WALB
GSW president steps down after 7 years
By Lorenza Medley
Georgia Southwestern State University president steps down after seven years. GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D., has been named the president of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, according to a press release by the university. Weaver accepted the position after it was officially voted on and announced by the University of Texas System on Monday, March 8. His final day as GSW’s president will be on May 10, which coincides with Commencement.
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Savannah Tribune
National Presidential Searches Announced for Albany State University & Savannah State University
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) has announced it will conduct national searches to find the next presidents of Albany State University (ASU) and Savannah State University (SSU). ASU President Marion Ross Fedrick announced last month her plan to accept a new role at Georgia State University as executive vice president and chief of staff, effective July 1, 2024. Fedrick will additionally serve as a senior advisor to Chancellor Sonny Perdue for initiatives related to the system’s three public historically Black colleges and universities, which include ASU, SSU and Fort Valley State University. Cynthia Robinson Alexander, previously USG’s associate vice chancellor for finance, has served as interim president of SSU since July 2023 after the departure of President Kimberly Ballard-Washington. She will continue to serve as interim president during this time.
The Red & Black
UGA President Morehead releases 2024 State of the University address after postponement
Briar Bundy
University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead released the transcript of his 2024 State of the University Address after postponing it due to the death of two students within 24 hours, which were unrelated. Morehead originally intended to present the 2024 State of the University Address on Feb. 22. Morehead’s speech focused on the three objectives of UGA: teaching and learning, research and innovation, and service and outreach. Before describing the university’s accomplishments over the past year, he reiterated the university’s mission.
ClutchPoints
Women’s History Month: HBCUs with female university presidents
In honor of Women’s History Month we spotlight female HBCU presidents around the nation.
By Kiya Wimbush-Robinson
In honor of Women’s History Month, we wanted to show some love to the women who lead some of our illustrious institutions. Here is a list of the current HBCU female presidents. Marion Ross Fedrick, Albany State University Marion Ross Fedrick is the 10th President of Albany State University. She was appointed to this position in 2018 by the Georgia Board of Regents after serving as both the interim executive vice president and interim president of the University since October 2017. President Fedrick is a two-time graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in adult education with a concentration in organizational development and a master’s degree in public administration. …Cynthia Robinson Alexander, Savannah State University Cynthia Robinson Alexander is the Interim President of Savannah State University. Her tenure as interim president began on July 1, 2023. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Brown University.
Athens CEO
Wes Mayer
Students were accepted from 49 states, Washington, D.C. and 41 countries The University of Georgia announced final admissions decisions for the Class of 2028 on March 15. UGA received more than 43,090 total applications, with more than 15,900 students accepted for the fall semester. Applications from in-state students were up 7% this year. UGA accepted students from 49 states, Washington, D.C., and 41 countries. The university also accepted students from 148 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Admission was offered to those with superior academic records. The middle 50% of admitted students reported a GPA of 4.05-4.33; an ACT score of 29-34; an SAT score of 1280-1470; and 8-13 AP, IB or dual enrollment courses.
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WSB-TV
FBI director speaks at UGA on death of Laken Riley during accountability lecture series
By WSBTV.com News Staff
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray spoke about the death of Laken Riley during a lecture series on the University of Georgia’s campus in Athens on Tuesday. Laken Riley, a UGA nursing student, was killed by Jose Ibarra, a migrant who was illegally in the country from Venezuela last month, according to authorities. During Wray’s remarks at the ‘Leadership and Accountability: The Right Thing, the Right Way’ University of Georgia Getzen Lecture on Accountability, he said he is heartbroken for the family and the community. …Wray was on campus for UGA’s lecture series on government accountability. He said the FBI is doing “everything they can” to get “justice” for the college student.
WJCL
Savannah State University needs your help to win a grant from Home Depot
The university could win $150,000 for campus improvement
Kyron Neveaux, Reporter
Savannah State University needs your help to win a $150,000 grant from Home Depot. It has been almost a year since millions were cut from Savannah State and the University System of Georgia schools. If the university wins, this could help fill some of the gaps caused by the cuts regarding campus improvement. The university is up against dozens of historically black colleges with hopes of taking home the prize. In previous years, the Tigers won small amounts, which they used to update the campus food pantry, but haven’t been able to take home the jackpot.
