The system supplement: a report of the Georgia Board of Regents, Vol. 42, no. 1 (Winter 2005)

System Supplement

A report of the Georgia Board of Regents 8 Vol. 42, No. 1 8 Winter 2005

"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Meredith Delivers State of the System Address

Speech Outlines System's Recent Achievements, Future Challenges

As the University System of Georgia prepares to turn the corner from "some very challenging budget years," Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith used his annual State of the System address at the February board meeting to highlight significant accomplishments that have both strengthened the state's 34 public colleges and universities and driven the board to exhibit national leadership on key higher education issues.
Meredith recapped key strides made by the University System during the past 12 months in fulfilling the central themes of his administration: maintaining and enhancing academic programs and efforts, preserving access and quality, and operating more efficiently and effectively.
Accountability was one of the central threads running through Meredith's report, and he outlined the System's progress in serving as good stewards of state dollars as well as developing programs to improve performance on key accountability measures.
"We have made significant progress in these areas, so much so that on a number of higher education issues, today Georgia is viewed as a national model," Meredith stated. The System's rise in national prominence, the chancellor said, is rooted in the Board of Regents' adherence to long-range thinking and planning. "Because of the Statewide Assessment we conducted," Meredith said, "we have initiated a mission review process that has the potential to change the face of the System. This will enable us to better meet the evolving demands and needs of Georgia in the 2005 to 2015 period."
A major development that emanated from that assessment is the Board of Regents' plan to convert the Gwinnett University

Center to a permanent institution. "Proof of the wisdom of this (planning) process can be found in your request to the General Assembly to authorize the creation in Gwinnett County of the System's first new fouryear institution in 30 years," Meredith stated. The campus, if approved by the legislature, is expected to help the Board of Regents meet burgeoning student demand anticipated over the next 10 years, particularly in metro Atlanta.
The USG reported record high enrollment in fall 2004 of 250,659 students -- the third straight year of record enrollment growth. The average SAT scores of entering freshmen also increased 6 points last fall, to an average score of 1,042, again surpassing the national average. Student retention also improved, another quality indicator reflecting the number of USG students who return as sophomores after completing their freshmen year. "We have focused on retention over the past several years." said Meredith, "This focus, in combination with better-prepared students, has led to a record high 81 percent System-wide retention rate."
Meredith would like to see improved performance in the sixyear graduation rates of USG institutions, which is 54 percent System wide. Among the USG achievements attracting national attention, Meredith cited the appointment and resulting report of a special Graduation Task Force he empanelled in 2004. "Last January we were one of the first systems in the country to appoint a graduation rate task force," Meredith said.

"Implementation of its recommendations is underway. It's the focus we should have -- on our educational outcomes. "
Meredith also cited another national leadership role the USG had assumed, in tackling the costs of student textbooks. "I am pleased to announce that we will be holding a series of statewide forums on textbooks costs," Meredith stated. "These forums should attract national attention, as this has become a national issue with the heightened interest of Congress. Georgia is among the leaders looking at this issue." Three forums are slated statewide throughout February at USG campuses (see article on p. 6).
Other major issues addressed by the regents' during the past year include the formal relationship with foundations and the issue of presidential pay, improved audit reports for USG institutions, targeted programs to help provide both access and preparation for college, and the innovative construction of facilities. These specific accomplishments were among those highlighted by Meredith:
x The Board's ability to maintain Georgia's historic position as a low tuition state, despite budget cuts.
See "State of System," Page 4 ...

Regents Adopt Ambitious Plan Tackling Teacher Shortage Plan Also Aims to Increase Diversity Among Teachers

The Board of Regents has launched Phase Three of its on-going teacher-preparation initiative, aimed at strengthening all levels of Georgia's educational system, by implementing a bold plan to double the number and diversity of the teachers prepared by the University System of Georgia by 2010.
The plan, presented to the regents at their January meeting by Associate Vice Chancellor for P-16 Initiatives Dr. Jan Kettlewell, also calls for the University System to work with the Georgia Committee on Quality Teaching to address teacher attrition. The goal is to reduce by one-third the number of new public-school teachers who leave the profession within their first few years by providing them with increased support. According to data from Georgia's Professional Standards Commission, 15 percent of new teachers hired in Georgia leave after their first

