University System News:
accessWDUN
Georgia public universities promise fall will be “normal”
By The Associated Press
Classrooms, dorms, cafeterias and stadiums are likely to be full again this fall at Georgia’s public universities. The University System of Georgia on Wednesday announced that it has asked all campuses to plan for normal operations during the fall 2021 semester. “This decision comes as wider availability of vaccines over the next few months is anticipated to control the spread of COVID-19,” the system said in a statement this week. “USG will continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 across the state and consult with DPH in the coming months as to the appropriate practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.” Regents instructed the 26 schools, with more than 340,000 students to maintain some level of in-person classes last fall and to increase the number of in-person classes this spring.
WJCL
Georgia Southern University planning a full return to campus in the fall
The university will resume “normal” operations in the fall with in-person instruction, research, events and more
Brooke Butler, Anchor/Reporter
The president of Georgia Southern University announced on Friday that they’re planning for a full return to campus in the fall of 2021. That means resuming “normal” operations with in-person instruction, research, events, service, activities and full dining and housing operations. The 2021 summer semester will look a lot like this spring, with a mix of online and face-to-face course offerings.
The Gainesville Times
What UNG’s return will look like in fall 2021 and what students have to say about it
Gabriela Miranda
UNG President Bonita Jacobs announced the plans for summer and fall based on increases in COVID-19 vaccinations and guidelines from the University System of Georgia.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Opinion: Ga. lawmakers should pass grants to help foster kids pay for college or tech school
By Pam Parish
Kelvin Craig, a 23-year-old former foster child, is not much different than the approximately 700 young adults who age out of Georgia’s foster care system each year. At age 18 he moved out his fourth foster home into an independent transition program. Two years later, he decided to pursue a career in computer programming and enrolled at Athens Technical College. After six weeks, however, he dropped out because he couldn’t get a ride to school. And now he is stuck with a $636 Pell Grant to pay off with no degree and no job. …For Kelvin – currently living with a friend in Winder– the prospect of a college education or returning to technical school is only a dream. But thanks to legislation now before the Georgia Senate, that dream could actually be in reach. Senate Bill 107 sponsored by state Senators Brian Strickland of McDonough, Kay Kirkpatrick of Marietta and Mike Dugan of Carrollton would give postsecondary education grants to waive tuition, fees and mandatory room and board fees for all qualifying foster kids and adopted children at University System of Georgia colleges and universities and Technical College System of Georgia schools.
The Newnan Times Herald
UWG president gives update to commissioners
By Sarah Fay Campbell
University of West Georgia President Brendan Kelly recently appeared before the Coweta County Board of commissioners. Kelly became president of UWG in March of 2020, but because of COVID-19, it was his first appearance before the commissioners. …”We discovered last year how important face-to-face learning was,” Kelly said. UWG began face-to-face classes in fall, but in a very conservative fashion. But with that conservative return to face-to-face, “we found a lot of students being isolated, just because we didn’t have that type of activity that normally comes along with college,” he said. “You miss some pretty important parts of your life. “We did a lot of corrections in last fall to make sure that when we came back for spring we were engaged in a much more engaging environment.” Now, university wide, about 65 to 70 percent of students are in face-to-face learning.
The Augusta Chronicle
Guest column: MCG, Peach State partnership aims to tackle Georgia’s rural doctor shortage
Dr. Brooks Keel Augusta University President
Guest column
Georgia is a hub for innovation, technology, hospitality, and opportunity. A leader in FinTech, aerospace, cyber, and agriculture, world-renowned businesses and brands are proud to call the Peach State home. With an unmatched logistics network, beautiful natural resources, and sporting events like The Masters, there’s no doubt that people around the world always have Georgia on their minds. …The Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University’s 3+ program seeks to redesign the four-year curriculum to three years to enable students to better tailor-make their fourth-year learning experience. The redesign provides a more efficient pathway into primary care for a percentage of students. The majority of students will spend the fourth year of medical school honing clinical and research skills or completing a dual degree. The MCG 3+ Primary Care Pathway would see a percentage of students who commit to primary care practice in rural or underserved Georgia graduate in three years and immediately enter a residency in either family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology or general surgery. Dependent on future funding, those students would receive a scholarship.
Middle Georgia CEO
MGA Launches $11M “Building a Legacy of Greatness” Capital Campaign
On Thursday, the Middle Georgia State University (MGA) Foundation announced the launch of the public phase of the Building a Legacy of Greatness Capital Campaign, inviting donors from around the region to invest in the continued success of Middle Georgia State University. The campaign, with which the Foundation hopes to raise more than $11 million, is intended to help fund increased student scholarships, strengthen the University’s academic programming, recruit and retain quality faculty, expand student athletic programs and enhance professional development. The Greatness Campaign is the largest fundraising effort ever launched by the MGA Foundation.
Marietta Daily Journal
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College School of Arts & Sciences creates student opportunities
The School of Arts and Sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College continues to thrive despite the many challenges imposed by the global pandemic. Matthew Anderson, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, said the school is working hard to keep everyone safe while still providing the student-focused and life-changing educational experiences that define ABAC. Anderson said classes within SAS are being taught in a safe and socially distanced manner.
WTOC (Video)
Savannah State unveils newly renovated Herty Hall
Originally broke ground in 1937 and since it’s construction, not much has changed, that is until today. The renovation of Herty Hall has been a long time coming.
Americus Times-Recorder
GSW officially opens new baseball/softball indoor hitting facility
By Ken Gustafson
On Saturday morning, March 6, well over 100 people, including former GSW baseball student-athletes, gathered on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of the new GSW baseball/softball indoor training facility. This indoor facility is equipped with baseball and softball batting cages, weight training equipment and will eventually be equipped with lockers for the baseball players, as well as showers.
