Legislative update: a briefing for faculty and staff of the University System of Georgia, No. 3 (Jan. 28, 2008)

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A Briefing for Faculty & Staff of the University System of Georgia No. 3, January 28, 2008
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Davis: University System's Strategic Priorities will Strengthen Georgia

There was no shortage of questions from Georgia legislators for Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. last Wednesday when he finished addressing the Joint Appropriations Committee on Gov. Sonny Perdue's Fiscal Year 2009 budget recommendations for the University System of Georgia (USG).
The questions which centered on a consultant's newly released report on the expansion of medical education in Georgia, but also involved in-state versus out-of-state tuition and the University System's health plans stretched a scheduled one-hour budget hearing into nearly two hours.
Davis received kudos from several lawmakers for his willingness to tackle questions head-on and his adeptness at providing detailed answers to the wide-ranging inquiries

tossed at him during the hearing.
Noting that, "We could not transform the lives of our 270,000 students as well as the economic future of this great state without the support of the Governor and the General Assembly," Davis presented the Governor's recommendations for the USG, by taking the members of the Joint Appropriations Committee through the assessment process the Board of Regents used in developing the System's new strategic plan during the past year.
"Since the budget is a strategy-implementing tool, the directions of the board are outlined in our new strategic plan," he said. "This is our road map for the future, and the appropriate starting

point in our budget discussion."
Strategic Goals Drive USG Budget Request
System officials, he noted, are planning for an enrollment of about 350,000 students by 2020, along with a 90 percent retention rate and a graduation rate of 67 percent, well above the national average. The USG needs to produce 50 percent more nurses by 2010 and meet 80 percent of the state's need for new teachers by 2020, he added. Finally, the USG's production of

doctors needs to increase dramatically, from the current 190 a year to 300 per year by 2020.
"How do we get there from here?" he asked rhetorically. "Our strategic plan has six goals, with major action items listed under each. They are all designed to: transform the system, change lives, and ultimately, to strengthen the state of Georgia. The strategic plan moves us from Point A to Point B.
See "Chancellor," Page 2 ...

To view the hearing in its entirety, go to www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/house/Committees/GLN/boardcastIndex.htm

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- January 28, 2008, Issue No. 3

Chancellor
Continued from Page 1... "Our budget requests
are driven in large part by the continuing and significant growth of our enterprise," the
chancellor noted. "We continue to add students at a record pace. Last fall, we added more than 10,000 students. That is [the equivalent of] adding a Valdosta State University or a University of West Georgia in one year.
"If we see 100,000 more students, that will be major growth. It will be a major challenge to serve all those new students as well as the ones we serve now at our present standard of excellence. We can't do that alone. We need your support to be successful."

Davis pointed out that the increase in the University System's formula funds (the Governor has recommended $114.7 million in this crucial fund-

at higher rates than in the past," said Davis of the System's steadily improving graduation rates. "And, we are expanding our access by providing them new
opportunities and venues."

ing for FY09) is being driven by an enrollment of just under 260,000 students and a 3.6 percent increase in credit hours in FY07. However, the System's enrollment has in fact grown by 10,000 students since the formula increase was calculated, and, under the USG's guaranteed tuition plan, those students are taking more courses in an effort to graduate in four years and avoid paying higher tuition bills in year five.
"With a bigger entering class, we are graduating more students as a percentage

One of those venues is the System's newest institution, Georgia Gwinnett College, which has more than 900 students after its first year in operation. That enrollment is expected to increase substantially once the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accepts the institution as a candidate for accreditation. SACS already is making plans to send a team to the campus for a candidacy visit during 2008.
Davis said the $6.5 million recommended by the Governor would be used to secure the resources needed to support the faculty and students and secure accreditation.
"The funding for Georgia Gwinnett is an example of a type of funding that is not

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covered by the formula because this institution is in the start-up phase," the chancellor explained.
Medical Education Expension a Key Goal
Another example is the expansion of medical education. "One of our strategic goals addresses Georgia's existing and growing need for health professionals, Davis told lawmakers. "The issue of more doctors of more nurses, of more health professionals is not a local issue. This is a statewide issue. Any delay in increasing the production of more health professionals puts the health of Georgia's population at risk. Over the last two years, Georgia has slipped from 37th to 40th in doctors per capita.
"We have had a recent study done which validated our original thrusts concerning the increased production of physicians," Davis continued, outlining the following key elements of the USG's plan to increase the number of doctors it produces:
u To simultaneously expand medical education in Augusta and Athens;
See "Chancellor," Page 3 ...

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- January 28, 2008, Issue No. 3

Chancellor
Continued from Page 2...
u To create addition al 3rd and 4th year clinical opportunities in Albany and Savannah; and
u To increase the number of residencies to more aggressive levels in Georgia, so that more USG-trained doctors will stay in Georgia.
"The study indicates that we as a system can be more aggressive in our targets for medical expansion. This study is a summary view from 50,000 feet. The recommended $7.2 million will enable us to take the necessary steps to begin this expansion," the chancellor said.
Salary Increase will Keep USG Competitive
Moving on to the Governor's recommendation of a merit salary increase for USG employees averaging 2.5 percent in FY09, Davis expressed his appreciation. "We ask for your support of the Governor's recommendation," he told Joint Appropriations Committee members. "We are in a competitive market nationally and regionally for top faculty to serve Georgia's students."

Public Libraries Recommendation Welcome
The chancellor also noted that "Georgia's 370 public libraries will be able to expand their services to the state, thanks to the Governor's recommendations for $1.9 million for books, materials, telecommunications and to expand the PINES network."
Capital Budget Creates Capacity for Growth
Turning to capital budget recommendations, Davis noted that the University System's new model for longterm building planning "is firmly grounded in data that identifies for us our key strategic priorities for needed facilities. This supports our strategic planning goal to create needed capacity for an additional 100,000 students for classrooms, labs, libraries and other space.
Based upon this prioritized capital model, the regents submitted to the Governor a request, and the Governor has recommended $246.9 million in funding for capital projects, including equipment funds for five projects, construction funds for 10 projects and design funds for six USG proj-

ects and four public library projects.
"The projects are all critical to our strategic plan, whether it is to meet growing enrollment or in some cases to meet specific state need in the areas of health professions and teacher education," Davis said. "We also appreciate the recommendation of $30 million for Major Repairs and Rehabilitation (MRR). This is critical to our effective stewardship of our facilities.
"Buildings literally help us build capacity to meet growing enrollment across the state," the chancellor said.

"But our efforts go beyond just buildings, for they are tools to help us in our mission of teaching, research and service. Our strategic plan allows us to take a step back and think about how we more effectively act as a system and integrate these three missions more closely to truly add greater value to the state.
"With every individual the University System serves, we work to add value to the state. Our continued success is dependent upon your support as well as responsible and effective stewardship of that support." Q

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