Capitol Beat
by Dave Williams
Gov. Brian Kemp signed a record $37.9 billion fiscal 2024 midyear budget Thursday that includes $5.5 billion in new spending. “This is a very, very good budget,” House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, said during a signing ceremony at the state Capitol. “It reflects the shared priorities of both (legislative) chambers.” …“When you add everything in this document up, it demonstrates you can make smart investments when you budget wisely,” Kemp said shortly before signing the midyear budget. …With so much extra money on hand, the midyear budget for the first time in memory pays for major capital projects with cash instead of bond financing. It allocates …$178 million for a new dental school at Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong campus in Savannah, and $50 million for a new medical school at the University of Georgia in Athens. …Another $300 million will go for $1,000 one-time pay supplements for Georgia’s public school teachers and state and university system employees.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia House passes immigration enforcement bill after Athens killing
By Michelle Baruchman
Republicans in the Georgia House advanced legislation targeting immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission following an emotional debate spurred by the killing of a 22-year-old nursing student in Athens. Despite heavy pushback from Democrats, the House voted 97-74 mostly along party lines to approve House Bill 1105, which would permit police to arrest, with probable cause, anyone who is suspected of being in the country illegally and detain them for deportation. It would also require jailers and sheriffs to report to federal authorities when someone in custody has been found to lack legal documentation. Failure to do so could result in local governments losing state funding or state-administered federal funding. Rep. Jesse Petrea, who sponsored the legislation, said he had worked on this effort for at least a year. However, he said the bill took on new importance following the death of nursing student Laken Riley, whose body was found in a wooded area near the University of Georgia’s intramural fields hours after she went for a run.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Senate seeks to banish influence of American Library Association
By Ty Tagami
The Georgia Senate on Thursday moved to banish the American Library Association from influence over local institutions, passing legislation that would prohibit financial and other relationships between the organization and the state’s public and school libraries. Senate Bill 390 is championed by Republicans who say the organization leans too far to the left, noting that the current president, Emily Drabinski, is a self-described Marxist. Many conservatives also criticize the organization’s endorsement of books about gender identity and racial bias. …SB 390 initially threatened Valdosta State University’s graduate program for librarians with a prohibition on ALA accreditation, but Walker amended the bill to address those concerns. The version that will go to the state House of Representatives after a party line 33-20 vote would still prohibit the University System of Georgia from using taxpayer money to pursue accreditation. But it would allow the use of donations.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
University of Georgia students: United in grief, divided politically
Campus views diverge on role of immigration enforcement in Laken Riley’s homicide.
By Fletcher Page
Hundreds, if not thousands, of students gathered on University of Georgia’s campus for a solemn vigil on Monday, united in their grief over the tragic deaths of two classmates. Students shared stories about the interests and passions of Laken Riley and Wyatt Banks. Tears were shed. Prayers were invoked, songs were played. Politics, for those somber 30 minutes, were unspoken. And there have been no big political marches or public demonstrations on campus beyond shared expressions of mourning and grief in recent days. But Riley’s death quickly has become the latest flashpoint in the heated national debate on immigration and border policy.
accesswWDUN
Mourners to gather for funeral of nursing student murdered in Athens
By The Associated Press
Family, friends and classmates planned to gather Friday at a church outside Atlanta to say farewell to Laken Riley, the nursing student found slain after she went out for a morning jog on the University of Georgia campus. A funeral service for 22-year-old Riley was set to follow a visitation Friday afternoon at Woodstock City Church in Cherokee County, where Riley lived before graduating from high school in Atlanta’s northern suburbs.
Dawson County News
UNG named top producer of Fulbright students
Erica Jones, DCN Staff
UNG has been named the top producer of Fulbright students in its category nationwide with nine Fulbright U.S. Student Program selections for 2023-24.
The Union-Recorder
Applications open for Nursing Scholars Program at GCSU
The cohort-based Lettie Pate Whitehead Nursing Scholars Program provides four-year funding for the cost of tuition and fees, housing, meals, textbooks, and nursing program fees, including one fully funded study abroad related to health care. The Georgia College & State University Lettie Pate Whitehead Nursing Scholars Program has 12 spots in its fall 2024 cohort. Applications are open until May 1. The cohort-based nursing scholarship provides four-year funding for the cost of tuition and fees, housing, meals, textbooks, and nursing program fees, including one fully funded study abroad related to health care.
Georgia Trend
Georgia companies and universities are taking advantage of the many ways AI can bolster business, innovation and research.
