The first week of classes was a test in crisis management for two Atlanta schools last week. Four female students - two from Clark Atlanta University and two from Spelman College - were wounded in a shooting during an unauthorized outdoor “welcome back to school” party near the campuses the night before classes started. The incident raised questions about campus safety.
Here’s our look at that incident and other matters in our weekly AJC On Campus round-up.
Atlanta University Center schools ramp up security after shooting
Last week's shooting at an unsanctioned welcome back to school block party near the Atlanta University Center has resulted in some changes, such as Clark Atlanta University requiring its officers to work 12-hour shifts. Two of its students were wounded in the shooting as were two Spelman College students. None of the students had life-threatening injuries, but it has started a conversation about security on and around the center and other Georgia campuses. Student leaders met Sunday and are planning discussions with administrators.
Federal government to remove student loan debt barriers for disabled vets
For years, disabled military veterans who defaulted on their student loans could seek redress from the federal government to wipe out the debt, but it was a cumbersome process. President Trump signed an order last week that aims to remove the red tape. “America must never abandon our heroes in their hour of need," he said. There are about 25,000 disabled military veterans who have defaulted on their student loans, according to the American Council on Education.
Enrollment up again at Georgia’s largest schools
Some state education leaders have warned enrollment in Georgia’s colleges and universities may decline in the near future as other states have reported a drop in attendance. For now, there’s no decline, according to initial reports from the four largest public institutions in the state. Georgia State, which has been the largest university in the Peach State for several years, said its fall enrollment is a record, with more than 53,000 students. The University of Georgia, which has the second-largest enrollment in the state, said there are about 5,500 new students on campus this fall. There were 5,180 first-year students on campus last fall. Kennesaw State, which had the third-largest enrollment last year, said about 6,500 first-year students have enrolled there this semester, the largest first-year class in the university’s history. Georgia Tech, fourth among state schools with 33,000 students, announced its 3,100 first-year students is its largest such class ever. The University System of Georgia usually releases official totals in October.
KSU aims to better support students in need
Credit: Alyssa Pointer
Credit: Alyssa Pointer
Nearly one-half of Kennesaw State University students borrow money to attend classes there and university officials last week launched an effort to help students when they encounter financial difficult on campus. KSU, which has about 35,000 students, has created a website, financialhardship.kennesaw.edu, that aims to match students with a case manager within 48 hours who will direct them to financial and other university resources or within the community. "Many times, we find students in need by happenstance," said Marcy Stidum, director of KSU's Campus Awareness, Resource and Empowerment (CARE) Services, the unit that supports students who are dealing with homelessness, food insecurity and/or the foster care system. "Some are being pushed from one part of the university to another, and this website will allow us to streamline services and provide a user-friendly space to address financial hardships among our struggling students." The website includes information for students who may need an emergency loan, scholarships or food.
What’s in an education name?
Plenty, apparently. The College Board announced Tuesday it's changing the name of an initiative that gave colleges information about the high schools and neighborhoods of prospective students. The College Board, best known for putting together the SAT, initially called it the "Environmental Context Dashboard." Some reporters called it the "adversity score." Others had questions about the purpose for the dashboard and wondered if it was used to deter admissions. The College Board is now calling it "Landscape" and says the information will be available for anyone who wants to see it. We'll see if the accessibility will quiet the controversy surrounding it.
Five years and counting
Morehouse School of Medicine President Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice recently marked her fifth anniversary at the Atlanta school. Here's our report.
Clayton State’s new master’s program
The supply and demand of higher education has resulted in one university offering a degree in supply chain analytics, the flow of goods and services. Clayton State University will launch the degree program this spring, the school announced last week. Officials there said Clayton State is the first Georgia school to offer this type of master’s degree. Students in the supply chain analytics program will take courses in logistics, operations, global sourcing, and managerial economics. Georgia’s political leaders have nudged educators to offer more courses in supply chain management because business leaders say it’s a high-paid, high-growth industry.
Education Notebook
Marlon A. Walker, who reports on the public school system in DeKalb County, took a look at how officials there promote plans for large, sales tax-funded construction projects, better known as E-SPLOST, and criticism of the process. Click here to read more.
