"Creating a More Educated Georgia"
Vol. 40, No. 3, Summer 2003
Goal is to Maintain Educational Quality,
Access, Affordability for University System Students
The Board of Regents ap-proved tuition rates for the Fall 2003 Semester at its May meeting.
In an effort to maintain accessibility, students in the University System of Georgia will see a nominal tuition increase at the state's 13 two-year colleges of just $33 per semester.
| Tuition Increases At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current Tuition Per Semester |
FY 2004 Tuition Per Semester |
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| Two-year colleges | $666 | $699* |
| Regional/state universities (undergrad) | $1,005 | $1,106* |
| Research universities (undergrad) | $1,395 | $1,604 |
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* Undergraduates attending the two state colleges (Dalton State and Macon State) will pay the two-year tuition rate for lower-division courses and the universities' rate for upper-division courses |
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Based on the increased demand and operational costs of the System's regional and state universities, the regents approved an increase at these institutions of $101 per semester. At the four research universities -- where nearly 35 percent of the Univer-sity System's students are enrolled in some of the highest-cost academic programs -- tuition will increase $209 per semester.
The low increases are aimed at maintaining the regional and state universities as affordable access points for all Georgians to gain a high-quality postsecondary education. The increases also position the research universities to better reflect the pricing structures of their regional and national peers. The regents' actions also are aimed at maintaining the high level of educational quality achieved in recent years in the University System by balancing other operating revenues with tuition needs.
"The tuition rates approved by the board will help us maintain quality educational programs in the face of high demand for our services," said Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith. "But, despite these necessary increases, in-state undergraduate tuition in Georgia's public colleges and universities still remains low when compared against our regional and national peers."
In presenting the proposed tuition rates and proposed mandatory fees to the board, Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs William R. Bowes pointed out that Georgia ranks 12th among the 15 states of the Southern Regional Education Board in tuition and fees at four-year colleges and universities.
"Projected percentage tuition increases for many states are in the double digits," he said. Tuition increases nationally range from 8-10 percent in Oklahoma, almost 40 percent in Arizona, 9.5-18 percent in Kentucky, 15 percent in Minnesota and 18-25 percent in Nebraska.
"The situation facing Georgia is not unlike that facing public higher education across the country," Meredith said. "As state budgets have been squeezed, public colleges and universities have seen their state appropriations reduced as other needs compete for limited dollars. For example, for FY '04, the University System of Georgia is operating on $56 million fewer state dollars than we had in FY '03 -- yet we had a record high enrollment in both the fall 2002 and spring 2003 semesters."
Meredith wants to preserve increasing academic quality in the USG, noting Georgia's role as only one of three states with two or more institutions ranked in U.S. News & World Report's annual listing of the top 20 public national universities. Georgia Tech ranks ninth on the list, and the University of Georgia is ranked 18th.
Effective for the Fall 2003 semester, Georgia residents will pay the following tuition rates:
At Georgia College & State University and Southern Polytechnic State University, students will see a 15 percent tuition increase to maintain the special mission purpose of those two institutions. GC&SU is the state's only public liberal arts university, and Southern Poly is a leader nationally in engineering technology. ¶
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For the second consecutive year, the University System of Georgia has experienced a significant increase in its spring semester enrollment, echoing records set over the past two fall semesters as well.
The System's Spring Semester 2003 Enrollment Report indicated a headcount enrollment of 227,661, up 7.4 percent over last spring's enrollment of 211,918.
The System also recorded a considerable spike in its full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE), which jumped 7.8 percent from spring 2002 to spring 2003. The FTE enrollment of 178,050 students represents the largest numeric and percentage increase for a spring term since 1980.
"This is exiting news," said Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith. "Our institutions are doing a tremendous job of attracting high-quality students. And, since the University System's primary funding allocation is driven by enrollment patterns, these increases should help to boost our formula funding in the future."
The record spring enrollment follows the System's record-high fall 2002 enrollment of 233,098 students. Historically, spring enrollments are lower than fall enrollments, but the dip from fall 2002 to spring 2003 was very slight -- only 2 percent.
Headcount enrollment from spring 2002 to spring 2003 increased:
The full Spring Semester 2003 Enrollment Report is available on the USG web site at www.usg.edu/admin/sra/students/enroll/ ¶
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Former Georgia Gov. Joe Frank Harris was elected to a second term as chair of the Board of Regents during the board's June meeting, and Regent Joel O. Wooten Jr. was elected to serve as vice chair.
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| Harris (left) and Wooten will lead the Board of Regents as chair and vice chair during Fiscal Year 2004. |
Both men began serving one-year terms in these leadership positions on July 1, 2003.