year, 26 percent leave after three years and 35 percent after five years. Teachers with only provisional certification leave at more than twice the rate of teachers prepared in traditional, university-based programs.
With projected public-school enrollment increases and no change in the teacher attrition rate, Georgia will need approximately 14,500 new teachers by 2010. Reducing the teacher attrition rate by one-third will drop this number to about 11,600 teachers. The state's Professional Standards Commission has indicated that 69 percent of the new teachers hired by Georgia public schools in 2003 were needed because of attrition.
"Georgia badly needs more high-quality teachers and more diversity among its teachers," Kettlewell said. "The shortage we are experiencing is attributable both to the pipeline the rela-

tively modest number of teachers prepared in the state and to attrition. We need to make the pipeline more robust by ensuring that the University System of Georgia becomes the primary provider of this state's teachers. We need to provide minority students in Georgia's public schools with the role models that are so important to their educational success, and we need to help new teachers succeed by giving them as much support as possible."
To double the number and diversity of teachers prepared by the University System and reduce teacher attrition, the plan adopted by the regents will employ 10 strategies, including raising the University System's teacher production targets to 7,000 new teachers by 2010, up from the 3,157 new teachers produced in Fiscal Year 2004 (including 1,555 minority teachers, up from 601 in FY04).
See "Teachers," Page 4 ...

10-Year Admissions Analysis: Great Progress in Attracting Strong Students

A10-year analysis of freshmen entering the University System of Georgia presented to the Board of Regents at its January meeting shows the System is drawing significantly more academically qualified students now, due to heightened admissions standards, the HOPE Scholarship program and the improved quality of the System's 34 institutions.
The average combined SAT score of USG freshmen has risen from 994 in Fall 1995 to 1,042 in Fall 2004, thanks in large part to the six-year phase-in of higher admissions standards that began in 1996 and the impact of the HOPE Scholarship program. In addition, the number of traditional freshmen those who enter college within five years of graduating from high school has soared from 27,570 to 35,026 during this same period.
"Our students have met the challenge we set by raising the admissions bar," said Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs Daniel S. Papp, who presented the admissions data as part of an admissions policy update. "Obviously, the number of freshmen has increased dramatically, and the quality of students has gone up as well. We have not scared students off by setting higher standards -- they simply have worked harder, and are now coming to USG institutions better prepared."
The proof lies not only in improved SAT scores, but the increased number of students who have completed College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC) course requirements and the reduced demand among freshmen for learning-support courses that review the basic skills in

math, English and reading necessary for college success. Papp reported that 89 percent of the freshmen admitted to USG institutions in Fall 2004 had completed the CPC course requirements, compared to 76 percent in Fall 1995, and only 16 percent of freshmen required learning support this past fall, compared to 27 percent in Fall 1995.
Average SAT scores, CPC-completion rates and learning-support rates vary among the different types of institutions within the University System research universities, regional universities, state universities, state colleges, and two-year colleges. Papp said that, as part of the process of raising admissions standards, the System has consciously channeled students into the type of institution that can give them the best chance to succeed in college.

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USG Briefs
s Three University System of Georgia students have received Marshall and Rhodes scholarships for 2005 to study in Great Britain over the next few years.
Jeremy Farris, an international affairs major at Georgia Tech, is the third Tech student to win a Rhodes Scholarship, which funds two to three years of study at Oxford University.
Marshall scholars include Ambika Bumb, a Georgia Tech biomedical engineering student who will pursue a Ph.D. at Oxford, and Matthew Crim, who will graduate this spring from the University of Georgia with bachelor's degrees in both political science and cellular biology.
Crim, who plans to use his scholarship to complete two one-year master of science programs at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also received a 2004 Truman Scholarship and is the first UGA student to have won both Truman and Marshall scholarships.
Bumb is the sixth Georgia Tech student to have received a Marshall Scholarship. This is the third consecutive year that a UGA student has earned the prestigious honor.
s Valdosta State University was named the 2005 recipient of Best Practice Awards both for the Innovative Use of Technology and Collaboration with Community Colleges. The awards, sponsored by The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), recognize a school, college, or department of education that models the innovative uses of technology and outstanding collaboration between teacher education programs at a college/university and a community college. For the community college collaboration, VSU partnered with Waycross, South Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural colleges.
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ON CAMPUS

