WABE
‘People value what they pay for’: A conversation with Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue
Martha Dalton
Sonny Perdue has held many titles: state senator, Georgia governor, and U.S. agriculture secretary. Now he goes by “Chancellor Perdue” as chancellor of the state’s public college and university system. Perdue talked with WABE recently about a range of topics, including a new website called ‘Georgia Degrees Pay,’ where prospective students can compare attendance costs, student success and future earnings at all of Georgia’s 26 public institutions. Although the site targets all prospective students, Perdue admits he really wants students who are considering attending out-of-state colleges to visit it. “This is really a marketing tool as well, to show [those students] where they can go — maybe closer to home or maybe far away if they choose,” he says. “But we don’t believe that any students should feel the necessity to go out of state for a better education.” …In this interview, Perdue makes the case for the value of a USG education, pointing out that the system has kept tuition rates flat for the last six out of seven years. He also discusses the possibility of a need-based financial aid program, how USG has reduced the number of remedial courses it offers and his thoughts on President Joe Biden’s loan forgiveness plan.
Newsy
Is A College Education Still Worth It?
By Veronica De La Cruz
Collegiate experts agree that a college degree is still generally worth the time and money.
College enrollment is falling.
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment dropped nearly 5% from 2021 to 2022. Some experts say the decline suggests students are questioning whether college is worth the cost. Data from the College Board shows college costs jumped 25% from 2009 to 2019. So, how much should students expect to pay now? Experts say it depends. “If you’re going to a public university in your state, they tend to be around $10-15,000 per year for tuition, but it’s not uncommon for private universities to be $30,000 or $40,000 a year,” said Steve McLaughlin, Provost and executive VP for academic affairs at Georgia Tech. ,,,So back to the question: Is college worth the cost? …“When a high school student can graduate today and walk out of high school and potentially earn $20 an hour or more and then they wonder why they have to pay us $10,000 a year to get an education, that’s a reasonable question that we ought to be ready to answer,” said Sonny Perdue, Chancellor at the University System of Georgia. “And the answer is yes you might do that today, but when you continue to do that job at some point your employer is going to say ‘well, let’s see your diploma — I think I’d like to move you into management.’…So, all in all, is a college degree still worth it? These collegiate experts all agreed that the short answer is yes. From networking to advancing more quickly in your career goals, the return on Investment is there.
accessWDUN
UNG opens Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation
By Austin Eller News Director
Students on the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus now have access to the state-of-the-art Cottrell Center for Business, Technology and Innovation. The nearly 90,000-square-foot, four-story facility, is the new home for the Mike Cottrell College of Business. It was partially funded with a $10 million gift from Mike and Lynn Cottrell, along with about $21.8 million in state funding. The building features five specialty computer labs for logistics, finance and data analytics, cyber range, cybersecurity and forensic and networking and hardware. Additionally, the building has 10 classrooms.
WRDW
Financial expert shares insight on student loan debt
By Clare Allen
We’re getting more information on President Biden’s student loan relief plan. If you have federal loans, you need to make sure the Department of Education has your income information so they can apply the forgiveness to your account. “This is going to help people achieve their personal goals just a little bit sooner,” said Finance Lecturer at Augusta University, Wendy Habegger. We’ve learned President Biden’s plan is tax-exempt, which means you don’t have to claim the $10,000 or $20,000 credit as income which will save people a lot of money.
The Moultrie Observer
ABAC names Kramer its assistant VP and dean of students
Staff Reports
Dr. Alan Kramer has been selected as the new assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Dr. Amy Willis, acting provost and vice president for academic affairs, expects Kramer to flourish in the role. “Dr. Kramer has devoted the past 29 years of his career and life to ABAC and Tifton,” Willis said. “His motto for achieving success at ABAC continues to be collaboration and communication. Dr. Kramer and his team will build on old traditions and create new beginnings to keep ABAC great and moving forward.” Kramer had been serving as acting dean of students, expanding his previous role of assistant dean of students and director of athletics at ABAC. Willis said a search for a new director of athletics at ABAC will begin soon.
