Not Without Challenges

Beginning in 1997, half a dozen lawsuits were filed against the University of Georgia challenging its undergraduate admissions process, and, in particular, its use of race and gender as factors in a portion of the process. While a number of those challenges were dismissed on procedural grounds, several plaintiffs ultimately were successful in having the district court rule that the manner in which the university used race and gender did not comport with constitutional requirements. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in 2001, and the System decided not to appeal further.

A Partner in Economic Development

Several System initiatives helped to increase the Board of Regents' visibility as an economic development partner with the state, including the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP), a very active statewide training and business development initiative. The System's innovative responsiveness to business needs led Vice President Al Gore to recognize ICAPP during a visit to Columbus State University in March of 1998.

In one of his first official acts in January 1999, Governor-elect Roy E. Barnes announced that he would set aside $13 million as a one-time allocation to enable the System to join forces with the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism and a number of economic development organizations to launch YAMACRAW - a statewide effort to make Georgia a leader in microchip design and production.

Change of Leadership

In May 2001, Chancellor Portch announced that he would step down as chancellor, noting that it was time for new leadership to bring new ideas to old challenges.

At the conclusion of an intensive search, the regents appointed Thomas C. Meredith as the 10th chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Meredith was chancellor of The University of Alabama System at the time, a system with three doctoral research universities - including a medical college and health sciences center - a combined enrollment of 40,000 students, 17,000 employees, and an annual budget of $1.8 billion.