college spokeswoman Jacqueline Todd. Todd said Kyle is moving to the private sector but did not release where she will work next. Kyle declined to comment.

WGXA TV

University of Georgia Extension Office aids Middle Georgia peanut growers: an inside look “On the Farm”

by Greg Loyd

It’s been a busy time of the year for Middle Georgia peanut growers. By now, most of the crops have been harvested. But have you ever considered how farmers know when their crops are ready? In this week’s “On the Farm,” we look at the ways the University of Georgia Extension Office helps our farms with peanut maturity clinics. We’ll also examine how this year’s growing season has gone for some Midstate farmers. …Just because all the peanuts are harvested doesn’t mean the work slows down for farmers. Hear more in our video below:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

You may need your raincoat a lot this winter in Georgia. Here’s why

Federal forecast calls for wetter-than-normal conditions due to strong El Niño climate pattern

By Drew Kann

Georgia and much of the Southeast have been caught in a dry spell so far this fall. But that is likely to end when winter’s chill arrives, according to a new federal forecast issued this week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) winter outlook released on Thursday calls for wetter-than-normal conditions in Georgia and most surrounding states from December through February. Deep South Georgia is most likely to see more moisture than usual this winter, with odds between 60% and 70%. Central and North Georgia are also leaning wet, but with a slightly lower chance. …For those wondering whether some of this winter’s precipitation will fall as snow, Pam Knox, an agricultural climatologist at the University of Georgia said, “Don’t get your hopes up.” “We have to have a very specific set of ingredients: We have to have moisture, at the same time that we have really cold air,” Knox said. “And it’s hard to get both of those things at once in the Southeast.” The temperature outlook for Georgia this winter is less clear.

Augusta Business Daily

Mondays with Rick: Opinions on social media can come back to bite you

Gary Kauffman

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he discusses the negative impact your social media posts could have on your employment. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact.

ABD: This past week, we’ve seen reports of several Harvard law students having job offers rescinded because of statements they made regarding current events in Israel. Of course, we’ve all heard that social media posts can potentially cause problems for employees. How much of a concern is this?

Rick: This is a good topic for everyone, not just young people. You always need to be sensitive to this in the job market. You must be careful what you post on social media because you never know what side a potential employer or your current company is on.

WRBL

Former ROK 3-star general and AUSA fellow discusses U.S.-Korea relations at CSU

by: Olivia Yepez

What do U.S.-Korea relations look like from the Korean perspective? In the second of a three-part forum series about U.S.-Korea relations hosted by Columbus State University (CSU), retired Lt. Gen. Chun In-Bum former commander of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Special Warfare Command presented to a room of CSU officials, locals and other interested attendees. In the presentation called “Challenge From Northeast Asia: It Isn’t Just China,” Chun, also the only international senior fellow with the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), addressed Korea’s relationship with the United States and offered his impressions of what the future between the countries may hold. …On tunnels created by Hamas which lie under Gaza: “We’re talking about Hamas, of their 500 kilometers (of) underground tunnels – that ain’t nothing. Where do you think the Hamas guys learned about underground tunnels? The North Koreans.” …David Kieran of CSU’s Department of History, Geography and Philosophy reported the school was grateful to have an expert of Chun’s caliber weigh in on such major national security issues and American allies globally. Donahoe was equally supportive of the dialogue.

Savannah Morning News

Bethesda’s new basketball coach reveals plan to uphold the program’s excellent standard

Dennis Knight

Clyde Wormley, an assistant basketball coach with the Savannah State men’s team since 2007, has been hired as the basketball coach at Bethesda Academy. Wormley replaces Clevan Thompson, the coach of the Blazer program since 2010, leading the team to a GISA state championship in 2012 and a SCISA state crown in 2015. “Coach Thompson decided to go in a different direction, and we appreciate everything he has done here,” Bethesda Athletic Director Antwain Turner said. “We think Coach Wormley is going to be a great fit with our program and at our school. His basketball IQ was amazing as we talked with him during the interview process, and he has such great experience with his time coaching at Savannah State. We think he can take us to the next level.”

Forsyth County News

What NFL, UGA legend Fran Tarkenton had to say to local leaders about business and football

Kelly Whitmire

With nearly two decades of professional football experience, former NFL and University of Georgia quarterback Fran Tarkenton knows what it takes to win, and recently, he shared some of those thoughts with other winners.

Higher Education News:

Inside Higher Ed

Is ‘Gen P’ Ready for College?

This fall’s applicant cohort will be the first to have entered high school during the pandemic. Assessing their college readiness will be a challenge for admissions offices.

By Liam Knox

Admissions officers and application readers at Emory University will gather at the Atlanta campus next week for their first training session of the admissions cycle. The training will cover a number of new topics, including how to build a diverse class while complying with the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action and how to identify essays written by ChatGPT. Another vexing challenge they face: how to assess the college readiness of applicants who started high school on Zoom during the pandemic, and whose education was disrupted to the point that it is hard to know how much they actually learned in secondary school.

Higher Ed Dive

Moody’s: Enrollment hinges on programs aligning with student interests

Subjects like computer and information sciences have attracted more students in recent years, but they can be expensive to expand and upgrade.

Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor

Dive Brief:

Colleges’ ability to adapt their academic programs based on student interests and labor market demands will become increasingly important to counter enrollment challenges, suggests a new analysis from Moody’s Investors Service. Institutions equipped to closely track shifting student interests and adjust their offerings accordingly stand to benefit when trying to recruit enrollees, the analysis said. For instance, computer and information sciences programs’ undergraduate enrollment has grown across public colleges, even though the number of undergraduates broadly has declined. Focusing on these degrees could help boost enrollment and avoid financial distress, Moody’s said.