Harris was nominated for a rare, but not unprecedented, second term as chair. The board lost its FY 2003 vice chair, James D. Yancey, in May -- three weeks before he would have been elected chair. Due to recent congressional redistricting, both Harris and Yancey found themselves representing the Eleventh Congres-sional District. The regents serve on the board at the discretion of the governor, and Gov. Sonny Perdue announced in late May that Harris was his choice for the Eleventh District.
"Redistricting has put several qualified appointees in this unfortunate position, Gov. Perdue said. "I appreciate the service Jim Yancey provided to the Board of Regents and the state of Georgia. I wish him the very best in his future endeavors."
Joe Frank Harris
Harris is the first former governor to have held a seat on the Board of Regents
or served as its chair. He was appointed to the Board of Regents in 1999
by Gov. Roy E. Barnes.
"I am honored to have been asked to serve as the board's chair for another year," Harris said. "Serving on this board and as its chair is truly as important a role as anyone can play."
Harris said he is proud of the progress the board made during his first year as chair in meeting the 11 goals in its Strategic Plan, forging strong partnerships with other agencies and focusing on the future needs of the state, as well as the University System. As examples, he cited progress made in such areas as enhancing access to the University System, the growth of research funding and increasing operating efficiencies on the campuses.
Harris served as governor of Georgia for two terms from 1983-91. His administration is known for having made improvements in education through the Quality Basic Education Act (QBE) and for enhancing the state's economic development activities through the creation of 850,000 new jobs.
Before his gubernatorial election, Harris served 18 years as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, the last eight as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. His fiscal management brought higher bond ratings for the state and, during his term as governor, Georgia was rated among the country's top 15 best-managed states by Financial World magazine.
Barred by law from seeking a third term as governor, Harris returned to life as a private citizen in 1991. He is chairman of the Harris Georgia Corporation and a member of the boards of directors of AFLAC, Inc., and Bankhead Railway Services, Inc.
He is the first Distinguished Executive Fellow at Georgia State University, where he is a public affairs professor in the Department of Public Administra-tion and Urban Studies.
Harris earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, where he was named an "Out-standing Business Alumnus" and served as co-chairman of the Third Century Campaign, which raised more than $150 million dollars for UGA.
Joel O. Wooten
Appointed to the Board of Regents by Gov. Barnes in 1999 to serve at large,Wooten
is an attorney. He has been the managing partner at Butler, Wooten, Fryhofer,
Daughtry & Sullivan, LLP, a law firm with offices in Columbus and Atlanta,
since 1988.
Wooten spent the previous 10 years as a partner at the law firm of Kelly, Denney, Pease & Allison in Columbus. He was an associate at this firm from 1975 to 1978.
"I am proud to take a position of leadership on the Board of Regents and in higher education in the state of Georgia," Wooten said. "I consider these responsibilities highly important."
In addition to being a regent, Wooten has served as a member of the board of directors of Georgia Legal Services, Inc., and he was a founding member and on the board of directors of the Georgia Center for Law in the Public Interest. He is a past president of the Columbus Lawyers Club and a former chair and member of the executive committee of the General Practice and Trial Section of the State Bar of Georgia.
In 2000, the State Bar honored Wooten with its Tradition of Ex-cellence Award for outstanding service to the Bar and the state of Georgia.
Raised in Hazlehurst, Ga., Wooten graduated from the University of Georgia magna cum laude in 1972, with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He earned a law degree from the UGA School of Law in 1975. ¶
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The Board of Regents gained two new members in late May. Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed W. Mansfield Jennings Jr. of Hawkinsville to represent the First Congressional District and Patrick S. "Pat" Pittard of Lakemont to represent the Ninth Con-gressional District.
 Jennings |
 Pittard |
"I want to thank these two distinguished individuals for their willingness to serve the students enrolled in Georgia's public universities and colleges," Gov. Perdue said in announcing his appointments. "The Board of Regents is a unified and devoted organization that has contributed to the momentum of higher education in this state. I am confident that Mansfield Jennings and Pat Pittard will bring valuable insight, ideas and dedication to this board."
The board is comprised of 18 members appointed by the governor to seven-year terms -- one from each of the state's congressional districts and five who serve at large.
W. Mansfield Jennings Jr.
Jennings is chairman and CEO of ComSouth Corporation, president and CEO of
ComSouth Telecommunications, Inc., and chairman of SunMark Community Bank.
In addition, he is a past chairman of ComSouth Telecable, Inc., and Taylor
Regional Hospital, a past president and director of the Georgia Telephone
Association, and a current member of the United States Telephone Association.
