Survey: professors not political

A new survey of students at Georgia's state colleges and universities suggests most students don't think their professors have political agendas. The Savannah Morning News reports 71% of those questioned strongly disagreed with the statement "Professors in my classes have sometimes inappropriately presented their own political views in class." The State Board of Regents released the survey yesterday.

Proposed cuts to social services, higher ed

Georgia's social services programs face deep cuts. Today the board of the Department of Human Resources approved the cuts following a directive from Gov. Sonny Perdue to slash spending. Georgia is facing a 1.6-billion-dollar budget shortfall. Among the programs that could be cut are waivers for mentally disabled adults which allow them to move from institutional settings into home care. There would also be cuts to the state's mental health system and substance abuse programs.

Also today the state Board of Regents approved its budget cut proposals. They include lay-offs and a hiring freeze, hiking student fees and health insurance premiums for employees, and revoking guaranteed tuition rates. The Governor will look over all agencies’ proposals and make final budget cut decisions this fall.

University System celebrates 75 years by looking ahead

The University System of Georgia has come a long way since 1932, when it had just 6,000 students. Officials celebrated the system's 75th anniversary Wednesday by planning for its future.

In a new strategic plan, the Board of Regents estimates that Georgia's public colleges and universities will serve more than 350,000 students by 2020. To accomplish that feat, it will need to maximize space.

Under the plan, the student body will look different than it does today. It will be more diverse. More students will graduate. Currently, fewer than half of the system's students graduate within six years. There also will be renewed emphasis on graduating health care professionals to ease Georgia's shortage.

The Board of Regents says it will accomplish these goals while keeping tuition low. It will push universities to obtain more federal research funds.

Financial break for war veterans

Also Wednesday, the Board of Regents approved a waiver for combat veterans. They will not have to pay mandatory school fees, which often run as high as $600 per semester.

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.

Tuition hike for Georgia college students

The State Board of Regents has approved tuition increases for all college students, with the exception of current freshmen who came in under the four-year fixed plan.

New students at Georgia’s four research universities in 2007 will pay about 15-percent more than last year. Regents' spokesman John Millsaps says that's not as high as it sounds.

"You cannot look at that as a one-year situation. The fixed for four rate for freshmen entering this fall needs to account for the full four years of that guarantee".

1st-year students at other state schools are set to now pay between 9-12 percent more. Current upperclassmen will also get a 5-7 percent hike in their tuition rates.