Inside Higher Ed

Michigan Inches Toward College Attainment Goal

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer set an ambitious goal for the state to boost college attainment by more than 10 percent by 2030. There’s been some progress, but the plan has a long way to go.

By Kathryn Palmer

When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was elected in 2018, 48.9 percent of residents held some type of college degree or credential, according to state data. Soon after taking office, Whitmer announced her signature Sixty by 30 plan, setting a goal for 60 percent of Michiganders to have a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2030. The state’s historically low college attainment rate—the lowest among neighboring states and 37th in the nation—had created a deficit of skilled workers in the state. But Gov. Whitmer’s ambitious plan to change that is in full force and showing small gains so far. Reducing tuition costs has been a big part of that plan. Michigan Reconnect, which is a last-dollar tuition scholarship for adults 25 and older, launched in 2021.

Higher Ed Dive

Opinion

Revamping incoming students’ experience can help them academically and socially

An official at Worcester Polytechnic Institute shares why the university recently updated its orientation, academic advising and physical education requirement.

By Paul Reilly

Paul Reilly is the assistant dean of student success at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, a private nonprofit university in Massachusetts.

Much has been and will be written about the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people’s learning, mental health, social skills and ability to manage in life. And though isolation, depression and anxiety levels have been on the rise throughout the U.S. for many years, COVID-19 proved a perfect storm of mental health woes, leaving teens on shaky footing as they step onto the path toward adulthood. For many, college is one of the most significant steps on that path. College is when they learn to stand on their own and solve their problems. College is when they blossom into fully independent beings. When college-bound students leave the comfort and familiarity of home, many arrive on campus wanting the adults in their lives to be completely hands off. Increasingly, though, research and experience show that those adults need to be more hands-on than ever. Those of us who work in higher education can help by filling gaps, both academic and social, that the pandemic exacerbated in today’s adolescents.

Inside Higher Ed

Middle East Tensions Reroute Semester at Sea Ship

By Susan H. Greenberg

Because of tensions in the Middle East, Semester at Sea, a study abroad program held on a cruise ship that travels from port to port, abruptly changed the MV World Odyssey’s itinerary to avoid the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. “Within the next hour, the MV World Odyssey will change course and begin heading west,” read the company’s announcement, released Sunday. “Based on events in the last few days in the Red Sea, Israel, Gaza, and elsewhere, conversations with U.S. Embassy officials across the Middle East, as well as multiple discussions with our ship management partners, and others, we determined that a Suez Canal-Red Sea-Gulf of Aden transit is not advisable at this time.”

Inside Higher Ed

A Catholic University Welcome Mat for Jewish Students Feeling Embattled

As tensions over the Israel/Gaza conflict play out on college campuses, an Ohio university offers expedited transfers for students dealing with antisemitism.

By Sara Weissman

Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio isn’t just Catholic. It’s “passionately Catholic,” according to the tagline on its website. It is known as a traditionalist hardliner on church teachings, according to some Catholic scholars. So it caught some people by surprise when the university announced last week that it would not only welcome Jewish students but would also expedite the transfer process for them in the wake of widely reported incidents of antisemitism on American college campuses related to the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Franciscan University leaders were unequivocal about their outreach to Jewish students and about their view that other colleges need to do more to protect them.

Inside Higher Ed

Congressional Dems Renew Push to Make Community College Free

By Katherine Knott

Eligible students could attend community or technical college for free under a new bill introduced this week in Congress. Sponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia and other Democrats, the America’s College Promise Act of 2023 would provide two years of tuition-free community or technical college as part of a new federal-state partnership, according to a news release. Students would have to attend an eligible institution more than half-time and qualify for in-state tuition in order to receive the tuition waiver. The America’s College Promise Act also would waive two years of tuition and fees for eligible students at tribal colleges and universities and cover “a significant portion of tuition and fees” for low-income students who attend HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.

Higher Ed Dive

New College of Florida approves Corcoran’s president contract — doubling his predecessor’s salary

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political ally will earn about $700,000 annually, along with potential performance and retention bonuses.

Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter

The governing board of New College of Florida signed off on its new president’s contract Friday, cementing that Richard Corcoran, a prominent state Republican, will earn more than double his predecessor at almost $700,000 a year. New College’s board gave its blessing over objections of students, parents, alumni and faculty, who all deemed Corcoran’s compensation far too generous for the former Florida House speaker — who has never served as a college president. Corcoran will be one of Florida public colleges’ highest-paid presidents, despite leading an institution a fraction the size of campuses such as Florida International University, whose interim president earns $650,000 annually. Experts in presidential contacts have also called the package unusually lavish.

Cybersecurity Dive

Tech spend to hit milestone as businesses react to AI security scare

Gartner is projecting worldwide IT spend will top $5 trillion next year, and CIOs are investing more in security to curb concerns associated with AI and risk.

Matt Ashare, Reporter

Dive Brief:

Worldwide IT spending is expected to surge to $5.1 trillion in 2024, growing 8% year over year, analyst firm Gartner projected in a Wednesday report. This marks the first time IT spending is expected to surpass $5 trillion. AI is already having an influence and is set to impact one area of IT spend in particular: cybersecurity, according to Gartner. Most CIOs — 4 in 5 — plan to increase security investments next year amid concerns associated with AI and risk, making it the top category for increased spending. “AI has created a new security scare for organizations,” said John-David Lovelock, distinguished VP analyst, in the report. “Gartner is projecting double-digit growth across all segments of enterprise security spending for 2024.”