The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia university leaders weigh in on riot at U.S. Capitol
By Eric Stirgus
Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera’s thoughts as he watched Wednesday’s riot at the U.S. Capitol turned to his homeland, Spain in 1981, when an attempted coup created chaos in that country. “We felt sad, scared, furious, and embarrassed. The experience also taught us how fragile democracy is, and how every generation must work hard to preserve it,” Cabrera wrote Thursday morning on Georgia Tech’s website. “I never imagined I would witness something remotely similar in the U.S., a nation I have always admired for the strength of its republic and its culture of democracy — and which I now proudly call my own. Yet, as painful as yesterday’s events were, I know American democracy will emerge stronger.” …University of Georgia President Jere Morehead said in a statement the nation’s principles were reaffirmed Thursday morning, an apparent reference to Congress’ actions certifying the presidential election results, which were delayed for several hours due to the violence and demonstrations. …Georgia State University President Mark Becker wrote on the university’s website about how education is central “in keeping our form of shared governance strong.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UGA to mark 60th anniversary of desegregation
By Eric Stirgus
January marks the 60th anniversary of desegregation at the University of Georgia. The university, to some resistance, enrolled its first two African American students: Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton E. Holmes on Jan. 9, 1961. …The school has scheduled a host of events you can find here.
The Augusta Chronicle
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, longevity now part of Augusta University study
Tom Corwin
An ongoing study of health care and frontline workers in Augusta and across the country could not only reveal whether COVID-19 vaccines work better than antibodies from an infection but how long those antibodies last and whether one vaccine is better than another, an investigator said.
The study at Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and four other sites around the country was already collecting samples and testing thousands of health care and frontline workers who might be regularly exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS CoV-2. But now as those workers get vaccinated, it puts the study in a position to begin comparing antibodies and protection, said Dr. Ravindra Kolhe, principal investigator for the study at AU and director of the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at MCG.
WGAURadio
Surveillance testing underway at UNG
Testing offered on a first-come, first-served basis
By Tim Bryant
The University of North Georgia began surveillance testing of UNG’s asymptomatic students, staff, and faculty this week.
From the UNG website…
UNG is offering COVID-19 testing for any UNG faculty, staff, or student who is not currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 at no cost. This is part of the university’s multi-faceted approach to monitor and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Tifton CEO
ABAC Moves Start Date of Spring Semester to January 25
To ensure a safe start and productive Spring term, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is moving the opening day of the spring semester to Jan. 25. ABAC President David Bridges said ABAC hopes to gain an advantage on the post-holiday COVID-19 surge by giving students, faculty, and staff more time to prepare for a safe beginning for the 2021 spring term.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CDC study: COVID-19 leapt in counties where colleges held in-person classes
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Study recommends campuses do more to minimize on-campus COVID-19 transmission
Residents of university towns including Athens have been wary of claims that campuses can bring thousands of students back for in-person classes without escalating the spread of COVID-19 in the surrounding area. Turns out that skepticism may be justified. A new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis released today found counties with large universities experienced a 56% increase in COVID-19 when the campuses opened with in-person instruction. Conversely, counties with major universities that opened with remote learning showed a 17.9% decrease in incidences of COVID-19.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
Albany State University Enters Into a Partnership With Oconee Fall Line Technical College
Historically Black Albany State University and Oconee Fall Line Technical College announced the establishment of a cooperative relationship that will provide opportunities for technical college students seeking four-year degrees. The agreement between ASU and OFTC will provide educational advancement opportunities for OFTC students in the associate of applied science program to continue their education towards a bachelor’s degree at ASU. This partnership will strengthen the educational opportunities across the state and will create pathways for students pursuing a career in nursing, accounting, business management, technology management, criminal justice, early childhood education, chemistry, biology, and computer science.
