University System of Georgia

The University System of Georgia (USG) is the government agency that includes 26 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The system is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering the Public Library Service of the state which includes 58 public library systems. The USG also dispenses public funds (allocated by the state's legislature) to the institutions but not the lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship. The USG is the sixth largest university system in the United States by total student enrollment, with 344,392 students in 26 public institutions as of 2023.^[2] USG institutions are divided into four categories: research universities, regional comprehensive universities, state universities, and state colleges.

University System of Georgia

Abbreviation	USG
Formation	1931
Purpose	Educational oversight
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Membership	26 public colleges and universities
Chancellor	Sonny Perdue[1]
Students	344,392[2]
Website	usg.edu

UGA

GT

Augusta University

Georgia State

Georgia Southern

Kennesaw State

West Georgia

Valdosta State

Albany State

Clayton State

Columbus State

Fort Valley State

Georgia College

Georgia Southwestern State

Middle Georgia State

Savannah State

North Georgia

Abraham Baldwin

AMSC

Coastal Georgia

Dalton State

East Georgia State

Georgia Gwinnett

Georgia Highlands

Gordon State

South Georgia State

University System of Georgia Locations.
Black: Research Universities; Red: Regional Comprehensive Universities; Yellow: State Universities; Green: State Colleges.

The system designates four institutions as "research universities": Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia, Augusta University, and Georgia State University.^{[note 1][3][4]} The University of Georgia is the state and system's flagship university, the state's oldest institution of higher learning, and one of the state's two land-grant universities.^[5][6] After its 2016 merger with Georgia Perimeter College, Georgia State University became the largest institution of higher learning in the USG, with over 50,000 students. University of North Georgia is the state's designated military school. There are three historically black schools housed within the USG: Savannah State University, Albany State University, and the state's second land-grant university, Fort Valley State University.

In 2012, all USG institutions combined had a $14.1 billion economic impact on the state of Georgia. Georgia Tech in Atlanta and University of Georgia in nearby Athens had the largest impacts on their regional economies: $2.6 billion and 20,869 jobs at Georgia Tech and $2.2 billion and 22,196 jobs at the University of Georgia. Georgia State University's central campus in Atlanta had a $1.6 billion economic impact with 13,736 jobs; given its merger with Perimeter College, with an economic impact of $600 million, Georgia State's overall economic impact on the Atlanta metro area is $2.2 billion.^[7][8]

History

Early years

The University System of Georgia was created with the passage of the Reorganization Act of 1931 by the Georgia General Assembly in 1931. The Reorganization Act created a Board of Regents to oversee the state's colleges and universities and the 26 boards of trustees that had provided oversight over the various institutions before passage of the act.^[9] The Board of Regents officially took office on January 1, 1932, and consisted of eleven members to be appointed by the Governor of Georgia pending approval from the Georgia Senate. The Governor held an ex officio position on the Board. The regents were to elect a chairman and select a secretary. One regent was appointed from each of Georgia's ten congressional districts and the eleventh member was chosen at large.^[9]

Governor Richard Russell Jr.'s initial appointees included Cason Jewell Callaway Sr., Martha Berry, Richard Russell Sr. (the governor's father), George C. Woodruff, William Dickson Anderson Sr. (1873–1957), Egbert Erle Cocke Sr. (1895–1977) and Philip Robert Weltner Sr. (1887–1981). Anderson was elected chairman, Weltner vice-chairman and Cocke was appointed as the secretary/treasurer. Prior to the Reorganization Act, Georgia university chief executives held the title of chancellor; however, after the Act, University heads were given the title of president and a new chancellor position was created. The USG chancellor was selected and overseen by the board. At the request of the regents, Charles Snelling, the presiding head of the University of Georgia (UGA), stepped down from his position at UGA to become the initial chancellor of the entire system.^[9]

The 1932 Annual Report for the Board stated outstanding debts of $1,074,415.^[9] Over the next few years the USG endeavored to transform the state's institutions of higher learning by reorganizing schools, merging and closing others and transforming course offerings and curriculum.