Philippa Maister
AI – Artificial Intelligence – has the potential to transfigure business. Or cost millions of jobs. Or make us all more productive. Or pose an existential threat (according to one letter signed by heavy hitters in the AI world). Or…maybe it’s “and” – AI has the potential to do all that, depending on how we use it. …The growth of Georgia’s AI sector owes a lot to the backing of ATDC (Advanced Technology Development Center) at Georgia Tech, the state’s storied incubator for tech startups. Vertice AI is one of the companies that’s part of ATDC. ATDC Director John Avery says AI reached an inflection point in the past year with generative AI focused on text and sees the next step as moving AI into the physical world, helped by a Georgia AI Manufacturing (GA-AIM) grant. The GA-AIM grant project, led by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), is funded by about $65 million in federal grant money intended to accelerate the adoption of AI in Georgia’s legacy industrial sectors. Avery thinks the biggest growth area for AI will be in robotics, as well as automation, warehousing and distribution – sectors aligned with Georgia’s economic roots. Avery says implementing AI in the physical world is harder because it requires real-world data, which is more expensive than scraping the web for info that can be used to generate content, like ChatGPT does.
Gwinnett Magazine
UGA Gwinnett: Pioneering Education and Community Growth
The University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus, renowned for its commitment to graduate students and working professionals, recently added a new accolade to its storied history – the 2023 Best of Gwinnett Award. This recognition, earned through the votes of those it serves, is more than a badge of honor; it’s a testament to UGA Gwinnett’s profound impact on the community and its residents. The Best of Gwinnett Awards, organized by the GuidetoGwinnett.com, are not just any honor. They represent the voice of the community, a true reflection of the quality and dedication of the recipients. For UGA Gwinnett, this award underscores its mission to provide accessible, quality education and professional training in one of Georgia’s fastest-growing and most diverse regions. It’s a recognition that resonates with every student who has walked through its doors, every professional who has found new opportunities through its programs, and every local business that has thrived with its support. …As part of the University of Georgia’s strategic plan, the Gwinnett Campus set out to expand graduate, certificate, and continuing education opportunities far beyond its immediate geographical boundaries.
EurekAlert!
Helping students build a better brain
Researchers and students at Georgia State’s TReNDS Lab are collaborating on paths to better brain health for college students using neuroimaging and artificial intelligence.
At Georgia State, student researchers are playing a key role in collecting data for a new study focused on improving the brain health of people just like them, fellow college students. The project, aptly named the Healthy Student Brain (HSB), has been underway for 18 months, with a team of more than a dozen Georgia State undergraduate and graduate students working alongside the faculty research team from the labs of Vonetta Dotson, Tricia King and Erin Tone in psychology. Funded by Georgia State’s Research Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) initiative, the interdisciplinary project includes seven faculty and staff researchers from a number of colleges and fields of study. They began the work in 2022 and expect the project to expand as it leads to new findings. The overarching goal of the work is to identify variables that predict brain health and verify those variables using functional brain imaging.
GPB
‘Grand Farm’ in Perry? State senator explains idea behind Georgia’s ‘Silicon Valley of agriculture’
By: Peter Biello
An effort is underway to make Georgia the so-called “Silicon Valley of agriculture” with a “Grand Farm” planned for the central Georgia city of Perry. That farm would, in partnership with UGA, be a proving ground for the newest farming technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and genetic research. GPB’s Peter Biello spoke with Perry native Georgia state Sen. Larry Walker about the Grand Farm.
The Peanut Grower
…Look At Options To Reduce TSWV, Seedling Disease
SCOTT MONFORT, University of Georgia Extension Agronomist
The 2024 planting season is just around the corner, and growers have a lot to consider. Initial conversations at grower meetings are pointing to a potential increase in peanut acreage in Georgia. An increase in acreage will cause growers to reduce their rotation interval between peanut crops on some farms, along with planting more acreage in April and early May. With this in mind, growers are encouraged to consider all risks associated with these management decisions. Growers can produce high-yielding peanuts under shorter rotation and earlier planting as long as they construct a good management strategy ahead of time. The initial part of this strategy should always include soil sampling to eliminate fertility and soil pH issues ahead of planting. Also, it is important to consider where you are planning to plant peanut and which of these fields/farms are more suited for planting early (well drained, etc). For example, low-lying fields or reduced-tillage fields with cover may not be well suited for early planting as they will remain cooler and wetter longer, which may promote seedling disease issues. The University of Georgia Extension service recommends planting in soil temperatures of 68 degrees or higher to allow for adequate germination and emergence.
