The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia State leaders meet to address safety concerns after shooting
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia State University leaders on Monday discussed plans to add more security measures on its downtown Atlanta campus after two students were wounded in a weekend shooting. The changes include more lighting, cameras and call boxes. Officials said the plans for Georgia State, which has the largest enrollment of any university statewide, were already in the works as part of a comprehensive safety plan, but they discussed them during the first of two listening sessions Monday to address safety concerns on the city streets surrounding the campus. “Our students should feel safe in all spaces on campus. I really want them to feel that way,” said its president, M. Brian Blake.
The Red & Black
UGA 2023 President’s Report: Nearly 2.5 million square feet of facilities added and more
Abbey Malec
The University of Georgia added nearly 2.5 million square feet of facilities on campus and renovated one million more, according to the 2023 annual report released by UGA President Jere W. Morehead. UGA’s annual report featured statistical performance breakdowns of the university over the past year. It also included information concerning improvements in academics, athletics, facilities and other areas, and letters from both president Morehead and UGA Foundation Chair Neal Quirk. In the past year, campus facilities like the new poultry science building, the 200,000 square foot I-STEM Research Buildings on south campus and the completion of Black-Diallo-Miller Hall were developed. The report also emphasized academic achievements of the class of 2026, which averaged a 4.26 GPA, a 1435 SAT score and a 32 ACT score.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oops: U.S. News issues revised college rankings, including in Georgia
By Ty Tagami
The national publication known for sorting colleges and universities has issued a new, revised list, explaining that a coding “anomaly” led to incorrect rankings earlier this year. Several Georgia institutions were among the 213 schools to see their numbers change since U.S. News & World Report initially published its lists in September. The corrections were posted Friday. The rankings were already controversial, in part because of how the calculations are made. The publication includes basic measures such as class size and faculty qualifications but also more abstract metrics such as “social mobility.” …A half-dozen Georgia schools saw their positions change: Dalton State College finished at 41 on the overall list in the category of regional colleges in the South, rising from 44 in September. It rose one spot on the Southern regional public colleges list, to 11. Georgia Southwestern State University moved up two spots on the overall list for universities in the region, to 103. It rose one spot on the list for public regional universities, settling at 51. Gordon State College dropped to 91-99 from 90-99 in the ranged rankings for regional colleges. It also shifted on the regional public college rankings, to 25-27 from 25-26.
Valdosta Daily Times
University System renews partnership with mental health care provider
Christie Campus Health, a leading provider of mental health and well-being support services to colleges and universities nationwide, has announced it will continue to partner with the University System of Georgia (USG), including Valdosta State University. …According to a recent independent survey, 87% of USG students who used Christie’s services say it helped them stay enrolled in school, while 84% credit the services with helping them feel better about the problem for which they sought services. …“We have been encouraged that each year of the Mental Health Initiative has seen an increase in utilization numbers coupled with positive feedback from students, staff, and faculty alike,” says University System of Georgia’s Mental Health Initiative System Project Director Dr. Lacy Till. “University System of Georgia remains committed to supporting student mental health as part their academic journey, and we are delighted to continue to offer our students much-needed support services.” USG schools are offering their students a broad range of Christie Campus Health’s mental health and wellness programs from self-guided wellness tools to 24/7 clinical phone support, virtual counseling visits, and psychiatric prescribing services.
Critical Mention
The COEHD is charting new paths in Special Education at Augusta University
In this episode, we dive into the world of education at Augusta University, where we had the privilege of speaking with two distinguished professors from the College of Education and Human Development. Jessica Simpson, PhD sheds light on the innovative paraprofessionals program, offering valuable insights into how future educators are trained in special education. Stacie Pettit, PhD joins the conversation, providing an in-depth understanding of how the college effectively prepares teachers for the dynamic challenges of the real world. Join us as we explore the cutting-edge initiatives and transformative approaches that shape the educational landscape at Augusta University.