Morning AgClips
CAES Launches CIT Program to Increase Student Success
To empower students to excel in professional environments.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) has launched the specialized Career Impact Training Program (CIT) as part of its ongoing mission to empower students to excel in professional environments. Led by Chris Rhodes, CAES director of industry partnerships, CIT is a comprehensive training program that helps graduates develop the essential qualities they need to be successful in the private sector.
Athens CEO
UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government Recognizes Recently Promoted Faculty
Staff Report From Georgia CEO
Congratulations to newly promoted faculty members at the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government: Julia B. Haas, Melinda Moore, John Hulsey and Mara Shaw! These faculty members are experts in their fields, and they are dedicated to serving Georgia and its citizens. Every day, they work to inform, inspire, and innovate so governments can be more efficient and responsive to citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence.
Fox5 Atlanta
Georgia Tech student and artist combining art, computer science
By FOX 5 Atlanta Digital Team
A Georgia Tech student is using code and creativity to make her mark in the world. Sarah Jiang is building towards a career in computer science and will be interning at Activision and Microsoft Xbox this summer, according to GT. Jiang is also an artist who goes by the name Zwist. She was one of 19 collaborators to design a custom, limited edition Air Force 1 shoe for Nike in 2021. She has also designed album covers for chart-topping artists, and created a mural in New York City.
WRDW
Video
AU students’ mural unveiled in downtown Augusta
For weeks now, a group of Augusta University students have tirelessly chipped away at a massive mural in downtown Augusta.
Savannah Morning News
Video
The Georgia Southern University Marching Band warms up for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Georgia Southern University Marching Band playing the school’s fight song.
Natural News
WONDER POWDER: Health benefits of baking soda, a versatile kitchen staple
Olivia Cook
Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, has been a handy all-purpose household staple for nearly 200 years. Baking soda is a non-toxic white crystalline powder that is affordable at roughly 52 cents an ounce. It is readily available in nearly every drugstore, grocery store, and big-box retailer. Baking soda is known for its myriad of uses. …Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University reported that a daily dose of baking soda may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. “We have some of the first evidence of how the cheap, over-the-counter antacid can encourage our spleen to promote an anti-inflammatory environment that could be therapeutic in the face of inflammatory disease,” they said.
The Brunswick News
Spring brings new crops at UGA Extension office
By Taylor Cooper
It was out with the old, in with the new at the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s vegetable garden on Tuesday, the first day of spring. Some of the extension’s master gardeners and volunteers — including Linda Hlozansky, Marsha Rauscher, Lori Barney and Linda Caldwell, among others — pulled up green onions, cabbages, collards, Swiss chard and broccoli, among others, though some needed a little more time in the soil. The Brussels sprouts and strawberries weren’t quite ready. Each season the gardeners take all the produce they can grow to local food pantries. In the last year, Hlozansky said gardeners have donated 200 pounds of fresh produce.
WALB
Video
Agricultural forecast, what to expect with UGA Weather Network
UGA’s Weather Network Director Pam Knox, shares what we are seeing right now and the conditions that are typical for an La Nino Winter and Spring.
GPB
After a natural disaster, renters receive less assistance than homeowners, study finds
By: Peter Biello
LISTEN: GPB’s Peter Biello speaks with Georgia Tech’s Brian An about his study on rents rising after natural disasters. A new study has found that after a natural disaster strikes, renters get less assistance than homeowners. They also find it harder to move to new places and feel more acutely the squeeze of rising rents when the available housing stock is depleted. The study, by a group including Georgia Tech and the Brookings Institution, is among the first to expose the impact of disasters on rental housing markets. Brian An, an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech, coauthored the research. He spoke with GPB’s Peter Biello.
Nursery Management
Georgia’s pollinator plants of the year
The State Botanical Garden at the University of Georgia identifies this year’s top garden additions.
Posted by Katie McDaniel
One of the most important questions gardeners can ask themselves this spring is which plants to incorporate into their garden. The Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year program hosted by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia identifies four species each year that make wonderful additions to any garden.
