Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 8 (Feb. 26, 2001)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia
No. 8, Feb. 26, 2001
Chancellor Defends FY '02 Budget Requests Before House Subcommittee;
Addresses Misconceptions Surrounding Cost of Semester Conversion
Last Monday (Feb. 19), Chancellor Stephen R. Portch stated his case to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, encouraging legislators to leave intact the University System of Georgia's FY 2002 Budget request of $18 million recommended by Gov. Roy Barnes to offset semester conversion enrollment losses. Portch also advocated modernizing the System's outdated funding formula and keeping faculty salaries at a level that will allow the System to maintain a cutting edge in teaching.
"There seems to be some continuing misunderstanding that our 1998 conversion to a semester calendar cost the state," Portch said, alluding to the House's recent decision to cut these funds in its version of the System's FY 2001 Supplemental Budget. "The fact is it did not cost the state. Our enrollment funding in FY 2000 -- the last year under the quarter system -was $1.356 billion; our funding is $9 million less today than our budget of one year ago."
Barnes' recommendation of $18 million in formula funding "covers only a portion of what we need to accommodate new students," Portch said. He noted that while the System's enrollment dipped in 1998, headcount enrollment climbed back up to its second highest level ever by Fall 2000.
"The bottom line is that this is our bread-and-butter funding. This recommendation is very important to our ability to serve our students -- students that are better prepared than ever before and who are investing their futures with the University System of Georgia," Portch said. "We owe them the quality educational experience that this money provides."
In addition to defending the $18 million request, Portch spoke about the need to include in the System's funding formula recognition of the cost of technology initiatives such as Georgia Global Learning Online for Business and Education (G.L.O.B.E.), distance learning and expanded bandwidth demands for the Peachnet network that connects all System institutions.
The General Assembly previously has funded the System's technology-related activities under the category of "special funding enhancements." The funding formula was developed in the early 1960s, when information technology was not a factor, and has not been revised since 1981. A more strategic approach to dealing with technology would be to include these initiatives in the formula base, where they can be better planned and managed, Portch suggested.
"By placing technology-related items at the level the Governor has recommended in the funding formula, support becomes automatic and continuing, rather than sporadic and one-time," he noted-. The chancellor also discussed continuing collaboration with the Governor's office to help create a more formal accountability process in state government. The Regents are engaged in a comprehensive benchmarking initiative and, after analyzing extensive performance indicator data, will issue recommendations and an action plan in late spring. The Governor has recommended that $1 million be allocated for the Accountability Plus Program.
Portch termed this "a good start on the $7.5 million we requested" which would help the System "identify key data elements and develop and acquire key hardware and software."
Portch also highlighted the University System's extremely successful Postsecondary Readiness Enrichment Program (PREP), which serves youth in disadvantaged situations. The Governor recommended $600,000 in the FY '02 Budget to fund "PREP TWO," an expansion of the five-year-old program.
"PREP has played a key role in the Regents' efforts to 'raise the bar' and ensure that Georgia's students are better prepared for college," Portch said. "Since the program's inception in FY '96, more than 30,000 middle- and high-school students in atrisk situations have participated in supplementary and academic enrichment programs."

Portch also emphasized the Board of Regents' $3 million request for the Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program (GTREP). Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough and representatives of collaborating institutions (Armstrong Atlantic State, Georgia Southern and Savannah State universities) joined Portch in speaking on behalf of that initiative. A number of other System officials also helped the chancellor address special initiatives included in the budget request, including:
z Annie Hunt Burriss, assistant vice chancellor for development and economic services for the Board of Regents, who provided information on the expansion of the Intellectual Capital and Partnership Program (ICAPP) that will be made possible by the Governor's recommendation of $500,000 in increased funding;
z Margaret Taylor, deputy to the senior vice chancellors of the Board of Regents, addressed the subcommittee on the System's request for $28,768 for the Office of Public Library Services to make improvements that will benefit children and teen library users;
z Rosemary DePaolo, president of Georgia College and State University, explained the need for the $1.5 million recommended by Gov. Barnes to support the university's efforts to achieve its mission as Georgia's designated public liberal arts university;
z the Medical College of Georgia's Vice President for Academic Affairs Barry Goldstein and Vice President for Research Matthew Kluger, and Dr. Karen Holbrook, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, outlined a new collaboration between their institutions to launch a cutting-edge Biomedical Services Network, funded by the Governor's recommendation of $1 million matched by internal Board of Regents' funding.
z Dr. Bill Golden, director of university development at Georgia Southern University, outlined plans for $700,000 in startup funding recommended by Gov. Barnes for an Information Technology Program at Georgia Southern.
Portch concluded his budget presentation with an acknowledgement of System employees. "I began my presentation today with our bread and butter -- the formula," he said. "I want to close with another key component: the knife that spreads the butter -- our faculty. "You are all very aware of how crucial salaries are to maintaining our cutting edge in teaching," the chancellor said, noting that Gov. Barnes has recommended a 4.5 percent average merit salary increase for System faculty. "Just as the Governor made a commitment to keep K-12 teachers on top in the South and at or above the national average, there needs to be no less of a commitment to postsecondary education."
FY '01 Amended Budget Finalized; Full $24 Million Restored to Formula
The Conference Committee on the FY 2001 Amended Budget had good news for the University System of Georgia Sunday night (Feb. 25): the budget passed with the entire $24 million in formula funding recommended by Gov. Roy Barnes.
"We are extremely appreciative of the Conference Committee's support," said Tom Daniel, interim senior vice chancellor for External Activities and Facilities. "These funds are critical to the day-to-day operation of our campuses and to our provision of quality programs and services for our students. We thank all who were involved in restoring the funding to the original level recommended by Gov. Barnes."
Further details on individual items in the supplemental budget will be covered in our next issue of the Legislative Update.
Next Up:
Chancellor Stephen R. Portch will address the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee on the University System's FY '02 Budget Request at ---- 3 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Room 234 of the State Capitol.
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Last Updated: February 28, 2001 | Leave a Comment 2001 University System of Georgia Board of Regents