Columbus CEO
Investiture-inspired Art Celebrates Student Creativity, Columbus State’s Uniqueness
In honor of Dr. Stuart Rayfield’s presidential investiture on Oct. 20, the Columbus State University Alumni Association commissioned original student artwork that depicts what the university means to them. Five students answered the Alumni Association’s challenge and used artistic mediums of their choosing — which ranged from traditional materials like paint and porcelain to contemporary ones like digital design. The works were unveiled and displayed at the Presidential Investiture Ceremony, and they will be placed at other locations throughout both campuses in the coming weeks for all to enjoy. “The Columbus State experience is as unique and personal as each of these works of art,” Rayfield said. “Each of these pieces capture that so visually and are collectively, for me, an inspirational way to mark this moment in our university’s history.”
Fox 28 Savannah
Georgia Southern receives $1.5 million grant for soldier readiness program
by Jordan Stevenson
Georgia Southern University has received a two-year grant of $1.5 million for its soldier readiness program. The grant will help the University’s Soldier Performance and Readiness program (SPAR) to expand research and programming capacity in injury prevention techniques that ensure force readiness for the army. The grant comes from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) who’s mission is to provide solutions to medical problems or American service members home and abroad.
Gainesville Times
Ivester Foundation donates $600K so college students can study abroad
Ben Anderson
Local philanthropists Doug and Kay Ivester recently established a $600,000 endowment to fund study abroad scholarships for University of Georgia students from Hall County, UGA announced in a news release.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Federal lawsuit alleges underfunding of Georgia’s three public HBCUs
By Vanessa McCray
A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the Georgia Board of Regents alleges the state has failed to equitably fund its three public historically Black universities. …The suit alleges the board diverted resources away from HBCUs to strengthen academic programs at majority-white schools. It also alleges that buildings at the state’s three HBCUs “are inferior” and that those schools rely on state funding more than non-HBCUs. The lawsuit also says there are no graduates of the three HBCUs who serve on the board. …A spokeswoman for the University System of Georgia said the agency hadn’t been served and did not comment further. A representative for Gov. Brian Kemp referred comment to the University System.
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Lanier County News
ABAC ‘College Tour’ episode debuts on Amazon Prime
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is one of 14 colleges in the country featured in Season 9 of ‘The College Tour’, which debuted on Amazon Prime Video last week. Each episode of the show focuses on a single college, including campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities and more. Life at ABAC is told in 10 vignettes featuring students, who provide an inside look at what it is truly like to be a Stallion. “We are thrilled to be featured on The College Tour so people around the world can get an idea of what makes ABAC unique,” said Public Relations Director Chris Beckham. “Our students did a phenomenal job telling their stories. The passion they have for their school is evident and it’s easy to see how their time on campus transformed their lives.” The show’s Emmy-nominated production team spent a week at ABAC during February filming segments for the show. Alex Boylan, winner of CBS’s ‘The Amazing Race’, hosts the show and was impressed with what his team found in Tifton.
Nurse Journal
What Is An Accelerated Nursing Program? What to Know Including the Nation’s Top Programs
By Andrea Wickstrom. BSN, RN, PHN
Are you looking for a fast track to a nursing career? An accelerated nursing program may be the solution. An accelerated nursing program can pivot a non-nursing graduate to a nursing degree in a shorter timeframe than a traditional bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. The ongoing and deepening nurse shortage drives the need for accelerated nursing programs. Currently, there are over 400 accelerated nursing programs nationwide. …In 2022, an American Association of Colleges of Nurses survey found that 28,580 students were enrolled in ABSN programs. …These programs are gaining momentum in response to the ongoing nursing shortage. After earning their degree in an accelerated program, students can become entry-level nurses and enter the workforce more quickly. …The Top 10 ABSN Programs…9. Georgia Southern University
WGAU Radio
By Kristine Gfoft, UGA Sports Communications
The University of Georgia Graduate School has honored five outstanding graduates with 2023 Alumni of Distinction Awards. These recipients were selected for achieving exceptional success in their professional careers and for significant service to their communities. “Each of these graduate alumni is distinguished by their professional achievement at the regional, national and international levels. Their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to society exemplify the University of Georgia mission — to teach, to serve and to inquire into the nature of things.” said Ron Walcott, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School.
