Times-Georgian
Ethical excellence: UWG alumnus discusses importance of ethical values
By Abby Grizzard Special To The Times-Georgian
The University of West Georgia is an institution that holds values of integrity, excellence, accountability and respect in the highest regard. These values guide UWG in its endeavors to support students and faculty alike in an ethical manner. It is in that spirit that UWG, along with all institutions in the University System of Georgia, will celebrate Ethics Awareness Week from Nov. 6-12. On Friday, Nov. 3, a faculty ethics bowl will precede the main events, which include a prize cab traversing the UWG campus on Monday, Nov. 6, and Wednesday, Nov. 8; a USG Chancellor’s Ethics Panel on Wednesday, Nov. 8; and an Ethics and Compliance Best Practices Panel on Thursday, Nov. 9. Through these events and more, UWG’s core values will be celebrated.
The Augusta Chronicle
Augusta University researchers launch study to improve local government cybersecurity
Abraham Kenmore
As cybersecurity becomes more and more of an challenge, researchers at Augusta University are looking at where local governments fall short, and how they can improve. “What we found, at least in our studies, is that a lot of local governments … do have some sort of cybersecurity policies in place,” said Wesley Meares, associate professor in the Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University. “But really, what is lacking is they are not taking those next steps in the implementation of those policies.” Meares; William Hatcher, chair of social sciences at Pamplin; and, John Heslen, assistant professor in Pamplin, worked with researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to study where local government fell short on cybersecurity. It has been an issue for local governments near both institutions.
Times-Georgian
UWG partners with Enterprise in internship program
By Abby Grizzard UWG Communications And Marketing
Graduating from college can be a daunting experience for many students as they take their first steps into their professions. With Enterprise as a dedicated partner to the University of West Georgia, UWG students can seamlessly take these steps from academic to professional careers through the Enterprise Management Internship Program.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Persons of interest sought in shooting that injured 4 near Georgia State campus
By Caroline Silva
Atlanta police have acquired surveillance footage detailing the moments before four people, including two Georgia State University students, were recently shot and are now trying to identify several people they think may have information about the incident, officials said. Homicide commander Lt. Germain Dearlove said during a Thursday afternoon news conference that officials are trying to identify three people he said were persons of interest in Sunday’s shooting. Those sought are not considered suspects and have not been charged.
11Alive
Drought conditions worsen in North Georgia | These metro Atlanta counties now included
Some areas have picked up less than an inch of rain over the course of two months.
Author: Melissa Nord
The drought is worsening in parts of North Georgia – and parts of the Atlanta metro are now included in the worsening drought designation. Without rain in our future in the next 7 to 10 days, it will likely continue to get more dire before some relief arrives. The Level 3 ‘Extreme’ drought has expanded since last week. Now, parts of Floyd, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Gordon, Dawson and Cherokee counties are in those dire conditions, which joins Dade, Walker, Catoosa, and Chattooga from last week. According to Georgia’s State Climatologist Bill Murphey, many of these areas picked up less than an inch of rain since Sept. 1. …This drought goes past the ground just being dry. It’s impacting Georgia’s agricultural industry. Dr. Pam Knox, Agricultural Climatologist with the University of Georgia, said the dry weather and recent cold has been a 1-2 punch for northwest Georgia farmers.
MorningAgClips
Parts of Clean Water Act Lack Controlling Nutrient Pollution
Nonpoint source pollution, such as fertilizer runoff and animal waste, still an issue
When rivers began catching on fire, the U.S. government knew it was time to act. So Congress passed the Clean Water Act of 1972. It remains the guiding legislation for regulating America’s water quality. But new research from the University of Georgia suggests parts of it may not be working. The study found that Clean Water Act regulations haven’t significantly reduced the amount of nonpoint source nutrient pollution in America’s waterways.