Middle Georgia CEO
FVSU’s Hosts Record Breaking Homecoming
FVSU’s Homecoming 2023“1895: The HITS” will be remembered not just for the exciting football game, spirited tailgating, and musical events but also for the historic moments and achievements that took place during this remarkable week of celebration. One of the most significant milestones during Homecoming 2023 was the astounding fundraising success. A grand total of $1,474,621.30 was raised for Homecoming Week through the Office of University Advancement. This impressive figure showcases the unwavering support and generosity of the community, alumni, and friends of FVSU. These funds will profoundly impact student success initiatives. In addition, Homecoming 2023 witnessed numerous events and moments that etched themselves into the archives of FVSU’s history. From the renaming of the Student Amenities Center to the Alonzo and Alma Jones Student Center to the opening of The Vault featuring Tommy’s Closet, a sense of unity and pride spread throughout the Homecoming week.
Valdosta Daily Times
VSU partners with South Georgia communities for historic preservation project
Valdosta State University Archives and Special Collections has received a $22,205 grant from the Lyrasis Catalyst Fund to kickstart an effort to make South Georgia history more accessible to everyone. Through a five-year Community Archives Digitization, Access, and Preservation Partnership project, VSU plans to document and preserve some of the more important holdings of small historical societies and community archives across the university’s 41-county service region. This project involves digitization; metadata creation; making items accessible across multiple platforms locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally; and digitally preserving the materials within VSU’s state-of-the-art digital preservation system.
Albany Herald
UGA to offer state’s first Ph.D. in regenerative bioscience
By Charlene Betourney
The University of Georgia has introduced a Ph.D. program in regenerative bioscience, to be administered jointly by the Regenerative Bioscience Center and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. This pioneering effort sets UGA apart as the first institution in the state to provide a formalized doctoral program aimed at nurturing interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurial skills within this dynamic and growing field. The new degree, along with the regenerative bioscience undergraduate major established in 2022, IS part of the CAES Department of Animal and Dairy Science commitment to advancing research and education in regenerative medicine and improving health for both animals and humans.
Albany Herald
From staff reports
Ryan Hogan has been selected as the vice president of enrollment management, marketing, and communications at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Hogan is currently serving as the senior business development strategist at Spark451, an enrollment marketing company for higher education. He has 24 years of experience in the field with 22 of those years spent working at Valdosta State University.
Savannah Business Journal
Georgia Southern’s Economic Monitor Q2: Regional economy slowed; Savannah will avoid recession
Savannah Business Journal Staff Report
Georgia Southern University’s most recent Economic Monitor reflects that the Savannah metro area’s economy slowed during the second quarter of the year, and a local recession is unlikely. “Following a nearly two-year period during which the growth trajectory slowed, the regional economy gave up some ground,” stated Michael Toma, Ph.D., Georgia Southern’s Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics. “At this point, forward momentum for the remainder of 2023 in the Savannah metro area is tied closely to growth in port activity, non-residential construction supporting the logistics industry and the regional tourism and hospitality sector. While it is clear regional economic growth has notably slowed, it remains highly likely Savannah will avoid recession in the second half of 2023.”
The Clinical Advisor
Alarming Rise in Colorectal Cancer Among Younger Adults
Thien Nga Nguyen, MPA, PA-C (recent graduate of the Augusta University Physician Assistant Program) and Amber Casado, MPA, PA-C (assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Augusta University)
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant disease that originates in either the colon or the rectum. It results from the abnormal proliferation of cells within the lining of the large intestine, leading to the formation of tumors that can invade nearby tissues and metastasize to other organs. Currently, CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women worldwide. …During the past few decades, improved screening methods and advances in treatment have contributed to a decline in CRC incidence among individuals aged 50 years and older. However, a disconcerting trend has emerged: a rise in cases of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC) among those younger than 50 years of age. This group now accounts for approximately 10% to 12% of CRC cases annually. …Addressing this trend requires a multidimensional approach that includes promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging early screenings, and raising awareness about the risks and symptoms of CRC.
