Regents Update Capital Priorities List

The Board of Regents approved at their June meeting a newly revised five-year Major Capital Outlay Priority List totaling $496.1 million in requested major construction projects. The revised list added six new projects to the existing 20. The list, composed each June, serves as a rolling funding request for consideration by the governor and the General Assembly when it reconvenes in January 2000. It will be a major element of the Board of Regents' Fiscal Year 2001 budget request, to be submitted to the Office of Planning and Budget with the annual budget request in September .

"Both the regents and presidents are pleased with how this process has worked over the past couple of years," said Chancellor Stephen R. Portch. "Our Principals for Capital Resource Allocation policy have been extremely effective in allowing campus requests to stand on their own merit."

Portch emphasized that the Board's decisions are influenced primarily by the need for facilities to accommodate existing and future enrollment growth, required academic programs and the capital priorities that support these two elements. Highest weight is given to instructional facilities, followed by academic support facilities, student support buildings, then finally administrative and infrastructure needs.

The Board's revised Major Capital Outlay Projects List replaces the dollar amount of those projects funded in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget with 6 new projects totaling $102.1 million. All of the new projects will be added to the end of the existing list.

The updated list is the result of a full day of presidential presentations held during the June Regents' meeting. During these meetings, presidents from 14 of the University System's colleges and universities presented their cases.

The 14 projects, totaling $335.6 million in requests, were screened from 43 proposals submitted by campus presidents. The Board also approved one new payback project request for submission with the budget, at a cost of $11 million. That project will be added to three previously approved payback projects totaling $21 million. ¶

The following is the revised Major Capital Outlay Projects list adopted by the Board of Regents on June 9, 1999.

1. Clayton College & State University, University Learning Center, $24,067,000
2. Columbus State University, Technology & Commerce Center, $16,028,000
3. Georgia Southern University, Science & Nursing Building, $24,920,000
4. Coastal Georgia Community College, Camden Center, $17,651,000
5. Georgia College & State University, Russell Library & Information Technology Center, $19,827,000
6. Savannah State University, Housing Residence Hall, $7,472,000
7. Macon State College, Nursing, Health Science & Outreach Complex, $16,222,000
8. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Agricultural Sciences Building, $7,138,000
9. Darton College, Phys./Ed. Bldg., $12,000,000
10. Georgia Southwestern State University, HPE Recreation, Athletic & Student Success Center, $18,818,000
11. Kennesaw State University, Classroom & Convocation Center, $23,468,000
12. Augusta State University, Classroom Replacement, Phase II, $19,791,000
13. Medical College of Georgia, Health Sciences Building, $34,175,000
14. Floyd College, Bartow Center, $18,386,500
15. Georgia Tech, Advanced Computing Technology Building, $33,075,000
16. Georgia Southern University, Library Addition, $14,700,000
17. Kennesaw State University, Social Science Building, $27,510,000
18. Georgia Perimeter College, Student Center, Clarkston Campus, $6,615,000
19. Middle Georgia College, Campus Loop (utilities), $15,435,000
20. University of Georgia, PVAC (School of Art), Phase III, $36,750,000 Projects added, June 1999
21. Georgia College & State University, Parks Nursing/Health Science Renovation, $9,400,000
22. State University of West Georgia, Health, Wellness & Lifelong Learning Center, $26,000,000
23. North Georgia College & State University, Library/Technology Center, $19,700,000
24. Savannah State University, Academic Classroom Building, $12,000,000
25. Macon State College, Professional Sciences & Conference Center, $20,000,000
26. Fort Valley State University, Academic Classroom Building, $15,000,000

Regents' Hispanic Task Force Report
Notes Issues of Access to Education, Jobs

The sharp rise in Georgia's Hispanic population - which totals close to a half million people currently and will number nearly 1 million residents by the year 2020 - holds promise for significant economic benefits for the state, if identified challenges can be tackled, according to a report released by the Georgia Board of Regents at their June meeting.

The report notes that Georgia's growing Latino community could help to position the state as an economic leader in international business, if the bilingual and bicultural capabilities of Hispanics and other residents are optimized by the educational and business communities.

The "Report of the Hispanic Task Force of the Board of Regents" was prepared by the University System of Georgia's Hispanic Task Force, an ad hoc group chaired by Southern Polytechnic State University President Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher and staffed by Board of Regents Senior Vice Chancellor for Human and External Resources Dr. Arthur N. Dunning. The high-level group of business, civic and educational leaders - formed at the suggestion of Board of Regents Chairman Edgar L. Jenkins - has been at work since September 1998 exploring implications of Georgia's Hispanic growth rate.

Dr. Dunning, President Rossbacher and Frank Ros, director of Corporate Latin Affairs for The Coca-Cola Company, presented the report to the regents. A native of Spain whose family immigrated to the United States, Ros is a University of Georgia alumnus who served as a member of the task force.

The Hispanic Task Force's report deals extensively with existing barriers that are impeding full educational access for Georgia's Latino students at the K-12 and post-secondary levels, which ultimately will limit maximized workforce opportunities. Three primary barriers were identified - language, financial and residency - with 17 proposed recommendations outlined to address specific issues.