Jackson Herald Today
UNG students excel in sales contest
A team of almost 50 University of North Georgia (UNG) students finished fourth in scoring among the 59 colleges and universities that competed at the fall 2020 RNMKRS College Sales Skills Competition. The virtual event used artificial intelligence robots to help students practice their sales skills.
Tifton Gazette
Graduates of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College are sought out by employers because of their superb skillset developed in their program of study, college officials said in a statement. Brittany Braddy, a junior agricultural education major at ABAC from Vidalia, said even though experiences in the classroom look different because of COVID-19 protocols, the quality of education she is receiving continues to be first rate.
The Red & Black
UGA professor finalist for U.S. clean energy research award
Ben Lacina | Contributor
Simona E. Hunyadi Murph, an adjunct professor at the University of Georgia, has been selected as a finalist for the U.S. Clean Energy Education and Empowerment Research Award. The C3E Initiative is an organization that awards mid-career women who have demonstrated leadership and achievements in the field of clean energy across several categories such as research, education, advocacy, entrepreneurship and business. Previously, Murph has been the recipient of the LDRD Most Valuable Project Award, SRNL’s Spot Award for Significant Teaching Contributions and Performance and SRNL Director’s Award for Exceptional Scientific and Engineering Achievement, among several other honors and awards. Her research interests include the synthesis, design and applications of nanoengineered materials with research specifically in the areas of clean energy, environmental stewardship, fusion energy-related missions and sustainability initiatives, she said in an email to The Red & Black.
ABC News
Supreme Court sides with Christian students silenced on Georgia campus
Chief Justice John Roberts was alone in dissenting from the decision.
By Devin Dwyer
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with a former Georgia college student who sued his school after it prevented him from expressing religious views in a free-speech zone on campus. The 8-1 decision, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, said that Chike Uzuegbunam — who was silenced by Georgia Gwinnett College officials even after he had obtained a permit to proselytize and handout religious literature — can seek nominal damages despite the fact that the school ultimately changed course and Uzuegbunam subsequently graduated. In a very rare alignment of votes, Chief Justice John Roberts was the lone dissenting justice in the case.
The Gainesville Times
How Hall County libraries, local schools are handling Seuss controversy
Robbie Sequeira
From “Cat in the Hat” to “Green Eggs and Ham,” Gainesville resident Brian Houghton has enjoyed throughout his life reading many of Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel’s famous works to his two now-adult children and grandchildren. “Dr. Seuss is formative literature in most of our childhood and transcends generation,” said Houghton. “I can remember reading them to my kids, who are now reading it to my grandchildren. They have this timeless impact on people’s childhood through all generations.” But Houghton is concerned that the recent controversy surrounding six books published under Geisel’s pen name, Dr. Seuss, is setting a “dangerous precedent.” Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced this week that it would discontinue publication and licensing of six Dr. Seuss books, citing racist depictions of people of color. …Libraries across the country have policies to address the addition or removal of controversial or challenging literature in their collection. And for local libraries, the decision on which books to keep in circulation and which books to remove from its shelves is a detailed and delicate process. “The decision to keep or remove a book from a library is solely a local issue because every community is different,” said Julie Walker, state librarian for the Georgia Public Library Service. “One of the standards of our profession is to have a balanced selection that caters to all interests and entertains all sides and viewpoints.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OPINION: With no option here, Georgia professors seek vaccines elsewhere
Watching colleagues cross state lines, faculty member writes about rise of ‘vaccine tourism’
Get Schooled with Maureen Downey
Matthew Boedy is a University of North Georgia associate professor and conference president of Georgia’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors. He is the author of “Speaking of Evil: Rhetoric and the Responsibility to and for Language.” In this guest column, Boedy explains why college professors are crossing state lines in search of COVID-19 vaccines. He explains why he is not among them.
By Matthew Boedy
It’s time to talk about the open secret on Georgia’s college campuses: professors are heading to neighboring states for vaccination due to Gov. Kemp’s order omitting them from eligibility at home. Vaccine tourism, they call it.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated March 7)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 15,598 | Deaths have been confirmed in every county. 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: 828,336 | Cases have been confirmed in every county.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Senate passes COVID-19 relief bill. Measure would also tighten up the 90-10 rule on for-profit colleges.
By Kery Murakami
Congress is poised to send another $40 billion in aid to the nation’s colleges and universities after the Senate approved a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill Saturday. The House is expected to pass the measure — which contains the largest infusion of help to higher education approved by Congress during the pandemic — as soon as Tuesday, sending it to President Biden for his signature. Biden called the Senate’s passage of the bill “historic” and a “giant step forward” in providing help to Americans during the pandemic.
Inside Higher Ed
Federal Student Aid’s COO resigned Friday, amid political pressure from progressives. Meanwhile, FAFSA underwent technical difficulties, potentially impacting some students’ ability to submit.
By Lilah Burke
The chief operating officer of Federal Student Aid, retired Air Force general Mark Brown, resigned Friday. Brown was responsible for overseeing the agency’s trillion-dollar loan portfolio, a job that will be held in the interim by Robin Minor. Minor is currently the COO for partner participation and oversight. Last week also saw technical problems with federal student aid application sites. …Meanwhile, last week, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid portal experienced technical difficulties, potentially impacting the ability of students to submit their applications before state deadlines. Nothing so far suggests the website’s problems are connected to Brown’s departure.
Inside Higher Ed
More Texas Colleges Say Mask Mandates Will Stay in Place
By Elizabeth Redden
More Texas colleges are saying they won’t relax their rules requiring face masks and social distancing on their campuses after Governor Greg Abbott signed an executive order last week ending a statewide mask mandate and allowing businesses and facilities in the state to operate at full capacity.