GSW Educating Georgians on State's History

Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) is giving radio listeners across Georgia a refresher on the Peach State's past.
The university has produced an award-winning series of public service announcements (PSAs) dubbed "Milestones in Georgia History" that provides an educational and informative glimpse into pivotal moments in the state's 272-year saga.
Three dozen 60-second radio spots researched by GSW Professor of History James E. Bagwell and produced by the GSW Division of University Relations have been distributed to FM and AM radio stations throughout the state since August 2003. Topics have ranged from milestones in the Civil War to the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the origin of the traditional Southern dish "Hoppin' John."
"At Georgia Southwestern, we take our commitment to provide educational information to the state's citizens very seriously, and we view this project as a unique way to bring some

interesting stories to a diverse audience," said President Michael L. Hanes. "Our goal is to add to the knowledge base of all Georgians."
The uniqueness of the "Milestones in Georgia History" project earned it a Grand Award in 2004 from District III of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), which chose GSW's PSAs over a variety of radio programs and public service announcements submitted by colleges and universities in nine Southeastern states.
For more information on the "Milestones" project, including downloadable audo clips, visit www.gsw.edu/univrel/news/milestones.html or contact GSW's Director of Public Relations, Wes Sumner, at wdsumner@canes.gsw.edu or reach him by phone at (229)-931-2038.

Bainbridge Presidential Search Launched

Dr. Sherman R. Day was named interim president of Bainbridge College in late January as Dr. Clifford M. Brock left the post to accept the presidency of Barstow Community College in Barstow, Ca.
A campus-level Presidential Search and Advisory Committee has been appointed to assist in identifying candidates for a new president. Day, who was called out of retirement to serve as interim president, will fill in until the new appointment has been made. Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith expects to conclude the search no later than July 1, 2005.
"Bainbridge College is a growing institution with an important mission," said Meredith. "It serves a vital role in the South Georgia community, and we are committed to identifying a strong leader to continue its strong record of success and contributions in the region."
Day has been a presidential "pinch hitter" for the USG on multiple occasions. He served as acting president of Georgia State University from 1991 to 1992. A few years later, the Board of Regents tapped the GSU pro-

fessor to serve as acting president and then president of North Georgia College & State University. He retired in 1999, but was asked to assist Tom Daniel, senior vice chancellor for external activities and facilities, during the 2001 legislative session.
Afterwards, the regents convinced Day to return to service, this time as Day interim president of Gordon College. When Dr. Lawrence V. Weill took office as Gordon's newly appointed president in 2002, Day again took up retired life.
The campus-level search committee at Bainbridge will identify at least five unranked candidates from among the applicants. The chancellor and a Regents Special Committee will interview these candidates and make a recommendation to the full Board of Regents for consideration and final approval.

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Doubling Teachers
Continued from P. 2 ...
Other strategies include:
x expanding the role of the state's two-year public colleges in preparing teachers;
x increasing the emphasis on pre-kindergarten teaching;
x placing special emphasis on the recruitment of teachers to teach science and mathematics;
x expanding the number of pathways by which those interested in second careers can become teachers;
x approving more teachereducation programs; and
x reducing by one-third the attrition rate for new teachers by partnering with the Georgia

Committee on Quality Teaching.
The Board of Regents adopted an initiative to strengthen education at all levels in Georgia in 1998. The first phase of this initiative conducted between 1998 and 2002 involved strengthening the quality of Georgia's teachers through the adoption and implementation of the regents' "Principles for the Preparation of Educators for the Schools."
In Phase Two implemented from 2002 to 2005 the regents worked to establish multiple pathways for those who wish to become teachers and continued to strengthen teacher quality.
Knowledge gained during the first two phases will be brought to bear in Phase Three, Kettlewell said, as the regents and System

Kettlewell
staff implement the "Double the Number, Double the Diversity of Teachers Prepared by the University System of Georgia and Retained by the State's Public Schools" initiative.

State of System Address
Continued from P. 1 ...
x A National Science Foundation $34.6 million grant awarded to the University System to strengthen math and science programs in 13 Georgia school districts through the Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM) project. "The results of this initiative will be watched closely nationally," Meredith said.
x Development of the "Education Go Get It!" program to make more Georgians aware of the critical need for postsecondary education.
x The continuation of the USG's nationally recognized AfriicanAmerican Male Initiative that researched the reasons behind the decline in AfricanAmerican males who attend college and developed recommendations and pilot programs to begin to reverse this decline. "African-American male enrollment in the USG has grown by 9.6 percent over the past two years," Meredith said.
x The continued responsiveness of the System in addressing emerging state workforce needs, as evidenced by the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program's (ICAPP) Health Professionals Initiative.

