The system supplement: a report of the Georgia Board of Regents, Vol. 36, no. 3 (Apr. 2000)

Vol. 37, No. 3, April 2000

q System Maintains Low Tuition, Freezes Mandatory Fees for FY 2001 q USG Merit Salary Increases to Average 3% in FY 2001 q Capital Projects q System FY 2000 Amended and FY 2001 Budgets Approved by Regents q Board of Regents Positions MCG for Increased Competitiveness q Five University System Institutions Unveil On-Line MBA Program q Fort Valley Launches Charter Teacher Prep Program q On Campus
r Powell Named to USA Today Team r Gen X High Tech Leader Donates $15 Million To Tech r Savannah State's Master's of Social Work Accredited r West Georgia Debate Team Is National Champ r Two System Students Receive Goldwater Scholarships q Georgia Teaching Force Center Aids State's Teacher Preparation Effort

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System Maintains Low Tuition, Freezes Mandatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2001

The University System's Board of Regents has established new tuition rates for the 2001 Fiscal Year, which will provide Georgians with continued access to one of the nation's best values for public higher education. In addition, the board acted during the April meeting to freeze a long list of mandatory student fees for FY 2001, such as athletic, activity, recreation, transportation, health, lab, access card, records and parking fees. The only new mandatory fees approved were technology fees -- established for the first time Systemwide to enhance students' access to high technology. (Facilities fees for pre-approved projects at Georgia State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology were included).
The System's low tuition increase continues a historical commitment to guarantee affordable access for in-state students.
Effective for the Fall 2000 semester, tuition for Georgia residents at the state's public colleges and universities will increase by only $23 per semester (or $46 per year) at the two-year colleges; $34 per semester (or $68 per year) at the regional and state universities; and only $46 per semester (or $92 per year) at the research universities.
The new rates reflect only a 3.8 percent increase over last year's charges. Specific rates are as follows:
r At the 15 two-year colleges, undergraduate tuition will increase from $617 to $640 per semester, only a $23 increase. r Undergraduate tuition at the two regional and 13 state universities will increase by only $34 from the previous year, from
$904 to $938. r At the four research institutions, resident undergraduate tuition will increase from $1,207 to $1,253 per semester for in-
state students, a $46 difference over last year.
Non-professional graduate tuition throughout the University System also increased by 3.8 percent at all campuses offering graduate-level programs, consistent with board policy. Higher tuition rates may be proposed for the System's professional-level graduate programs, according to board policy, to align such programs with the mid-point of comparative programs nationally.
Higher increases were proposed for two such professional programs this year: the Master of Science in Management program at Georgia Tech and the medical school programs at the Medical College of Georgia. All other professional graduate programs increased by 3.8 percent.
The tuition and fee action items were two of several on the Board of Regents' Finance and Business Operations Committee agenda, which also included allocation of the System's $1.7 billion Fiscal Year 2001 state appropriation to the System's institutions (including the new units of the public libraries and the State Data Center), and adoption of the merit-based salary policy for University System of Georgia faculty and staff (see related articles on this page and page two).
The System's low tuition increase continues a historical commitment to guarantee affordable access for in-state students, and reflects the lowest increase necessary to meet required program needs during the next fiscal year. Revenues derived from tuition comprise 25 percent of the System's instructional budget, with the other 75 percent provided via state appropriations.
An annual survey by The College Board of tuition and fees charged by public colleges and universities for 1999-2000 validates Georgia's claim as a low-tuition state for in-state undergraduate students. The national average for in-state tuition and fees for two-year institutions in 1999-2000 was $1,627, compared to Georgia's average of $1,416. The national average for four-year institutions was $3,356, compared to Georgia's $2,416. All technology fees presented to the board for consideration today adhered to a new policy requiring at least 50 percent student representation on the campus fee committee.
The new technology fees established at all 34 System institutions will be used to meet the growing need for comprehensive technology improvements on the University System of Georgia's campuses, and to "add value" to students' learning experiences. The fees were allowed to move forward for consideration after a rigorous review of four pilot technology programs implemented over the past two years at Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Perimeter College.
"Because of the enthusiastic support of our students and the success of the four technology pilot projects, the University System now is ready to implement these new technology fees," said Chancellor Stephen R. Portch. The fees, which have a ceiling of $75 per semester for research institutions and $38 for all other institutions, will be used, for example, to provide more computers for student use and additional computer help desks.
The budget presentation was led by Chancellor Portch, accompanied by Senior Vice Chancellor for Capital Resources Lindsay A. Desrochers, Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Beheruz Sethna and Associate Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs William R. Bowes.
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USG Merit Salary Increases to Average 3% in FY 2001