Modern history

In 2011, Chancellor Hank Huckaby recommended four consolidations among eight institutions, which would be implemented in 2013. The same year, the Board of Regents adopted six "Principles for Consolidation", which has led to multiple consolidations in the subsequent years.^[10] As of 2018, these consolidations have decreased the number of USG colleges and universities from 35 to 26.^[11]

On April 1, 2022, former Georgia Governor and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue became the system's 14th Chancellor.^[1]

Former institutions	Successor institution	Date effective	Ref.
Gainesville State College	University of North Georgia	January 8, 2013	[12]
North Georgia College and State University
Augusta State University	Georgia Regents University (now Augusta University)	January 8, 2013	[12]
Georgia Health Sciences University
Waycross College	South Georgia State College	January 8, 2013	[12]
South Georgia College
Macon State College	Middle Georgia State College (now Middle Georgia State University)	January 8, 2013	[12]
Middle Georgia College
Kennesaw State University	Kennesaw State University	January 1, 2015	[13]
Southern Polytechnic State University
Georgia State University	Georgia State University	January 6, 2016	[14]
Georgia Perimeter College
Albany State University	Albany State University	January 1, 2017	[15]
Darton State College
Armstrong State University	Georgia Southern University	January 1, 2018	[11]
Georgia Southern University
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College	January 1, 2018	[11]
Bainbridge State College

Additionally, the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography was aligned with the University of Georgia, which became effective July 1, 2013.^[16]

In Fall 2018, the university system saw enrollment reach an all-time high of 328,712 students enrolled across the system's 26 colleges and universities.^[17] On March 6, 2019, an Atlanta court upheld a USG policy barring unauthorized immigrants from attending Georgia State, Georgia Tech, and the University of Georgia.^[18] In regards to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the USG decided against making wearing face coverings mandatory for the Fall 2020 semester^[19][20] before deciding to mandate them.^[21]

Georgia Research Alliance

The Georgia Research Alliance is an Atlanta, Georgia-based nonprofit organization that coordinates research efforts between Georgia's public and private sectors. While GRA receives a state appropriation for investment in university-based research opportunities, its operations are funded through foundation and industry contributions. In its first 19 years, GRA leveraged $525 million in state funding into $2.6 billion of additional federal and private investment.

In 2007, GRA coalesced the strengths of several universities into a focused research effort built around new types of vaccines and therapeutics.^[22]

GRA Eminent Scholars

GRA Eminent Scholars are top scientists from around the world recruited by the Georgia Research Alliance. For each scholar, GRA invests $750,000 for an endowment, an amount that the research university matches in private funds on a minimum 1-1 basis. Eminent Scholars often bring a research team, significant federal funding and private support for their research. Georgia's investment in GRA Eminent Scholars has yielded more than $1 billion in outside grants and contracts for the state and helped to launch some 35 companies.^{[citation needed]}

GRA's Cancer Initiative

Georgia Cancer Coalition logo

After 10 years as an independent nonprofit organization, the Georgia Cancer Coalition became an initiative of the Georgia Research Alliance on January 18, 2012. The move was part of a larger effort to align Georgia's economic development assets in a more effective way.

GRA VentureLab

The Georgia Research Alliance set out to help launch companies around Georgian university research results, GRA launched its lead commercialization program, VentureLab, in 2002.^[23]

GRA also works with established Georgia companies through the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Centers of Innovation in aerospace, logistics, life sciences, energy, agriculture and advanced manufacturing. The COIs help find technology solutions to industry challenges, in part by connecting companies to leading-edge research at Georgia's universities.^{[citation needed]}

From 2002 to 2010, GRA directed $19 million of state funding into VentureLab. During that time, more than 700 university inventions or discoveries have been evaluated for commercial potential. More than 107 active companies have been formed, which employ more than 650 Georgians. These companies have also attracted $460 million in equity investment and generated $77 million in revenue.^[24]

GRA Centers of Research Excellence

Centers of Research Excellence are collaborative and individual efforts that focus on one area of scientific research.^[25]

