U News 1 | From around the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic region
From the University of Georgia:
The newly launched “Generative AI Student Competition” is co-sponsored by the Provost’s Office, Office of Instruction, and the Center for Teaching and Learning and is facilitated by the Faculty Learning Community as part of its “Innovating with AI: In and Beyond the Classroom.”
According to the announcement, all currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are eligible to submit work solo or in collaborative groups. Multidisciplinary group submissions are highly encouraged. Students may utilize work started for class assignments on the condition that the revised project is not then re-submitted as part of a class portfolio, unless the instructor has agreed in writing that the student or students may re-use this work.
Submissions are due March 22. Monetary prizes and swag will be awarded to the top three submissions, judged according to the innovative use of artificial intelligence, creativity, impact on the local community or the lived experience of UGA community members, and clearly stated documentation of the project’s development process.
From the University of South Carolina:
A person whose name should be familiar to longtime University of Tennessee (UT) staffers has been hired as Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO), beginning March 1.
John “Brice” Bible Jr., currently Vice President and CIO at the University at Buffalo, joins Columbia-based university after careers at UT where he served as CIO from 2003 to 2007. Bible moved in 2007 to Ohio University where he served for nearly seven years as the first enterprise-wide CIO before joining the University at Buffalo, a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, in late 2013. In total, he brings 24 years of information technology leadership to the University of South Carolina.
Bible earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and an MBA with an emphasis in business data communications from UT at Chattanooga.
From Virginia State University:
The Petersburg-based institution has announced what it describes as “a transformative partnership” with MedCerts, a leading provider of entry-level training programs. The collaboration aims to enrich educational opportunities for Virginia State University (VSU) students and residents across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
MedCerts, with its wealth of industry expertise and real-world experience, will play a pivotal role in ensuring that certificate programs offered through this partnership remain current and relevant to the rapidly evolving healthcare and information technology sectors. Overall, the partnership signifies a significant step forward in creating a seamless pathway for students to acquire specialized knowledge and skills in high-demand fields. VSU students now have access to more than 35 fully online short-term training programs leading to single credentials and dual certificate programs.
From the University of Virginia:
Founded with the mission to catalyze UVA alumni’s engagement in burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystems, CAV Angels has become a driving force behind the growth of University of Virginia’s (UVA) start-up community and student exposure to venture-quality deal flow.
In the 10 days leading up to the Christmas holidays, the angel group announced investments of more than $1 million in three promising ventures: One Health Group, Alfie Health, and Clockwork. “This rapid injection of capital not only defies the prevailing venture capital slowdown but also positions CAV Angels as a steadfast, crucial supporter of UVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” the fund announced.
Those investments also brought CAV Angels portfolio to 50 companies. In addition, the fund added its 150th full accredited investor member and surpassed $20 million invested in the UVA entrepreneurial ecosystem.
From the University of West Georgia:
The University recently named Raja Bhattacharya, who brings years of higher education and leadership experience, as the inaugural director of the Stone Center for Family Business, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. One of the key highlights of the Stone Center’s offerings is its support for students through programming such as Entrepreneurship Week and the Wolf Den Pitch Competition. These initiatives not only bolster the entrepreneurial spirit among University of West Georgia students but also provide them with valuable opportunities to engage with local business leaders who have successfully launched their ventures.
Bhattacharya, an MBA graduate from Western Kentucky University, brings two decades of experience in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems for institutions like Columbia College and Northampton Community College. His professional journey also includes founding a start-up and collaborating with organizations like the Kauffman Foundation and the Ben Franklin TechVentures.
