UWG to Relaunch Women's Tennis Program

Following a nearly 10-year absence, women’s tennis will return as an intercollegiate sport at the University of West Georgia.

Athletics director Daryl Dickey announced plans for UWG’s newest team to begin play during the 2010-2011 season.

“We are very pleased to bring a women’s tennis program back to West Georgia,” said Dickey. “Everyone is excited about the opportunity this brings, and we are all looking forward to fully supporting the program.”

Dr. Michael Ruffner, vice president for university advancement, is enthusiastic about the launch of the new program.

“The new tennis program ... gives us the chance to partner with the community to help make the region a tennis destination,” he said.

West Georgia began competition in women’s tennis during the 1970s. The program moved into the Gulf South Conference during the 1983-84 athletic year, where it remained until being disbanded following an appearance in the 2001 NCAA Regionals.

West Georgia’s most successful season was in 1991. The team captured the GSC title, coach Don Medeiros was named league coach of the year, and three players were named to the All-GSC Team: Stephanie Hicks, Philissa Oliver, and Monica Kamen.

According to Dickey, the search is now beginning to fill the head coaching position for the fledgling program.

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The Princeton Review Ranks Agnes Scott One of the Nation's 50 "Best Value" Colleges

Agnes Scott College has been ranked among the 50 "Best Value" private colleges and universities in America for 2009 by The Princeton Review, publisher of college guidebooks and provider of other education services.

The Best Value Colleges were selected on the basis of surveys conducted with administrators and students at more than 650 public and private schools. The list features a total of 100 schools: 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, cost of attendance and financial aid.

"In these tough economic times, students and families are looking for schools that combine academic quality with reasonable cost. So it’s especially gratifying that Agnes Scott has been recognized as one of the best college values in America," said Elizabeth Kiss, president of Agnes Scott College.

"Those who know Agnes Scott cite its stellar academic quality, lively classrooms, the warmth of our campus community and generous financial aid – and we still cost less than many of our peers. I’m also very proud that Agnes Scott is one of only four women’s colleges to make the list," Kiss said.

Agnes Scott is the only women’s college in the Southeast and the only private college in Georgia on the list. It joins Barnard, Smith and Bryn Mawr among women’s colleges nationwide and Emory, UGA, Georgia Tech and Georgia State College & University among institutions in Georgia.

In its profile of Agnes Scott on USA Today’s website, the editors of The Princeton Review emphasized the strength of Agnes Scott’s academic offerings and the ability of professors to make topics “accessible and interesting,” as well as the school’s “exceptionally beautiful campus,” diverse student body and “bustling vibe.”

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Agnes Scott Announces Lowest Increase in Tuition and Fees in 35 Years

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acknowledging the economic downturn's potential impact on finances for students and families, the Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees has approved the smallest percentage increase in tuition and fees in 35 years.

The overall increase in tuition, mandatory fees and room and board for the 2009-2010 academic year is 2.69 percent, which is approximately half the rate of inflation.

The board also approved a plan to launch several new financial aid initiatives aimed at attracting talented students to the college, including "The Agnes Solution," a program guaranteeing $64,200 in merit aid over four years to students eligible for a Georgia HOPE scholarship.

"Agnes Scott College's newly announced affordability measures powerfully demonstrate private higher education's commitment to staying financially within reach to students and families from all backgrounds during this historic economic downturn," said David L. Warren, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and an Agnes Scott trustee. "I applaud Agnes Scott for taking decisive and innovative steps to help consumers hit hard by the economy."

Traditionally, trustees have approved tuition for the following academic year at their January board meeting, but made the decision earlier this year to give students and parents additional time to plan.

"We realize that some of our students and their families will be struggling in this economy, and we are determined to go the extra mile to keep Agnes Scott affordable," said Agnes Scott President Elizabeth Kiss. "At the same time, we are committed to continuing to provide an outstanding educational experience for our students - small classes with excellent professors and opportunities to pursue research, internships and study abroad. We are not eliminating educational opportunities nor cutting services to students."

Instead, the college is finding new ways to be frugal. "We have delayed some replacement hires and are cutting back on discretionary expenditures, replacing holiday cards with an e-card and canceling the big tent rental for graduation," said Kiss. "In times like these, we need to concentrate on our essentials -- our people, our educational quality and our core values."