Fox5 Atlanta
Gen Z student and Baby Boomer become unlikely study buddies
By Alex Whittler
A pair of Georgia Gwinnett College students proves every generation has something to offer. If time proves, with age, comes wisdom, and youth is wasted on the young, you can consider Emily Borrego’s and Carlos Delgado’s friendship the perfect mix of life experience and a fresh perspective. Delgado, 75, a nontraditional student, struggled to keep up in class. Borrego, his peer, who is five decades younger, helped form a bridge between the generation gap. “We met the first day of information technology class,” Borrego, 20, said. “I noticed he was struggling logging in.” So, Borrego offered her tech savviness as help.
The City Menus
UWG’s annual Alumni Weekend set for April 26-28
By: Sam Gentry
The University of West Georgia eagerly anticipates its annual Alumni Weekend, scheduled for April 26-28, as a time to welcome back alumni from all over the world to Carrollton for a memorable celebration. This cherished tradition serves as a time each spring when members of the UWG community reconnect, reflect on past memories and create new ones. As part of the festivities, the UWG Alumni Association will proudly recognize some of its outstanding graduates during the 47th annual Alumni Awards on Saturday, April 27.
WRBL
Harris County Board of Education votes in next superintendent
by: Hannah James
Tuesday night in a special called meeting, the Harris County Board of Education finalized some upcoming changes of leadership officially voting in Dr. Justin Finney as the next superintendent. The search began in Oct. of 2023 following the announcement of Roger Couch’s plans to retire. Dr. Finney, boasting 24 years of public education experience, was selected out of 18 applicants. …For the past six years the Columbus State University alumnus has served as the HCSD assistant superintendent of business services and technology.
PRWeek
The PR Week: 2.29.2024 – Pamela Bourland-Davis, Georgia Southern University
The faculty member at Georgia Southern University talks about the state of PR education and how courses have changed for AI and other technologies.
by Frank Washkuch & Ewan Larkin
The latest edition of the The PR Week Podcast stars Pamela Bourland-Davis — or Dr. Pam to her students — who talks about how PR education is changing to keep up with new media platforms and advancements like AI. Plus, her thoughts on DEI and the biggest issues that students face when they get into the real world.
The West Georgian
The Ultimate Family Reunion Cookout Concludes Black History Month
By Keshawn Allen
When it comes to inclusion and representation, the University of West Georgia ensures that students of all different cultures and backgrounds feel like they are seen and respected, putting on events targeted to specific demographics. Feb. 29, the Ultimate Family Reunion concluded Black History Month this year and it gives African American students a chance to celebrate in a fun and imaginative way. Instead of being an educational seminar giving out facts about Black history or a regular game night, this event is more of a party celebration highlighting the beautiful aspects of the Black and African American community. What makes this event unique and stand out differently from other Black History Month events is the style of event that it is.
Grice Connect
Growth was the overriding theme of Mayor Jonathan McCollar’s State of the City Address
Ainslie Smith Ainslie Smith
“You cannot lead a people that you don’t love,” said Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar during his annual State of the City Address held Tuesday evening, February 28, 2024, in the Emma Kelly Theater downtown. The event included the Mayor’s address followed by a question and answer session led by Whitney Lavoie, Managing Editor, Grice Connect and Blake Robinson, President, GS Student Government Association. … Q&A After a moving rendition of “Georgia on My Mind” by Regina Eason, the mayor opened a question and answer session with Grice Connect’s own Managing Editor Whitney Lavoie and Georgia Southern student Government Association President Blake Robinson, where he elaborated in further detail about the success and areas of improvement he mentioned during his city address.
Savannah Tribune
PDK Honors Founding Members Commemorating Fifty Years
The Savannah Georgia Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa held its Fiftieth Year Commemorative Program on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Southwest Library Auditorium. The theme was “Education: At the Heart of Everything that Matters.” …Music for the event was provided by Ms. Soraya Brooker, a student, and second chair violist in the Georgia Southern University String Camerata.
Coastal Courier
Childers named Georgia Army Spouse of the Year
Voting underway for national spouse of the year
Following hundreds of nominations nationwide and a national vote yielding more than 20,000 votes, Brooke Childers has been named the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Georgia Spouse of the Year. The Liberty County native resides in Savannah with her three children and husband Jason, a cyber warrant officer in the Georgia Army National Guard. …She was honored in 2021 becoming a Georgia Southern University 40 under 40 recipient.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
ACE Names 26 Emerging Higher Education Leaders
Johnny Jackson
The American Council on Education (ACE) selected 26 emerging college and university leaders for the 2024-25 class of the ACE Fellows Program. “For decades, the ACE Fellows Program has played a crucial role in developing a pipeline of skilled, agile, and diverse leaders who advance and invigorate higher education,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. …The ACE Fellows Class of 2024-25 list comprises Rima Adil, dean of student success and academic development at Houston Community College; Ralitsa Akins, vice provost at the University of West Georgia;…
The George-Anne
Georgia Southern Club Hosts Black History Month Closure Event
Nayia Worrell, Multimedia Journalist
As Black History Month draws to a close, the Black Student Alliance (BSA) at Georgia Southern University dedicated a week to fostering unity among Black students. BSA President Pryce Erwin expressed, “We want people to know that they have a family here. Although you may not know many people at first, here is a great way to start.” The Black Student Alliance, known as BSA, according to their Instagram, is a coalition of students committed to advocating for the Black Georgia Southern community. However, last Wednesday was dedicated to a game night.