Frontiers in Immunology
Human CD79b+ neutrophils in the blood are associated with early-stage melanoma
Yanfang Peipei Zhu, Doctorate, Assistant Professor, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University (one of 6 U.S. researchers)
Purpose: Due to their abundance in the blood, low RNA content, and short lifespan, neutrophils have been classically considered to be one homogenous pool. However, recent work has found that mature neutrophils and neutrophil progenitors are composed of unique subsets exhibiting context-dependent functions. In this study, we ask if neutrophil heterogeneity is associated with melanoma incidence and/or disease stage. Experimental design: Using mass cytometry, we profiled melanoma patient blood for unique cell surface markers among neutrophils. Markers were tested for their predictiveness using flow cytometry data and random forest machine learning. Results: We identified CD79b+ neutrophils (CD3-CD56-CD19-Siglec8-CD203c-CD86LoCD66b+CD79b+) that are normally restricted to the bone marrow in healthy humans but appear in the blood of subjects with early-stage melanoma.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Three more nests of bee-eating hornets destroyed near Savannah
Yellow-legged hornets threaten pollinators and the state’s agriculture industry, officials say
By Drew Kann
Three more nests belonging to a species of invasive, bee-eating hornets have been found and destroyed in the Savannah area, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) officials announced Friday. The new nests of yellow-legged hornets — a species native to Southeast Asia that preys on honeybees and other pollinators — means there have now been a total of five nests eradicated since the insects were first discovered in Georgia. The first yellow-legged hornet in Georgia was spotted in early August by a beekeeper, marking the first-ever confirmed detection of the species in the wild in the U.S. If allowed to establish in Georgia, officials have warned that the yellow-legged hornet could pose a grave threat to the state’s agriculture industry. Many of Georgia’s most valuable food crops — like blueberries, watermelons and cantaloupes — rely on pollinators for successful harvests. UGA experts have estimated that Georgia’s pollinator-dependent crops are worth $430 million annually. …The nest discoveries come at a critical time: Queens and males begin mating in the final months of the year, before the queens set off to establish new nests. State officials and experts from the University of Georgia (UGA) have said it is critical to eliminate any remaining hives before the pests start reproducing.
WGXA News
Macon teens learn to navigate mental health with cutting-edge program at SOAR Academy
by Brandon Mcgouirk
SOAR Academy, Fort Valley State University, and The Mentors Project recently teamed up to teach young teens how to manage their mental health. The program, designed to help teens identify and understand their own mental health, covered signs and symptoms of common issues like anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as other issues that teens often face.
WRBL
Century old Halloween classic joining Columbus, benefitting local music students
by: Hannah James
Today, the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts is bringing a century-old Halloween classic back to the theatres. Screening tonight, the 1925 silent film of the Phantom of the Opera featuring Lon Chaney. …“On the day of the show, come to the theater in costume, you get $5 off. Come to the theater in costume with a canned good, or one or the other, or both, and you can get $5 off,” Executive Director of the RiverCenter, Norman Easterbrook, told WRBL. …Housed in the same building, The RiverCenter for the Performing Arts are collecting canned food items to donate to the Schwob School of Music’s Food Pantry. “It’s really important that we support the Schwob School of Music Student Food Bank, especially as we come up on the holiday season when people are going to be in vacations and things like that,” Easterbrook said. “There are a lot of students that stay behind here in Columbus when many of the support facilities for them are closed. And we think that a student coming to the university has got everything going for them, but many of them don’t. They’re coming here to learn their craft, ply their skills, so it’s something we’re happy to do.” Columbus State University has a pantry that serves the entire college; the Schwob School of Music’s pantry was created in 2019 to serve the 250 students in the downtown area.
The Red & Black
UGA 2023 Homecoming hosts week of events
Libby Hobbs
The 101st University of Georgia Homecoming week is in full swing with events scheduled throughout the week ahead of the annual Homecoming game. The Dawgs are called to the Classic City this Saturday, Nov. 4, when the Georgia Bulldogs face the Missouri Tigers at the annual Homecoming game. The Red & Black has compiled a list of events organized by UGA Homecoming that students can participate in throughout the week.
