The system supplement: a report of the Georgia Board of Regents, Vol. 45, no. 3 (Mar.-04 2008)

SyThse tem Supplement

A report of the Georgia Board of Regents 8 Vol. 45, No. 3 8 March/April 2008
"Creating a More Educated Georgia"

Regents Approve New Guaranteed Tuition Rates

Freshmen students arriving on the University System of Georgia's (USG) 35 campuses this fall will do so under the Board of Regents' guaranteed tuition plan, which fixes tuition at the same rate for a specified time. The regents approved new guaranteed tuition rates in April.
In addition to setting new fouryear tuition rates for the fall of 2008, the regents' action means that students who first enrolled under the guaranteed tuition plan in both fall 2006 and fall 2007 will again see no change in tuition rates. Students who enrolled prior to fall 2006, as well as those enrolling this fall will see an increase necessary for the System to meet its share (approximately 25 percent) of the cost of teaching in-
The June issue of The System Supplement will be available online only at http://www.usg.edu/pubs/sys_supp/. The Supplement's usual print format will resume with the August issue.

state students. The state meets the remaining percentage of instructional costs.
The regents' actions came following a presentation on the budget by Interim Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs Usha Ramachandran during the board's meeting, held on the campus of Columbus State University, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. [See budget story, p. 3]
"The System's tuition strategy supports the board's strategic plan, which calls for us to maintain affordability and access to public higher education," said Ramachandran.
Tuition rates for incoming freshmen in fall 2008 will be $2,428 per semester at the four research universities (Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, the Medical College of Georgia and the University of Georgia), an increase of $180, or 8 percent from fall 2007; $1,549 per semester at

the System's four-year universities, up $115, or 8 percent from fall 2007, $997 per semester at the state colleges, up 6 percent or $59 from fall 2007, and $919 per semester at two-year colleges, an increase of $44, or 5 percent from the previous fall. The rates will remain constant for these freshmen through fall 2011.
Six of the USG's four-year universities charge a tuition rate that reflects prior board actions to enhance the mission of these institutions. The guaranteed fall 2008 tuition rate for entering freshmen at Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, the University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University will be $1,598 per semester. Georgia College & State University's fall 2008 guaranteed tuition rate for entering freshmen will be $2,273 per semester, and at Southern Polytechnic State University, the guaranteed tuition rate will be $1,751 per semester.
See "Tuition," Page 4 ...

Regents' Excellence Awards Honor Johnny Isakson,

Griffin Bell, USG Faculty, Alumni

The University System of Georgia Foundation honored U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his service to higher education in Georgia at the Fourth Annual Regents Awards for Excellence in Education Celebration on March 29. The foundation also recognized several outstanding USG faculty and alumni, including former U.S. Attorney General Griffin Bell.
Georgia Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, most members of the Board of Regents and several regents emeriti all attended the event, held in Atlanta. A number of elected state officials, corporate leaders and USG presidents, administrators, faculty and staff, as well as alumni and supporters, also attended the awards program.

"This event applauds excellence and achievement within the University System," said Regent Richard L. Tucker, who as chair of the USG Foundation hosted the program. "The honorees all have contributed outstanding service to the University System of Georgia, their communities and the state of Georgia in the arena of public higher education, and we want to express our sincere appreciation for their work on behalf of the University System."
Isakson received the night's featured award, "The Elridge McMillan Lifetime Achievement Award," named for the longestserving member of the Board of Regents. A member of the U.S. Senate since 2004, Isakson also served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, begin-

ning in 1999.

He was the

original

author of

President

George W.

Bush's No

Child Left

Behind Act

and has

worked to

strengthen

America's

Armed

Forces. He

Isakson

also helped to

develop mass-transit alternatives

to reduce congestion and improve

air quality in Georgia.

A 1966 graduate of the University of Georgia, Isakson

See "Regents' Awards," Page 6 ...