Meredith noted that Phase One of the initiative, launched in July 2002, produced 632 new licensed healthcare professionals, surpassing the goal of 500.
x The Board's decisions to revise its basic memorandum of understanding with cooperative organizations and to move all presidential pay to state dollars, ending direct foundation presidential pay supplements. "This was a tough issue," said Meredith. "This board has exhibited national leadership on an issue that permeates public higher education."
x The use of creative publicprivate partnerships outside the state's normal construction bonding program to meet facilities needs. "We have constructed more than $1 billion dollars worth of construction in 60 plus projects around the System through public-private partnerships," Meredith said.
x The record increase in research grants and contracts to System institutions, which rose to $795 million in FY02 and $861 million in FY03.
x The creation of a "Best Practices" awards program to identify and highlight institutional programs that promote more effective and efficient operations.
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x The USG's use of technology to create new distance learning and online course and degree programs such as WebMBA, as well as what Meredith characterized as work that places Georgia "at the national forefront of educational and administrative applications of information and instructional technology."
Meredith emphasized his gratitude for the pending turnaround in the budget picture. "We deeply appreciate the fact that Governor Perdue has recommended a FY06 increase of 8.3 percent for the University System," he said. "If the Governor's budget recommendation is passed, we will be on the positive side."
Meredith also noted the everincreasing impact of the University System on the state's economy, as measured in the recently released report produced by Dr. Jeff Humphreys of the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business (see article on p. 5). Humphreys placed the USG's economic impact in Fiscal Year 2004 at $9.7 billion, up from $8 billion two years ago. "Those dollars helped to create more than 106,000 jobs," Meredith said, "both on our campuses and in many communities throughout Georgia."
For a complete copy of the address, go to: http://www.usg.edu/ admin/oc/reports/2005/feb05.html

Richard Tucker Joins BOR; Regents Leebern, Rodwell Reappointed to Board

In addition to reappointing Donald M. Leebern Jr. of Columbus and Wanda Yancey Rodwell of Stone Mountain to serve additional terms on the Board of Regents, Gov. Sonny Perdue recently announced the appointment of Richard L. Tucker of Duluth to the board.
Tucker, a former member of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority and the Governor's Development Council, is the principal and managing partner of Arlington Capital LLC, a lending fund. He recently served as president and chief executive officer of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and is on the board of directors of the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Gwinnett Foundation, the Council for Quality Growth, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, and the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Georgia Trend magazine has recognized Tucker as one of its "100 Most Influential Georgians" for the past four years, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution named him one of the most influential Gwinnett leaders in 2002.
Tucker is the advisory board chairman of the Regional Business Coalition and heads the Citizens Project Selection Committee of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners.
Tucker, who received his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, replaces Regent Glenn S. White, whose term as

7th District representative to the Board of Regents had expired.
This is Leebern's second reappointment to the board, where he is an "at large"member. He first was appointed by Gov. Zell Miller in 1991. Leebern is chairman of Georgia Crown, Alabama Crown, and Tennessee Crown Distributing Companies. Wholesalers and importers of liquor, beer, wine and specialty products. He is chair of the board of directors of MCG Health Inc., the non-profit corporation that operates the Medical College of Georgia Hospital and Clinics. He also serves on the boards of the Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation, the University of Georgia Athletic Association, the Georgia Research Alliance, the Columbus State University Foundation and Columbus Steeplechase.
Leebern is a member of the University of Georgia Alumni Society, the Georgia Hall of Fame, the Capitol City Club, the Commerce Club and the Georgia Club.
Leebern served as board chair from 1994 to 1995 and currently chairs the Strategic Planning Committee, which includes all regents. He studied business administration at UGA and played varsity football in 1957, 1958, and 1959. Leebern was honored with the Georgia Athletic Association's 2002 "Circle of Distinction Award."
Rodwell was appointed by Gov. Roy Barnes in 2002 to serve out an unexpired term represent-

ing the 4th District on the Board of Regents. This is her second term on the board. A native of Atlanta, Rodwell is general manager of corporate communications at Delta Air Lines. Before joining Delta in 2000, she was vice president of public affairs/executive director of the Henry W. Grady Foundation for the Tucker Grady Health System.