WGAU Radio
UNG schedules Veterans Day events
By Agnes Hina, UNG
The University of North Georgia will hold events during Veterans Appreciation Week from Nov. 6-10 to commemorate Veterans Day. “We aim to demonstrate our deep appreciation for the military community and uphold our unwavering commitment to providing them with the necessary support in all their endeavors,” Christy Orr, associate director of Nighthawk Engagement & Student Transitions (NEST), said. The Veterans Appreciation Week Kick-Off will run simultaneously from 8:30-10 a.m. Nov. 6 on the Hoag Patio at the Dahlonega Campus and in the Student Center Lobby at the Gainesville Campus. The kick-off will offer non-military students, faculty and staff an opportunity to express their gratitude for the service and sacrifice of veterans. Additionally, it will serve as an opportunity for military-connected students to become aware of the campus resources available to support them.
Times-Georgian
Sigman pleads guilty to murder of student
By Bruce Guthrie
A former University of West Georgia professor has accepted a plea deal in the murder of a UWG student. On Monday, Richard Sigman, 49, of Carrollton, pleaded guilty in Carroll County Superior Court to malice murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and three counts of possession of firearm during commission of a felony.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
U.S. Takes Steps to Curb Campus Antisemitism
By Johanna Alonso
The Biden administration is taking action to combat antisemitism on college campuses, which has spiked amid the Israel-Hamas war. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security will help track and respond to antisemitic threats, including online threats, according to Government Executive. One hundred cybersecurity advisers and 125 protective security advisers in DHS have been assigned to work directly with colleges. In addition, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has revised its complaint form to state that the 1964 Civil Rights Act forbids discrimination against individuals specifically because of their Jewish, Muslim, Sikh or Hindu identity, with the goal of making it easier to file a complaint. The department will host webinars to guide students through the process.
Inside Higher Ed
FBI Investigates Anti-Palestinian Message at American University
By Susan H. Greenberg
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating an incident at American University in which a Palestinian employee received a death threat slipped under the door of his office, according to News4, NBC’s Washington, D.C., affiliate. Wassim Aburakia-Einhorn, an IT specialist who attended American as a student, found a note in his campus office that read, “Go back where you came from. You might get lucky with a missile, and meet your Allah sooner! Death to all Palestinians!” AU president Sylvia Burwell strongly condemned the incident, writing in a message to the community, “This vile and dehumanizing act targeting our Palestinian community is reprehensible and will not be tolerated … No act of hate will deter us from supporting community members who are not only feeling the pain and weight of traumatic global events, but also the vulnerability of being subject to hateful acts in our own community.”
Inside Higher Ed
Biden Administration Details Plan for Broader Debt Relief
The draft proposal offers relief to borrowers who fall into certain categories, including those whose balances exceed the amount they initially borrowed.
By Katherine Knott
The Education Department is proposing to cancel some or all of the outstanding student loans for certain categories of borrowers, including those who have spent more than 25 years in repayment or those who attended career-training programs that didn’t pay off, according to a draft proposal released Monday evening. The announcement is the first look at specific debt-relief proposals since the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans for Pell Grant recipients and eligible borrowers earning less than $125,000 a year. After the court’s decision, Biden vowed to try again to provide some form of student loan forgiveness.
Inside Higher Ed
Students Outrunning Faculty in AI Use
A new study finds over half of students use generative AI, while more than 75 percent of faculty members do not regularly use the technology.
By Lauren Coffey
Faculty members have been slower than students to adopt artificial intelligence tools in the last year, despite the buzz across academia about ChatGPT and other generative AI tools, according to a new report released today. Nearly half of college students are using AI tools this fall, but fewer than a quarter (22 percent) of faculty members use them, the report from Tyton Partners finds. The study, sponsored by Turnitin, was conducted in September and included roughly 1,600 students and 1,000 faculty members across more than 600 institutions.
