Several area colleges and universities spent the last week announcing partnerships with each other or with various organizations. The past week also contained some news about some desired splits; one proposal from the nation’s top education official and another by some Georgia State students.
Here’s a breakdown of it all, and some other issues, in the latest installment of AJC On Campus.
Morehouse grads heed donor’s call
Credit: The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Credit: The Atlanta Journal Constitution
Billionaire investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith challenged the Morehouse College class of 2019 to pay it forward when he announced he would pay the student debt for every graduate. The message was apparently received. The 2019 class had more students - 73 - who donated to the college on Giving Tuesday, more than any graduating class, Morehouse said. The college raised $828,918, easily surpassing last year’s Giving Tuesday total of $226,590.
Goizueta Foundation writes big checks to Emory & Agnes Scott
The Goizueta Foundation has made major contributions to two area institutions in recent days. The foundation last week gave Emory University’s business school $30 million, the largest gift its ever received, for various classroom initiatives. On Monday, Agnes Scott College announced the foundation is giving $2.7 million for programs that include digital skills bootcamps, increased access to career coaching and a program for students to explore hands-on experiences in Atlanta-area organizations.
TCSG academies
The Technical College System of Georgia has approved $6 million in grants to create new College and Career Academies in Catoosa County and Muscogee counties. Georgia Northwestern Technical College will partner with Catoosa County Schools to establish the From Here to Career Academy and Columbus Technical College will partner with Muscogee County Schools to establish the Jordan Vocational High School College and Career Academy. More than 30,000 students are already enrolled in College and Career Academies statewide.
Georgia State students want statue removed
A group of Georgia State University students co-signed an editorial written by the student newspaper demanding Atlanta city leaders remove a statue of Henry Grady from a downtown street. The students cite writings by Grady they describe as racist. No response thus far by the city.
UGA professor retires, blocked from parts of campus
The University of Georgia announced last week that math professor William Kazez retired, effective Dec. 1, after an investigation into sexual misconduct claims against him. Kazez is prohibited from math department facilities and other locations on campus. Read more here.
The newest BFFs
Augusta and Clark Atlanta universities are about 160 miles apart, but they have recently joined in two partnerships. One partnership focused on cancer research. The other, announced last week, focuses on cyber technology. Here's our report.
Student loan operator changes?
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos pitched an idea last week to have her office no longer be directly involved in managing student aid, moving its management to a standalone government corporation with oversight from an “apolitical” board.
“A separate FSA would be better positioned to deliver world-class service to students and their families as they finance higher education,” DeVos said in a speech at a conference in Nevada. “It would manage the student loan portfolio and work to secure its financial strength and sustainability. And it would do all the things it’s been charged to do — only far better.”
Cory Booker’s HBCU plan
Democratic presidential candidate Cory Booker last week introduced a $100 billion plan, the largest yet, to support historically black colleges and universities. The plan would upgrade facilities, increase education in science, technology, engineering and math and double Pell grant funding. There are nine accredited HBCUs in Georgia.
The commencement speakers
Thousands of students will graduate this month, and some Georgia colleges and universities are trying to make sure they get a great sendoff. Here are some of the commencement speakers:
Clayton State: Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley
Georgia Southern: Journalist Laura Harris
Georgia Tech: Boeing Co. executive Ted Colbert III
Reinhardt University: Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds
Savannah State: Georgia Board of Regent Sarah-Elizabeth Langford Reed
University of Georgia: Georgia Board of Regent Kessel D. Stelling Jr.
University of North Georgia: Georgia Board of Regent Sachin Shailendra
Carpool karaoke, Georgia Tech style
Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera belted out some of his favorite tunes during a ride on campus last week. Check it out here.
About the Author
