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Columns::September 22, 2003
Digest
Regents request $1.8 billion budget
Facing a third straight year of record high student enrollment and declining state revenues, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents earlier this month approved its budget request for submission to the state’s Office of Planning and Budget. The $1.8 billion 2005 fiscal year budget request focuses on securing funding to meet these enrollment increases, address maintenance needs, cover rising health care costs and continue a number of special initiatives.
William R. Bowes, vice chancellor for fiscal affairs, presented the FY’05 budget request to the regents, emphasizing a call for additional formula funding to accommodate record student enrollment in the university system’s 34 public colleges and universities and the need for enhancements in special funding to address specific challenges facing the state and higher education.
In addition to new funding, the request also factors in Gov. Sonny Perdue’s call for a new 2.5 percent reduction ($41.7 million) in the current FY’04 budget and 5 percent ($80.4 million) in the FY’05 budget.
Also approved were a $339 million request for building projects in FY’05 and a $77 million request for the FY’04 amended budget.
“The budget we put forward follows the guide-lines from the governor’s Office of Planning and Budget,” says Chancellor Thomas Meredith. “When funded by our funding partners, this budget will enable us to make targeted advances.”
Student Learning Center hours extended
The Student Learning Center is now open until 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
“The Student Learning Center is the type of facility that will enhance the total educational experience our students receive at the University of Georgia, and I am pleased that the students are making use of it. The way the students have received the building has far exceeded our expectations already,” says President Michael F. Adams. “We are glad to work with the Student Government Association to extend the hours and hope that it will be of benefit to our students.”
William Potter, university librarian and associate provost, agrees.
“I’m pleased we’ll be able to extend the hours until 2 a.m. as the building was designed for extended hours,” Potter says. “We’re appreciative of SGA’s efforts in pursuing the matter and of President Adams, Vice President Mace and Vice President Huckaby for making the funds available.”
According to Potter, the portion of the center that remains open during the extended hours is the east wing of the second and third floors, which includes 700 seats, 150 computers and 26 group study rooms. Entrance to the center after 11 p.m. requires a valid student, faculty or staff ID. For security purposes, building access after 11 p.m. is from the second floor entrance.
Students attend research program
Eight students at the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine took part in a 12-week summer program sponsored by Merck-Merial and the Veterinary Medical Experiment Station to enrich their exposure to biomedical research. The goal of the program was to interest veterinary students in research careers.
The summer research program was sponsored in part by a $20,000 grant from the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholar Program, which awarded more than $350,000 in grants to 19 U.S. veterinary colleges this year to support innovative student research.
“Research is an underserved and often over-looked career choice for veterinary students,” says Harry Dickerson, associate dean for research and graduate studies at the College of Veterinary Medicine. “These summer programs are central to the college’s efforts to introduce students to the satisfactions of a future in research.” |
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