The University System of Georgia Strategic Plan

Regents Act on New Campus Mission, International Education and Enrollment Growth

Anew mission for one college, international education and population growth in metropolitan Atlanta may, at first glance, appear unrelated. But with its approval in April of three separate proposals dealing with these issues, the Board of Regents has put in motion efforts designed to support goals related to these areas in the board's Strategic Plan.
Specifically, the three board actions, approved during its monthly meeting, held at Columbus State University, are:
N The approval of a mission change for Coastal Georgia Community College and of recommendations to increase access to the University System in southeast coastal Georgia;
Metro Atlanta College Market Booming
Areport on increasing access in metro Atlanta, prepared for the Board of Regents by University System of Georgia (USG) staff, found that if current collegegoing patterns continue into 2020, then the majority of the projected growth of an additional 100,000 new students for the University System would be in the greater Atlanta area.
The Atlanta region is home to 17 of the USG's 35 colleges and universities and could be serving an additional 70,000 students if they maintain their current share of the total USG student enrollment of 270,000. The report indicates that as the Atlanta region continues to grow, some areas could be underserved with public higher education programs and facilities, unless System officials act.
The challenge the regents and University System officials face is to develop solutions to absorb this growth in a cost-effective way while maintaining high academic standards and directing students to System campuses outside metro Atlanta as well as potential new educational sites in the region, said Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts in presenting the report to the regents at their March meeting. The regents' Strategic Plan has as one of its goals to create additional enrollment capacity (see related story on this page).

N The approval of a plan to increase enrollment capacity in metropolitan Atlanta; and
N The adoption of new principles for international education.
"We are gaining momentum as we implement and realize the goals set forth in our Strategic Plan," said Shelley Nickel, associate vice chancellor for planning and implementation. "These actions today put into motion plans that have been on the drawing board for a number of months. It is exciting to see them come to fruition."
Goal One of the Strategic Plan is to renew excellence in undergraduate education. One section of this goal involves preparing students to function successfully in a global society. Toward that end, the regents today adopted a set of five principles that provide guidelines for USG campuses engaging in international education.
"In conjunction with a recent Senate resolution urging the state's colleges and universities to give international education high priority, we sought input from our campuses in developing a document that would help them go forward with improving the international dimensions of undergraduate education," said Dr. Richard Sutton, assistant vice chancellor for international programs.
The Principles of International Education encourage USG institutions:
N to provide students with the global knowledge, skills and attitudes to succeed in the 21st-century;
N to infuse all aspects of campus life and culture with international education to achieve optimal impact on students, faculty and staff;
N to ensure the existence of active international networks, partnerships and programs that engage and reward faculty and staff in the global practice of teaching, research and service;

N to participate in successful state strategies for global commerce that integrate the international education programs of public universities with related international activities of other state agencies; and
N to work closely with the University System Office, which is responsible for developing appropriate governance policies, exemplary standards of practice and adequate financial support to ensure the integrity of international education programs and procedures.
Goal Two of the Strategic Plan is to expand the USG's enrollment capacity to meet the needs of a projected 100,000 additional students by 2020. Population forecasts point to the greatest growth in metropolitan Atlanta and, below Macon, the southeastern coastal area of the state.
The board took two separate actions in support of increasing enrollment capacity: adopting a plan to increase the University System's capacity in the greater Atlanta area and approving a mission change for Coastal Georgia Community College (CGCC) from a two-year institution to a state college.
Priorities for increasing the enrollment capacity of the University System in the Atlanta region will focus on two-year and state college access. Newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that over the past year, Atlanta had the second highest metropolitan area population growth in the nation. This data bolstered a recent report prepared by USG staff for the regents (see sidebar), which concluded that the majority of the additional 100,000 students expected to seek education in the University System of Georgia by 2020 would be from the Atlanta area.
"Given the expected enrollment increase, all institutions in the metro Atlanta area must be part of a system solution to a state need," said Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts.
See "Goal Two," Page 3 ...

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The University System of Georgia Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan Website Launched

University System of Georgia (USG) officials have stepped up efforts to provide increased accountability for programs and actions through the launch of a new website that focuses on the system's new Strategic Plan.
The new site, which was launched on March 19 and is accessible to both USG staff and the general public, provides detail on the Strategic Plan's six goals and helps viewers track the progress of the various initiatives and programs developed to achieve the plan's objectives for these goals.
"We believe that strategic planning is a living, dynamic process and not just a document sitting on a shelf," said Shelley Nickel, Associate Vice Chancellor for Planning and Implementation. "This new website is a communications tool, a resource tool and a portal for people to see the exciting changes on our campuses as our goals are translated into actions."
The "Strategic Plan in Action" feature links to examples on campuses that illustrate progress toward the realization of the six strategic

goals. The website will continue to evolve and track the changes that ripple through the university system, transforming lives and strengthening the state's ability to be globally competitive. The site can be accessed at: http://www.usg.edu/ strategicplan/
The new plan was adopted by the Board of Regents in August 2007. Since that time individuals in the University System Office and on the 35 campuses have developed specific action steps, desired, measurable outcomes, and timelines. Each of the 18 regents has participated in the ongoing development and implementation of the plan by serving on one of six Strategic Planning Oversight Committees.
The six strategic goals are:
N Renew excellence in undergraduate education to meet students' 21st century needs.
N Create enrollment capacity in the University System to meet the needs of 100,000 additional students by 2020.

