public higher education in georgia the governance …...as noted in part ii of this assignment...
TRANSCRIPT
Public Higher Education in Georgia
The Governance Structure
Governor (1)
State Board of Technical College
System of Georgia (2)
Board of Regents (3) Georgia Student Finance
Board of Commissioners (4)
Chancellor
University System of
Georgia
President Executive Director
Georgia Student Finance
Commission
Professional Standards
Commission
Executive Director
Governor’s Office of
Student Achievement
Professional Standards
Commission (5)
Commissioner
Technical College System
of Georgia
35 Colleges and
Universities
- 26 Technical Colleges
- The Adult Education Program
- Economic and Workforce
Development Programs
- Georgia Higher Education
Assistance Corporation
- Georgia Student Finance
Authority
Corresponding Information and Descriptive Analysis
Public Higher Education in Georgia – The Governance Structure
(1) Governor
The governor, an elected official serving a 4-year term, appoints all members of the State
Board of Education and has the ability to create and influence policy that directly impacts
education in Georgia. He must ultimately approve the budget each year, allotting educational
funding in Georgia.
(2) State Board of Technical College System of Georgia
A. Commissioner – Commissioner of the Board is appointed by the Governor.
B. Technical College System of Georgia – The State agency responsible for overseeing
26 technical colleges, The Adult Education Program, and various other economic and
workforce development programs including Quick Start and the General Educational
Development program.
(3) Board of Regents (BOR)
The BOR Provides governance, control, and management of the University System of
Georgia and all institutions in that system. It was created in 1931 as part of a reorganization
of the state government. Public higher education in Georgia was then unified for the first
time under a single management and governing authority. With the existence and
utilization/implementation of the Georgia Board of Regents, Georgia’s higher Education
Governance structure is that of a consolidated governing board.
The BOR is comprised of 18 (serving 7 year terms) members appointed by the Governor and
confirmed by the Senate. Members include 1 member for each congressional district and 5
additional members.
A. Chancellor – The Chancellor is elected by the BOR and serves as the Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Administrative Officer to the University System of Georgia.
B. University System of Georgia (USG) - The BOR 35 colleges and universities within
the USG which include:
a. 4 Research Universities – Georgia Health Sciences University, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Georgia State University, and the University of Georgia
b. 2 Regional Universities – Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State
University
c. 13 State Universities – Albany State University, Armstrong State University,
Augusta State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University,
Fort Valley State University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia
Southwestern State University, Kennesaw State University, North Georgia
College and State University, Savannah State University, Southern Polytechnic
State University, and the University of West Georgia
d. 14 State Colleges – Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Atlanta Metropolitan
State College, College of Coastal Georgia, Dalton State College, Darton State
College, East Georgia State College, Gainesville State College, Georgia Gwinnett
College, Georgia Highlands College, Georgia Perimeter State College, Gordon
College, Macon State College, Middle Georgia College, and South Georgia
College
e. 8 2-Year Colleges – Bainbridge College and Waycross College
(4) Georgia Student Finance Board of Commissioners
Overseers of the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Members are appointed by the
Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Members also serve as the Board of Directors for the
Georgia Student Finance Authority and the Georgia Higher Education Assistance
Corporation.
A. President – Appointed by the Board of Commissioners. The president also serves as
president of the GHEAC and the GSFA (below).
B. Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) – State agency aimed at enabling a
larger number of high school graduates to continue their education through financial
support such as loans, grants, and scholarships including programs such as HOPE. This
commission is also responsible for the administration of GACollege 411, an online
resource designed to help students and their families select and apply to colleges and the
assist with the financial planning necessary and associated with attending college.
C. Georgia Student Finance Authority (GSFA) & Georgia Higher Education Assistance
Corporation (GHEAC) - Agencies which work in conjunction with the GSFC and share
the same mission, board members, and executive leadership. The GSFA is a public
corporation designated by state statute to originate and service Federal Family Education
Loan Program loans as well as state and lottery funded service loans.
(5) Professional Standards Commission (PSC)
Attains full responsibility for the certification, preparation, and conduct of certified, licensed,
or permitted personnel employed in Georgia public schools. The PSC includes 18 members
consisting of 9 teachers, 2 higher education representatives, 2 local school board members, 2
superintendents, and 3 members from the private sector.
A. Executive Directors – There are two executive directors for the PSC. One is
appointed by the Commissioners and oversees the PSC (above). The other is appointed
by the Governor and oversees the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA).
a. Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) – Aims to increase student
achievement and school completion through analysis and communication of statewide
data and provides policy support to the Governor and citizens of Georgia.