WRDW
Experts rush to halt invasive hornet’s spread in Georgia
By Abby Kousouris
Researchers at The University of Georgia are teaming up with the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the USDA to eradicate the yellow-legged hornet. Researchers are in the lab studying larvae and pieces of their nests found outside of Savannah. Researcher Lewis Bartlett said this invasive species likely came to Savannah on a container ship. They are an imminent threat to the state’s number agriculture industry. One yellow-legged hornet is capable of killing an entire colony of honey bees.
yahoo!finance
‘Scene out of Arachnophobia.’ Huge spiders in Eastern US aren’t going away, experts say
Olivia Lloyd
Since their arrival in Georgia nearly 10 years ago, the yellow-banded Joro spiders and their huge webs have set up camp in the southeastern U.S., experts say. A new study from Clemson University indicates they’re “here to stay.” But they’re harmless to humans. The spiders were discovered in Georgia in 2014 and have taken root in the U.S., according to an Oct. 12 release from the university. …University of Georgia entomologist Will Hudson also began investigating the spiders after seeing them in his yard. “Last year, there were dozens of spiders, and they began to be something of a nuisance when I was doing yard work,” Hudson said in 2021. “This year, I have several hundred, and they actually make the place look spooky with all the messy webs — like a scene out of ‘Arachnophobia.’” Despite their size and abilities to soar through the air, Joro spiders don’t hurt people. In one study, UGA scientists even found they are pretty shy.
WGAU Radio
School renaming ceremonies today in Athens
By Tim Bryant
School renaming ceremonies are set for today in Athens: the first is set for 10 o’clock this morning at Chase Street Elementary School, which becomes Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary. A 1 o’clock ceremony at Alps Road Elementary ushers in that school’s new name. Alps Road will be Betty Henderson Holston Elementary School. The schools are named in honor of two of the first black teachers in the Clarke County School District. …After graduating from Fort Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, she [Ms. Holston] taught nine years in public schools in Walton, Barrow, and Newton counties. …After her time at Chase Street, Ms. Burks took the next step toward her ultimate career goal of being a counselor by accepting a counselor position at Clarke Middle School and furthered her own education, receiving her masters and education specialist degrees in counseling from the University of Georgia.
Tift area music educators featured in Nov. 7 concert
From staff reports
The 2023 First Tuesday Concert Series at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College continues Nov. 7 with a performance by current and retired music educators from all over south Georgia.
The Newnan Times-Herald
Coweta Samaritan Clinic celebrates sellout Bluegrass & BBQ
The Coweta Samaritan Clinic recently held its 13th annual Bluegrass & BBQ which supports the Clinic’s Patient Care Fund. This year’s sellout event was hosted at the beautiful downtown Newnan campus of the University of West Georgia.
Georgia Higher Education News:
Albany Herald
Path2College opens college savings opportunities for Georgia families
From staff reports
The state of Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan has established a process to make saving for college simple, and in many cases automatic. “Georgia’s Path2College 529 Plan was designed to be accessible and affordable,” Georgia Student Finance Commission President Lynne Riley said. “We have looked at every step of the savings process to create a savings plan that is user-friendly from start to finish.”
Higher Education News:
Higher Ed Dive
Common App expands direct admissions, including partnering with Connecticut
The online portal has started two programs, one with Connecticut institutions and a second with 70 other U.S. colleges.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
The Common Application said Thursday it is broadening its work in direct admissions, the burgeoning practice of proactively admitting students to a college before they even apply. The organization unveiled two programs. In the first, the Common App will help with Connecticut’s existing direct admissions initiative that automatically admits students to one of nine participating public and private colleges in the state. The second is more generalized — the Common App will work with 70 other U.S. colleges to send automatic admission offers this month to some 200,000 students. Common App representatives said Thursday the ventures are part of its goals to improve college access and close equity gaps for low- and moderate-income students.
Inside Higher Ed
Can Microcredentials Bring Stop-Outs Back to College?
A swath of learners who left college before earning a degree say microcredentials and credit for prior learning could entice them back to college, according to a new survey.
By Sara Weissman
A recent survey of students who stopped out of college suggests that giving them the opportunity to earn microcredentials and academic credit for prior learning could lure them back to higher ed. The survey of roughly 1,100 former students ages 18 to 64 was conducted in June by StraighterLine, an online course provider, and UCPEA, an association that focuses on professional, online and continuing education. The resulting study, released this week, explored when and why students left college and what factors could prompt them to return. The study comes at a time when the number of American adults with some college credits but no credential has grown to a whopping 40.4 million, according to 2021 data from the latest National Student Clearinghouse Research Center report.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Students Who Register for December ACT Test Eligible for Free Re-Take and “Superscore”
Arrman Kyaw
Students registering to take the ACT standardized exam this December can receive an additional credit that can be used to take another ACT test for free. The results of both tests can then be combined into a “superscore,” which will take a student’s best performances across both tests and put them into one score in order to represent that student’s capabilities in each subject. The free test credit – for the cost of the test only, not mode change fees, late fees, and standby fees – can be used on the Feb. 10, Apr. 13, Jun. 8, and Jul. 13, test dates next year. Students must register for the ACT by Nov. 17, to be eligible. Those who have already registered and paid for the December test date will still get the credit, according to the ACT website.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
A Race to Find Diverse Candidates
Liann Herder
Even though the landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education may have changed over the last three years, institutional and academic search firms say their commitment to identifying leaders, staff, and faculty who embody the essence of DEI work remains strong. That’s according to interviews with the leadership of academic search firms, many of whom have spent years in higher education and collaborated with both public and private institutions across the U.S. and even around the world to fill key vacancies. So far, 22 states have introduced legislation targeting DEI initiatives and institutional practices. Earlier this year, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed bills that prohibit public institutions in the state from using state funding to promote, support, or maintain their DEI programming and restrict the use of DEI terminology in hiring.