GPB
UGA’s annual Farm Stress Summit is underway as farmers brace for dip in annual gains
By: Sofi Gratas
Agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry but it can also be stressful for those who work in it. To address this, the University of Georgia Extension is hosting its annual Farm Stress Summit Wednesday — for the first time, in North Georgia. The summit builds off research that shows a need for better resources to address physical and mental well-being for farmers. “We have a lot more Georgia data to lend and touch on than we did at the beginning,” said Mark McCann, assistant dean for the University of Georgia extension office. A study published in 2019 showed an increased risk of suicide among Georgia farmers, many of whom said they wouldn’t know how to manage suicidal ideation.
Specialty Crop Grower
Pecan Producers Should Revise Water Usage Early in Season
By Clint Thompson
Pecan producers should start revising their water usage, especially early in their tree’s history. An overabundance of water could stress the root system, which could make the trees vulnerable during high wind events, according to Lenny Wells, University of Georgia Extension pecan specialist.
Forbes
5 Mistakes People Still Make With Weather Forecasts
Marshall Shepherd, Senior Contributor (leading international expert in weather and climate, was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS) and is Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program)
I write about many topics. They are usually related to weather or climate. My posts explore complexities of meteorology, the challenges associated with climate change, and broader science literacy topics. My discussion herein was inspired by a public lecture that I gave over the weekend (more on that later). Here are five mistakes that people still make with weather forecasts.
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
A naturalist symposium of warnings and solutions to problems compounded by climate change
By Kala Hunter
Columbus Botanical Garden teemed with life on a cloudy, humid Saturday morning when two scientists and a climate solutions project manager imparted their wisdom about the role native plants play, and the new climate normals for the planet to an eager crowd of naturalists. “Our garden is a resource to the community and we educate through presenting sound science,” said Adriana Quiñones, executive director of the Columbus Botanical Garden. “Climate change is so doom and gloom. There is hope. This symposium will allow you to walk away and do something to make a change for the better.” Local botanist, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and biology professor at Columbus State University Ashley Desensi tugged at the crowd’s heartstrings by reminding them how many plants are in danger and why Georgians should care. “
The Red & Black
Residential compost program launched in Normaltown
Kimberly Thomas
The Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste Department and the University of Georgia’s New Materials Institute have partnered together to introduce a Residential Compost Pilot Program to residents in the Normaltown and Boulevard Districts of Athens-Clarke County. Sponsored by a grant from the Walmart Foundation, the Residential Compost Pilot Program is expected to run from Jan. 29 through May 10, 2024. A total 400 residents of the Normaltown and Boulevard District of Athens-Clarke County registered for the program with the goal of diverting some of their waste to compost. The program’s goal is to prevent microplastics from entering the environment and to see how much education exists around composting.
Omaha Magazine
GCSU celebrates Flannery O’Connor’s 99th birthday at Andalusia
The great Southern author Mary “Flannery” O’Connor, ’45, would’ve turned 99 on Monday, March 25. Georgia College & State University celebrates her birthday Saturday, March 23. The university will hold free tours at Andalusia from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and a cake cutting at noon. A new exhibit at the Andalusia Interpretive Center will also debut that day.
The George-Anne
Hannah Clay, Multimedia Journalist
Georgia Southern University Programming Board brought together Oreo lovers around campus to celebrate National Oreo Day. National Oreo day was on March 6th which is when the tasty cookie was introduced to the world in 1912 and was originally called the Oreo Biscuit. There was an array of flavors ranging from the classic Oreo to the space dunk Oreo, a limited-edition flavor, as well as Oreo flavored candy and snacks. Students were able to take a quick stop sample the assortment of goodies and socialize with other Oreo lovers.
The Georgia Virtue
AgSouth’s Murphy to Be Honored at 68th CAES Alumni Association Awards
Seven alumni from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will be recognized at the 68th annual CAES Alumni Association Awards banquet on April 6. …Zachary Taylor Murphy is a relationship manager with AgSouth Farm Credit in Statesboro, Georgia. …During his 15 years in the farm credit system, Murphy has actively engaged in community advocacy for the support of agriculture at the local and state levels. After obtaining an associate degree from the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 2007, he transferred to CAES, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness in 2009. At UGA, Murphy served as an officer in the Ag Econ Club, as chair of the UGA chapter of Ducks Unlimited and as president of the UGA Agronomy Club.
