LEGISLATIVE UPDATE a Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 3, January 25, 2010 “Creating a More Educated Georgia” Chancellor: USG Excellent Investment in State’s Future Prosperity ne sure way to But there is a societal ping behind increase the benefit as well – the national aver- Ostate’s tax rev- college graduate pays ages. This enues without raising more taxes,” Davis hurts our taxes is to ensure more added, citing more data ability to at- Georgians obtain a col- from the same survey. tract the best lege degree, said Chan- “I am convinced that and bright- cellor Erroll B. Davis education – specifi- est faculty,” Jr. in presenting Gov. cally higher education he said. “We Sonny Perdue’s Fiscal – is the critical tool are meeting Year 2011 budget rec- you possess to create the increased ommendations for the Georgia’s future pros- demand with University System of perity. The decisions instructors Georgia (USG) to key you make – the invest- and part- Georgia legislators last ment you make – in time faculty. week. higher education are They can “A person with a for a worthy cause. get the job bachelor’s degree will “I urge you to wield done in the make two times the this great University classroom, personal income of System, which was cre- but can’t fully someone with just a ated in times of hard- engage our students. Ul- high-school diploma. ship. Use it to secure Davis noted that the timately, this approach And those with just a Georgia’s future. It is USG’s competitors in will lead to lower re- high-school diploma a mighty engine,” the states with comparable tention and graduation or who don’t graduate Chancellor added, not- rates pay their fac- rates, an outcome none from high school have ing the System’s $12 ulty more and they are of us wants to see.” twice the unemploy- billion economic im- actively recruiting in ment rate as those with pact on the state, “but Research by the preparation for all the a college degree,” Davis it is an engine that Southern Regional future college students told the Joint Appro- cannot run without the Education Board shows they will be teaching. priations Committee, fuel you must provide.” that Georgia is des- Against this back- citing a U.S. Census tined to remain one Davis painted a pic- drop, the Chancellor Bureau American of the fastest growing ture for legislators of pointed out that the Community Survey states in the South in the University System’s $113 million in USG that used 2005-2007 terms of high-school current efforts to cut formula funds included data on Georgia adults graduation rates and is costs. in the Governor’s bud- working full time. above the national av- get recommendations “We are not hiring erage in the number of “This is what the compensate the Sys- full-time professors at high-school graduates individual gets out of tem for the number of the rate we need, and who enroll in postsec- college, from a purely faculty salaries are slip- economic perspective. ondary education. But See “Chancellor,” Page 2 … LEGISLATIVE UPDATE — January 25, 2010, Issue No. 3 Chancellor In addition to elimi- advising. Individual The USG’s capital Continued from Page 1… nating more than 2,400 institutions are also budget request totaled positions, instituting looking at permanent $361.7 million, against students it was serving six furlough days and structural changes, and which projects recom- two years ago (when making major changes we have instituted a mended for funding 42,000 fewer students to employees’ health special institutional fee total $121 million. were enrolled), due insurance coverage, for students.” “We recognize that to a lag built into the Davis said, “Unfor- Exploding student these are challenging formula calculation tunately, we are also enrollment has led the times, and we will do process. cutting back on library University System to the best we can to con- “The formula funds books and equipment offer more and more tinue to build for the in this recommenda- purchases, deferring online courses and future,” he said. Q tion will leave 19,000 maintenance and programs, yet campus- students unfunded, reducing services to es still need to build assuming no growth in students such as tu- additional facilities, the fall of 2010,” Davis toring, mentoring and the Chancellor noted. told committee mem- bers. The Chancellor also Members of the Standing Higher Education Committees noted that, two years ago, the System began House Quincy Murphy, Augusta Fiscal Year 2009 with a Chair: Len Walker, Loganville Chuck Sims, Ambrose budget of $2.3 billion, Vice Chair: Katie Dempsey, Rome Calvin Smyre, Columbus whereas the Governor’s Secretary: Amy Carter, Valdosta USG recommenda- Stephen Allison, Blairsville Senate tions for FY 2011 total Amos Amerson, Dahlonega Chair: Seth Harp, Midland approximately $2.08 Kathy Ashe, Atlanta Bill Cowsert, Athens billion. In addition, he Carol Fullerton, Albany John Douglas, Social Circle pointed out that state Pat Gardner, Atlanta Ronnie Chance, Tyrone funding per full-time- Michael Harden, Toccoa John Crosby, Tifton equivalent student Mark Hatfield, Waycross Tim Golden, Valdosta has reached its lowest Bill Hembree, Winston Lester Jackson, Savannah point in the past de- David Knight, Griffin Nan Orrock, Atlanta cade and is destined Ralph Long, Atlanta Curt Thompson, Tucker to drop further in FY 2011. Members of the Appropriations Subcommittees on Higher Education “How are we sup- House Richard Smith, Columbus porting our students Chair: Earl Ehrhart, Powder John Yates, Griffin with less?” Davis Springs asked. “We are sup- Secretary: Mike Cheokas, Americus Senate porting them as a Rich Golick, Smyrna result of our operating Chair: Seth Harp, Midland Bill Hembree, Winston efficiencies and hard Vice Chair: Cecil Staton, Macon Sheila Jones, Atlanta decisions. However, Don Balfour, Snellville Bob Lane, Statesboro these decisions are all Bill Cowsert, Athens Doug McKilip, Athens based on one funda- Vincent Fort, Atlanta Ann Purcell, Rincon mental principle – Bill Hamrick, Carrollton Bob Smith, Watkinsville maintaining academic John Wiles, Marietta (ex-officio)Q excellence.” — 2 —.