Most Georgia colleges and universities have ended their classwork for the semester, a few have held commencement ceremonies, but there was still plenty of news in recent days. Students who receive the HOPE Scholarship should be particularly happy. Several headlines came from the University of Georgia.
Here’s a round-up of it all in this week’s AJC On Campus.
Dual enrollment & HOPE Scholarship changes
The Georgia Student Finance Commission voted Friday for changes that aim to keep as many students as possible in its popular, but increasingly expensive, dual enrollment program. The commission will have colleges and universities offering the courses pay for books and fees to plug a projected $25 million budget gap. The board also voted to increase how much money HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship recipients will get this fall. Here's an article about the changes.
HOPE eligibility changes
Speaking of the HOPE Scholarship, Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill Thursday extending the eligibility of students receiving it from seven to 10 years. The extension was done to help students who temporarily end their academic careers for various reasons.
Vince Dooley’s new honor
We told you there was plenty of news from Athens, so here we go. The University of Georgia athletic association's board of directors last week unanimously endorsed naming the field at Sanford Stadium in honor of former UGA head football coach and former athletics department director Vince Dooley. AJC politics reporter Greg Bluestein, a UGA alum, wrote the inside story about Gov. Brian Kemp's push to name the field after Dooley and the role of state Board of Regents member Don Leebern in the effort.
UGA bars professor from campus
The news wasn't all good in Athens. Longtime math professor William Kazez has been barred from campus as the University of Georgia investigates sexual misconduct allegations against him, the school announced Friday. Here's more about the situation.
UGA clears teaching assistant
Speaking of UGA educators, a three-member panel of students ruled Monday that teaching assistant Irami Osei-Frimpong, pursuing his doctoral degree in philosophy, did not violate the university's code of conduct after an anonymous complaint in January raised concerns he falsely filled out his graduate school application. The complaint came a few days after a video posted of Osei-Frimpong, who is African-American, made remarks critics said advocated violence against whites. Here's a story about the decision.
UGA meets scholarship goal ahead of schedule
The University of Georgia said it has reached its goal of creating more than 400 needs-based scholarships. The impressive part, they said, is UGA met the goal 13 months ahead of schedule. UGA President Jere Morehead announced an effort in January 2017 to match any gifts of $50,000, $75,000 or $100,000 for scholarships. Donors included business titans such as Arthur Blank, Pete Correll and Tom Cousins and ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, an alumna who will give the keynote address at UGA’s undergraduate commencement on Friday. UGA noted more than $3 million in match money is still available to create additional scholarships. Donors, they’re waiting on you.
Beware of fake Airbnb postings
Airbnb on Wednesday warned people booking lodging through its service for the University of Georgia's commencement ceremonies this week to be careful to avoid potential scammers posing as the company. Read more here about the situation and some tips they suggested before you book a place to stay in Athens before commencement.
Commencement season
Speaking of commencements, Clayton State University and Georgia Tech last weekend were among the first group of schools to celebrate its students who are graduating this semester. Here's a breakdown of commencement speakers at some area schools and profiles of six students who will get their degrees.
College presidential musical chairs
Two college presidents, Oglethorpe University's Larry Schall and the ITC's Rev. Edward L. Wheeler, announced their departure plans. Here's a breakdown of the current and impending presidential searches.
Georgia Tech’s new center
Georgia Tech on Wednesday afternoon is opening its new Cobb County Research Facility South Campus. The property was formerly owned by the Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Corporation. The school has said the campus will bring in 500 jobs over the next decade with an average pay of $100,000 per year. The AJC previously reported the campus is expected to accelerate Georgia Tech's research work in areas such as national security and homeland defense.
More women in charge at KSU
We previously told you about Kennesaw State University’s recent hires of women in key positions there. The university recently announced two more women appointed to top jobs. KSU’s first year president, Pamela Whitten, tapped University System of Georgia Executive Vice Chancellor of Administration Tricia Chastain to lead Kennesaw State’s administrative units. Chastain was scheduled to start on Monday. Whitten announced Tuesday that Sylvia Carey-Butler, vice chancellor for academic support of inclusive excellence at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, will become KSU’s chief diversity officer, effective July 29.
Education Notebook
AJC Gwinnett County education reporter Arlinda Smith Broady had a first-hand experience about finding the right college through her son. Here's her account of that process and advice for high school graduates.
