Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 10 (Mar. 12, 2001)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
No. 10, March 12, 2001
House Passes 2002 Budget Overwhelmingly Supportive of Governor's Recs
On Thursday, March 1, the full House passed a version of the Board of Regents' FY 2002 Budget that endorses nearly all of Gov. Roy Barnes' recommendations, including one supporting the University System of Georgia's proposal to modernize the funding formula. The Senate is expected to pass its version of the "big" budget late this afternoon (Monday, March 12), and prospects for emerging from the 2001 legislative session with the full $18 million recommended by the Governor for the formula look quite good.
"We commend House members for supporting the Governor's recommendations to the extent that they did and for giving a full hearing to the University System's critical budgetary needs," said Tom Daniel, interim senior vice chancellor for External Activities and Facilities. "We appreciate their recognition of the important work we are doing in meeting the state's higher education needs."
Virtually the only changes the House made to the budget were to fund a handful of items not recommended by the Governor, including $800,000 to fund cost overruns for a Technology Enhanced Learning Center at the University of West Georgia and $375,000 to provide a state match for private and federal funds supporting Fort Valley State University's mission as a land-grant institution.
In addition to the $18 million slated to bring the System's funding formula into the 21st century, the budget -- pending passage by the Senate -- includes $6 million for increasing the proposed technology factor in the funding formula from 1.29 percent to 1.75 percent. These funds will support efforts to ensure that the USG's PeachNet network remains a vital strategic resource for the University System and that improvements can be made in some other strategic technology areas.
The Governor has recommended, and so far legislators agree, that Georgia College and State University receive $1.5 million to achieve its mission of becoming the state's public liberal arts university. This money would fund the addition of 60 tenure-track faculty at GC&SU, enabling the university to lower its student/faculty ratio to the average for public liberal arts institutions (17:1).
A collaborative effort between the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia to leverage their resources in establishing a statewide Biomedical Services Network for recognizing, treating, curing and preventing human disease received $1 million in the House version of the budget. The network would focus largely on cancer and other diseases that have a major impact on the health of Georgia citizens.
As a nationally recognized research institution, UGA brings to this partnership a good track record for extramural support, several high-technology programs aimed at solving health-related problems, a nationally ranked record of earnings from technology transfer and experience in starting spin-off companies and managing incubator programs.
MCG brings to the initiative its strengths in molecular biology and immunology, vascular biology, preventive medicine, sickle cell disease, neuroscience and other disease-related specialties. MCG also has developed extensive capability in cancer-related treatment, training, research, prevention, education, screening and commercialization. These strengths, together with UGA's research capabilities, will support the Governor's new cancer initiative.
While both institutions have received funding from the National Institutes of Health for their biomedical research programs and facilities, the Biomedical and Health Sciences Initiative represents the first phase in creating a statewide network to increase external research support.
The proposed budget also includes $600,000 to enable the System's Postsecondary Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP) to focus on tutoring and mentoring middle- and high-school students enrolled in USG feeder schools with significant minority student populations. Currently, 25 USG institutions participate in the program, in collaboration with technical colleges and 115 school districts.

The System's Intellectual Capital and Partnership Program (ICAPP) also is slated to receive $500,000 to expand its work with businesses investing in Georgia. ICAPP provides fast-track knowledge workers companies need to help them succeed and grow.
[ Top ] [ Legislative Update ]
Last Updated: March 13, 2001 | Leave a Comment 2001 University System of Georgia Board of Regents