Chancellor's Campus Visit - South Georgia College, April 25, 2006

The Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, Erroll B. Davis Jr., visited the campus of South Georgia College on Tuesday, April 25, as part of an "active listening" tour of the state's 35 colleges and universities.

Davis believes that there is room for growth at SGC due in part to the, "vibrant and growing local economy." The next president of SGC will be expected to deliver results if she wishes to stay on the job.

"I don't believe in mediocrity or complacency," stated Davis. "We want someone with entrepreneurial instincts that will look at doing things differently in a scarce-resource environment."

The Board of Regents must wait no fewer than 14 days from the date the three finalists (Dr. Torri Lilly, Dr. Andrea Miller, and Dr. Amelia Reid Pearson) were announced to name the new president.

As for the state as a whole, Davis hopes to transform the University System to a more efficient, customer-focused organization. The University System of Georgia accounts for 11.5% of the state's overall budget, up from 11% one year ago. With the recently acquired $120 million in new funds, an increase of 6.6% over last year's budget, funding has increased in three key areas: critical need programs including nursing and teaching; student retention, progression, and graduation (RPG) rates; as well as productivity and efficiency enhancements. Also new to the University System of Georgia is the guaranteed tuition strategy, which guarantees a student the same tuition cost for four years. Not only does this give students and families more predictability in their college planning, it also hopes to move students in and out of the system faster, thereby freeing up resources for new students.

Before becoming Chancellor in February, Davis served as the former CEO of Alliant Energy Corporation. He will visit the fifteen remaining colleges and universities before wrapping up his tour in mid-June.