Despite a snowstorm that never came that shut down about every major campus in metro Atlanta for a day last week, it was still a busy week for many colleges and universities in Georgia.
Here’s our weekly updates of what happened On Campus.
Questions surrounding Regents appointments
Nathan Deal's 64 appointments to various boards, including three to the state's Board of Regents, before he left the governor's mansion last month were not properly submitted to the state Senate, says new Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan. A former Deal aide said the office followed proper procedure. It's a very technical dispute. Read more about it here.
Ladies first and second at KSU
Kennesaw State University President Pamela Whitten announced last week she has appointed Kathy “Kat” Schwaig as its provost, putting women in the top two positions at Georgia’s third-largest public university. Schwaig joined the faculty in 2002 and has been dean of KSU’s Michael J. Coles College of Business since 2012. KSU has women in several leadership positions, such as vice presidents for research, government affairs, legal affairs and chief auditor. Schwaig starts in her new role on Feb. 18.
Needs-based aid
The Georgia Legislature passed a bill last year aimed at providing needs-based aid, money for students from low-income households to attend college. The bill, though, did not provide a clear funding mechanism. Georgia and New Hampshire are the only states without a needs-based funding program for college students, some experts say. The AJC explored the issue, discussing it with students, state lawmakers and education analysts. Check it out here.
Sorority makes financial commitment to Georgia’s public HBCUs
The nation's historically black colleges and universities have historically been shortchanged by foundations and even alumni. The AJC recently reported an uptick in funding in recent years, fueled by the support of celebs like Beyonce. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the nation's oldest female African-American sorority, took center stage on the check-writing front last week, announcing it will give $1.6 million this month to nearly three dozen historically black colleges and universities nationwide, including three in Georgia. The sorority will give Albany State, Fort Valley State and Savannah State universities $50,000 a piece in the first round of funding in Chicago at the end of the month. The sorority has pledged to contribute $10 million to 96 accredited HBCUs over the next four years.
Former president hopes to support new leadership program
Georgia Southwestern State University's most famous former student has lent his name and support to a student leadership program starting this fall on the campus. Former President Jimmy Carter, who studied there in the 1940s, hopes to help the program that will bear his name. Students selected for the program will get scholarships. They are required to complete a project before completing the program.
State of UGA
It doesn't have the pomp and political partisanship of a presidential State of the Union address, but last week's state of the University of Georgia speech by its president was closely watched by many on campus. President Jere Morehead laid out plans last week to launch an "innovation district" to help students and faculty successfully complete research programs. Saying "this is our moment to accelerate," Morehead announced plans for a mentor in residence program to help faculty and students work on commercial ventures, an innovation fellows program to assist faculty with their research and added the process is underway to set aside land for the district. Morehead also discussed efforts to improve the academic experience for first-generation, rural and historically-underserved students, particularly African-Americans. UGA has received mixed grades for recruit those types of students.
Treatment of animals in research under scrutiny
Some organizations are calling out some of Georgia campuses for how animals are treated during research. An animal rights group said a $10,000 fine by the federal government against Emory University for three violations wasn't stiff enough. The group, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, also recently criticized animal research violations against Morehouse School of Medicine. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed a complaint to a federal agency last week about the medical school.
Could Georgia’s colleges and universities soon see fewer students?
More than a half-million students attend Georgia's campuses, many of them who attended public schools in the state. After years of recent enrollment increases, thanks in part to more people moving to Georgia, there are signs we could soon see that change. Education reporter Ty Tagami recently explored the issue in this week's AJC Education Notebook. Read more about it here.
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