WGAU Radio
UGA’s new faculty recap state tour
By Roy Parry, UGA Today
After a two-year hiatus, the University of Georgia New Faculty Tour returned this year with 26 new employees spending four days traveling across Georgia and learning about the state’s economic, geographic, social and cultural diversity. The tour passed through 13 cities and 40 of Georgia’s 159 counties stopping to show faculty members how UGA serves the state as its land- and sea-grant university, and how the office of Public Service and Outreach (PSO) and Cooperative Extension plays a role in that work. Devin Lavender, a clinical assistant professor in the department of clinical and administrative pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy and a UGA alumnus, said the tour opened his eyes to the scope of the university’s reach.
The Red & Black
Agriculture and academics: UGA CAES hosts Ag Dawg Kickoff
Ireland Hayes
Students filled the University of Georgia Livestock Instructional Arena Wednesday evening, excited to celebrate the start of the fall semester at the 2022 Ag Dawg Kickoff. The event, hosted by the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association, celebrated the return of students, faculty and staff, and exposed new students to organizations and programs within the college. Students waited in line to meet and snap a photo with Muffin the cow, brought to the event by the UGA Dairy Science Club. Several other animals could be found throughout the venue such as insects, chickens and Sugarloaf the basset hound who was representing the UGA Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club. Booths and tables were set up throughout the event space, each manned by members of college and student organizations, all eager to talk with every student that approached them.
Albany Herald
ABAC to host air plant design workshop
By Carlton Fletcher
Community members can attend an air plant design workshop on Sept. 1 from 6-8 p.m. offered by the Horticulture Club at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. …“Our ABAC Horticulture Club officers will demonstrate how to care for and create your air plant design, and then you will be able to make your own and take it home,” Sullivan said.
Times-Georgian
UGA-led training prepares Georgia citizens to identify and report nature’s foreign invaders
By Maria M. Lameiras CAES News
The University of Georgia’s Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in helping to preserve the state’s native ecology with its Georgia First Detectors Program. The next training for the program will be held at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 30 and will cover information on how to identify, report and manage a range of invasive insects, plants and diseases that could impact Georgia’s natural spaces. The free training will be led by Triston Hansford, an invasive species and ecology specialist with the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, a joint program of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources on the UGA Tifton campus.
WGAU Radio
UGA economist: EVs could make Georgia the “Silicon Valley” of the automotive industry
By WSB TV
Georgia is set to benefit from a recent announcement in California. Lawmakers there want to mandate that only electric vehicles can be sold in the state by 2035. Georgia has almost cornered the market when it comes to EV technology. The state has a massive battery plant, two EV vehicle plants coming online, and a battery recycling plant as well. Georgia’s lead economist told Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston that the state is in the right place at the right time. “It definitely is a positive for Georgia’s economy,” said economist and UGA professor Jeffrey Dorfman. That’s a positive for our economy because Georgia’s heavy investment in electric vehicle technology.
Higher Education News:
Inside Higher Ed
A survey of how students feel doing business with nonacademic departments across campus reveals eight actions for clarifying expectations and improving service.
By Melissa Ezarik
Two semesters of working the front desk at Wichita State University’s recreation center shaped Lauren O’Donnell’s appreciation for the kind of stress full-time employees on campuses can feel. O’Donnell fielded questions, and quite a few lost-item inquiries, in person and over the phone as students and others checked in to use the facilities. Once, as a group insisted on reserving an already booked dance studio that day, she found herself trying to explain policies and practices to students who just didn’t seem to understand why their request couldn’t be met. The job experience has “helped me remember that [campus staff members] are people, too, behind the desk. They have their own life. Maybe they’ve been working since 6 a.m.,” says O’Donnell, who anticipates a May 2023 graduation with a degree in communications and integrated marketing. She sometimes finds herself reminding peers to have patience—that an office employee taking the time to give a correct answer is better than someone rushing to provide any answer.
