The number of confirmed COVID-19 rose significantly on many Georgia college campuses this week as more schools began fall semester classes.
Surprise, some sarcastically said who argued against holding in-person classes.
What troubled many was the disregard many students had for social distancing recommendations, such as gathering in large groups without wearing a face mask.
Here’s the latest on this and other matters on our latest AJC On Campus roundup.
The COVID-19 numbers
“The students that are going back to campus right now -- they’ve got to stop having these large, isolated off-campus or on-campus gatherings that are helping create the spread. We’ve got to also have a discussion about, if those things are happening, sending those kids back home to their communities is just going to further the spread.”
Those words came from Gov. Brian Kemp during a radio interview this week. Kemp and the presidents of University System of Georgia schools have pushed for some return to in-person classes this semester. Critics argued for the schools to go to online learning. Georgia College reported 62 confirmed cases Thursday, the highest single-day total released by any school. Georgia Tech reported 17 cases at a Greek life house last weekend and another 51 cases Sunday. Some colleges aren’t posting the numbers. Neither are some public school systems, which many say makes it difficult to determine the severity of the situation on these campuses. Stay tuned.
Students plead for tuition cuts
Several private colleges and universities in the Atlanta area switched to online learning this semester, saying the number of COVID-19 cases is too high at this point to bring students back on campus. Students understand the precaution, but they are not happy about paying the same tuition for an online education. Here’s our report on the matter.
Agnes Scott president released from hospital
Credit: undefined
Credit: undefined
Here’s some uplifting coronavirus news. Agnes Scott College President Leocadia “Lee” Zak was released from the hospital last week after a bout with COVID-19. She’s resting comfortably at home, officials at the women’s college in Decatur said.
Morehouse benefactor’s legal troubles
Credit: Steve Schaefer
Credit: Steve Schaefer
News reports surfaced late last week that Robert F. Smith, the benefactor who paid off student loans for Morehouse College’s 2019 graduating class, is under investigation for failing to pay taxes on about $200 million in assets. Smith, reportedly, is hoping to resolve the case with a civil settlement instead of a criminal conviction. Here’s our report from last year about how his gift was being handled by Morehouse and Smith.
Morehouse grant
Morehouse College last week announced it has received a $9 million grant from the National Science Foundation as a founding partner of the HBCU Undergraduate Success Research Center, an initiative designed to increase educational and employment opportunities for minorities interested in science, technology, engineering and math.
Kemp announces funding for Georgia colleges
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday the first allocation of money from a federal program to various Georgia colleges and universities to help them financially through the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The funding includes $11.5 million to the University System of Georgia for mental health and student support services, $10.4 million to the Technical College System of Georgia for its eCampus initiative, a program to provide in-demand online courses and programs to students and $10 million for the Georgia Independent Colleges Association COVID-19 relief fund. Kemp noted the association includes several Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
There’s an app for HBCU’s
Credit: undefined
Credit: undefined
Several Historically Black Institutions in Georgia have joined a national effort announced Wednesday to raise money from donors through an app called “HBCU Change.” Organizers hope to raise $1 billion for HBCUs over the next five years. HBCUs have not traditionally received big donations from philanthropic organizations. The Georgia HBCUs involved in the campaign include Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University and Morris Brown College.
Pension troubles on the horizon?
The financial services firm, Moody’s, released a report Wednesday that warned the nation’s public colleges are facing severe pension troubles that could negatively impact how they operate. The aggregate adjusted net pension liability for the nation’s top 25 public colleges and university systems was $149 billion, which exceeded direct debt, the report said. Most public universities Moody’s rates had pension liabilities that exceeded their outstanding total direct debt. State budget cuts and revenue declines due to the coronavirus pandemic are not helping the cause, Moody’s said. State and local governments, including the city of Atlanta, laid off massive numbers of workers during the Great Recession a decade ago because of rising pension liabilities.
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