University System News:
WJBF
Responding to the growing need for teachers
by: Marlena Wilson, “The Means Report” Executive Producer
We tackle a topic that’s going to come into play, certainly as the school year gets underway in just a few short weeks. In fact, it’s already a concern for many school systems, not only here at home, but across the country. And that is the teacher shortage. Where can we find qualified educators? How do we train them and get them to get those jobs and stay on those jobs? Well, I’ll tell you what, Augusta University got a pretty good score in that department recently. We’ll let you know about that shortly, but first let’s talk about this issue in depth with Dr. Judi Wilson. Dr. Wilson is the Dean of the College of Education at Augusta University.
yahoo!news
Longtime school custodian graduates college in his 40s, becomes elementary school teacher
Emma Newman and Danielle Genet
A longtime school custodian who graduated from college in his 40s so he could fulfill his dream of becoming a physical education teacher received the surprise of a lifetime Monday live on “Good Morning America.” “Jungle Cruise” stars Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson surprised the teacher, Tylan Bailey, with an invitation to the California premiere of their new movie, as well as roundtrip airfare to California for him and his family, plus hotel rooms and park passes at Disneyland. “What a journey and how inspiring your story is,” said Johnson. “We’re proud of you.” …Bailey, who will start this fall as a physical education teacher at Briar Vista Elementary School in Atlanta, was also surprised on “GMA” with an at-home Echelon bike and treadmill, as well a $15,000 donation from Echelon to his new school. …Bailey, a father of four, worked as the head custodian of Hightower Elementary School in DeKalb County, Georgia, for 23 years, before registering for college in 2017 at the age of 39. After four years of balancing his full-time job as a custodian with being a dad and college student, Bailey earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Georgia State University.
Patch
The ripple effects of the COVID-19 lockdown are sure to be felt for years, if not decades, but Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) is launching a recovery program this summer to help smooth the waters for its students who may have suffered drops in grades because of the challenges caused by the pandemic.
Morning AgClips
UGA professor earns award from American Phytopathological Society
Excellence in Extension award
It is said that if you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life. For Alfredo Martinez-Espinoza, this has come true through his work as a plant pathologist with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension. His passion and hard work have been recognized with the American Phytopathological Society’s (APS) 2021 Excellence in Extension award. The award recognizes an APS member who has made outstanding contributions by creating, developing or implementing extension-related programs or materials or has provided significant leadership in an area of extension of plant pathology.
AllOnGeorgia
Georgia Southern’s STEM Outreach Unit Now Named Center for STEM Education
The Center for STEM Education (i2STEMed) is the new moniker for the College of Education’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education outreach unit. Previously known as the Institute for Interdisciplinary STEM Education (i2STEMe), the Center has expanded partnerships over the last nine years to include local, state and international organizations. … The name change reflects the Center’s service-focused and public impact mission of providing STEM teaching and learning in both formal and informal educational settings to P-12 and beyond. …When changing names, the Center’s members felt it was important to keep their known acronym–i2STEMe and simply added a “d” to emphasize the teaching and learning aspects of their mission.
Growing Georgia
Department of Education Awards $2.4 Million HEP Grant to ABAC
Thanks to a five-year $2.4 million grant (HEP S141A210021) funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Migrant Education, the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will continue its legacy of assisting farmworkers reach their academic goals for the 21st consecutive year. Scott Pierce, Director of Sponsored Programs at ABAC, said the ABAC program is one of only two such programs in the state of Georgia that provide much-needed services to the agricultural workforce.
Patch
Herbert McIver, better known as Truck, grew up working on the water alongside his father who was a commercial shrimper out of McIntosh County, Georgia. McIver, now a marine resources specialist at UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, spent 40 years in the shrimping industry, working his way up from deck crew to captain of his own boat. …University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant is partnering with McIntosh County Academy and Coastal Pines Technical College on a dual-enrollment program that teaches high school students about safety at sea, basic navigation and seamanship, common commercial fishing practices, and an overview of fisheries science and management. McIver and Bryan Fluech, associate director of UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant, helped develop course materials for the career pathway program and are serving as guest instructors.
Augusta CEO
MCG’s 2021 Resident of the Year
Jennifer Hilliard Scott
Dr. Stanton Royer, an emergency medicine physician who just finished his residency training program at the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University Health, is the recipient of the medical school’s 2020-21 Walter J. Moore Outstanding Housestaff Award. Called “academically brilliant” and “easily one of the top three residents I have ever worked with” by his nominator and assistant residency program director Dr. J.R. Barrett, Royer has spent the last year serving as the residency program’s chief resident of academics. In that role he helped manage extensive educational programs for fellow residents, including simulation classes and guest speakers and ensured the success of the program’s academic conference — the four hours each week spent reviewing the latest literature and interesting patient cases or honing clinical skills.
Today
Son returns to field for every degree he earns to honor immigrant parents
From the tomato field to the medical field, Erick Juárez has never forgotten his roots.