Inside Higher Ed
Lower Completion Rates Among Part-Time Students
By Sara Weissman
A new report from Complete College America, an organization dedicated to raising college degree attainment rates, found that completion rates among part-time students lag behind those of full-time students. The report, released today, analyzed data from the National Center for Education Statistics tracking outcomes for part-time and full-time students. It found that fewer than 20 percent of first-time students who enrolled part-time graduated within eight years at the institution where they started, compared to 46 percent of full-time students. Only a quarter of transfer students who started part-time graduated in that time period, compared to 51 percent of full-time transfer students. Part-time students are also disproportionately older adult learners and students of color, according to the report. Sixty-four percent of students age 25 and older attend college part-time. Almost half of white students enroll part-time, compared to 64 percent of Black students and 68 percent of Hispanic students. The report includes recommendations to campus leaders to better support part-time students, including ensuring course schedules have classes outside work hours and providing short course options so part-time students can earn credentials more quickly.
Higher Ed Dive
Is Biden’s student debt cancellation a moral hazard?
An economist and student loan expert details criticisms of the White House’s debt forgiveness program, calling it ‘a backdoor subsidy’ for colleges.
Rick Seltzer, Senior Editor
President Joe Biden invited plenty of debate Wednesday when he announced an income-capped student loan cancellation plan, which will wipe out as much as $10,000 for most borrowers and $20,000 for federal Pell Grant recipients. Higher ed associations and some college leaders chimed in with support. So did Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. Meanwhile, conservatives castigated the move, with Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina who is ranking member of the House Education and Labor Committee, calling it a ”$300 plus billion transfer of wealth to the 13 percent of Americans who have student loans.” To dive into the substance of critiques — and what they mean for colleges — we spoke with Beth Akers, an economist who is a senior fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Akers coauthored the 2016 book “Game of Loans: The Rhetoric and Reality of Student Debt.”
Higher Ed Dive
Biden administration moves to solidify DACA in federal regulations
Laura Spitalniak, Associate Editor
Dive Brief:
The Biden administration on Wednesday took a regulatory step intended to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Department of Homeland Security released a 453-page final rule designed to protect DACA from legal challenges, which have plagued the program since its inception. The program, which provides protection from deportation to unauthorized immigrants who were brought to the country as children, has been unable to accept new applications since a federal judge ruled it unlawful over a year ago. The rule will formally replace a 2012 memo the Obama administration issued to create DACA. It is set to go into effect Oct. 31.
Politico
Opinion | Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness is Wrong. Here’s How to Handle College Debt Instead.
America has turned higher ed into a lavishly expensive sacred cow, and now we’re all footing the bill. Let’s make college debt boring again.
Opinion by OREN CASS
Today, with the stroke of a pen, President Joe Biden made millions of Americans up to $20,000 richer by excusing them from repayment of money they had borrowed, costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. The recipients aren’t the poorest Americans, the neediest, the unluckiest, the most indebted or those serving our nation most nobly. They qualify, rather, because they borrowed money for college. Politically, it may be savvy to deliver on a key campaign promise to the college-educated base of the Democratic Party. Notably, many of those receiving relief borrowed to finance graduate degrees like JDs and MBAs — a group hardly in need of financial help, but one that will remember this giveaway come November. But from afar, this choice looks absurd. As of June, American households held more than $4.5 trillion in consumer debt (excluding home mortgages), most of which was not student loans.
Diverse Issues in Higher Education
Demystifying the College-Going Process
Liann Herder
Parents want to hear directly from colleges about the true cost of attendance. If institutions can improve their communication with families, they can help to close equity gaps in higher education. That’s the conclusion of EAB’s latest report on student parents, Engaging Students’ #1 Influencer in Recruitment. For over a decade, EAB, an educational consulting firm, has surveyed parents and found the rate of parental influence on college decision has steadily increased. This year’s report surveyed over 2,000 parents and guardians of high school students and found that while all parents are concerned about affordability, Black and Latinx families are the most concerned about finances.
Inside Higher Ed
White House, CDC Meet With College Presidents on Monkeypox
By Meghan Brink
College leaders met with the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday to discuss how colleges can help stop the spread of monkeypox and COVID-19 as students return to campus. The virtual meeting was hosted by the American College Health Association and the American Council on Education and included more than 1,000 stakeholders in higher education, including college presidents, campus health officials and student affairs leadership. White House monkeypox response deputy coordinator Dr. Demetre Daskalakis was also present at the meeting. At the meeting, college leaders asked questions on how to identify and respond to monkeypox cases on campus and protocol for testing, vaccination and treatment.