Augusta CEO
Chris Curry
Building an innovative cancer research project takes time, creativity and, most importantly, a team of scientists working together on a new way to treat cancer or keep the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. When it comes to bringing home victory for Augusta University’s various athletics programs, teamwork defines success on the field of competition. Together, cancer researchers and AU student athletes are “Here to Win” when it comes to bringing awareness to cancer prevention and early detection.
AllOnGeorgia
Georgia Southern University Launches ‘Together We Soar’ Campaign
Georgia Southern University proudly announces the launch of its comprehensive campaign, “Together We Soar: The Campaign for Georgia Southern University.” This transformative initiative aims to elevate the University’s impact on students, faculty, research, athletics, and the communities it serves.
Nuclear Newswire
Training program focuses on supply chain
ANS Nuclear Cafe
So far this year, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Supply Chain Management (SCM) apprenticeship program has transitioned 12 new graduates to its team. According to SRNS, the apprentices and interns were attracted to the training program through new recruiting connections that SRNS has established with universities and colleges in the Aiken, S.C., area. The SCM program, which is designed to transition participants into full-time positions at the Savannah River Site, has recently increased internal incentives. Registered Apprenticeship Program: SCM was added to SRNS’s Registered Apprenticeship Program two years ago, placing it among the 23 technical and professional occupations offered by the program. Apprentices receive classroom instruction along with supervised job training from experienced mentors and leaders at SRS. SRNS boosted its recruitment activities for the SCM offering at the University of South Carolina–Aiken, Augusta University, Clemson University, the University of Georgia, the University of South Carolina, The Citadel, and Benedict College.
WRDW
AU unveils eSports arena with benefits beyond gaming
By Nick Viland
Augusta University has unveiled its new eSports arena. It was a packed room for the highly anticipated opening. Augusta University has had a team in the Peach Belt for years. After five years, they are finally joining only seven other schools in the state of Georgia that have a home turf. “It’s surreal, being here is a dream, I feel like I’m dreaming,” said Jordan Moratin, Augusta University student and Rocket League coach.
Southeast AgNet
Georgia Cotton Growers Should Take Advantage of Weather Conditions
By Clint Thompson
The Georgia Cotton Commission and University of Georgia (UGA) Extension encourage producers to take advantage of weather conditions this week. Warmer temperatures provide more advantageous conditions for growers looking to defoliate and harvest their crop. Camp Hand, UGA Extension cotton agronomist, talks about that issue.
YouTube
University of Georgia Extension Office aids Middle Georgia peanut growers
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.
WSAV
Community Corner: Lethal Lecture by Craig Sodaro
by: Kim Gusby
This week, an interactive whodunit opens at the Armstrong campus. Lethal Lecture by Craig Sodaro is being presented by the student theatre group, The Masquers, with proceeds benefiting the theater department at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus.
Augusta Business Daily
Creative arts are music to the CSRA economy
Dana Lynn McIntyre
The Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) show that the arts are having an economic impact at the state and national levels. The latest report from GCA shows that 200,000 jobs with an economic impact of $48 billion are directly connected to the creative industries in the Peach State. That presence is also a selling tool to attract new businesses to Georgia. …Augusta University hosted its first MusiCon, organized by the Pamplin Department of Music. The event held October 20, highlighted the history and heart of Augusta University. “The idea is to really show what we do and show that we have a music department that’s alive and well,” explained Marcel Ramalho, director of choral activities and professor of voice. …Brody McLaughlin, a junior studying music education, thought it was a great experience for music majors to perform in public. It also raises the profile of the arts programs for potential students.