Metro Atlanta CEO
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
Georgia College & State University’s J. Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology is offering free tax assistance for qualified taxpayers in Central Georgia through its department of Accounting and Business Law and in partnership with the United Way of Central Georgia. Accounting undergraduate and graduate students will provide free tax return preparation services as part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). They’ll give advice with accounting instructors overseeing the process.
Athens CEO
Artificial Intelligence Focus at University of Georgia Data Conference
Rhiannon Eades
The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government plans an active lineup for the second annual Developing Data Analytics Capabilities Conference, set for March 27 and 28 at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel in Athens. This year’s conference focuses on generative AI and advanced analytics. Those who work with data in government or academic settings—from leaders making data-informed decisions to analysts and developers in more technical roles—will connect with experts in the field and learn more about AI and how it will impact governments.
CBS44 South Georgia
Crisp Co. Sheriff’s Office awarded 7 grants to enhance Detention Center HVAC systems
Matthew Crumley
Crisp County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that the Crisp County Detention Center has been awarded seven grants, amounting to a total of $653,392.80, dedicated to the improvement of its HVAC systems. These grants, administered through the Georgia Southern University Institute for Health Logistics & Analytics, have been earmarked for the enhancement of Georgia Confinement Facilities through the allocation of COVID-19 Mitigation Resources.
Ambrook Research
Women Farmers Are Using Alcohol to Cope
By Rebecca McCray
More female farm owners and managers are managing stress with binge drinking, new research found.
…Recent research from the University of Georgia examining how gender intersects with stress, resilience, and alcohol use on the farm suggests the weight of these many responsibilities are taking a toll on women in particular. While the study is not the first to sound the alarm about stress and substance use in agriculture, the use of alcohol among women stands out. The research, led by Christina Proctor, assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health, found women farm owners and managers not only reported “significantly higher” levels of perceived stress than their male counterparts, but also lower resilience — and a higher prevalence of binge drinking.
WALB
ASU brings awareness to sudden cardiac arrest in Black athletes through screening event
By Riley Armant
Sudden cardiac arrest in athletes is continuing to be a topic of discussion across the country and right here in Southwest Georgia. Thursday, Albany State University held a schoolwide heart screening event in partnership with CareSource of Georgia and another non-profit called Who We Play for. Who we play for is an organization that educates people on sudden cardiac arrest and prevention. In Thursday’s event, they brought 12 lead EKG systems that screen for any predisposed symptoms of cardiac arrest. The screening takes at least 30 seconds to complete and once finished, the results are emailed back. “The goal is to raise awareness to certain cardiac arrest amongst black colleges and universities,” Tony Gray, CareSource of Georgia Market Service manager, said.
BVM Sports
Georgia Southern’s NaJ Watson Dominates Sun Belt Women’s Track Performer of the Year Awards
By BVM Sportsdesk
NaJ Watson, a sophomore at Georgia Southern, has been named Sun Belt Women’s Track Performer of the Year, achieving the first such honor for the university. Watson notably secured the conference championship in the 200m and anchored the 4×400 team to victory with a meet and school record time. Additionally, she was recognized as the High-Point Scorer at the Sun Belt Championships.
College Sports Communicators
2024 Special Awards Salute: Bryan Johnston – 25-Year Award
25-Year Award
Presented to College Sports Communicators members who have completed 25 years in the athletics communications profession. Vetted and voted on by the Special Awards Committee.
Bryan Johnston – Georgia Southern University Senior Associate Athletics Director, Communications
Career reflections from Bryan Johnston, 25-Year Award Recipient – “I went to college hoping to carve a path in sports journalism, but after switching majors and jumping from the student newspaper to the sports information department, I knew that was the career for me. Now, 25 years later, I can’t imagine my professional life without the memories, relationships and skill sets built over my time as a student at South Carolina and professionally at Virginia Tech and now Georgia Southern. It’s been an honor and a privilege to get to work with the thousands of student-athletes and coaches I’ve crossed paths with over the years, and I look forward to continuing to tell their stories for years to come.”