N Increase the System's participation in research and economic development to the benefit of a global Georgia. Enhance and encourage the creation of new knowledge and basic research across all disciplines.
N Strengthen the USG's partnerships with the state's other education agencies.
N Maintain affordability so that money is not a barrier to participation in the benefits of higher education.
N Increase efficiency by working as a system.

Goal Two
Continued from P. 2 ...
The plan adopted by the regents in April for increasing enrollment capacity in Georgia's capital will address the needs of under-served areas in metropolitan Atlanta by establishing small pilot sites in low-cost, leased spaces following a multi-campus model and encouraging the establishment of partnerships between institutions. Initial priorities for the locations of these sites will focus on areas of in-town Atlanta, north of Atlanta as well as southeast, southwest and west of

Atlanta. The target for opening the initial pilot sites is Fall 2009.
A recent needs assessment conducted for the Board of Regents confirmed similar studies going back to 1982 indicating that southeast coastal Georgia is under-served with respect to access to baccalaureate degree programs. CGCC's mission change to a state college will set the stage for the state college to offer baccalaureate degree programs targeted to the economic development of the area. As part of the board's larger comprehensive plan to increase access in this region of the state, USG staff
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also will explore partnerships between South Georgia College (SGC) in Douglas and one or more senior institutions that would extend access to baccalaureate-degree programs for area residents.
Apart from the need for better access to baccalaureate degree programs, one area of coastal Georgia, Savannah, needs better access to two-year programs. Savannah does not have a twoyear public college. USG staff will plan for better access to two-year programs in the Savannah area in the future.

USG State Appropriations for FY2009 Up Nearly 8 Percent

The Board of Regents approved the allocation of a record $2.3 billion in state appropriations to the University System for Fiscal Year 2009 at its April meeting, held on the campus of Columbus State University.
The budget approved by the board reflects an increase in state appropriations from Fiscal Year 2008 of $165 million, or 7.7 percent. Most of the increase in state appropriations (70 percent) is driven by the increase in student enrollment as well as increased costs for health and retiree benefits and maintenance and operations costs for facilities.
Both the budget and tuition decisions reached by the regents were shaped by the board's sixpoint strategic plan. A portion of the budget allocations to colleges and universities thus reflect the board's commitment through investment to key programs designed to meet the plan's goals such as improving retention and graduation rates, meeting increased enrollment, contributing to the state's economic development, and strengthening undergraduate education.
"Our budget and policy decisions are being driven and shaped by our strategic plan," said Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. "It is clear that the extraordinary support of both Gov. Sonny Perdue and the General Assembly is in part due to our setting clear goals for action and improvement in the System designed to benefit our students and the state, and we are deeply appreciative of that support."
As part of the University System's $2.3 billion Fiscal Year 2009 budget, the regents approved:
N $7.16 million in new dollars to fund plans to expand physician

education through the Medical College of Georgia;
N $6.5 million in new dollars to assist the continued start-up of Georgia Gwinnett College;
N $1 million in new funds for three new eminent scholars (two at Georgia Southern University and one at Kennesaw State University);
N $49.97 million to provide an average 2.5 percent merit salary increase for faculty and staff;
N An increase from the current fiscal year of $6.9 million in continuing special funding initiatives, totaling $53 million; and
N $836,000 in additional funds for the Georgia Public Library System.
Of the $114 million in new dollars for the USG budget generated by growth in the System under what is known as the "funding formula," the regents approved $81.6 million in allocations that directly support the strategic plan's six goals and will be transferred to campuses for their specific programs in the following areas:
N $21.2 million for undergraduate education;
N $24.7 million to create enrollment capacity;
N $19.5 million for research and economic development;
N $4.3 million for educational partnerships;
N $792,000 for affordability; and
N $11.1 million for best-in-class efficiencies.
The University System also received $277.4 million from the General Assembly for new construction, equipment, and renovation work on the 35 campuses and

the state's public libraries. This total includes:
N $15.6 million for equipment at facilities at Fort Valley State University, Kennesaw State University, Macon State College, Savannah State University, and the University of Georgia;
N $157 million for new construction at Clayton State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Georgia State University/Georgia Perimeter College, Gordon College, Medical College of Georgia, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, Southern Polytechnic State University, University of West Georgia, and Valdosta State University;
N $5.4 million in design funds for projects at Coastal Georgia Community College, East Georgia College, Gainesville State College and the University of Georgia;
N $26.9 million for other projects at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Georgia Tech, Macon State College, Medical College of Georgia, and the University of West Georgia;
N $12.5 million for projects in the Georgia Public Libraries system; and
N $60 million for major repair and renovation projects on all 35 campuses.
Board action on the FY09 budget and allocations as well as facilities construction depends upon the the Governor's final approval of the state budget and bond package, He has until May 14 to sign this legislation and had not yet done so at press time.