The Board of Regents' FY 2001 Budget includes a $37 million allocation for a 3 percent average merit salary increase for University System faculty and staff. As in past years, while faculty and staff are eligible for percentage increases greater than or less than three percent, the allocation was based on an average of 3 percent for all employees.
For University System staff, the effective start date of merit salary increases has been changed this year, from July 1 to October 1. Increases for faculty will continue to be effective at their contract date. It is anticipated that the salary increase schedule for future fiscal years will have a fall effective date for faculty, with all other employees' increases effective on October 1.
"This move is designed to establish a common starting date for University System staff and other state employees," said Thomas E. Daniel, vice chancellor of external affairs for the Board of Regents. "The state's Office of Planning and Budget made this recommendation, and while it is not the best circumstance this year for University System employees, we understand the need to be good state citizens. Continuing to show appreciation to the Governor and the legislature for the outstanding support the System has received in recent years will reap future rewards."
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Capital Projects
The following are University System capital projects funded in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget. (See related article for projects funded in the FY 2001 Budget).

q $13,645,000 in equipment funds for six capital projects funded in the FY 1999 budget: q Southern Polytechnic State University, School of Architecture, q Gordon College, Instructional Complex, q Georgia Tech, Environmental Sciences & Technology Building, q North Georgia College & State University, Health & Natural Sciences Building, q University of Georgia, Student Learning Center, and q the Gwinnett Center, Phase I Building

Construction:

Design and planning funds only; no construction funds:

q Clayton College & State University, University Learning Center -- $22,300,0001
q Columbus State University, Technology & Commerce Center -- $14,930,0001
q Georgia Southern University, Science & Nursing Building -- $22,890,0001
q Coastal Georgia Community College, Camden Center -- $16,700,0001
q Georgia College & State University, Russell Library & Information Center -- $18,460,0001
q Savannah State University, Housing Residence Center -- $6,470,0001 and Payback $7,500,000
q Georgia Perimeter College, Classroom Building E Renovation -- $2,900,000
q Georgia Tech, North Campus, Chilled Water Plant Expansion -- $4,800,000
q Gainesville College, Underground Electric Distribution System -- $1,300,000
q Middle Georgia College, Dublin Campus Renovation -- $1,200,000
q East Georgia College, Classroom Addition and Activity Center -- $250,000
q Georgia State University, Law Library Renovation -- $4,400,000

q Macon State College, Nursing, Health Science & Outreach -- $650,000
q Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Agriculture Sciences Building -- $285,000
q Darton College, Physical Education Building -$729,000
q Georgia Southwestern State University, Recreation/Athletic/Student Center -$1,144,000
q Kennesaw State University, Classroom & Convocation Center -- $1,425,000
q Augusta State University, Classroom Replacement, Phase II -- $1,202,000
q Middle Georgia College, Wellness Center/ Dormitory/Classrooms -- $590,000
q South Georgia College, Classrooms/Gym Renovation -- $252,000
q Kennesaw State University, Math/Science Building -- $240,000
q Georgia Southern University, College of Information Technology -- $500,000

1 Construction, does not include equipment funds

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System FY 2000 Amended and FY 2001 Budgets Approved by Regents

Progress toward reaching the Board of Regents' goal of creating a more educated Georgia is the result of the on-going budget commitment by Gov. Roy Barnes and the Georgia General Assembly. The System's FY 2001 budget, which totals $1.7 billion in state appropriations -- coupled with the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget -- will provide momentum for the System's efforts. Below are highlights of these two budgets.
q Merit Salary Increase: $37 million was approved for FY 2001. This covers an average three percent merit salary increase for faculty and staff. This year's increase also represents a fundamental change -- it moves the effective start date of merit salary increases for staff from July 1 to Oct. 1.

