Group Urges Expanded Tuition Aid

Georgia and three other states' laws against college tuition aid for illegal immigrants has prompted support for the idea. The College Board, made up of 5,000 schools and best known for its SAT college admission tests, released a report today. It cites a need for federal legislation that would open up in-state college tuition, financial aid and legal status to many illegal immigrants in the U.S. At least four states - Georgia, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arizona - prohibit illegal immigrants from paying in-state tuition rates.

(Associated Press)

College Gets More Expensive for New Freshman, Others

The Georgia Board of Regents voted to allow tuition increases for incoming freshman. This comes with public institutions of higher learning in Georgia facing 275 million dollar budget shortfall in 2010.

To help make up the shortfall, freshman students at most of the campuses will face higher tuition fees. University of Georgia and Georgia Tech students will continue paying an extra one hundred dollar fee, while students at state college campuses will pay seventy five dollars per semester.

A full rundown of the fees can be found here.

Regents approve higher tuition rates

The Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia approved a tuition rate hike Tuesday.

Incoming freshmen at the state’s colleges and universities will pay five percent to eight percent more than last year’s freshmen class.

The cost of one semester at each of the state’s four research universities is up $180 to $2,428; the cost per semester at a four-year university rose $115 to $1,549; and semester tuition at the state colleges rose $59 to $997.

The Board’s “Fixed for Four” program means that the tuition rate is guaranteed for four years for incoming students in fall 2008.

Out-of-state tuition for undocumented immigrants?

A forum at Dalton State College Tuesday brought members of the community out to address representatives of the Board of Regents. At issue is whether colleges will still be able to grant so-called "presidential waivers" after the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 goes into effect July first.

Presidential waivers can be granted to any out-of-state or international student at the university's discretion, as long as the student meets admission requirements for the college. They can also allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition, as they are ineligible for state or federal financial aid.

According to the Board of Regents' lawyers, the bill prevents the university system from granting the waivers to undocumented immigrants. But other lawyers say the issue is murky.

Over 40 people spoke at the Dalton forum, the large majority of who were in favor of keeping the option for waivers alive.

Some Dalton State students who spoke admitted to being undocumented. Others, including a group of students from Kennesaw State, spoke behalf of their undocumented friends.
Three more forums are scheduled in Clarkston, Tifton and Gainesville.

Board of Regents discuss immigrants’ student status

Members of the Board of Regents will visit Dalton today to discuss the effects of a new law on immigrants’ student status at state schools.
The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006 goes into effect July first. The bill is meant to crack down on illegal and undocumented immigrants.
According to the Board of Regents’ lawyers, the bill also prevents any Georgia resident without documented legal status from receiving in-state tuition. This means for many students college tuition could triple, even if they graduated from a Georgia high school.
The Board of Regents has scheduled four forums in areas with large Latino populations to address concerns about the changes and to take public comments. In addition to today’s meeting in Dalton, forums will be held in Clarkston, Tifton and Gainesville.