Inside Higher Ed
Vermont State to Cut Fewer Faculty Positions Than Planned
By Josh Moody
Cuts at Vermont State University will not be as deep as expected after 17 faculty members accepted buyouts, six decided to retire and three will not have their contracts renewed. Administrators initially proposed 33 faculty job cuts, but that now stands at one, VTDigger reported. The lone layoff will be a professor of landscape contracting. Vermont State released a plan last month that proposed cutting 33 faculty positions and 10 academic programs while consolidating another 13 degree programs. Based on an update released earlier this week, now 11 academic programs will be eliminated and 16 will be consolidated.
Higher Ed Dive
Ohio lawmaker removes strike ban from higher ed overhaul bill
The updated legislation still contains a wide-reaching DEI ban and would create a post-tenure review process.
Laura Spitalniak, Staff Reporter
Dive Brief:
An Ohio lawmaker scrapped a proposed ban on faculty strikes from his wide-ranging higher education bill, with the hope that the change will help garner more support for the legislation in the Legislature’s House. The proposed legislation, called SB 83, touches on myriad aspects of the state’s public higher education. Republican state Sen. Jerry Cirino, who authored the bill, agreed to remove the anti-strike provision at the request of House lawmakers, he said during a Wednesday meeting of the House’s higher education committee. The expansive state higher education bill would still largely ban mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training efforts at public institutions. It would also bar them from taking positions on “controversial” topics and establish post-tenure reviews, though it now allows for exemptions and appeals to these rules.
Inside Higher Ed
AI, the Next Chapter for College Librarians
Librarians have lived through the disruptions of fax machines, websites and Wikipedia, and now they are bracing to do it again as artificial intelligence tools go mainstream: “Maybe it’s our time to shine.”
By Lauren Coffey
A few months after ChatGPT launched last fall, faculty and students at Northwestern University had many questions about the building wave of new artificial intelligence tools. So they turned to a familiar source of help: the library. “At the time it was seen as a research and citation problem, so that led them to us,” said Michelle Guittar, head of instruction and curriculum support at Northwestern University Libraries. In response, Guittar, along with librarian Jeanette Moss, created a landing page in April, “Using AI Tools in Your Research.” At the time, the university itself had yet to put together a comprehensive resource page. “It was knowing this was not just one person that was going to ask about this,” Guittar said. Librarians have often stood at the precipice of massive changes in information technology: the dawn of the fax machine, the internet, Wikipedia and now the emergence of generative artificial intelligence, which has been creeping its way into classrooms. …While some library trailblazers embraced AI early on, others are more cautious about its potentially negative implications, from misinformation to inequality in research. Guidelines and overall direction are still a work in progress from top library organizations and leaders, leaving many librarians to scramble and educate themselves, adding one more task to their long to-do lists.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Diversity Abroad Conference Focuses on Inclusive Student Success
Diversity Abroad—a membership consortium that inspires and supports educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in and through global education and exchange—kicked off its annual this week, drawing hundreds of participants to Chicago from across the nation. The annual meeting—now in its 11th year—comes as many universities are struggling to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted study abroad programs across the world. …Centering student equity and pushing institutions to be more intentional in building inclusive student success, is a central part of the five-day convening.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Institute for Democracy and Higher Education Transfers from Tufts University to AAC&U
Arrman Kyaw
The Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) has moved from Tufts University to the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). The IDHE – a nonpartisan applied research center for student and institutional engagement in U.S. democracy – will now be an AAC&U presidential initiative and focus on threats to democracy through research, convenings, and faculty and curriculum development.