Tuition
Continued from P. 1 ...
Students who first enrolled in the University System in fall 2006 will see no change in tuition, as part of the guaranteed tuition plan. These fixed rates are $1,946 per semester at research universities, $1,280 per semester at four-year universities, and $802 per semester at state- and two-year colleges. Students who enrolled in fall 2007

also will see no change in tuition rates, set at $2,248 per semester at research universities; $1,434 per semester at four-year universities; $936 at state colleges and $875 per semester at two-year colleges.
Tuition for students who enrolled in the System prior to the adoption of the guaranteed tuition plan will increase at the research universities 6 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008 to $2,167 per semester. The increase at four-year
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universities will be 5 percent, to $1,413 per semester; at state colleges 4.5 percent, to $928 per semester, and at two-year colleges 4 percent, to $868 per semester.
"Tuition at Georgia's public colleges and universities continues to be among the lowest in the nation," Ramachandran said. "Our new tuition rates are designed to maintain low cost and affordability without sacrificing academic quality for our students."

USG Digest
I Columbus State University (CSU) recently captured the nation's highest honor for biology honor societies, the 20062007 Lloyd M. Bertholf Award from the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society.The designation signifies CSU's 24-member Tri-Beta chapter as the nation's best last year in "scholarship, dissemination of scientific information and promotion of biological research." The chapter earned second honorable mention for the award two years ago and "Outstanding Chapter" status, placing it among the top 10 percent of all chapters for 2003-2004. CSU chapter adviser and biology professor Julie Ballenger said CSU's success stems partly from productive professor-student relationships."Our faculty members are highly involved in the chapter's meetings and activities, and in turn, help to inspire the students to be active."
I Middle Georgia College's (MGC) admissions Website ranks third in the nation among community college admissions sites according to the National Research Center for College and University Admissions. The organization considers the design and functionality of more than 3,000 college and university admissions Websites in compiling its annual Enrollment Power Index and has identified the following key elements of a successful, user-friendly site: information about the community in which the campus is located; online campus visit schedulers, and the ability to apply and track application status online."We are continuing to provide links and services to try and serve the students needs almost instantly," said MGC Admissions Director Jennifer Brannon.
I Savannah State University's (SSU) Dr. Behrooz Kalantari, a professor in the Department of Political Science, Public Administration & Urban Studies, is the recipient of the University of System Georgia's 2008 "Outstanding Liaison Award." Kalantari was recognized for his contributions and efforts as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) liaison at SSU, a position he has held since December 2003.
SyThse tem Supplement
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ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR
Diane Payne
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR
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write to: diane.payne@usg.edu

ON CAMPUS

Departure of Tech, South Georgia Presidents Leads to Interim Appointments

Dr. G. Wayne Clough, president of Georgia Tech for the past 13 years, will be leaving his post this summer to become the 12th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Just weeks before this news became public in March, Dr. Torri Lilly stepped down from the presidency of South Georgia College (SGC) in Douglas.
The announcements prompted the appointments of interim presidents at both institutions: At Tech, Dr. Gary Schuster, who had been serving as Tech's provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, was tapped, while at South Georgia College, Dr. Virginia Carson, vice president for academic affairs at Georgia Highlands College (GHC) in Rome, took up the interim post on March 1.
Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. said he believes the Smithsonian Board of Regents made a wise choice in selecting Clough to be its next secretary. "There is no question that Dr. Clough's departure from Tech will be a tremendous loss for the institution, the University System and the state of Georgia," Davis said. "But his new role will be a gain for the nation and we are proud of his selection. On behalf of the Board of Regents and the University System, we wish both Wayne and his wife, Anne, the best in this new challenge."

Davis added that University System officials will move quickly to put in place a national search for Tech's next president. "This is a key position within the University System," said Davis. "We will work with the Tech campus to set in motion the search process that will identify a worthy successor to Dr. Clough and someone who is ready to lead Tech in ways that continue to build its national and international reputation."
Schuster will serve as interim president until the search results in a new presidential appointment.
In late February, USG Chief Operating Officer Rob Watts announced that Dr. Torri Lilly had decided to step down from the presidency of South Georgia College to accept an administrative assignment reporting to him.
"We appreciate Dr. Lilly's leadership of the college since she took office in June 2006, particularly with respect to the campus' impressive enrollment growth, and we look forward to working with her in a new capacity in the coming months," Watts said. "We are extremely fortunate to be able to call on Dr. Carson's strong leadership skills during this transition," Watts said. "South Georgia College will be in good hands."

