Lawrenceville has kicked-off work for the college corridor project, selecting Georgia Development Partners to oversee the initial construction of a 2.2-mile linear park that will connect Georgia Gwinnett College with the Downtown District. "Georgia Gwinnett College produces more than $300-million in local economic impact for the Gwinnett community and sits inside Lawrenceville's borders," said Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson. "This linear park will connect one of our strongest economic engines and workforce development institutions with a vibrant and booming downtown and county core. AJC.com

The University of B.C.'s Alma Mater Society is organizing mass training events to teach students to recognize and reverse drug overdoses amid a devastating provincial health emergency that shows no sign of slowing down. Organizers say 120 students are registered to attend a training session where they'll learn the telltale signs of an overdose, how to use a naloxone kit and the role stigma-free language plays in improving the lives of people who use drugs. With registration at capacity, the student society is already planning to hold more sessions to train as many people as possible, said AMS president Alan Ehenholz. Vancouver Sun

The Ohio State University and City of Columbus are excited to host the 2018 ITGA City & University Relations ™ Conference. This year's theme and tracks allow for a broad range of discussions to promote efforts supporting economic development, engagement and the safety and well-being of stakeholders. Proposals must be submitted by February 1. To learn more, click here.

A selling point for the Colorado Buffaloes' recruiting efforts has come from a world-renowned publication. According to National Geographic, Boulder was named the "Happiest City in the US" and for good measure. The four-year study led by best-selling author Dan Buettner examined places in America with a scale of 15 metrics. Everything from eating healthy, to civic engagement, and even every day living were taken into account. A total of twelve major towns made the cut. The entire list from National Geographic can be found here. The Ralphie Report

The Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education will review a plan Thursday that would place the state's 12 community colleges under one accredited institution, according to Connecticut Post. Connecticut State Colleges and Universities President Mark Ojakian said the plan is estimated to save $28 million in overhead costs by the time the new system is established in July 2019. Ojakian recommended consolidating the system as a cost-saving measure. Each of the community colleges would be operated by a vice president and clustered into three regions headed by a regional president. Inside Higher Ed

The University of Illinois has unveiled plans to develop an interdisciplinary public-private research and innovation center known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) in Chicago. The facility is the first step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will join businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture and health and wellness. Led by the University of Illinois system, with its campuses in Champaign, Springfield and Chicago, DPI will bring together students, faculty, and businesses. Rebusiness Online