By Kait Hanson
Erick Juárez knew from a young age he wanted to be a doctor. His parents, who are farmworkers, are his role models. “I was able to transfer that work ethic from the fields to the books,” Juárez told TODAY Parents. To recognize their sacrifice, the 29-year-old resident physician returns to the fields where his parents have worked since they came to the United States for every degree he earns. …After a stint at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Juárez graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in neurobiology. “I was the first individual from my hometown to graduate from Harvard College,” he said. He continued on to the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, where he received his M.D. in Spring 2021.
WSB-TV
Investigation: Thousands of GA health care workers unvaccinated against COVID-19
By Justin Gray
Hospital workers here in Georgia were some of the first to be eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but a Channel 2 Action News investigation finds that thousands of these workers have chosen not to be vaccinated. Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray reached out to all the major metro Atlanta hospitals, but several hospitals refused to provide us with vaccination data. One Atlanta hospital, Piedmont Hospital, will soon require employees to get vaccinated. … At Grady Memorial Hospital, 57% of the staff are vaccinated. … Several hospital groups, including Wellstar, Northside and Piedmont, refused to provide us information on their staff vaccination rates. A Northside spokesperson told us “because a vaccination is a medical procedure, employee medical information has to be protected.” But University of Georgia Epidemiologist Dr. Mark Ebell counters that it is important safety information that patients have a right to know.
Poultry Producer
AgGeorgia makes six-figure gift to CAES poultry science building
With a $100,000 pledge to the new Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), AgGeorgia Farm Credit is the first six-figure donor to a campaign that will accelerate research, scholarship and applied solutions for the largest sector of Georgia’s No. 1 industry. AgGeorgia Farm Credit is an agricultural lending cooperative owned by nearly 5,000 member-borrowers, with a mission to improve the lives of Georgia’s farmers, families and rural communities.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated July 12)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 18,575 | 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: 907,658
WCTV
Vaccination rates low in southwest Georgia as cases increase
By Jaclyn Harold
A study from Georgetown University pinpoints southwest Georgia as part of a COVID cluster. The Georgetown study and the southwest Georgia public health director both say vaccinations here are at a standstill. Southwest Georgia health director Dr. Charles Ruis says the Georgetown study is correct. Vaccination rates are not high enough and it’s leading to the continued spread of COVID-19.
accessWDUN
Delta variant makes up 12% of new COVID infections in Georgia, local doctor weighs in
By Austin Eller Anchor/Reporter
According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, about 12% of new COVID-19 infections in Georgia are the Delta variant, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that number is 51% nationwide. Dr. Andrew Reisman, a family physician with Longstreet Clinic Family Medicine in Oakwood, says that the largest difference with the Delta variant is its contagiousness. … According to Dr. Reisman, the severity of the illness associated with the Delta variant is about the same as the original strain and other variants. While the Delta variant is more contagious, he said you should not be concerned about a more severe illness should you become infected. However, Dr. Reisman said the larger concern relates to variants that could form due to the Delta variant’s more contagious nature.
The Brunswick News
Vaccine push continues as Delta variant spreads across Georgia
By Hank Rowland
In Michigan, the state government is promising everyone who is vaccinated against the coronavirus a chance to win millions of dollars in cash and thousands of dollars in college scholarships. In Georgia, Washington sent first lady Dr. Jill Biden and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Georgia, to Savannah to urge people to roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated. “We’re in a race to get people vaccinated before the virus can create a more dangerous version,” officials with the Coastal Health District said in a weekly newsletter. “That’s why leaders from all levels — federal, state and local — are renewing their appeals for widespread vaccination against COVID-19.” …The Delta variant of the virus is the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Georgia and throughout the rest of the United States today, a strain health officials say is more contagious than its predecessor.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
Biden’s Higher Ed Budget Moves Ahead in House
Higher education organizations were generally pleased with the House Appropriations Committee’s draft spending bill, but several believe more could still be done.
By Alexis Gravely
The House Appropriations Committee is planning to mark up an initial draft of its funding bill for federal higher education programs on Thursday for fiscal year 2022. The bill largely aligns with President Biden’s budget and includes substantial increases to student financial aid and science research. Over all, the legislation provides $27.2 billion for federal student aid programs and another $3.43 billion for higher education programs, an increase of $889 million from fiscal year 2021 and $122 million above Biden’s budget request. The bill would increase the maximum annual Pell Grant award by $400, as well as boost funding for the National Institutes of Health to $49 billion — up $6.5 billion from fiscal year 2021 — and funding for career, technical and adult education to $2.2 billion.
Inside Higher Ed
Groups Ask ‘U.S. News’ to Exclude SAT and ACT Scores
Eleven organizations — including NACAC — say removing test scores from rankings is ”simply the right thing to do.”
By Scott Jaschik
Eleven organizations have called on U.S. News & World Report to stop using average SAT and ACT scores in its rankings of colleges. Many groups and college administrators have long criticized the rankings, but New America, a liberal research organization, hopes the pandemic will provide momentum to the calls for change. The organizations joining the effort include the National Association for College Admission Counseling.