University System Considers Tuition Hikes, Furloughs

Incoming freshmen at Georgia's colleges and universities may have to pay more than their predecessors.

University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis told lawmakers at a committee meeting Monday that he doesn't "see any way tuition is not going to go up." Most students already enrolled in colleges wouldn't see a tuition increase under the "Fixed for Four" plan that guarantees the same tuition rate for four years.

Davis also told the committee that furloughs are possible for the system's 40,000 employees, reversing his statement in January that he is "philosophically opposed" to asking employees to take unpaid days off. He says campus presidents ultimately will make the decision. The system has laid off 62 workers so far this fiscal year.

Associated Press

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.

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.

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.