Jennings also is a long-time member of the Board of Trustees of the Middle
Georgia College Foundation and very active in his community, having served
as president and charter director of the Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Chamber
of Commerce and president of the Hawkinsville Rotary Club.
He holds a bachelor of science degree in industrial management from Georgia Tech and a master of business administration degree from Emory University.
Patrick S. Pittard
Pittard is the Distinguished Executive-in-Residence at the University of Georgia's
Terry School of Business, a voluntary position in which he works with the
school's dean and faculty on various projects and also teaches a course on "Lessons
in Leadership."
He is the retired chairman of the board of Heidrick and Struggles International, Inc., which provides executive-level search and leadership consulting services.
Pittard graduated from UGA and has been honored by the Terry School of Business as a Distinguished Alumnus.
He is a former chairman of the UGA Foundation. Considered an expert in executive-level human capital matters (recruitment, retention, compensation and succession), Pittard has been quoted in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune and Business Week. He is listed among the Global 200 Executive Recruiters. ¶
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 Brown |
Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith has appointed Dr. David G. Brown, former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville and founder of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), as interim president of Georgia College & State University (GC&SU), in Milledgeville.
Brown, who took office on July 1, was previously vice president and dean of the International Center for Computer Enhanced Learning at Wake Forest University. "I have known and admired David Brown for a long time. David brings to this position a wide range of experience, particularly in the critical area of liberal arts education," said Chancellor Meredith in announcing Brown's appointment. "I am certain he will serve the university well and provide solid leadership as we continue to focus on enhancing Georgia College's special mission."
Georgia College & State University is Georgia's only public liberal arts university and is one of only 19 public liberal arts colleges in the country that are members of COPLAC. GC&SU is committed to combining the educational experiences typical of esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education.
Brown said he sees his role at the university as a facilitator. "My task is to sustain the themes and programs that the university has worked so hard to build over the past several years, and to prepare the ground for new plantings by a new president," Brown said. "The chance to become involved in a COPLAC member university is one that makes this interim appointment a very special opportunity for me."
In addition to his position at Wake Forest, which he has held since 1999, Brown has served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville from 1984-1990, president of Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., 1982-1983, and as provost at three universities (Wake Forest, 1990-1998; Miami University of Ohio, 1970-1982; and Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, 1967-1970). It was during his tenure as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Asheville that Brown initiated the public liberal arts college movement, now known as COPLAC. GC&SU was invited to join this prestigious organization in June 2001.
Brown has chaired several national groups including the American Association for Higher Education, Higher Education Colloquium, the American Council on Education's Council of Chief Academic Officers, and the Academic Council of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). Brown holds a bachelor's degree with honors in economics from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, and a master's degree and doctorate in economics from Princeton University. ¶
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The University of Georgia has joined three of America's leading universities -- Harvard, Yale and Brown -- as the only schools in the nation with recipients of four of the most prestigious academic scholarships awarded to American undergraduate students.
Students at the four universities have won Rhodes, Marshall, Goldwater and Truman scholarships. No other institutions can boast having recipients of all four of the selective and highly competitive awards this year.
In the last issue of The System Supplement, it was reported that UGA seniors Adam Cureton and Josh Woodruff had won Rhodes and Marshall scholarships, respectively. Since then, two UGA students -- juniors Laura E. Downs and Amanda M. Casto -- have been awarded the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. And another junior, Virginia L. (Ginny) Barton, has earned the Harry S. Truman Scholar-ship. Cureton, Woodruff, Downs, Casto and Barton all are products of UGA's Honors Program, an accelerated program for outstanding student scholars. ¶
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The Board of Regents in May honored six University System of Georgia faculty members and two academic programs with the 2003 Regents Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Research in Undergraduate Education.
The awards recognize both individual faculty members and academic programs for outstanding teaching that significantly improves student achievement, as well as commitment to student-focused research on effective teaching.
"Academic excellence is highly valued in the University System," said Dr. Daniel S. Papp, senior vice chancellor for academics and fiscal affairs.
"Such recognition strengthens the commitment to student learning and achievement, and we are pleased to salute the USG faculty members and programs that serve as superb role models." ¶
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Faculty/Staff Awards
Two-Year and State Colleges:
Regional and State Universities:
Research Universities:
Department/Program Awards
Two-Year and State Colleges:
Regional and State Universities:
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Faculty/Staff Awards
Two-Year and State Colleges:
Regional and State Universities:
Research Universities:
An Omission
Our report in the last issue of The System Supplement on U.S. News & World
Report's latest graduate school rankings failed to note that the University
of Georgia's Department of Occupational Studies tied for third place in vocational/technical
programs.