"Our recommendations are aimed at removing the obstacles that prevent full access to the benefits of higher education and the economic gains of the knowledge-based workplace," said Dr. Rossbacher.

Some of the key findings of the Hispanic Task Force report are:

• Georgia's Hispanic population is currently around 475,000, and it is projected to increase to around 665,000 in 2005, 825,000 in 2010, and more than a million in 2020.
• Georgia's Hispanic population is younger than other groups. The average age of Georgia's Hispanics is 26.4 years old, compared to 36.9 for the total population. This will foster significant impacts on the state's educational system and labor market.
• The buying power of Georgia's Latino population is among the fastest-growing in the nation, currently accounting for more than $3 billion annually. Sales and receipts generated by Hispanic-owned businesses were almost $1.3 billion in 1998.

The 17 recommendations made in the task force report are grouped into four categories: curricular issues and academic programs, collaborative efforts with other entities, University System admissions requirements and related policies, and recruitment and marketing. Some of the major recommendations include:

• Encouraging teacher education programs to offer an endorsement in English for Speakers of Other Languages;
• Increasing the number and variety of overseas study programs in Latin American and Caribbean countries, including via the Regents Study Abroad Scholarships program;
• Development and dissemination of a collaborative informational marketing initiative, with the support of the Board of Regents, the Department of Education, and the Department of Technical and Adult Education, to communicate the potential for Hispanic success in higher education and the value of Hispanic employees in contributing to Georgia's economic growth;
• Increasing the number and variety of cooperative education and internship opportunities for students, particularly with Latino-owned businesses; and
• Exploring with the state Attorney General's office the prospect of being authorized to offer University System admission to any student who is academically prepared and a graduate of a Georgia high school.

The group's recommendations will be acted upon at the Board of Regents next regularly scheduled meeting, set for August 10-11, in Atlanta. ¶

P-16 Council Hears Plan for Improved Teacher Quality

Georgia's P-16 Council has its sights set on placing a qualified teacher in every public school classroom throughout the state by the year 2006, and making all educational partners accountable for their role in teacher preparation and teaching quality.

The Council released a 44-page report on June 15, 1999, collaboratively prepared by representatives of the Office of School Readiness, the Georgia Department of Education, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and the Professional Standards Commission, with strong input from the Office of the Governor and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. The report outlines a timeline, along with specific goals, objectives and desired outcomes, to be achieved by the respective educational partners.

According to Dr. Jan Kettlewell, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs with the Board of Regents and co-facilitator of the P-16 Council, "This is the first time that various P-16 partners have pulled together in a unified direction to improve teacher quality. The bottom line of the plan is accountability."

The proposed plan establishes two principle goals: improving the quality of teaching in Georgia through comprehensive and integrative changes in teacher recruitment, teacher preparation, teacher standards, teacher professional development and teacher retention; and improving student achievement in Georgia's schools through improving the quality of teaching.

To achieve the desired goals, the plan outlines eight objectives which fall into three distinct areas: Plans to Reduce Shortage and Turn-Over of Qualified Teachers; Reform of State Certification Requirements; and Accountability for the Preparation of Teachers by Higher Education and the Schools.

The plan identifies an extensive list of desired outcomes for which each of the participating educational partners will be responsible. Ten intended outcomes are cited for the Teacher Preparation sector, for which the University System of Georgia's and private colleges' teacher preparation programs will be responsible.

Six items are included as the intended outcomes for the Public Schools, among them improved student achievement and a decrease in the number of low performing schools. Under Teacher Certification Intended Outcomes, four items are proposed, which include a strong emphasis on decreasing the number of uncertified and out-of-field teachers, and requiring sufficient content knowledge and teaching skills in all subjects included on new teachers' teaching certificates.

To implement its goals and objectives, the drafters of the report propose the creation of a management team representing the principal partners in the P-16 Initiative and the state units with major responsibility for primary components of the plan. The management team will be responsible for achieving the identified intended outcomes and for providing periodic progress reports to the Georgia P-16 Council and to the Governor. Its proposed members are:

• Ron Newcomb, education advisor to Gov. Roy Barnes;
• Margaret Torrey, executive secretary of the Professional Standards Commission;
• Peyton Williams, deputy state school superintendent, Georgia Department of Education;
• Tom Upchurch, president, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education;
• Celeste Osborn, executive director of the Office of School Readiness; and
• Jan Kettlewell, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs, University System of Georgia. ¶

Tech's New European Union Center Program
Wins Chancellor's Award for Collaborative Excellence

Georgia Tech's new European Union Center studies certificate program has been named the 1999 recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Collaborative Excellence. The award, funded by Chancellor Stephen R. Portch and his wife, Barbara, is presented to a person or a unit of the University System of Georgia in recognition of outstanding efforts to foster collaboration or cooperation among persons or units within an institution or between/among institutions. The Center, which will offer a studies certificate program available to all 34 System institutions, will be housed at Tech's Sam Nunn School of International Affairs. The program begins in the fall of 1999. The European Center initiative promotes the study of the European Union, its institutions and policies, and European Union-United States relations at universities around the U.S.