UofL News
University of Louisville names new nursing dean
Whitney Nash returns to UofL
By Holly Hinson
Whitney Nash, PhD, has been named dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Louisville effective July 1, 2024. Nash is currently a professor and dean at Georgia Southern University’s Waters College of Health Professions. No stranger to UofL, Nash is a two-time alumna and has spent 17 years employed with the university.
Americus Times-Recorder
ELITE EIGHT BOUND! GSW wins NCAA Southeast Regional
By Ken Gustafson
The Georgia Southwestern State University Lady Hurricanes saw the realization of a dream unfold before their eyes as they lifted the NCAA Southeast Regional championship trophy following their 79-62 win over Carson-Newman on Monday night. With that win, the Hurricanes advance to the NCAA Elite Eight in St. Joseph, MO., starting on March 25. GSW’s opponent will be announced by the NCAA after the eight teams are re-seeded for the finals. GSW reaches the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history. The #5 seed in the region, the Lady Hurricanes defeated the #1, #2 and #4 seeds to claim the title and improve to 29-3 overall on the season.
Grice Connect
Local middle and high school golfers compete at Georgia Southern Golf Course this week
This Wednesday and Thursday, 100 of the best middle and high school golfers in the area will compete in Georgia Southern University Golf Course’ Bulloch County Golf Championship. This is the seventh year of the event, which will include teams from eight local schools, and will be held at the Georgia Southern University Golf Course.
The Union-Recorder
Bellflower, McNearney key Bobcat baseball PBC series win
Matthew Brown
Brandon Bellflower did it again, only this time it was after Georgia College & State University coach Nolan Belcher followed the ABC’s of baseball … and Georgia Southwestern State didn’t follow old-fashioned analytics. For the second time in the late innings of a Peach Belt Conference baseball game at John Kurtz Field in the last two seasons, Bellflower, now a senior outfielder from Milledgeville, blasted a first-pitch game-winning two-run home run. He did it last season in walk-off fashion for a 2-1 win over South Carolina-Aiken, and then on Saturday his dramatic long-ball came in the bottom of the eighth inning while playing Georgia Southwestern State. Belcher’s Bobcats took a 4-3 lead and held off a Hurricane rally in the ninth to win 5-4. …Georgia College & State University won the series over the Hurricanes 2-1 by coming from behind to win Sunday’s game 11-6. …The series outcome puts the Bobcats in a tie with Augusta for second place in the PBC, both at 6-3 and two games behind North Georgia.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Alabama Lawmakers OK Bill Targeting DEI, ‘Divisive Concepts’
By Ryan Quinn
The Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature passed a bill Tuesday that would, within public higher education institutions, limit so-called “divisive concepts” plus diversity, equity and inclusion programs and transgender individuals’ access to campus bathrooms. In a particular concern for free speech advocates, Senate Bill 129 could stop faculty members from teaching about what the bill dubs “divisive concepts”—such as the idea that meritocracy is racist—even in a critical way. Jeremy Young, the Freedom to Learn program director at PEN America, has said it would be “the most restrictive educational gag order in the country” affecting higher education. The state Legislature’s website hadn’t posted the final vote tally Tuesday night, but AL.com reported that the state Senate voted 25 to 4 to approve amendments the state House of Representatives made to the bill about two weeks ago. It now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, for her signature or veto.
Inside Higher Ed
Goldwater Institute Sues Arizona Regents Over DEI Training
By Kathryn Palmer
A conservative think tank is suing the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of an Arizona State University professor who refused to complete a required diversity, equity and inclusion training. The complaint, filed Tuesday by the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute in Maricopa County Superior Court, argues that ASU violated state law when it required Owen Anderson, a philosophy and religious studies professor, to complete the “Inclusive Communities” training. The virtual training presented information about sexual identities, white supremacy and microaggressions, among other issues, and included a quiz on the material, according to the suit. For example, one of the quiz questions asked if “Bias is informed by fact and not ideologies,” and according to the suit, a copy of the training material identified “false” as the correct answer.