Flagpole
Athens Churches Raise Money for Linnentown Reparations
By Rebecca McCarthy
It started after George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Members of Oconee Street Methodist began meeting in small groups to talk about racism, racial injustice and Christian discipleship. When the subject of reparations came up, they decided to hire Hattie Thomas Whitehead as a consultant. The author of Giving Voice to Linnentown, she had grown up in Linnentown, a majority Black neighborhood between Baxter and Cloverhurst streets that was bulldozed in the early 1960s so UGA could build dormitories on the property. …Those working for racial justice learned that the Georgia Constitution has a clause preventing the Athens-Clarke County Government and the University of Georgia from making reparations payments to individuals. That’s why the ACC government opted to put $2.5 million into a fund for affordable housing and a Black history center in lieu of direct reparations. The city’s Justice and Memory Committee, co-chaired by Thomas Whitehead, has also asked UGA to contribute $2.5 million, but so far the university has refused.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
U.S. Bans Most Withholding of Transcripts
The Education Department strengthens its oversight of institutions with a sweeping set of rules finalized this week.
By Katherine Knott
A federal policy change could give thousands of students access to transcripts and academic credits their colleges have withheld because they owed the institutions money. The new rule, part of a broad package of regulations the U.S. Education Department unveiled Tuesday, could amount to a national ban on the practice of transcript withholding, experts say. Institutions sometimes withhold transcripts to force a student to pay a balance on their account. Without their transcripts, students often can’t continue their education elsewhere without starting over, and they cannot apply for certain jobs. The practice has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, with dozens of states enacting their own bans.
Higher Ed Dive
Education Department unveils stricter college oversight rules
The regulatory package broadens the circumstances in which financially shaky colleges must offer letters of credit, among other consumer protections.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
The U.S. Department of Education debuted a sweeping regulatory package Tuesday fortifying federal oversight of financially unstable colleges, including by broadening the circumstances in which they must supply the government with a letter of credit. This mammoth new set of rules matches the Biden administration’s priority of holding accountable colleges it deems predatory or high risk for students. The regulations come as college costs soar, contributing to the federal loan portfolio swelling to $1.6 trillion. The new rules also contain significant new consumer protections, like mandating colleges provide clear financial aid offers that break down cost of attendance and types of available assistance.
Higher Ed Dive
How the new FAFSA form will affect state grants for college students
State aid programs may need to adapt, as they often rely on data elements from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Laura Spitalniak, Staff Reporter
Dive Brief:
State financial aid programs may need to adapt to the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is expected to increase Pell Grant eligibility and provide additional aid to more students, according to a report released Monday from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. States often rely on federal financial aid data when distributing need-based college funds and base eligibility standards on those used by Pell Grants, SHEEO said. Changes to how the FAFSA calculates a student’s expected out-of-pocket contribution will ripple out to the local levels. A growing pool of students who qualify for aid may push local leaders to consider adjusting which students are grant-eligible and how much assistance they receive, the report said.
Higher Ed Dive
Opinion
The Supreme Court is poised to drop another DEI shoe next year
Another case pending before the high court may further restrict what employers can lawfully do to increase diversity.
Published Oct. 25, 2023
By Jonathan A. Segal and Adam D. Brown
Jonathan A. Segal is partner and managing principal and Adam D. Brown is special counsel at Duane Morris. Views are the authors’ own.
In its June 2023 decision Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard University (SFFA), the United States Supreme Court effectively prohibited the affirmative use of race as a “plus” factor in student admissions by both private and public academic institutions under Title VII and the Equal Protection Clause, respectively. As a legal matter, the Supreme Court decision does not change the law relative to workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Both prior and subsequent to the decision, it has been unlawful for employers to consider race, gender, or another Title VII characteristic as a “plus” factor even where the goal is to increase diversity, although there are exceptions to this. However, there is another case pending before the Supreme Court that may restrict further what employers lawfully can do to increase diversity.
