College administrators have spent a lot of time in recent weeks determining how to deal with the coronavirus as federal officials urge against travel to some nations with study abroad programs. Here’s the latest on this and other news in the latest edition of AJC On Campus.
Georgia colleges grapple with coronavirus
Several colleges and universities have halted study abroad courses in several countries where federal health officials have raised concerns about the coronavirus. Some schools, such as Agnes Scott and Morehouse, have halted upcoming study abroad courses. A few schools have asked students currently overseas to self-quarantine. Here's our report about how students are being impacted.
About those Spring Break plans
Georgia Tech sent a message Tuesday to student families asking them to ensure their children act cautiously concerning Spring Break travel plans. Spring Break is this week for a few schools and takes place next week for others. The message doesn’t mention the coronavirus, but some colleges and universities across the nation are urging students not to travel overseas for Spring Break due to fears about the outbreak.
Dual enrollment changes
Credit: JESSICA MCGOWAN / Special
Credit: JESSICA MCGOWAN / Special
Georgia's House of Representatives on Tuesday passed House Bill 444, which would limit state-funded college courses for high school students to 30 credit hours. Republicans led the effort to make the changes, saying the costs for the popular program have skyrocketed in recent years as enrollment increases. The Georgia Senate passed the bill in late January. Here's more about the changes.
In other legislative news...
The American Civil Liberties Union is leading the charge against House Bill 995, which aims at allowing greater access for organizations to speak and hand out information on Georgia's public college campuses. The ACLU and Democrats worry some groups with discriminatory policies may have access to campus. Several conservative organizations and some students pushed back against the concerns Monday at a House committee meeting.
A personal fight against campus hazing
The parents of Max Gruver, a Roswell student who died from fraternity hazing after enrolling at LSU in 2017, testified Monday before a legislative committee in support of Senate Bill 423, which would increase jail time for students convicted of hazing that results in a student's death. Here's a report about their campaign.
The HBCU “paradox”
United Negro College Fund President & CEO Michael Lomax spoke about a "paradox" concerning funding for historically black colleges and universities in his "State of the HBCU" address Tuesday. There's bipartisan support for the schools, yet "despite all of that bipartisan support HBCUs have always been woefully underfunded...and in 2020, we are still badly underfunded," Lomax, the former chairman of Fulton County's board of commissioners, said in his speech. While Lomax applauded the recent adoption of the FUTURE Act, which provides $85 million to HBCUs, he renewed the UNCF's call for a $1 billion grant for infrastructure projects and doubling federal Pell grants. Lomax also asked foundations to increase donations to HBCUs, noting the disparity in large gifts to those schools. There are nine accredited HBCUs in Georgia, five in Atlanta.
UGA student named to state board
College students often complain elected officials don’t seek their input. Well, there’s one University of Georgia student who will be heard. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday announced he’s named UGA student Ethan Pender to the Georgia Commission on Service and Volunteerism. Pender has served two terms as the chairman of the College Republicans at UGA. He also serves as attorney general in UGA’s Student Government Association, administering all student elections.
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