Inside Higher Ed
Scholars Respond to ‘Politicized Attacks on DEI’
By Jessica Blake
A group of higher education researchers from across the country released a report Wednesday providing what they call “evidence-based expert responses” to critiques of diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices aired at a Congressional hearing earlier this month. The report lists eight “DEI Myths,” including that DEI is divisive, that all DEI initiatives place people in one of two categories, privileged and oppressed, that DEI and critical race theory are the same, and that “too-woke” professionals have taken over campuses. It counters the myths with data, anecdotes and observations from 12 faculty members and administrators who say that DEI initiatives aim to bring students and employees together to learn from each other’s differences, that they account for “tiny fractions” of overall institutional budgets and that DEI professionals rarely have any jurisdiction over classroom curriculums.
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Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed
3 More Universities Face Inquiries for ‘Shared Ancestry’ Bias
By Doug Lederman
The U.S. Education Department has added three colleges to its growing list of institutions under investigation for possible violations of federal laws that prohibit discrimination based on shared ancestry. The University of Hawaii at Manoa and Western University of Health Sciences joined the list this week, and Eastern Washington University was added last week by the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. The agency has seen an influx of complaints alleging antisemitism or Islamophobia since the war between Israel and Hamas began in early October, and it started publicly listing institutions under investigation in mid-November.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Opinion
Single Parents Breaking Barriers Through Higher Education
Grace Alexis Stephens
As we approach National Single Parents Day on March 21, it is imperative to shine a light on the extraordinary journey of single parents across the United States. Their resilience, determination, and strong commitment to their families serve as an inspiration to us all. At Generations College, nestled in the heart of Chicago, we have witnessed firsthand the life-changing power of education for single parents. Generations College boasts a 120-year rich legacy of providing accessible and high-quality education to campus-based and online students from diverse backgrounds across 40 states.
Higher Ed Dive
Just 47% of public schools rate themselves highly on college prep
NCES also found only 62% of public schools include college and career milestones in their graduation requirements.
Naaz Modan, Senior Reporter
Dive Brief:
Less than half (47%) of public schools rated themselves as doing a “very good” or “excellent” job preparing students for college, according to a nationally representative survey released by the National Center for Education Statistics Tuesday. Schools in high-poverty neighborhoods were less likely than more affluent schools to say they did an “excellent” or “very good” job at college preparation. Schools with higher populations of students of color, those in high-poverty neighborhoods, those in rural areas, and those with fewer than 1,000 students reported offering fewer AP courses on average. Nearly 90% of high schools align their graduation requirements to admissions requirements at public colleges or universities, and just 62% include college and career milestones in their graduation requirements. A higher percentage of high schools said they did a “good” or better job preparing students for the workforce (86%) than for college (77%).
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Pepperdine University Professor Seeks to Give High School Students a Head Start
Arrman Kyaw
A Pepperdine University professor has been working on a pilot instructional program to give high school students a head start when it comes to understanding math. Now, approaching its second year, the program has gained momentum. Black and brown students have historically been on the lower end of educational attainment, said program creator Dr. Kendrick Roberson, an assistant professor of political science at Pepperdine. This prevailing issue served as the impetus for Roberson and his team’s “vivid vision,” a collective goal to make it so that, in the next 20 years, minoritized students graduate from high schools, colleges, and trade schools at the same rates as others.
Inside Higher Ed
Nebraska Governor Pushes Regents to Hire a New President
Jim Pillen has accused the University of Nebraska Board of Regents of taking too long to find a leader. But the search mirrors timelines from Pillen’s stint as a regent.
By Josh Moody
With the search for the University of Nebraska’s next president stretching into its seventh month, the Board of Regents is coming under mounting pressure from Governor Jim Pillen to make an appointment already. Today, the board seems poised to do just that. A meeting scheduled for this morning includes an agenda item indicating that regents will likely designate a “priority candidate” as the system’s next president. The move comes in the wake of criticism from Pillen and a reported deadlock among the regents, with local media reports indicating that the eight board members are split over two candidates.