Thousands of college students and higher education leaders are visiting the Atlanta region this week for various industry conferences. Sorry in advance about the pollen. Here’s a little more about those events and other happenings at some Georgia colleges and universities as part of this week’s AJC On Campus.
Medical school diversity conference
Last fall, the AJC explored why there are so few African-Americans, particularly men, in the nation's medical schools. Less than two percent of the nation's medical school students are African-American men, according to some research. The American Medical Association, Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine are hosting a conference with the goal of training more doctors with racial and ethnic backgrounds more reflective of the communities they serve. Leaders from about three dozen medical schools are expected.
Kennesaw State hosts major research conference
It might be difficult finding a vacant hotel room in some parts of Cobb County later this week. About 4,000 students and researchers are visiting Kennesaw State University starting Thursday for the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. University officials say it will be the largest event ever held there. There are countless workshops and sessions on everything from Visual Arts to Biochemical Pathway Dynamics to the influence of Islam on Developing British Empire. The program is a whopping 364 pages.
AJC investigates KSU’s questionable research ties with firm
The Consumer Credit Research Foundation, a group run by a payday loan industry backer, gave Kennesaw State University $30,000 a few years ago to do a paper that concluded borrowers who take out a long string of payday loans fare better than those who don't. The research surprised many since payday loans are considered so hazardous to borrowers that they're banned within state lines. The lead researcher said her work was independent, but records show the payday loan backer had extensive control. Click here to read more about the situation.
She’s hired
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The Georgia Board of Regents voted Friday to make Jann Luciana Joseph the next president of Georgia Gwinnett College. Joseph was interim chancellor of Indiana University’s South Bend campus. Joseph starts her new job on July 1.
Fort Valley State University team wins innovation prize
A team of Fort Valley State University students came up with a pretty good idea that helped them win a recent competition against other Georgia students. A retractable extension cord located in a wall socket. The Fort Valley team won the first Georgia Inventure Prize Competition, hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The prize is a competition for college students that aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and start-up creation. The other finalists were from Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, the University of North Georgia and Southern Regional Technical College.
Fort Valley State indictments
A former Fort Valley State University official and six men, some with prominent positions in the area, were indicted Friday by Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for prostitution and pimping. The investigation began about a year ago, stirring largely unfounded rumors on social media about any involvement among students and faculty. To read more about the indictments, click here.
Georgia State’s big grant
The Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded Georgia State University a $3.75 million grant to address health disparities affecting America's refugee and migrant communities. The GSU center, which will be based at the university's Perimeter College campus in the city of Clarkston - fondly known as the "Ellis Island of the South." Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine also received prevention research grants.
Remembering Spelman’s Jack H. Stone
Longtime Spelman College associate economics professor Jack H. Stone died last month, the Atlanta women’s college announced. He was a part of the department for 44 years, mentoring and often donating his travel funds for conferences. “His facial expressions were the best—saying a lot without saying anything at all. It was truly an honor to have Dr. Stone as a colleague,” the college’s Economics Department said in a statement.
> IN THE NEWS: Morehouse College approves transgender admissions policy
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