Inside Higher Ed
New Report on Supporting Student Parents Who Face Abuse
By Sara Weissman
A new brief from Generation Hope, an organization focused on student parents, calls attention to how domestic violence can affect these students and hurt their studies. The brief, released Monday, notes that 40 of the 200 young parents who participated in the organization’s college support program in the 2023–24 academic year reported that they “have witnessed or experienced intimate partner, family, or sexual violence.” It also cites a 2018 report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, which found that 66 percent of intimate partner violence survivors said the experience waylaid their academic progress, and 44 percent reported having to drop or retake one or more classes because of the abuse. …The brief recommends that campuses support student parents who may have experienced abuse by ensuring mental health counseling services are accessible to students who may have financial and time constraints, and having “family-friendly spaces” on campus where parents can take their children in an emergency, among other suggestions.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
HACU Kicks Off Annual Conference in Chicago
Etelin Tapi came to this year’s Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) intently focused on meeting other student leaders who care as much as she does about the need for immigration reform. Tapi, who was born in Mexico and brought to the United States when she was just 1, is now an undocumented student at Colorado College. Her academic journey has not been easy. …“As hard as we try to be resilient, finding a job after I graduate from college, is definitely still a concern in the back of my mind, considering this is something that impacts our livelihood,” said Tapi, who is developing her entrepreneurship skills. “But one way or another—fear or no fear—I will get a job.” It’s that kind of persistence and determination that HACU leaders say define the many students who are working every day to earn a college education, often at Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs). And yet, so many challenges and barriers persist, including the overall number of Hispanic students earning a bachelor’s degree.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Democratic Lawmakers Establish Congressional Predominantly Black Institutions Caucus
Arrman Kyaw
A band of Democratic lawmakers have announced the creation of a new Congressional Caucus, one to educate policymakers and support Predominantly Black institutions (PBIs). The Congressional Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Caucus – established by Reps. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), and Robin Kelly (D-IL) – will seek to help legislators understand how important PBIs are, Davis said. The nation’s approximately 110 PBIs operate with minimal institutional wealth, while educating students who are low-income, minority, and first-generation, according to a press release.
Inside Higher Ed
A New Transfer Pathway to UCLA
Legislation seeks to ease the transfer process for community college students to UCLA and other UC campuses.
By Sara Weissman
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed legislation that creates a new transfer pathway to the University of California system, starting with the University of California, Los Angeles. The move is the result of a collaboration between state law makers and UC leaders and comes after substantial back-and-forth discussions between the two parties on how to best streamline the transfer process from two-year colleges to the university system. Supporters of the law say it’s a valuable step forward, while critics say it’s a baby step at a time when larger reforms are needed.
Higher Ed Dive
Vermont State unveils administrative and staff cuts to save $3.1M
The moves are the latest cost-cutting effort from the university, which is also looking to eliminate academic programs and reduce faculty numbers.
Natalie Schwartz, Editor
Dive Brief:
Vermont State University plans to cut 33 full-time administrative and staff positions to save around $3.1 million annually, officials announced Friday. The wide-ranging cuts include positions in admissions and enrollment services, student advising, communications, alumni affairs, and campus operations. The cuts will be carried out through 25 layoffs or voluntary buyouts, elimination of six vacant positions, and two planned retirements. The moves are Vermont State’s latest attempt to remedy its finances. The public institution already has announced plans to phase out 10 academic programs and lay off up to 33 full-time faculty members.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Employers Shift Back to In-Person Recruiting on College Campuses
Arrman Kyaw
As schools and workplaces return to in-person post-pandemic, so is college recruiting, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). The 2023 Recruiting Benchmarks Report examines survey data from a NACE survey conducted from April-May 2023. The association asked employers – 334 organizations responded – about their recruitment and hiring practices and preferences. …Of those surveyed, more than 91% reported that they used direct, on-campus recruiting to recruit Class of 2022 students. This indicates an increase compared with last year and the years when the pandemic was in full swing, said Dr. Mary Gatta, director of research and public policy at NACE.
Higher Ed Dive
Education Department withholds $7.2M payment to loan servicer Mohela over errors
The Missouri-based contractor failed to send bill notices to 2.5 million borrowers on time, the Biden administration says.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
The U.S. Department of Education said Monday it will withhold a $7.2 million payment to one of its loan servicers, the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, as punishment for not sending some billing statements on time. The contractor, known as Mohela, failed to deliver timely bill notices to 2.5 million borrowers, resulting in more than 800,000 of them becoming delinquent on their loans, the Education Department said. Agency officials ordered Mohela to place affected borrowers into forbearance until the administrative disruption is resolved. Mohela Executive Director and CEO Scott Giles did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
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