Both sides are touting victory following the trial between former VSU president Dr. Ronald Zaccari and former VSU student Hayden Barnes. A federal jury in Atlanta ruled that Dr. Zaccari violated Barnes’ rights to due process. The court decided that Dr. Zaccari must pay $50,000 with a 15-percent annual interest increase in addition to all court fees. “I am pleased ...

 Public colleges and universities across the state may feel a pinch in their pocketbooks—or a possible raise—related not to sheer student numbers, but their levels of student achievement.   On Monday, a plan was proposed that would alter the way that Georgia colleges and universities receive state funding.  Currently, funding is distributed in relation to a school’s enrollment and student ...

Shortly after 10 a.m. today, Dr. Bill McKinney, VSU president, informed University employees of former VSU president Dr. Hugh C. Bailey’s death via email. “It is with great sadness that I inform the Valdosta State University family of the death of Dr. Hugh C. Bailey, sixth president of Valdosta State,” the email read. “Serving from 1978-2001, Dr. Bailey's legacy on our campus is apparent not only in its physical structure, but also in its spirit of strong community that we all value so highly.”

A VSU psychology professor will be unable to return to the classroom for the rest of semester after being struck by a car while on a morning bike ride Monday. Dr. Mark Whatley, associate professor of psychology, was riding south down Inner Perimeter road near Jaycee Shack Road at 6:30 a.m. when he was hit from behind by a Ford ...

 Former Dean of the College of Education, Dr. Karla Hull has been promoted to the position of interim university provost, following the sudden death of former provost Dr. Phil Gunter.   Former interim president Dr. Levy led a search in his final months at the university, seeking for someone to step-in quickly and fill the position.  He looked at all ...

 On Wednesday, the ladies of Sigma Alpha Iota hosted their very first Rose Awards event to honor the music department.   “In the past we’ve done faculty appreciation and our whole purpose is to further the advancement of music. It’s a good way to honor faculty,” President of Sigma Alpha Iota, Mary Sheeley, said.  The event was a celebration of ...

 VSU will say goodbye to Dr. Louis Levy, interim president, as it will welcome a new president soon.   “I’ll miss it,” Dr. Levy said, referring to his position. “I’ll miss the people, but I’m very pleased with the new leadership.”  Dr. Levy has been interim president since last July.  He felt honored when he was asked to temporarily fill ...

The Board of Regents has recently named Dr. William J. McKinney as the next president of Valdosta State University. Dr. McKinney is currently the vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and has held the position since 2008. Dr. McKinney will start his position at VSU this July. The Spectator’s own editor-in-chief Amber Smith very recently had the oppurtunity ...

 In addition to receiving excess financial aid electronically, students can now pay for services such as orientation and housing using VSU’s new online payment system. � The new system, known as Touchnet, is a real-time, third-party payment system that encompasses eBill and eRefund.  According to Sue Fuciarelli, vice president for finance and administration, the move to Touchnet was made in ...

Editor’s Note: April 20 — The graphic by Jacob McWhorter that ran alongside this article in the April 19 issue of the Spectator was created using information from VSU Financial Services’ Tuition and Fee Schedules webpage. The costs therein represent the total estimated cost of attendance for in-state and out-of-state students for two semesters including tuition and fees for 15 hours of ...