q Capital Projects: the majority of the System's FY 2001 facilities request was funded in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget. The Governor and General Assembly funded a total of 28 projects totaling $148.2 million. (See the "Capital Projects" list above for details on these funded projects.) In addition, $1,147,208 was funded for five projects in the FY 2001 Budget. These projects are:
r Atlanta Metropolitan College: property purchase -- $370,000; r Fort Valley State University: planning and design funds -- $180,000; r Augusta State University: golf course rehabilitation -- $25,000; r Skidaway Institute of Oceanography: maintenance of water, sewer and electrical power systems -- $69,911; r Georgia Tech: renovate Job Development Program Building at Center for Rehabilitation Technology -- $502,297.

q Formula Funding: $34,741,020 was approved in the FY 2001 budget. This increase in the formula helps the System address formula shortfalls due to a predicted and temporary enrollment and credit-hour drop resulting from semester conversion.
NEW INITIATIVES:
q Campus Electronic Crossroads: $7 million was approved in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget for this effort to provide System campuses with the needed infrastructure to support University System of Georgia's growing technology needs and programs.
q GALILEO Interconnected Library: $4 million was approved in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget to fund work on the next phase of the One Statewide Electronic Library project.
q Georgia Learning Online for Business and Education (GLOBE): $1,461,500 was approved in the FY 2001 Budget to provide "anytime, anywhere" learning via the Internet and Georgia Public Broadcasting to Georgia's non-traditional students.
q Historically Black Colleges and Universities: $2,640,000 was approved to strengthen programs at Fort Valley State University, Savannah State University and Albany State University ($500,000 each) and to fulfill the state's requirement toward land grant universities (Fort Valley).
q Hispanic Initiative: $375,000 was approved to market college opportunities to Georgia's Hispanic community, and to increase the number of English as a Second Language graduates from the System.
EXISTING INITIATIVES:
q Yamacraw Mission: $17,916,890 was approved in the FY 2001 Budget in continuation and new funding and $2,738,950 in additional funds were added to the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget. This funding for Gov. Barnes' program to make Georgia a leader in targeted high-technology fields will support programs including: the Yamacraw Design Center; research; educational capacity; commercialization efforts; and the establishment of a seed capital fund.
q Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP): $1,045,000 million in additional funds in the FY 2001 Budget were approved for rural regional pilot projects that target e-commerce opportunities in the state's poorest counties and $130,672 in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget in additional funds were approved for existing ICAPP programs.
q Eminent Scholars Program: $3.5 million was approved in FY 2001 for seven endowed chairs at Gainesville College (the first two-year college to have an Endowed Chair), Georgia College & State University, North Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University, Georgia Southwestern State University and Macon State College.
q The Equipment, Technology and Construction Trust Fund (ETACT): $15 million in continuation funds were approved in the FY 2000 Supplemental Budget.
q Connecting Teachers with Technology: $7.9 million in continuation funds were approved in the FY 2001 Budget.
q Connecting Students with Services: $1.3 million in continuation funds were approved in the FY 2001 Budget
q GALILEO: $4.2 million in continuation funds were approved in the FY 2001 Budget.
q The Internet Connection: $1.8 million in continuation funds were approved in the FY 2001 Budget.
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Board of Regents Positions MCG for Increased Competitiveness
The final completion of a Master Affiliation Agreement between the Board of Regents and MCG Health, Inc. (MCGHI), approved by the regents during their April meeting, will result in better positioning of the Medical College of Georgia Hospitals and Clinics for increased competitiveness in the healthcare marketplace.
Dr. Lindsay A. Desrochers, senior vice chancellor for capital resources with the Board of Regents, has been responsible for much of the negotiations that led to the approval of the contractual arrangements. Desrochers said the associated agreements should have "long-term impact on the hospitals and clinics' fiscal health and their strategic positioning as major medical education resources for the state."
The adoption of seven contractual agreements culminated an effort begun in January of this year, when the Regents first adopted a Master Affiliation Agreement aimed at increasing the flexibility of the Medical College of Georgia Hospitals and Clinics to allow them to become more competitive. That agreement established a cooperative relationship between the Board of Regents and MCG Health Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, in which the Board contracted with MCGHI to operate and manage the Hospitals and Clinics, effective July 1, 2000.
The master affiliation agreement also confirmed MCGHI's commitment to support the hospitals and clinics' three-part mission of medical education, research and patient care, including indigent care. In addition, it described the agreements needed to accomplish the transfer of services and responsibilities, which included:
q a Master Lease of facilities; q various agreements for transfer of assets and liabilities; q employee services; q exchange of operating services; and q clinical and research program arrangements between the medical college and the hospital and clinics.
"Our goal with these contractual agreements is to provide the hospitals and clinics with greater flexibility to maintain and enhance their patient base for education and research purposes. That is the bottom line," stated Francis J. Tedesco, president of the Medical College of Georgia. The new agreements will provide MCGHI with more flexibility to hold and reinvest revenues from year to year, which is currently not an option for state agencies and its affiliates; negotiate contracts and joint ventures with other health care organizations; and maintain the patient base needed to support teaching and research.
In the new arrangement, MCG faculty will continue to teach and practice at the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, and students of medicine, dentistry, nursing and allied health services will continue to receive their training at the these facilities as well. The Board of Regents will retain ownership of all facilities occupied by MCG Health, Inc., and will lease the facilities to MCGHI on a long-term basis of 10 years, with three 10-year renewable options. Personnel also will be transferred in the contractual arrangement. Most employees of the MCG Hospitals and Clinics (those with less than ten years of service) will be offered employment with MCG Health, Inc. Those employees with long-term investments in the Teachers Retirement System personnel plan (those with 10 or more years of service), may elect to remain MCG employees, and the Personnel Agreement will provide for MCG to lease their services to MCG Health, Inc.
