Regents approve 8 percent budget reduction plan for University System
As state tax collections continue to decline, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved plans at its Nov. 17 meeting to adjust the system’s budget from a 6 percent reduction ($135 million) to an 8 percent reduction level ($176 million) for the current 2010 fiscal year. The board’s actions call for new reductions to the system’s 35 public colleges and universities as well as implementing an additional mandatory student fee.

The increase in the mandatory fee for all USG students, which will be effective for the upcoming spring 2010 semester, has been set at $100 at research universities and six other universities (which includes UGA), $75 at most comprehensive universities and $50 at two-year and state colleges.

The increase will be added to the current mandatory fee, which went into effect in January 2009. The total new mandatory fee will be $200, $150 or $100.

In addition to the fee, the board approved a moratorium on student fee increases for fiscal year 2011 and a sunset date of June 30, 2012, for the total mandatory student fee increase. The lone exception to the moratorium will be fees for public/private venture projects.

“UGA administrators continue to monitor the very fluid state budget situation,” said Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs at UGA. “The increased student fee, additional faculty and staff position vacancies through attrition and other efficiencies and redirections internally have allowed us to avoid layoffs thus far, but the situation is critically tight.”

23rd annual Taste of Home set for Dec. 3
University Food Services will present its 23nd annual Taste of Home event Dec. 3. All four dining commons will serve selected breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes submitted by students’ families. A Taste of Home will be served all day in Bolton, Oglethorpe, Snelling and the Village Summit dining commons. Meal prices will be the same as the current cash price: $7.95 for breakfast, $10 for lunch and $14.45 for dinner. The menu features side dishes, entrees and desserts ranging from “My Son is a Senior Soufflé” for breakfast to “Chicken with Big Dog Cherry Sauce” for lunch to “Coca-Cola Pork Chops” for dinner to “Chocolate Revel Bars” for dessert.

This year, 1,024 recipes were submitted and around 130 recipes were chosen. A total of 569 families sent recipes, with 394 families sending one recipe and 175 families sending a total of 630 recipes.

Family members with featured recipes receive a commemorative plate, a production recipe for 8,000 servings (the approximate number of students the dining halls serve on a daily basis) and two tickets to the event. A full list of featured recipes can be found at www.uga.edu/foodservice/tasteofhome/.

Botanical Garden to hold Dec. 6 open house
The State Botanical Garden will hold its annual holiday open house Dec. 6 from 2-5 p.m.

This year’s holiday open house offers free, festive, family entertainment inside the tropical Conservatory, which will be decorated for the holidays. This year’s holiday décor will celebrate birds in the garden with “An Audubon Winter.” Musical entertainment ­includes performances by the Georgia Children’s Chorus from 2:15-3 p.m., the Solstice Sisters from 3:15-3:50 p.m. and the Classic City Band from 4-5 p.m.

A photographer will take photos as Santa and Mrs. Claus listen to children’s wishes. There will be a puppet show and crafts for young children in the Children’s Classroom at 2:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Adults can browse the Garden Gift Shop for holiday ornaments and presents. For more information, call (706) 542-1244 or visit the botanical garden’s Web site at www.uga.edu/botgarden.