Running Head: GOVERNING STRATEGIES 1
Governing Strategies and Coping: Current Trends and Issues in Georgia’s System of Higher
Education
Amy H. Weaver
EDLD 8433
Instructor: Dr. Devon Jensen
July 19, 2012
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 2
Governing Strategies and Coping: Current Trends and Issues in Georgia’s System of Higher
Education
As noted in Part II of this assignment (above), Georgia’s higher education governance
structure is that of a consolidated governing board. The Board of Regents (BOR), created in 1931
as part of a reorganization of the state government in Georgia, is the single management and
governing authority for higher education in the state. The BOR, as appointed by the Georgia
Governor (currently Nathan Deal), provides governance, control, and management of the University
System of Georgia and all institutions within that system.
Within the past decade, several issues have arisen and affected the state of higher education
in Georgia. The Governor, flanked by the Board of Regents as well as other collaborative agencies
including the State Board of Technical Colleges, The Georgia Student Finance Board of
Commissioners, and the Professional Standards Commission continue to adopt strategies specifically
to address the biggest issues in Georgia higher education. The biggest issues currently affecting the
state of higher education in Georgia, as well as strategies developed to govern higher education in
those respects are outlined below.
Money, money, money, money
In dozens of ways, money is one of the biggest issues, if not THE biggest issue in higher
education today. It is also an issue that continues to plague the governing bodies of our state.
The presence of funding, or at this point lack thereof, affects every aspect of higher education,
including, and most importantly, the quality of the education our students receive. Budget and
other funding cuts trickle down in a way that affects the students, faculty, staff, facilities and
environment, and overall opportunity provided at institutions of higher education. However, a
larger focus on what is best for everyone in our state, rather than just a select group, dictates that
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 3
other issues such as health care usually take a front seat when appropriations are being decided
upon by our Governor and the General Assembly.
According to a report from the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State
University (as cited in Rampell, 2012), state appropriations for colleges fell by 7.6 percent
between 2011 and 2012. At singular institutions, that percentage is often much higher. Over the
past two years, 13 states cut higher education appropriations by more than 10 percent with the
state of Arizona actually suffering a staggering 22 percent cut (Kelderman, 2011). As for
Georgia, state spending for FY 2013 results in a 19.8 percent cut in state funding to the
University System and an 11 percent cut to the Technical College System since FY 2009. In
total, the system has experienced more than $450 million in funding cuts (Johnson, 2012).
In many states, the percentage of revenue generated through student tuition and fees now
exceeds the percentage of funding by both the state and federal governments. We are no
different. And while we hope to be on the upswing of this crisis, we are miles and miles from
recovery. In fact, it is likely that the financial resources and fiscal structure of our universities
will never quite be the same as governing bodies continue to push for fiscal accountability and
self-sustenance within institutions of higher education.
The Cycle
The pain and burden of our state’s financial crisis continues to filter down and fall onto
the shoulders of our students and their families. In an effort to offset the shortage of funding
provided by our state, The Board of Regents continues to approve tuition hikes and additional
student fees at our colleges and universities. Since FY 2011, state funding per full-time
equivalent student within the University System has declined 58 percent when adjusted for
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 4
inflation. Meanwhile, the cumulative average increase in tuition and mandatory fees, adjusted
for inflation, totaled 92 percent by FY 2012. For FY 2013, students within the University
System will once again see their tuition bills increase. Students attending state colleges and
universities will experience a 2.5 percent increase in tuition while students attending research
institutions will experience tuition increases between 3.5 and 6 percent (Johnson, 2012). The
translation in dollars is stifling, negatively affecting both accessibility and affordability for
current and potential students. In addition, slashes in funding have drastically reduced state
employment opportunities, including most part-time positions reserved specifically for student
workers. With limited opportunity for flexible employment on campus, students are being
forced to take outside jobs which are less forgiving and more demanding of their time. The
pressures of academics, accompanied by those of employment are negatively affecting our
students’ ability to focus and continue on at a rapid pace toward a degree. The result here is
lower rates of retention and an increase in the amount of time it takes to complete a degree as
well as lower performing students. The problem is cyclical in nature. The longer the student
must stay in school, the more fees and debt they will incur and the higher the attrition rates will
grow as financial hardship is a key reason why students leave school before earning a degree or
certificate (Johnson, 2012). This, in turn, diminishes an educated and capable workforce and
hinders an already floundering Georgia economy.
Problems with Performance
Georgia’s performance on preparation for college, participation in college, and college
completion continues to lag behind the national average (Callan, Finney & Perna, 2012). In
addition, Georgia’s low performance in higher education masks even lower outcomes for black,
Hispanics, and low-income students (Callan, Finney & Perna, 2012). Many agree that the lack
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 5
of funding is negatively impacting the quality of education that our institutions are able to
provide for our students. Class sizes are larger, faculty workloads are heavier, and yet
institutions lack the funding to provide the additional resources and services that both faculty and
students need to succeed.
