The system supplement: a report of the Georgia Board of Regents, Vol. 36, no. 1 (Jan. 2000)

Vol. 37, No. 1, January 2000
q Hill, Porter Visit Regents at January Board Meeting q Chancellor Discusses Governor's Budget q USG Has "Brightest and Bigger" First-Time Freshmen Class q On Campus
r Albany State Professor Selected for Literature Chair in Holland r Savannah State Student to Serve as White House Intern r Georgia Southern Championship Team Honored by Regents r DeMaio Hits Prime Time r Website Contest Open To System Students
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Hill, Porter Visit Regents at January Board Meeting
Commend Board's Economic Development/Student Achievement Efforts
Visits to the January Board of Regents' meeting by both Sen. Jack Hill (D-Reidsville), chair of the Senate's Higher Education Committee, and Rep. DuBose Porter (D-Dublin), chair of the recently renamed House Higher Education Committee (formerly the University System of Georgia Committee), punctuated the start of the 2000 legislative session, bringing extra emphasis to the Regents' focus on legislative and fiscal affairs.
During his remarks, Sen. Hill commended the regents for their teamwork and collaboration, particularly those activities that are helping to support Georgia's tremendous economy. "I thank you for the contributions you are making to the success of our state and the role that higher education has played in job growth and helping business prosper," Hill stated. "The money that's been allocated to the Georgia Research Alliance and Yamacraw, and the whole spectrum of research activities, has played a key role (in the state's prosperity)."
Regarding the fiscal prospects for the University System during the 2000 Legislative Session, Hill said, "The Governor has gotten us off to a good start with the supplemental and 2001 budget proposals." He added that now is the time for the Board of Regents and University System officials to support the Governor's recommendations for the System.
Hill also noted to the 16-member Board of Regents that he values their presence in the Capitol during the session. "I appreciate when you come over to help out," he stated, noting that the members' appearances "really helps a lot."
Rep. Porter, now in his second year as chair of the renamed Higher Education Committee, said the biggest challenge for the Board of Regents is "not to lose the momentum." He cited challenges faced by the state that will require focused efforts by education officials.
"Our focus is correctly on K-12," Porter stated, "and how to get more people prepared for higher education." He said the emphasis on remedial education in the state to-date has been directed at "how it effects people when they attend the state's colleges and universities." But he cited that the problem goes beyond the University System.
Porter sanctioned the call for "raising the bar," stating, "our people are as bright as those anywhere when given the challenge." Porter saluted the Board's efforts with the Yamacraw project. "We need to keep Yamacraw on pace this year." he said. "I know that you all are proud to be part of that project, and we are too! I thank you for all that you are doing to make it successful."
The chair also took time out to cite the University System's success with its satellite facility in Dublin, Ga., Porter's hometown. "The Dublin Center is a real success story," he stated. "We have a new building that's about to open, and we are expecting to grow to 1,500 students. There are lots of non-traditional students who will take advantage of opportunities like this when presented with them."
Commenting on another project, Porter said that the Old Governor's Mansion at Georgia College & State University "is a good state resource." "There are some lessons to be learned there," Porter stated. "It should not be mothballed; it should be an active state facility." On the research front, Porter commended the plan for a collaborative research project between UGA and the Medical College of Georgia.
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Chancellor Discusses Governor's Budget Recommendations Before Joint Appropriations Committees
Chancellor Stephen R. Portch appeared before the Joint House and Senate Appropriations Committees of the Georgia General Assembly on two separate occassions in January to discuss the Governor's budget recommendations for the University System. The first meeting, on Jan. 4, was to discuss Gov. Roy Barnes' FY 2000 Amended Budget recommendations totaling $164,562,000 in additional funds for the University System. The second appearance, on Jan. 19, 2000, covered the FY 2001 request, which totals $1,621,932.068
When presenting the FY 2001 budget request on Jan. 19, the Chancellor shared the podium with Regent Kenneth W. Cannestra, the BOR's chair, and John Fuchko, current chair of the Board of Regents' Student Advisory Council.
At the Jan. 19 presentation, Portch told the legislators, "I'm not here to be a bureaucrat. I'm here to talk honestly about the challenges and talk frankly about our team's strengths and the difficulty of the game ahead." The Chancellor's presentation shed light on the funding formula, which is included in the recommended FY 2001 adjusted base of approximately $1.4 billion. The Chancellor noted that the formula, while based on fall 1998 numbers, must serve students who will be at the doors of the System's institutions in the fall of 2000.
Chancellor Portch reminded the committee that fall 1998 was the point at which the System underwent semester conversion. He noted that while the semester conversion process resulted in a number of positive, long-term benefits for students and the state, System officials had correctly predicted a temporary enrollment dip as students adjusted to the new calendar. The University System of Utah and Mercer University in Georgia both underwent semester conversion and both experienced similar enrollment adjustments. But Portch noted all three also have seen their enrollments rebound.
Portch also covered recommendations for new initiatives, continutation funding for existing initiatives and recommendations in the "B" budget. The FY 2000 Amended Budget recommendations include funding of the University System's capital construction, employee health claims, medical education, and technology enhancements.
The mid-year budget recommendations include $113.1 million in capital bond dollars for the University System, to fund new construction, facilities design, payback and renovation projects. The Governor recommended funding for the first six projects on the Board of Regents' capital priority list, design of projects number seven and eight, one payback project and construction of one project from the Regents' minors list. The Chancellor also supported the Governor's recommendation that the System receive $33 million of the $263 million slated to cover health claims that have surpassed annual projections.
Chancellor Portch provided legislators with an insightful synopsis of the financial crisis being faced by the Medical College of Georgia's hospitals and clinics, as it responds to the fiscal impact of the Medicare cutbacks contained in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act.
Yamacraw and the University System's other high-technology initiatives also received generous support in the supplemental budget recommendations. The Electronic Crossroads special funding initiative, aimed at expanding the System's technology infrastructure and bandwidth to ensure continued efficient delivery of electronic services, has been recommended to receive $7 million.
The next phase of GALILEO is slated for a $4 million supplemental appropriation, which would complete enhancements for more efficient use of the electronic library by System campuses.