This program in UGA's School of Education now has ranked among the top four in the magazine's rankings for the past six years. ¶
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For the first time, the women's softball team at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) has been selected as a National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American Team.
The 15-member 2003 squad, coached by Donna Campbell, had a cumulative grade point average of 3.1.
ABAC's Fillies have won three of the past four state titles and three national championships. ¶
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The results and recommendations of an extensive state-wide study aimed at determining why half as many African-American males enroll in the Uni-versity System of Georgia as African-American females was presented to the Board of Regents at their May meeting for consideration and action.
In addition, Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith committed $300,000 in additional funding to further the efforts of the study and its recommendations.
The regents accepted the study and the recommendations, which emanated from reports of the University System of Georgia's 52-member "Task Force on Enhancing Access for African-American Males." The task force was comprised of state and national higher education and K-12 educational leaders.
The study also reflects extensive qualitative research conducted with the target audience of black males and quantitative telephone surveys conducted with 18-25 year-old black males and 700 key influencers of their educational choices and academic performance.
The University System's African-American Male Initiative (AAMI) study was designed to identify barriers to African-American male enrollment and retention in Georgia's 34 public colleges and universities. Fall 2002 enrollment data reveals that black women comprised 68 percent of the University System's black enrollment -- 35,873 fe-males compared to 17,068 males.
"This comprehensive study breaks new ground in Georgia and in the nation for its statewide approach and in-depth analysis of why African-American men are attending college in fewer numbers," said Arlethia Perry-Johnson, associate vice chancellor for Media & Publications and project director of the AAMI. "By talking to hundreds of young men around Georgia -- including inmates in a state prison -- we delved deeply to find some of the critical and systemic sources of this issue, which we view as a critical public policy issue," said Perry-Johnson. "With the new understanding that we have gained from our research and the task force's efforts, the University System of Georgia will form partnerships and alliances which will help us raise the aspirations of young black men, tackle these challenges we face, and continue creating a more educated Georgia."
Key recommendations call for:
A full list of the study's 15 recommendations can be found on the University System Web site at www.usg.edu/aami/.
Outreach efforts stemming from the study will include a series of public service announcements aired throughout the state via commercial media and Geor-gia Public Television (GPTV). A taped message from Chancellor Meredith to several hundred thousand Georgia middle- and high-school students via the PeachStar network aired in May and will re-air in the fall semester.
Additional marketing materials will be created based on the results of the research. These targeted marketing efforts will be launched via a wide variety of media platforms and distributed throughout the state.
Leaders from education, government and private industry, as well as six members of the Board of Regents (including Board Chair Joe Frank Harris) participated in various ways in the initiative.
It was guided by a University System Office work group chaired by Perry-Johnson. Other members included Dr. Daniel S. Papp, senior vice chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs; Dr. Cathie Mayes Hudson, associate vice chancellor for Strategic Research and Analysis; Dr. Frank Butler, vice chancellor for Academics, Faculty and Student Affairs; Shelley Nickel, former special assistant to the chancellor of the University System of Georgia; Dr. John Wolfe, associate vice chancellor for Faculty Affairs; and Dr. Scott Levine, special assistant to the associate vice chancellor for Media and Publications. ¶
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 Meredith congratulates John Churchman |
 Meredith delivers the keynote address |
In May, Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith spoke to approximately 500 youths who had parlayed top scores in the 2002-2003 Stock Market Game, a lesson in saving and investing conducted by the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE) in public and private schools throughout Georgia.
In the first photo at right, Meredith (far right) is shown congratulating John Churchman (left), a member of the team from Parkview High School in Gwinnett County that captured the statewide award. As the keynote speaker at the awards luncheon, Meredith (at right) applauded the winners for helping to change the popular perception that it's "not cool to be smart" by making academic success a priority. ¶
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The Board of Regents allocated the University System's $1.68 billion FY 2004 state appropriation to the System's 34 institutions at its May meeting. The following month, the regents heard a report on the USG's total budget of $4.57 billion.
Budget at a GlanceThe USG's total budget of $4.57 billion is comprised of the following elements:
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The cumulative budget reductions for FY 2004 -- including a carry-forward reduction of $183.5 million from FY 2003 -- is $211 million or 12.2 percent. In fact, for FY 2004, the University Sys-tem's share of the state budget is 11.3 percent, which is its lowest level since 1967.
There are no funds included in the University System's budget for salary increases this year.
