Education

B2B Stories

Grade Inflation Update: One Win, One Loss, One Potentially Good Idea

In November of last year, I wrote a column in which I expressed my concern that grade inflation is running rampant across our college campuses. Last week, Harvard’s administration and faculty took action, as 70% of the faculty voted to cap the number of A’s given to undergraduates to about 20% per class. This is certainly a step in the right direction, although since A- grades will not be capped, the full intent of stemming grade inflation may be somewhat muted. I addressed the negative impact grade inflation can have on

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B2B Stories

CSRA Auto expert to lead workforce initiative and report to Georgia lawmakers

The planned Jim Hudson Automotive Institute for Augusta Technical College is celebrating two awards, one monetary and one for an instructor. Christopher Davis, an Automotive Technology instructor and department chair, was selected as the statewide winner of the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction. It is the highest honor a technical college instructor can receive in Georgia. The recognition comes with a $2,500 prize, and Davis will be a representative for technical education for the next year, including appearances before the General Assembly. Davis told ABD he is

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B2B Stories

Georgia’s Governor signs his final budget with HUGE cuts

Gov. Brian Kemp (R) put his signature on a budget plan for FY 2027, marking the eighth and final time he will do so. Kemp is wrapping up his second term in office. Prior to signing the budget bill, Kemp cut $300 million in new spending to keep it in balance at $36.6 billion. Kemp said the cuts were necessary to address changes in anticipated revenue following his approval of the personal income tax cuts and property tax cap. Kemp said the cuts he made were to what he called

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B2B Stories

Welcoming students to A.U.

Augusta University celebrated the opening of its new Welcome Center. It is attached to the Student Center on the Health Sciences campus. It will serve as a central point for visitors and students and will support recruitment efforts. Campus tours will now depart from the addition. Dr Susan Davies, Executive Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs, told the standing room only crowd attending the ribbon cutting that the idea of the welcome center dates back to a consultant’s recommendation in 2019. “Our presentation room in the Benet House only

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B2B Stories

Student (and Employee) Success: Nurtured, but Earned

Since graduating from high school nearly 50 years ago, I have spent about 40 of them on college campuses, with almost 30 of them as a business school faculty member and/or administrator. Much has changed in higher education in that time, and in my opinion, mostly for the better. However, in recent months, I have heard from many colleagues, particularly “Baby Boomers” (born 1945-1964) like me and Gen Xers (born 1965-1980), that the higher education value to students is eroding, and I think they have a point as well.   However,

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B2B Stories

Companies use golf and laptops to interest CSRA kids

The timing of the Masters golf tournament certainly helped a pair of technology companies to influence future leaders. Students were part of an interactive, STEM – based Putt-Putt activity to inspire learning. AT&T partnered with Compu adopt, and the nonprofit learned fresh to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta. 100 refurbished laptops were donated, along with a $25,000 community investment to support the AT&T Connected Learning Center at the club.  “Access to technology and digital tools is essential to how our students learn in today’s world. We appreciate

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B2B Stories

Examining the state of education in Georgia

Individuals at the forefront of post-secondary education participated in a State of Higher Education summit. It was organized by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Featured speakers included Chancellor Sonny Perdue, University System of Georgia; Commissioner Greg Dozier, Technical College System of Georgia; and Jenna Colvin, President of the Georgia Independent College Association. (Photo Caption) From left to right: Daniela Perry, Executive Director of the Georgia Chamber Foundation; Commissioner Greg Dozier, Technical College System of Georgia; Jenna Colvin, President of the

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B2B Stories

March Mini-MBA: Essentials of Supply Chains

Class is now in session for the third week of Augusta Business Daily’s Mini-MBA for the month of March. Hopefully, you found our first two lessons, “Competing on Quality” and “Effectively Managing Inventory,” beneficial as you run your business.    For those of us who teach Supply Chain Management (SCM), events of the recent weeks (Iran), recent months (tariffs), and recent years (pandemic, bridge collapses, hurricanes) have given us plenty to discuss in our classes.  I will also discuss their importance in today’s column. However, before looking into those events, it

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B2B Stories

Mini-MBA: Managing Inventory

Publisher’s Note: Do you have a Costco membership off the Riverwatch Parkway? The Gordons do through our company. My wife loves it, and though I enjoy the experience—there is a certain level of frustration. Dr. Rick Franza continues his “Mini-MBA” lesson with a look at how the pros and cons of a Costco membership are tied to the all-important inventory juggle. Welcome to the second weekly lesson in the “Mini-MBA” I promised you in this column for the month of March. We kicked off the Mini-MBA last week with a

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B2B Stories

Good Deeds: Benefactors List Released

Publisher’s Note: On Monday, our Dana Lynn McIntyre reported on a story about different organizations and companies providing $260,000 in scholarships that were distributed by the Aiken Technical College Foundation to 200 students. ATC provided the list of benefactors to ABD below. Aiken County Community Association (ACCA) Aiken Lions Club Aiken Masonic Lodge 156 AFM Aiken Newcomers Club Aiken Performing Arts Aiken Sertoma Club Alfred F. Endler, Jr.  Endowment Angela Crosby Wicker Endowment Ashley J. Little Family Endowment Aiken Technical College Aiken Technical College Faculty Aiken Technical College President Aiken

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