FY 2001 Budget Highlights

> FY 2001
Adjusted Base "A" budget

$1,378,956,780

Enhancements:

> Georgia
GLOBE project

1,461,500

> Eminent
Scholars

3,000,000

> Investing
in Excellence at Georgia's HBCU's

2,640,000

> Hispanic
Program Initiative

375,000

> Yamacraw
Mission

8,611,890

> FY 2001
Adjusted Base "B" budget

$152,795,948

> Yamacraw
Mission

230,000

Lottery Funds:

> For special
funding initiatives: Connecting Teachers with Technology, Connecting Students and Services, GALILEO, P16 & PREP

7,466,000

> Internet
Connection Initiative

1,500,000

> 3 percent
merit salary increase

36,798,670

> The Governor also has
recommended funding for the technology master plans initiative, and the ICAPP Regional Economic Development Initiative through the OneGeorgia program.

FY 2000 Amended Budget Highlights

> UGA Milledge
Avenue site remediation

$3,400,000

> Yamacraw
Mission

3,314,282

> ICAPP projects

130,672

> Medical
College of Georgia

3,217,046

Lottery Funds:

> ETACT fund

15,000,000

> Equipment for
six major capital projects funded in FY 2000

13,645,000

> Campus
Electronic Crossroads Initiative

7,000,000

> GALILEO
Phase II

4,000,000

Capital Projects:

> Construct first
six and design projects 7 and 8 on major capital list (construct at Clayton College & State Univ, Columbus State Univ, Georgia Southern Univ, Coastal Georgia Community College, Georgia College & State Univ, Savannah State Univ; design at Macon State College and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College)

102,685,000

> One payback
project at Savannah State University

7,500,000

> One minors
project at Georgia Perimeter College

2,900,000

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USG Has "Brightest and Bigger" First-Time Freshmen Class
Average SAT scores for the University System of Georgia's Fall 1999 first-time freshman class have reached the national average of 1,016 for the first time ever in the System's history.
The achievement marks another major milestone in the Board of Regents' quest to raise admissions standards for the state's public colleges and universities. In setting its 2001 Admissions Policy Direction in the summer of 1996, the board set as a goal to meet - and ultimately surpass - the national SAT benchmark. It has done so two years ahead of schedule. The fall 1999 score of 1,016 for entering first-time freshmen continues a three-year increase that began in fall 1997, the initial year of the phased-in admissions policy. It also represents a 28-point increase from fall 1996 to fall 1999.