Agnes Scott will continue to offer generous financial aid to assist students who have demonstrated need, Kiss emphasized. In addition, the financial aid office will run special workshops designed to assist students in preparing financial aid forms and loan applications for next year.

"Some people still have the misperception that private colleges are only for the wealthy," Kiss said. "In fact, with students from all across the socio-economic spectrum, including one third who receive federal Pell grants for low-income families, Agnes Scott is far more socio-economically diverse than many public universities. We work hard to help families pay for college. And in tough economic times, we work even harder."

"Our generous financial aid policies, combined with the high quality of the education we provide, have made Agnes Scott the top-ranked college in the Southeast -- and number 16 nationally -- in the 'Great Schools, Great Prices' category in the U.S. News & World Report rankings this year," she added.

Agnes Scott's stated tuition covers about half the actual cost of educating a student at the college. The difference between tuition and the college's expenses is funded by income from the endowment and gifts to the college.

The college's budgetary strategies are to maintain balanced budgets, focus on strategic initiatives and aggressively pursue efficiencies and opportunities to "work smart." As a charter signatory of the College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, Agnes Scott takes seriously its efforts to "reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink" the college's daily operations, said Kiss, noting that many of these sustainability initiatives -- from energy retrofits to a printer cartridge recycling program -- save the college money and serve its ongoing commitment to affordability.

"Ultimately," she added, "the heart of our strategy is to help our students stay in college and to persuade more applicants to consider Agnes Scott." The college's new financial aid initiatives are key to that strategy. These include a new $3,000 Agnes Advantage Award to subsidize study abroad, internships or mentored research that will be offered to top students in the college's applicant pool. "The Agnes Solution" will guarantee Georgia students who are eligible for a HOPE scholarship $15,300 per year in merit aid along with a one-time $3,000 Agnes Advantage Award. This $64,200 aid package, combined with state HOPE and TEG grants, will provide up to $83,000 during a student's four years at Agnes Scott.

"These are exciting new programs for talented young women who want the choice of attending an independent liberal arts college," said Dean of Admission Lee Ann Afton. "We've always known the lifelong 'value-added' of attending a school like Agnes Scott. Now, the college is making this opportunity more affordable for students and their families."

Founded in 1889 and located in metropolitan Atlanta, Agnes Scott College is an independent national liberal arts college for women. The college's mission is to educate women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times.

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Georgia State University Announces 2008 Bergeron Scholarship Recipients

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business today announced this year’s recipients of the Bergeron Women in Technology Leadership Scholarship. The 2008 recipients are Jessica Wrenn, senior; Melissa Lamoureux, senior; Kia Rainey, senior; Tamara Roper, junior; and Catherine Mickle, sophomore.

“We recognize the value of fostering women in technology to enhance the diversity of the industry’s leadership,” said Sandra Bergeron, chairman of the mentorship committee. Congratulations to our winners who will bring a wealth of talent and possibility to our field.”

The scholarship-mentorship program provides for a paid tuition award and a one-on-one mentorship relationship between each recipient and an individual leader from the technology industry. The program is funded through a $1 million endowment made by Sandra and Doug Bergeron to the university’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

“The Bergeron Scholarship recognizes significant academic achievement and creates a unique opportunity for the winners,” said Fenwick Huss, Dean of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business. “We are grateful to Sandra and Doug Bergeron for their foresight in establishing the funds that make the award possible.”

Sandra Bergeron, a graduate of Georgia State University, is one of the most highly regarded female technology leaders in Silicon Valley. Mrs. Bergeron currently serves as chairman of the board of TraceSecurity, Inc. and also serves as a director of ArcSight Inc., Qualys Inc., TriCipher Inc and is a Venture Advisor to Trident Capital. Mrs. Bergeron's national reputation as a computer security thought leader has earned her several distinctions. She has testified before Congress on how government and private industry can better prepare for virus attacks and has served on the Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security and Technology.

Douglas Bergeron is the CEO and primary individual shareholder of VeriFone Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PAY). Mr. Bergeron is also a member of the Listed Company Advisory Committee of NYSE Euronext.

VeriFone, based in San Jose, California, is the world’s largest provider of electronic payments systems and employs more than 300 high technology professionals in Georgia.

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