In addition, the Board approved amendments to the Master Affiliation Agreement that make it consistent with the Associated Agreements, and also added three members to the MCG Health, Inc. Board of Directors, to be selected by the Governor.
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Five University System Institutions Unveil On-Line MBA Program
Starting this fall, qualified students will be able to earn a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree online through a consortium of five University System of Georgia institutions spread throughout the state. Named "WebMBA" by its developers, the advanced degree program is targeted to working professionals who may not be able to participate in a traditional on-campus MBA program. The University System Board of Regents approved the new program at its April meeting, held at Georgia State University.
The WebMBA consortium includes Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, the State University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University. All of these institutions currently offer MBA programs accredited by the organization formerly known as the Association of Accredited Colleges and Schools of Business, now known as the International Association for Management Education. Individuals interested in applying for admission to the new program can learn more by visiting: www.usg.edu/student/webmba.
Dr. Beheruz Sethna, interim senior vice chancellor for academic affairs with the Board of Regents, announced the new program, citing it as a collaborative model among system institutions.
"This new WebMBA Program is a product of the Board of Regents' technology study, which was aimed at broadening access to higher education opportunities through the innovative use of information technology," Sethna said. "This on-line degree meets a very real need in Georgia, and has positive implications for developing Georgia's management talent for the 21st Century economy."
While first preference will be given to qualified Georgia students, participation in the WebMBA program is open to anyone, anywhere in the country. Individuals who are interested in the program first must be accepted as a MBA student in one of the five consortium institutions and meet the requirements of that institution for enrollment. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will receive a diploma from the institution in which they are enrolled.
The WebMBA will consist of 30 semester hours (eight required and two elective courses). All WebMBA students will attend a two-day orientation program to learn WebCT, the program's computing platform. Students may need to go to an authorized testing center in their area for on-going exams. Otherwise all instruction will be online.
The initial Fall 2000 WebMBA class will be limited to 30 students, six from each participating institution. Individuals interested in the program will be required to submit an application to any one of the five consortium institutions along with a letter outlining why they should be considered. Pilot tuition rates have been established for the program, at $250 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,000 per credit hour for out-of-state students.
The new degree is expected to increase access to MBA programs offered by the University System of Georgia throughout the state. Currently, ten University System of Georgia institutions offer 11 traditional and/or executive MBA degrees.
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Fort Valley Launches Charter Teacher Prep Program
In a move aimed at enhancing the performance of its graduates on the Praxis II teaching certification exam, Fort Valley State University has received approval from the Board of Regents to establish charter teacher preparation programs in Early Childhood Education and Middle Grades Education.
The innovative response was fostered by a board policy passed in 1998 after a year-long study of the University System's 15 teacher preparation programs. That policy document, titled "Principles and Actions for the Preparation of Educators for the Schools," outlined a willingness by University System officials to consider proposals for charter teacher preparation programs. Such programs will be aimed at achieving specified and higher performance goals in return for, if needed, additional funding and release from certain existing System requirements.
Fort Valley's charter proposal was the first to be considered. The institution's plan calls for replacing the university's current Early Childhood Education and Middle Grades Education programs with charter programs that require student mastery of an absolute set of high standards. Students must perform to at least the proficient level in order to earn course credits. The standards will serve as the means for teaching, advising and assessing teacher candidates at the University. They also will make explicit what teacher candidates must know, be able to do, and accomplish in order to complete course requirements and to be recommended for teacher certification.
The new charter programs at Fort Valley will be implemented beginning with the freshmen class of Fall 2000 and will be assessed after six years. As a key outcome, Fort Valley and System officials have established a goal of increasing the performance of the institution's first-time test takers on the PRAXIS II exam - which is required for teacher certification -- from 40 percent to 75 percent.
"Even if we have to turn everything upside down to get there, absolute standards of performance must be met by our teacher candidates," stated Dr. Jan Kettlewell, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs with the Board of Regents, who is responsible for oversight of the University System's teacher preparation programs. "Fort Valley's innovative charter programs will be organized around these sets of absolute standards. Freshmen will be told: here's the level you have to meet from where you are now. Our job, over the next four years, is to get you there; and we have developed extra goals and methods to better prepare you."
Like other System institutions, Fort Valley State has offered fairly traditional teacher preparation programs. FVSU faculty concluded that the institution's traditional approach to preparing teachers was not effective, noting that last year only 40 percent of their students who aspired to become teachers passed the PRAXIS II exam. Mindful of that data, the faculty and administration concluded that they must restructure their programs to ensure that all teacher candidates could reach high absolute standards, even if it required providing additional time and assistance to reach the new higher standards that would be required for program completion.
The programs are particularly innovative, because there are not many existing models to replicate in higher education. The standards-based design has been tested with positive results in K-12 education; it has been tried much less extensively in academe. Therefore, the faculty has pledged to continue to refine the model.
If successful, Fort Valley and System officials hope to position the Charter Program pilot as a national model in the preparation of minority teachers, increasing their numbers as role models in K-12 schools.
See also: Teaching Force Center Aids Teacher Prep Effort