The rise in SAT scores - coupled with an impressive 6.9 percent increase in the size of the University System's freshmen class earns the current cohort of USG entering freshmen the label of "brightest and bigger." First-time freshman enrollment grew from 30,093 students in fall 1998 to 32,180 students in fall 1999. This year's first-time freshman cohort also represents the largest group of "home-grown" Georgia students, with in-state enrollment increasing by 7.1 percent, from 27,506 in Fall 1998 to 29,459 in Fall 1999. Georgia residents comprise 89 percent of the total system enrollment.
"This data, documenting our highest-ever SAT scores and a burgeoning freshmen class, demonstrate the success of two very powerful policies - the Board of Regents' 1996 decision to raise the bar with our admissions requirements and the significant impact of the HOPE scholarship program that keeps the best and brightest in Georgia," University System Chancellor Stephen R. Portch stated. "Many Georgia high-school students have responded to our call for a higher level of preparation by taking the right courses and studying hard."
Portch noted that the SAT achievement is an even more significant accomplishment because the average score encompasses the entire range of students, from two-year colleges through research universities.
"We are optimistic about the fact that more high-school students, teachers and parents are receiving the message regarding meeting higher standards and are acting accordingly," Portch stated. "I am very encouraged, but the message still has to be spread wider and faster. I also am proud of how our institutions have responded to the challenge. However, there's still much to be done."
Clayton College & State University recorded the largest single-year jump of any of the System's 34 public colleges and universities, an increase of 45 points from 943 in fall 1998 to 988 in fall 1999. Rounding out the top five for the largest gains in SAT scores between Fall 1998 and Fall 1999 are: Georgia College & State University, up 35 points; Atlanta Metropolitan College, up 25 points; Savannah State University, up 24 points; and Georgia Southwestern State University, up 19 points).
Two institutions recorded an average SAT score above 1,000 for the first time: Georgia College & State University at 1,027, and Valdosta State University at 1,001.
A total of eight University System institutions now have average SAT scores above 1,000 for first-time freshmen (see graph). These include:
q Georgia Institute of Technology - 1303; q The University of Georgia - 1190; q Southern Polytechnic State University - 1067; q North Georgia College & State University - 1061; q Georgia State University - 1050; q Georgia College & State University - 1027; q Kennesaw State University - 1025; q Valdosta State University - 1001.