In addition, there is little need-based aid for students who wish to attend college but
cannot afford the financial burden. While Georgia invests substantially in student financial aid
through efforts such as the HOPE scholarship program which is implemented through the
Georgia Student Finance Commission, the benefits are not need-based, funneling most of the
financial assistance to students from middle-class families. In fact, Georgia students whose
family income is in the top 20 percent receive more money from the state than do those whose
families fall in the lowest 20 percent (Stein, 2012). Considering that the wealth of Georgia’s
population is relatively low (ranking it as 38th
in per capita personal income), it’s obvious that
need-based financial aid should be a high priority for the governing bodies of Georgia’s system
of higher education (Callan, Finney, & Perna, 2012).
Finally, additional issues including lacking support for P-16 efforts, difficulty in transfer
from the Technical College System to the University System of Georgia, and needed
improvement in educational data collection and use all attribute to poorly performing students
and institutions of higher education within Georgia (Callan, Finney, & Perna, 2012).
The Governor’s Strategy and Collaboration Between Entities
Many argue that current policies are not in place which will facilitate improvement in
higher education and degree obtainment in Georgia (Trevizo, 2012). However, Georgia’s
Governor, in particular, has recently taken steps to improve some of the issues highlighted
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 6
above. Governor Deal, as of August 4th
, 2011, announced plans to launch a “Complete College
Georgia” initiative to “fuel policy and innovations and reforms aimed at significantly increasing
college completion (Office of the Governor, 2011). As noted by Governor Deal, “By 2018, more
than 60 percent of job openings in Georgia will require some form of postsecondary education
(Office of the Governor, 2011). This fact becomes troubling when considering that currently,
only 34 percent of adults in Georgia have an associate degree or higher (Johnson, 2011). Deal’s
“Complete College Georgia” initiative aims at not only increasing the number of students
attending postsecondary institutions through creating better access, it also aims to assist students
with timely degree completion.
Key elements of the plan call on the University System of Georgia as well as the
Technical College System of Georgia. “Completion plans” from both institutions are required
and the initiative aims to assist college students with transitioning between USG and TCSG
institutions with ease. In addition, the creation of a needs-based scholarship program is another
important facet of the initiative. The initiative will further utilize the Georgia Student Finance
Commission and its GACollege 411 resource for student and family FAFSA assistance as well as
providing professional development for school counselors. The initiative also “places a premium
on better serving traditionally underserved students including part-time, adult, first-generation,
minority, low-income, and students with disabilities” stated Houston Davis, executive vice
chancellor and chief academic officer for the University System of Georgia (Trevizo, 2012).
Conclusion
As in other states across the country, governance and policymaking in Georgia consists of
a complex web of entities, decision makers, and levels of government. Georgia, all together, has
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 7
seven state education agencies in addition to the Georgia General Assembly and local education
agencies. The issues and strategies highlighted above allow for a better understanding of the
actual functioning of Georgia’s higher education governing structure, which allows and provides
for much collaboration between its key entities. While the governance structure is that of a
consolidated governing board, the main entities included in the overall system (Governor,
Technical College System of Georgia, Board of Regents, Student Finance Board of
Commissioners, and Professional Standards Commission) all work together for the betterment of
the higher education system in Georgia.
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 8
References
Callan, P., Finney, J. & Perna, L. (2012). Perpetuating disparity: Performance and policy in
Georgia higher education. Institute for Research on Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://www.gse.upenn.edu/pdf/irhe/Perpetuating_Disparity_Georgia.pdf
Johnson, C. (2012). FY 2013 Budget Analysis: Higher education. A review of the enacted FY
2013 budget. Georgia Budget &Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://gbpi.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/05/fy2013-budget-analysis-pk-12-education-05162012-FINAL.pdf
Johnson, C. (2011). Making a case for need-based financial aid in Georgia. Georgia Budget &
Policy Institute. Retrieved from http://gbpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/case-for-
need-based-financial-aid-20111208.pdf
Kelderman, E. (2011, January 24). State spending on higher education edges down, as deficits
loom. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/article/State-Spending-on-Colleges/126020/
Office of the Governor, State of Georgia. (2011). Deal announces $1 million grant, complete
college Georgia initiative. Retrieved from
http://gov.georgia.gov/00/press/detail/0,2668,165937316_173980087_174094372,00.htm
l
Rampell, C. (2012, March 1). Where the jobs are, the training may not be. The New York
Times. Retrieved from
http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/26/pf/college/college_tuition_cost/index.htm
GOVERNING STRATEGIES 9
Stein, K. (2012). Georgia’s higher education policies hurt blacks, Hispanics, and poor, Penn
study finds. Retrieved from http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/georgia-higher-
education-policies-hurt-blacks-hispanics-and-poor-penn-study-finds
Trevizo, P. (2012). Georgia’s higher education policies cause ethnic and income disparities,
report finds. Retrieved from http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/12/dalton-state-
college-barriers-to-higher-ed/