An Atlanta native, Rodwell began her career as a journalist, writing award-winning news reports for The Atlanta JournalConstitution, before transitioning into corporate communications at Cox Enterprises, the newspaper's parent company.

Leebern

The Spelman College graduate serves as chair of the Calvin A. Rodwell Foundation and DBR Enterprises, Inc., Rodwell and is a member of numerous civic organizations, including the Economic Development Authority of DeKalb County, as well as numerous professional organizations.

Anewly released study on the University System of Georgia's $9.7 billion annual economic impact on the state of Georgia indicates that the economic clout of the USG's 34 public colleges and universities continues to increase.

Economic Impact Of University System Grows To $9.7 Billion in FY 2004

The study, which focused on Fiscal Year 2004, was conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. It was initially released in 2000 covering Fiscal Year 1999, updated in 2002 to report Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001, and has just been updated again to show a $1.7 billion increase in the System's economic impact since the 2002 study (which identified the System's impact as $8 billion in Fiscal Year 2001).
In addition to the $9.7 billion in "output impact" generated by

the University System, the study found that public higher education is responsible for 2.8 percent of Georgia's workforce, or 106,831 full- and part-time jobs.
The Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP), an initiative of the Board of Regents' Office of Economic Development, commissioned the study by Dr. Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of economic forecasting for the Selig Center.
For a complete copy of the study, go to: http://www.icapp. org/pubs/impact/

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Alliance Launches "Education. Go Get It."

A new partnership effort aimed at getting more Georgians to graduate from high school and attend college "Education. Go Get It." received a formal kick-off at the Capital Education Center in Atlanta on Fri., Feb. 18. Participants included representatives from the various public and private partnerships involved in the campaign, such as the University System, the State Department of Education, the Department of Technical and Adult Education, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Governor's Office, IBM, BellSouth and Georgia Power. Cheerleaders from the Atlanta

Public School System's Frederick Douglas High School lead the audience in "Edu-cation. Go Get It." cheers; [top photo]. Dr. Art Dunning, vice president for Public Service and Outreach and associ-
ate provost at the University of Georgia, watches as a student works on the new GA411 website that provides information on Georgia's colleges and universities to prospective students [bottom photo].

Regents Holds Three Statewide Forums On Textbook Costs

In response to a growing national concern on the part of students, parents, college and university administrators and elected officials over the price of college textbooks, the University System held a series of three public forums on the issue during the week of Feb. 14.
The forums were held Mon., Feb. 14, at Georgia State University , Wed., Feb. 16, at Georgia Southern University, and Feb. 17, at the University of Georgia.
"Our purpose in holding these forums was to provide information that would help all interested parties understand the various factors driving the cost of textbooks," said Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs William Bowes. "We will utilize the

information gained from these forums to develop recommendations on future textbook pricing that will be presented to the Board of Regents."
Each of the three forums included a panel representing students, the textbook industry and university faculty. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academics and Fiscal Affairs Dr. Daniel S. Papp gave a welcome and overview at all three forums. Jim Flowers, special assistant to the chief information officer for the University System, served as the moderator.
In addition to presentations by the panelists and a general discussion, the programs accommodated written questions from the audience.

BOARD OF REGENTS
Joel O. Wooten, Jr. Columbus CHAIR
J. Timothy Shelnut Augusta
VICE CHAIR
Hugh A. Carter, Jr. Atlanta
Connie Cater Macon
William H. Cleveland, M.D. Atlanta
Michael J. Coles Kennesaw
Joe Frank Harris Cartersville
Julie Ewing Hunt Tifton
W. Mansfield Jennings, Jr. Hawkinsville
James R. Jolly Dalton
Donald M. Leebern, Jr. Columbus
Elridge W. McMillan Atlanta
Martin W. NeSmith Claxton
Patrick S. Pittard Lakemont
Doreen Stiles Poitevint Bainbridge
Wanda Yancey Rodwell Stone Mountain
Richard L. Tucker Duluth
M. Allan Vigil Fayetteville
OFFICERS
Thomas C. Meredith CHANCELLOR
Gail S. Weber SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
William R. Bowes TREASURER

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