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Powell Named to USA Today Team

Lia Powell, a Georgia Perimeter College student, was among 60 outstanding students and campus leaders named to the "first team" of USA Today's 2000 "All-USA Academic Team for Community and Junior Colleges."

Powell, who has a 4.0 GPA, is majoring in Japanese and international studies. In addition, Powell has served as president of both the student government association and the College drama club. She coordinated an anti-violence day for an on-campus Martin Luther King Day event. This is the tenth year for the program. In an April 10, USA Today article about the program's success, former first team members were interviewed, including 1996 member R. Patrick Lucas, a Middle Georgia College graduate who is now a student at the Medical College of Georgia.

In addition to the national team, USA Today annually recognizes all-state academic teams. Making the 2000 All-Georgia Academic Team were: Karen Baldree and Ruslan Hristov, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College; Michael Oby, Atlanta Metropolitan College; Eric Knight and Julia Nix, Bainbridge College; Margaret Atkinson and Brenda Crooms, Coastal Georgia Community College; Kathy Purvis and Brenda Crooms, Dalton State College; Amber Renee Gahring and Micah McKenna, Darton College; Leigh Hall and Leslie Underwood, East Georgia College; Pamela Slappey, Gainesville College; Powell, Brian Beers and Shermon Williams, Georgia Perimeter College; Kim Mai and Stephen Yates, Macon State College; Justin Osley and Talya Shoup, Middle Georgia College; Melissa Rowell and Shannon Stewart, South Georgia College; and Aaron Williams, Waycross College.

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Gen X High Tech Leader Donates $15 Million To Tech

Christopher Klaus, the 26-year old founder and chief technology officer of Internet Security Systems (ISS) (NASDAQ: ISSX), has donated $15 million for the construction of an advanced computing and information technology complex to be located in the heart of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The donation is one of the top five largest gifts in university history and is by far the largest gift from anyone from Klaus' generation. It may be the largest donation on record by anyone of his generation.

The need for a new computing complex on campus is overwhelming, noted Tech officials. Established as a separate college in 1990, Computing has experienced a 200 percent increase in undergraduate enrollment since its founding. Last year, the average starting salary for graduates of the college was $49,626, a sign of strong demand for its students.

Klaus was recently honored by the MIT Technology Review as one of the top 100 young innovators for 1999, was one of the youngest to be included in the 1999 Forbes Top 100 list, and received the award for Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of Internet products and services.