Campus Rec Magazine
Georgia Southern University Campus Recreation and Intramurals
The March Rec of the Month is Georgia Southern University located in Statesboro, Georgia.
Kylie Wulf by Kylie Wulf
Campus Recreation & Intramurals (CRI) is a vital and active service that supports and strengthens the mission of Georgia Southern University. We’re dedicated to inspiring self-discovery through sport, fitness, wellness and adventure, providing growth opportunities and educational experiences that enrich the life-long learning process. Through our programs and facilities, which are recreational, educational and sporting in nature, we promote and develop healthy lifestyle choices. Benefits of participation include the application of leadership, decision-making, problem solving, conflict management, communication and social skills. We strive to provide the safest, cleanest, highest quality, most dependable and enjoyable services.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TRAFFIC ALERT | Crash snaps power pole, blocks 10th Street near Georgia Tech
By Rosana Hughes
A vehicle crashed into a power pole, causing the top to fold over at a busy intersection near Georgia Tech early Friday morning, according to Channel 2 Action News. Crews have closed 10th Street at Hemphill Avenue as they make repairs. It’s unclear when the road may reopen.
Statesboro Herald
Three convicted in October 2022 armed robbery on GS campus
From staff reports
A Bulloch County man was convicted of armed robbery and multiple other charges, and two other men plead guilty also to armed robbery for a 2022 incident on the Georgia Southern University campus.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Congress Passes FAFSA Formula Fix
By Katherine Knott
Congress moved Thursday to fix an error in the legislation overhauling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, days after the Education Department announced it was updating the formula for aid eligibility to comply with the law. The formula change would’ve made more students eligible for the Pell Grant, federal aid for low-income students—a move the Biden administration touted in a news release Tuesday. But Congress balked at the change, which was the result of an error in the initial legislation, and addressed the issue in the continuing resolution that passed Thursday to fund the government through March 22.
Higher Ed Dive
Fewer job posts contain educational requirements so far in 2024, Indeed says
While fewer job posts include degree requirements, these changes don’t necessarily reflect a shift in actual hires, other studies have shown.
By Carolyn Crist
Formal education requirements are gradually disappearing from job postings, according to a Feb. 27 report from Indeed’s Hiring Lab. As of January 2024, 52% of U.S. job postings on Indeed didn’t include any educational requirements, up from 48% in 2019. In addition, only 17.8% required a four-year degree or higher, dropping from 20.4% in recent years. “While educational requirements are unlikely to vanish from job postings, growing support of skills-first hiring approaches is a clear sign for workers to invest in skills now, regardless of their education level. In other words, even college-educated workers may have to think about reskilling more going forward,” Cory Stahle, an economist at the Indeed Hiring Lab, wrote in the report. Employers may have to reflect on their current hiring requirements, he continued. Skills-first hiring may make sense for a number of roles, thus opening up opportunities for high-quality candidates.
Inside Higher Ed
As Alabama Republicans Target DEI, They Propose ‘Gag Order’ on Professors
Free speech groups and students have raised alarm about a bill that flew through the state’s Senate last week and awaits action in the House.
By Ryan Quinn
State lawmakers have been targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for years now. Bills from different states that seek to curtail DEI programs or the spread of arguably DEI-related, so-called divisive concepts—such as the idea that meritocracy is racist—can all seem to blend together. But Alabama’s Senate Bill 129, which suddenly appeared Feb. 20 and passed the Senate two days later, might break new ground if it ultimately becomes law. The bill includes provisions curbing DEI programs, “divisive concepts” and even transgender individuals’ access to campus bathrooms. While it’s moved quickly, so have its opponents.
Inside Higher Ed
Report: More Training, Career Counseling Opportunities Needed in Rural Areas
By Jessica Blake
A new report from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce challenges the common public perception that rural America and its working adults are being left behind economically. The findings, released Thursday, show that although rural America has a strong blue-collar economy and can provide opportunity for people without a bachelor’s degree, it still needs more investment in postsecondary education, training and career counseling.
Inside Higher Ed
Arizona Governor Exploring Options to Remove Regents
By Josh Moody
Arizona governor Katie Hobbs is exploring options to remove members of the Arizona Board of Regents amid a financial crisis at the University of Arizona, NPR affiliate KJZZ reported. The threat comes amid the Democratic governor’s mounting frustration over how ABOR and the University of Arizona have handled a financial crisis, first identified in November. Currently UA faces a $177 million budget deficit.