GPC Student Band Finalist in MTV Competition

An Atlanta band that is a top three finalist in the 2008 mtvU Best Music on Campus competition has a University System of Georgia (USG) connection. We Are Only Fiction was formed by Georgia Perimeter College-Dunwoody business administration major Kyle Keating, Patrick Cash and brothers Travis and Tyler Hill in 2005.

The indie group's MTV odyssey began in March when the cable TV channel extended an invitation to unsigned bands and artists nationwide to compete for one of three spots in this year's Campus Invasion festivals. The festivals feature live music and free giveaways in top college towns (Boston, College Park, Md., and Philadelphia). Hundreds of artists registered for the competition, 25 were selected to battle it out, and after rounds of student voting, the top three were chosen.
The three finalists will each headline a date on the mtvU Campus Invasion Tour,

with a chance at the Grand Prize of $10,000, free Palm Centro phones with ATT service and the opportunity to guest host the Dean's List show on mtvU. We Are Only Fiction will play at the University of Maryland-College Park on May 2. The band's families are flying to Maryland for the performance. Meanwhile, the boys have launched a new campaign to snag a record deal.
To learn more about the band, log onto www.weareonlyfiction.com

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Regents' Awards
Continued from P. 1 ...
also served 17 years in the Georgia Legislature, beginning in 1974, and three years as chairman of the Georgia Board of Education. But his election to state and federal offices came after he had built a solid career in the Atlanta real estate market as president of Northside Realty, the largest independent residential real estate brokerage firm in the Southeast and one of the largest in America.
In addition to Isakson's award, seven outstanding USG faculty members and three notable USG alumni were named to the "Regents' Hall of Fame Awards" for their significant contributions to public higher education in Georgia.
The honorees were selected after the regents solicited nominations for the awards from every campus in the University System. A panel of University System officials evaluated the faculty nominations, and an external panel named by the USG Foundation evaluated alumni nominations. The faculty recipients each received a $5,000 check from the USG Foundation.
The following USG faculty were saluted:
N Dr. Sharmistha Basu-Dutt, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of West Georgia (UWG);
N Dr. Kirk Bowman, an associate professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech;
N Dr. Marguerite Brickman, an assistant professor of plant biology at the University of Georgia (UGA);
N Dr. Laura D. Frost, an associate professor of chemistry at Georgia Southern University (GaSou);

N Dr. Mary L. Garner, an associate professor of mathematics and mathematics education at Kennesaw State University (KSU);

N Dr. Marilyn M Helms, a professor of management at Dalton State College (DSC); and

N Dr. Deborah Vess, a professor of history and interdisciplinary studies at Georgia College & State University (GCSU).

The following USG alumni were honored:

N Helen M. Aderhold, a graduate of Georgia State University (GSU);

N Griffin B. Bell, a graduate of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW); and

N Garry Wade

McGiboney, a

graduate of

Georgia Perimeter

Bell

College (GPC).

New this year was the Regents' Legacy Award, which honored the life of the late Joseph D. Greene, a member of the Board of Regents from 1984 to 1991. After 30 years of service to the Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Company of Augusta as the company's executive vice president/chief marketing officer, Greene embarked on a second career spanning 15 years as the Cree-Walker Professor of Business in the School of Business Administration at Augusta State University (ASU). When he retired from teaching in 2006, ASU President William A. Bloodworth Jr. asked him to become the university's customer-service champion, the institutional liaison to Gov. Sonny Perdue's statewide Customer Service Initiative. Greene was still serving in this capacity at the time of his death.

BOARD OF REGENTS
Allan Vigil McDonough
CHAIR
William H. Cleveland, M.D. Atlanta
VICE CHAIR
Kenneth R. Bernard Jr. Douglasville
James A. Bishop Sea Island
Hugh A. Carter, Jr. Atlanta
Robert F. Hatcher Macon
Felton Jenkins Madison
W. Mansfield Jennings Jr. Hawkinsville
James R. Jolly Dalton
Donald M. Leebern Jr. Columbus
Elridge W. McMillan Atlanta
William `Dink" NeSmith Jr. Athens
Doreen Stiles Poitevint Bainbridge
Willis J. Potts Jr. Rome
Wanda Yancey Rodwell Stone Mountain
Kessel D. Stelling Jr. Marietta
Benjamin Tarbutton III Sandersville
Richard L. Tucker Duluth
OFFICERS
Erroll B. Davis Jr. CHANCELLOR
Burns Newsome BOARD SECRETARY
Usha Ramachandran INTERIM TREASURER

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