Savannah State's Master's of Social Work Accredited

Savannah State University's Master's of Social Work (MSW) degree program has been granted initial accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Commission on Accreditation. The accreditation is retroactive to 1998.

"The CSWE accreditation is a milestone for Savannah State's MSW program," said SSU President Carlton Brown. "It indicates that our curriculum, our professors and our outreach programs are of the utmost quality."

Obtaining MSW accreditation was identified as one of the goals of the Regents' "The Next Step - Taking Graduate Education to the Next Level" special initiative, first funded in FY 1997.

The two-year MSW program prepares students for entry into advanced social work practice.

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West Georgia Debate Team Is National Champ

The State University of West Georgia's debate team captured the national championship of the Cross Examination Debate Association by defeating the top 170 teams in the nation in a three-day March tournament held in Kansas City.

In the final match with Michigan State University, a panel of nine judges gave the West Georgia team of Rachel Saloom, a senior from Macon, and Sara Holbrook, a junior from Birmingham, a close 5-4 victory.

In addition to the top honors, Holbrook received the third place and Saloom the fifth place overall speaker awards. Another West Georgia debater, Jim Smith, was ranked 11th overall in the tournament.

Two System Students Receive Goldwater Scholarships

Kim Thanh Mai, a Macon State College biology and chemistry major, and Yong D. Suh, a State University of West Georgia chemistry major, were among 309 national recipients of the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship, which recognizes academic excellence in the study of math, science and engineering. Georgia had three students named to receive the annual award.

The $7,500 Goldwater Scholarship covers two years of educational expenses, including tuition, fees and books. The scholarship is considered the premier undergraduate award of its type in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Nominees for the scholarship are judged on their demonstrated potential for and commitment to a career in one of these fields and on their outstanding academic performance.

The Goldwater Foundation, a federally endowed agency, was created in 1986 to foster and encourage excellence in the sciences and mathematics and to provide a continuing source of highly qualified individuals to those fields. It is named in honor of the late Barry M. Goldwater, a member of the U.S. Senate for 30 years.

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Georgia Teaching Force Center Aids State's Teacher Preparation Effort

The Georgia Teaching Force Center has been launched by the state's P-16 collaborative, providing additional momentum for the effort to raise the quality and improve the preparation of K-12 teachers in the state. Conceived in the fall of 1999 as part of the P-16 Teacher Quality Plan, officials now have completed hiring the necessary staff to begin fully implementing the center's activities. The center is located at the offices of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, in Atlanta.

The Center supports the work of the Georgia P-16 initiative as it implements the goals of "Georgia's Plan for Having a Qualified Teacher in Every Classroom by 2006." These functions include: analyzing and forecasting teacher supply and demand, serving as a clearinghouse to school districts for qualified applicants to fill teaching positions, and marketing teaching as a worthwhile profession to prospective teacher candidates.

Dr. Tom Hall, interim director of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, said that the center will develop data to inform the policy-making process, which will be distributed to the Governor's office and other organizations responsible for the P-16 Teacher Quality Plan effort.

P-16 officials also announced the appointment of Cyndy E. Stephens as the Georgia Teaching Force Center's director. Prior to her appointment, Stephens served since 1994 on the staff of the Georgia Department of Education, where she focused on providing statewide leadership in school operations and improvement initiatives for grades Pre-K through 16.

Management of a teacher clearinghouse will be a key function of the center, Stephens said. The center's website (TeachInGeorgia. org) will link to already established applicant sources and to higher education placement offices for prospective teachers. The center will produce publications marketing clearinghouse activities and will develop new databases of experienced and qualified educators.

The center also will assist in the state's efforts to market the teaching profession. Center staff will utilize job fairs, future teacher development programs, business-to-teaching activities, and personnel in the state's colleges of education and arts and sciences programs to promote teaching as a viable and rewarding profession.

Funding for the Georgia Teaching Force Center is being provided by a $3.9 million Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to improve student achievement and teacher quality in Georgia's schools. The grant, awarded in 1999, provides first-year funding for the P-16 effort to improve teacher quality. It is the second-largest grant awarded nationwide to support such efforts.

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BOARD OF REGENTS
Kenneth W. Cannestra Atlanta CHAIR
J. Tom Coleman, Jr. Savannah VICE-CHAIR
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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