Higher Ed Dive
Mixed reactions as ABA considers tossing LSAT mandate
Comments are pouring in from law professors, students and test prep companies as the association ponders chucking the exam requirement.
Jeremy Bauer-Wolf, Senior Reporter
The American Bar Association’s proposal to remove requirements that applicants submit entrance exam scores — notably the Law School Admission Test — has so far drawn a mixed reaction from legal professionals and academics. The ABA, which accredits about 200 U.S. law schools, is debating Standard 503 of its policies, which demands institutions use a “valid and reliable” admissions exam. An ABA committee has proposed paring down that standard, giving law schools the opportunity to make admissions testing optional. One of the organization’s governing bodies, the Council of the Section of Legal Education Admissions to the Bar, voted in late May to put the plan out for public comment for 90 days before considering it further.
Inside Higher Ed
Report: Colleges Contribute to a Segregated Workforce
By Sara Weissman
A new report from the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality suggests that higher education contributes to racial and gender segregation in the labor market, because women and students of color are underrepresented in certain fields of study and concentrated in others. The report, released Wednesday, notes that women are less likely than men to enroll in computer sciences or engineering programs and more likely to study health care and education. Students of color similarly tend to enroll in specific fields of study. For example, Black students are overrepresented in health care and underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math majors.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
How Partnerships Can Strengthen — Not Save — Your College
Tips on getting the most out of institutional collaborations.
By Sarah K.A. Pfatteicher
The message comes in to my public email address. It’s often from a campus chief-financial officer or a consultant working on behalf of the institution. We’re considering a new partnership with Campus X down the road, it begins. We want to share courses. Or faculty. Or back-office functions. We want to do what we’ve seen your campuses do. How should we start? Are you available for a one-hour Zoom call to give us advice? I’m the executive director of a longstanding and well-known consortium, and vice president of the board for the premier professional association of consortia. My counterparts at other consortia and I routinely field such emails and calls. Collaboration has been a hot topic in higher-education circles. The Chronicle, for instance, has a research brief on “Stronger Together Than Alone? Assessing College Leaders’ Attitudes Toward Mergers and Other Partnerships,” EY Parthenon issued a report on “Why Collaboration Is Key to the Future of Higher Education,” and a recent repeat episode aired on the Inside Higher Ed podcast The Key on “Mergers and Major Cross-College Collaboration.” These narratives typically share a common arc: Higher education is in crisis, particularly small private colleges, and campuses should explore collaboration as a path to viability and cost savings.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
‘A Historic Moment’: New Guidance Requires Federally Funded Research to Be Open Access
By Megan Zahneis
In a move hailed by open-access advocates, the White House on Thursday released guidance dictating that federally funded research be made freely and immediately available to the public. The Office of Science and Technology Policy’s guidance calls for federal agencies to make taxpayer-supported research publicly available immediately, doing away with an optional 12-month embargo. It also requires the data underlying that research to be published. Federal agencies have until December 31, 2025, to institute the guidance. “The American people fund tens of billions of dollars of cutting-edge research annually. There should be no delay or barrier between the American public and the returns on their investments in research,” Alondra Nelson, head of the office, known as OSTP, said in a news release.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Overzealous Covid Measures Are Hurting Education
Progressives who insist on inflexible rules are playing into the GOP’s hands.
By Natalia Mehlman Petrzela
As the 2022 midterm elections approach, education has arguably never in recent history been higher on the national agenda — or K-12 and higher education more united in the public mind. Much of this is because of a right-wing offensive against what the GOP portrays as radical-left indoctrination by immoral educators, enabled by generally profligate public spending. In response, educators and academics maligned as scheming groomers and elitist grandstanders have come together to defend their professional integrity and articulate the importance of academic freedom. The need to resist such newly vigorous attacks is obvious and urgent. But the midterms also present an opportunity for those of us who work in, and care about, education to do more than play defense. We must also articulate a vibrant vision of educational thriving. The good news is that we can start by addressing a threat over which we have more influence: nearly three years of pandemic policies that are unwittingly undermining the very institutions many progressives purport to champion.