Inside Higher Ed
Hackers Accessed Data of Up to 230,000 at University of Michigan
By Lauren Coffey
The University of Michigan cyberbreach that prompted a three-campus internet shutdown in August gave hackers access to the personal information of up to 230,000 students, faculty and staff, the university said. Hackers accessed the personal information of people including students, applicants, alumni, donors, employees, contractors, research study participants and patients at the University of Michigan’s Health Service and School of Dentistry, a university statement said. Letters were sent to the roughly 230,000 people affected, university spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said. Social Security numbers, names, driver’s license numbers, payment card numbers and health information may have been compromised, according to the university’s statement.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Democratic Senators to Reintroduce Bill for Free Two-Year Technical and Community College
Arrman Kyaw
Democratic lawmakers are reintroducing legislation to make two-year technical and community college free for eligible students, MY Northwest reported. The legislation – introduced and backed by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and several other Democrats – would amend the 1965 Higher Education Act “to establish grants for tuition-free community colleges, student success grants,” and grants for HBCUs, Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), according to the bill. …For eligible students, The America’s College Promise Act of 2023 would waive two years-worth of community and technical college tuition and fees, and have the federal government be responsible for the majority of funding (80-100%) for the endeavor.
Inside Higher Ed
Female High School Grads Feel Less Prepared for the Future
By Johanna Alonso
more female students than male students feel underprepared by their high schools to make a career choice or declare a college major, according to the Post-Graduation Readiness Gender Report by YouScience, a technology platform that aims to suss out student aptitudes. Seventy-nine percent of male high school graduates said they’d been exposed to a variety of career options as high schoolers, compared to 69 percent of female graduates, the report found. Similarly, 78 percent of male graduates reported that their high schools told them that employers look for candidates with certain aptitudes, and 83 percent felt better prepared to choose an educational or career path because of their aptitudes identified in high school. By contrast, only 68 percent of female graduates said their high schools advised them that employers seek certain aptitudes, while 75 percent said identifying those aptitudes in high school helped prepare them for the future.
Inside Higher Ed
Career Support Boosts Alumni Perception of College’s Value
By Kathryn Palmer
Alumni are more likely to view their college degree as a good investment if they received strong career support from their institution, according to the 2023 National Alumni Career Mobility survey released Tuesday by Lightcast, a market analytics company. Researchers surveyed 9,052 alumni with bachelor’s degrees from 38 different institutions five and 10 years postgraduation, according to a news release. While a wide majority (82 percent) of respondents reported satisfaction with their college experiences, only 55 percent felt their degree was worth the money they paid for it, and 44 percent said it was worth the student loan debt.
Inside Higher Ed
Institutional Debts Cleared for Thousands of Morehouse Students
By Sara Weissman
The Debt Collective, an organization that advocates for clearing federal student loan debt, partnered with Morehouse College to wipe nearly $10 million in outstanding balances students owed the institution. The historically Black university in Atlanta transferred the debts to the Debt Collective’s sister organization, the Jubilee Fund, for $125,000, and the collective cleared the debt of 2,777 student accounts from fall 2022 and earlier, amounting to $9,707,827.67.
Inside Higher Ed
Fostering Undergraduate Research in Florida
The Florida Undergraduate Research Association gives students the rare opportunity to publish and present their work statewide.
By Jessica Blake
Musarrat Shaira knew she wanted to major in sociology, but she wasn’t sure what career options it would lead to. Then during a class in her first year at Florida Gulf Coast University, she was exposed to the idea of using research to address social justice issues. … Now a senior, Shaira has submitted her research to the Florida Undergraduate Research Journal, a statewide publication that gives baccalaureate scholars a voice for their research. The article is currently under review, and she anticipates it will be published next year. …Undergraduates are often limited to publishing work in journals produced by the institution they attend, meaning their research is typically read by a relatively small population. But for students like Shaira, the Florida Undergraduate Research Journal provides an opportunity to share work more widely.
Inside Higher Ed
Most U.S. Students Blame Hamas for Attack on Israel, Poll Finds
By Johanna Alonso
Two-thirds of American college students who knew about Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel said they view it as an act of terrorism, while only 12 percent said it was a “justified act of resistance,” according to a Generation Lab flash poll of 978 two- and four-year college students taken days after the attack, NBC News reported. Additionally, 52 percent of those surveyed blamed Hamas for the attack; 11 percent blamed it on Israel, 12 percent blamed other Middle Eastern governments and 25 percent held someone else at fault.