However, there are new dollars in the FY 2004 budget. In presenting the budget to the board, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs Dr. Daniel S. Papp called attention to $88.2 million in new funds (formula funding) generated by enrollment-related increases and new square footage. These additions mean the net reduction in the FY '04 Budget is 3.23 percent, or $56 million from the FY 2003 Budget.
"Just because budgets are tight, we are not going to let our drive to enhance quality in the University System diminish," said Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith. "Today, as never before, Georgia needs a high-quality system of public higher education that can help the state and its citizens prepare for the future and prosper economically."
The University System's em-phasis on quality is evident in the strategic allocation of the funding received to accommodate new student enrollment. While 80 percent of budgeted revenue has been allocated to the campuses based on the System's "funding formula," the remaining 20 percent will be allocated to programs that improve the retention and graduation rates of students, as well as programs that focus on quality and efficiency, according to Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs Williams Bowes.
New campus facilities also were accommodated in the budget, with $72 million in bonds allocated for a variety of projects, including:
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The Board of Regents in June approved the Principles for the Preparation of School Coun-selors, the final section of the board's principles designed to improve Georgia's schools by setting standards for the preparation of educators who can ensure the academic success of every child.
The principles are an important step toward the University System's goal of "Creating a More Educated Georgia."
"The Board of Regents' approval of the principles is the third cornerstone of the Univer-sity System's efforts to strengthen educator preparation," said Jan Kettlewell, associate vice chancellor for P-16 initiatives. "As a result of the regents' action, school counselors prepared in the University System of Georgia will be prepared to enter Georgia's schools ready to help every child achieve academic success."
In 1998 and 2001, respectively, the Regents approved Princi-ples for the Preparation of Teachers and Principles for the Preparation of Educational Leaders (school principals and superintendents). All sections of the principles -- now including school counselors -- are based on three themes: quality assurance, collaboration, and responsiveness.
School counselors largely are responsible for the social, emotional, and career development necessary for students' academic success. They play a critical role in advising students about the courses needed for acceptance into college -- commonly known as the College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC).
For example, research with African-American males in Georgia has shown that a key contributor to their low college-going rates is insufficient counseling about the appropriate pre-requisite and academically rigorous courses to take.
A unique feature of the principles is the University System's guarantee that any school counselor it prepares will be able to promote the academic success, career preparedness and social/emotional development of all students.
Backing up the guarantee, the Board of Regents will provide additional training to any counselor who has completed an approved program in the previous four years and does not meet expectations. This training will be provided at no expense to the counselor or to the school.
"The Principles and Actions for the Preparation of School Counselors shows that Georgia is committed to enhancing the academic success of all students," said Dr. Brent Snow, department chair of the State University of West Georgia's College of Education. "School counselors are absolutely critical as leaders and advocates for Georgia students." ¶
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 Architectural details from an historic building at Georgia College & State University |
CASE Website Features Perry-Johnson
Arlethia Perry-Johnson, associate vice chancellor for media and publications,
was featured on the web site of the Council for the Advancement and Support
of Education during May 2003 as part of the organization's new diversity
initiative. The organization recently began profiling a different person
of color each month who is an acknowledged leader in the advancement profession.
The profiles are located at www.case.org/diversity/leading.
Wallace Part of National Webcast
William Wallace, associate vice chancellor for human resources, took part in
a national webcast on "Marketing State 457 Plans to Higher Education and
Local School Districts" on May 8. Wallace, one of four invited presenters,
was asked to discuss the University System of Georgia's success in this area.
Facilities Office Scores Getty Grant
The University System's Office of Facilities has received one of the Getty
Grant Program's first Campus Heritage Planning/Preservation grants. The $180,000
grant will enable the facilities staff to integrate historic preservation
into the System's master planning template, using the historically significant
campus of Georgia College & State University as the pilot for this project.
Program Manager Michael Miller, who applied for the grant and will spearhead
its implementation, said the Getty Grant Program intends to highlight the
USG's efforts as a model for the nation in terms of stewardship and management
of historic resources. ¶
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| BOARD OF REGENTS | OFFICERS | ||||
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Joe Frank Harris Hugh C. Carter, Jr. Connie Cater William H. Cleveland, M.D. Michael J. Coles Hilton H. Howell, Jr. Julie Ewing Hunt W. Mansfield Jennings, Jr. |
Donald M. Leebern, Jr. Allene H. Magill Elridge W. McMillan Martin W. NeSmith Patrick S. Pittard Wanda Yancey Rodwell J. Timothy Shelnut Glenn S. White Joel O. Wooten, Jr. |
Thomas C. Meredith Gail S. Weber William R. Bowes
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©2003 Board of Regents of the University System
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