Dr. Brian Murphy, professor of political science at North Georgia College & State University and co-director of the European Union Center, accepted the award during the Board of Regents' June meeting. Dr. Murphy helped develop the initiative.¶

UGA's Newest Campus - Oxford, England

The University of Georgia's first year-round residential study-abroad program will begin this fall at Oxford University in England. With funding from the University of Georgia Foundation, a 5,400 square foot, 10-room home was purchased on the Oxford campus and will house faculty and students participating in program and other alternative academic programs.

UGA faculty members will teach courses and conduct research and related scholarly activities. Approximately 75-80 students will live in the house each year. UGA is one of four American Schools - and the only public institution - with a year-round residential study program at Oxford. The others are Stanford, Boston University and Williams College. ¶

AJ-C Honors Eight System-Prepared Teachers

Eight K-12 public school teachers who received their education degrees from University System schools were honored by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as part of the newspaper's annual program to recognize the metropolitan Atlanta area's top teachers. Each winner receives a $10,000 grant to use in advancing their teaching excellence and two finalists will receive $5,000 each.

The University System finalists were:

• Grades K-4: Amelia Kinard and Judith Chambers (State University of West Georgia);
• Grades 5-8: Vicki Husby and Kim Atkins (UGA), and Michael Perry (Georgia State University, Southern Polytechnic State University, State University of West Georgia);
• Grades 9-12: Ted Wansley (UGA, State University of West Georgia, Georgia State University), and Angela Powell (Georgia Southern University); and
• Special education: Betsy Schroeter (Georgia State University).

Winning the $10,000 grant in each category were: Kinard, Husby and Wansley. ¶

Regents Hear Progress Report on Teacher Prep

Beginning in June 2002, "guaranteed graduates" of the University System of Georgia's 15 teacher preparation programs will join the workforce, prepared to help students learn better at all levels of K-12 education throughout the state. This was part of the news the the board of regents heard during an update of their teacher preparation initiative conducted during their June meeting.

Dr. Jan Kettlewell, assistant vice chancellor for academic affairs with the Board of Regents, told the regents that implementation of the 10 principles they adopted in April of 1998 is "on-time and bearing impressive results."

The first of those 10 principles - the guarantee commitment - cites that "The University System will guarantee the quality of any teacher it graduates . . ." and "take back any teacher within the first two years after graduation from a System institution when the teacher is teaching in-field and a school district in Georgia determines the teacher's performance is less than effective in helping students make satisfactory progress."

According to Dr. Kettlewell, extensive efforts are being focused on developing means to accurately assess, at the student teaching stage, that teacher candidates are "accomplished in promoting student learning." In addition, officials of the University System's 15 teacher preparation programs currently are "devising procedures for an employing school district to follow when seeking additional training for a graduate who is not meeting the school's expectation."

Descriptions of how each University System institution offering teacher preparation programs will meet the regents' 1998 policy must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs by May 30, 2000. All program revisions will go into effect for students admitted to those program in the Fall of 2000. Since most undergraduate students are typically admitted to teacher prep programs at the middle of their sophomore or beginning of their junior year in college, those students would be the first "guaranteed graduates" entering the state's teaching profession in June 2002.

Kettlewell also outlined to the regents a comprehensive plan for statewide expansion of access to doctoral education (Ed.D.) programs, which will augment the four programs currently in existence at the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Valdosta State University, and Georgia Southern University. The board approved the statewide plan to expand Ed.D. program access at four locations around the state, including:

• Valdosta State University, which will expand its Ed.D. programs through collaboration with Albany State University and Columbus State University;
• Georgia Southern University, which will expand its Ed.D. program in collaboration with Augusta State University;
• State University of West Georgia, which has received approval to offer programs at the Ed.D. level independently, after working with the University of Georgia in a collaborative program for the past 10 years.
• Fort Valley State University, which will continue to build its readiness for independently offering Ed.D. programs, expanding on its collaborative work with UGA over the past two years.

Each of the new institutions participating in the Ed.D. expansion program must submit formal program proposals for consideration and final action by the board of regents. ¶

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Kenneth W. Cannestra
Atlanta
VICE CHAIR

Thomas F. Allgood, Sr.
Augusta

David H. "Hal" Averitt
Statesboro

Juanita Powell Baranco
Lithonia

S. William Clark Jr.
Waycross

J. Tom Coleman, Jr.
Savannah

Hilton Hatchett Howell, Jr.
Atlanta

Warren Y. Jobe
Dunwoody

Charles H. Jones
Macon

Donald M. Leebern, Jr.
Columbus

Elridge W. McMillan
Atlanta

Edgar L. Rhodes
Bremen

Glenn S. White
Lawrenceville

Stephen R. Portch
CHANCELLOR

Gail S. Weber
SECRETARY TO THE BOARD

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