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Albany State Professor Selected for Literature Chair in Holland
Dr. Benjamin Lawson of the Department of English and Modern Languages at Albany State University has been selected as the recipient of the Walt Whitman Chair of American Literature at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands from Jan.-May 2001.
The award is granted each year to one American scholar through the auspices of the American Fulbright Commission and various Dutch universities. Lawson's duties will include teaching graduate seminars and undergraduate courses, lecturing, and serving as a curriculum consultant. Also, he will guest lecture at the invitation of other Dutch universities in Amsterdam, Groningen, Leiden, and Nijmegen. By invitation or through Fulbright Commission sponsorship Dr. Lawson previously taught at University College of London and Finland's University of Helsinki.
Savannah State Student to Serve as White House Intern
Savannah State University senior Dimario Habersham has a new address for the spring 2000 semester -- the White House. Habersham, a 4.0 honor student with a double major in English and business, was selected from students nationwide for the internship.
The program complements students' educational experience with service learning. Interns are placed in one of 30 offices within the Oval Office, and Habersham selected the communications office as his first choice. To be considered for the program, appplicants must submit a resume, three short essays, a writing sample, two letters of recommendation and a transcript. Habersham applied to the intern program after reading about it in the Savannah State career service center.
"Mr. Habersham is personable, articulate and ambitious," said Savannah State University President Carlton E. Brown. "I know he will represent Savannah State University, the City of Brunswick (his hometown) and the state of Georgia well."
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Georgia Southern Championship Team Honored by Regents
For an unprecedented fifth time, the Georgia Southern University Eagles were crowned national champions of NCAA Division 1-AA football, defeating Youngstown State, Youngstown, Ohio, in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Dec. 18, capping off a recordbreaking year. Members of the championship team were recognized by the Board of Regents during the January board meeting for their accomplishments. Pictured here with team members are: (kneeling, front row, left to right) Rep. Bob Lane (Statesboro) and Sam Baker, Georgia Southern athletics director; (back row) Rep. Ann R. Purcell (Rincon); Voncellies Allen, senior nose tackle; Adrian Peterson, sophomore fullback; Chancellor Stephen Portch; Greg Hill, senior quarterback; Dr. Bruce F. Grube, Georgia Southern president; Rich McGrath, senior offensive tackle; and Sen. Jack Hill (Reidsville). During their 1999 season, Georgia Southern broke or tied 197 team and individual records. Georgia Southern has won more games (27) than any other NCAA Division I (A or AA) team in the nation during the last two seasons. The Eagles' 27-3 mark also ranks among the best on all levels of college football.
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DeMaio Hits Prime Time
Kennesaw State University Assistant Professor Joe DeMaio has an interest in numbers, so much so that he has tested approximately 140,000 of them in hope of discovering new prime numbers - those that can only be divided by one and themselves. His work has paid off. The math professor recently identified 10 new gigantic prime numbers, the largest being the 134th largest known prime which has 41,950 digits and is written in the shorthand of mathematicians as 277*2^139346+1. Since August 1999, DeMario has had two sophisticated computers at KSU's department of mathematics using Proth's Theorem to continuously search for gigantic primes, those containing at least 10,000 decimal digits.
Website Contest Open To System Students
Technology students from Georgia colleges and universities are invited to showcase their talents in a contest that will put them in front of the state's hottest high-tech employers, while building their portfolios and competing for some extra cash. Sponsored by Georgia Technology Awareness Program (GTAP), this contest will award a $20,000 first prize, $7,500 second prize and $2,500 third prize.
The Website Showdown will be held February 15 - April 15, 2000. Student teams will have eight weeks to design an e-business website. Teams consist of one to four students and compete for the cash prizes totaling $30,000, to be given out at an awards ceremony May 3, 2000. At the ceremony, contest participants will get to meet Georgia high-tech employers.
Sponsors and partners in the program include iXL, SSi Technology Recruiting, the Board of Regents, The Georgia Foundation of Independent Colleges, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC and the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).
For more information, visit the competiton website at: www.websiteshowdown.org
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BOARD OF REGENTS
Kenneth W. Cannestra Atlanta CHAIR
J. Tom Coleman, Jr. Savannah
Thomas F. Allgood, Sr. Augusta
Juanita Powell Baranco Lithonia
Connie Cater Macon
Joe Frank Harris Cartersville
Hilton Hatchett Howell, Jr. Atlanta
John Hunt Tifton

Edgar L. Jenkins Jasper
Charles H. Jones Macon
Donald M. Leebern, Jr. Columbus
Elridge W. McMillan Atlanta
Martin W. NeSmith Claxton
Glenn S. White Lawrenceville
Joel O. Wooten, Jr. Columbus
James D. Yancey Columbus

OFFICERS
Stephen R. Portch CHANCELLOR
Gail S. Weber SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
Lindsay A. Desrochers TREASURER

The System Supplement

Arlethia Perry-Johnson John Millsaps Velma Maia Thomas

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR

WRITER

OFFICE OF MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS 270 Washington Street, SW Atlanta GA 30334

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Last Updated: March 16, 2000 | Leave a Comment 2000 University System of Georgia Board of Regents