HomeRuleNews
CREEKSIDE, CLAYTON STATE PARTNER FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT
Creekside is becoming a college campus with a new partnership with Clayton State University. Students enrolled at Creekside High School now have the opportunity to take core collegiate courses while pursuing general high school work. The best part is that students do not have to leave the South Fulton campus. Clayton State professors are traveling from Lake City to teach. Dr. Christopher Williams, Clayton State Director of Academic Outreach, commended Terryn Prior, School Counselor at Creekside, for facilitating the effort. …Traditionally, dual enrollment programs are on the college campus, but Clayton State and Creekside officials wanted to get as many students eligible to participate as possible.
Columbus CEO
President Chris Markwood on CSU’s Economic Impact
Columbus State University’s President Chris Markwood talks about the economic impact CSU has on the region and the many partnerships they have across the state.
Middle Georgia CEO
Dr. David Hess on The Medical College of Georgia & Underserved Areas for Doctors
Dean of the Medical College of Georgia Dr. David C. Hess talks about the need for doctors in Georgia’s underserved areas and the important role of their regional campuses.
WGAURadio
Chapel Bell to ring to mark 60th anniversary of UGA integration
Ceremony set for Saturday
By Tim Bryant
There will be a ceremonial ringing of the University of Georgia’s Chapel Bell at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, marking the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of the state’s flagship university: it was in January of 1961 that Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes became the first black students to attend UGA.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Jan. 7)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 10,100 | Deaths have been confirmed in all counties but one (Taliaferro). This figure does not include additional cases that the DPH reports as suspected COVID-19-related deaths. County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
CONFIRMED CASES: 609,868 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Marietta Daily Journal
Problems plague vaccine rollout as Georgia hits 600k cases and 10k deaths
By Chart Riggall
Georgia is falling far behind in the race to vaccinate millions of residents against COVID-19. The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in Georgia on Dec. 14, but more than three weeks later, Georgia is struggling to administer the over 500,000 vaccines that have so far been shipped to the state. The Department of Public Health says of those half million doses, just 123,000 have been administered as of Jan. 6. That puts Georgia at 48th in the nation for vaccinations per 100,000 residents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s particularly problematic because Moderna has said its vaccine has a shelf life of 30 days.
The Georgia Sun
Hospitals across Georgia can’t keep up with coronavirus surge
Experts say it will only get worse as cases spike from holiday gatherings
Andy Miller | GHN
…How much can they take?
It’s difficult to grasp the worsening impact that COVID has on medical facilities in Georgia. More than 5,000 Georgia patients are hospitalized with the disease. Public health experts in Georgia are clearly worried. A top infectious disease expert, Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University, told GHN on Tuesday that he was ‘’very, very concerned’’ about the capacity of the health care system to handle the increasing patient load from COVID. “It is really bad right now and it’s going to get worse,’’ del Rio said. The COVID admission rate for Georgia is climbing quickly, microbiologist Amber Schmidtke said Wednesday. “The state’s admission rate is 52% higher than the national rate,’’ said Schmidtke, who publishes the Daily Digest, which tracks COVID in the state. She said for confirmed COVID-19 admissions per 100 beds in the last seven days, Georgia is ranked No. 1, along with Oklahoma.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Education Secretary resigns, citing the role of Trump’s “rhetoric” in violent protests at the U.S. Capitol building.
By Kery Murakami
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned Thursday night in the wake of President Trump’s role in encouraging the storming of the Capitol by protesters on Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal first reported. The department confirmed her resignation.
Inside Higher Ed
This week’s Capitol riots have been repeatedly described as “unthinkable.” Yet happen they did, so how do we start to think about them? Many academics have an answer: the humanities.
By Colleen Flaherty
There’s no shortage of lenses through which to examine this week’s Capitol riots: politics, history, race, gender, economics, media studies and more. Perhaps the through line in all these perspectives is education, and the liberal arts in particular. And many scholars say that education is at the heart of what went wrong in Washington — as well as the tunnel through which the U.S. can exit a dark place.