List of institutions

Institution	Location	Founded	USG designation[26]	President[27]	Current enrollment[28] (Spring 2024)	Budget[29] (FY 2021)	Campus size as of 2012 (main campus only)
University of Georgia (UGA)	Athens	1785	Research University, Flagship University[5][6]	Jere W. Morehead	40,790	$1,558,226,395	759 acres (3.07 km2)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech or GT)	Atlanta	1885	Research University	Ángel Cabrera	47,654	$1,510,374,562	400 acres (1.6 km2)
Georgia State University (GSU)	Atlanta	1913	Research University	M. Brian Blake	46,775	$1,106,026,046	518 acres (2.10 km2)
Augusta University (AU)	Augusta	1828	Research University (Medical College)	Brooks A. Keel	9,865	$1,054,151,344	485 acres (1.96 km2)
Kennesaw State University (KSU)	Kennesaw	1963	Regional Comprehensive University	Kathy "Kat" Schwaig	42,818	$563,280,305	384 acres (1.55 km2)
Georgia Southern University (GS)	Statesboro	1906	Regional Comprehensive University	Kyle L. Marrero	24,212	$455,213,623	700 acres (2.8 km2)
University of West Georgia (UWG)	Carrollton	1906	Regional Comprehensive University	Brandon Kelly	12,458	$234,539,249	645 acres (2.61 km2)
Valdosta State University (VSU)	Valdosta	1906	Regional Comprehensive University	Richard Carvajal	9,488	$176,844,807	168 acres (0.68 km2)
University of North Georgia (UNG)	Dahlonega	1873	State University	Michael P. Shannon	16,723	$258,787,844	630 acres (2.5 km2)
Georgia College & State University (GCSU or Georgia College)	Milledgeville	1889	State University	Cathy Cox	6,393	$146,309,378	602 acres (2.44 km2)
Columbus State University (CSU)	Columbus	1958	State University	Stuart Rayfield	7,099	$129,665,352	132 acres (0.53 km2)
Albany State University (ASU)	Albany	1903	State University, HBCU	Marion Ross Fedrick	6,079	$119,792,815	232 acres (0.94 km2)
Middle Georgia State University (MGA)	Macon	1884	State University	Christopher Blake	7,612	$110,908,811	167 acres (0.68 km2)
Clayton State University (CSU)	Morrow	1969	State University	Georj Lewis	5,609	$96,249,315	163 acres (0.66 km2)
Savannah State University (SSU)	Savannah	1890	State University, HBCU	Cynthia Robinson Alexander (Interim)	2,762	$92,513,032	165 acres (0.67 km2)
Fort Valley State University (FVSU)	Fort Valley	1895	State University, HBCU	Paul Jones	2,462	$68,289,237	630 acres (2.5 km2)
Georgia Southwestern State University (GSSU)	Americus	1906	State University	Neal Weaver	3,159	$48,341,923	325 acres (1.32 km2)
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC)	Lawrenceville	2005	State College	Jann L. Joseph	11,135	$163,116,366	250 acres (1.0 km2)
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC)	Tifton	1908	State College	Tracy Brundage	3,371	$57,021,063	516 acres (2.09 km2)
Georgia Highlands College (GHC)	Rome	1970	State College	Mike Hobbs	4,796	$50,687,699	200 acres (0.81 km2)
Dalton State College (DSC)	Dalton	1963	State College	John M. Fuchko, III (Interim)	4,479	$49,149,588	146 acres (0.59 km2)
Gordon State College (GSC)	Barnesville	1852	State College	Donald J. Green (Interim)	2,880	$41,856,545	125 acres (0.51 km2)
College of Coastal Georgia (CCG)	Brunswick	1961	State College	Michelle R. Johnston	2,968	$40,544,120	193 acres (0.78 km2)
East Georgia State College (EGSC)	Swainsboro	1973	State College	David Schecter	1,538	$31,438,842	227 acres (0.92 km2)
South Georgia State College (SGSC)	Douglas	1906	State College	Gregory M. Tanner (Interim)	1,697	$29,381,320	190 acres (0.77 km2)
Atlanta Metropolitan State College (AMSC)	Atlanta	1974	State College	Ingrid Thompson-Sellers	1,563	$26,632,097	79 acres (0.32 km2)

USG designations

USG classifies its institutions into four "functional sectors" based on each institution's specific mission and function:^[4][3]

• Research University: Doctoral-granting institutions classified by the Carnegie Classification as "very high" or "high" research activity (R1 and R2, respectively).^{[note 1]}
• Regional Comprehensive University: Institutions that offer undergraduate and master's-level degrees with some master's-dominant graduate programs.
• State University: Institutions that offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees with limited, select doctoral programs.
• State College: Institutions that offer bachelor's and associate degrees with no graduate programs.

See also

• Student Advisory Council of Georgia – An organizational body composed of the student government presidents at each of the University System's institutions
• Technical College System of Georgia – A separate post-secondary education system which oversees Georgia's technical colleges
• List of colleges and universities in Georgia – A list of all colleges and universities in the state of Georgia

Notes

1. While other USG institutions may be categorized as "research universities" by the Carnegie Classification or other rankings, USG's internal classification system includes only these four under that label.

References

1. "Sonny Perdue Named Chancellor of the University System of Georgia". University System of Georgia. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
2. Torres, Kristina. "University System of Georgia Enrollment Hits Record High of 344,392". USG.
3. "USG Facts | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
4. "Board of Regents Policy Manual | 2.8 Institutional Mission | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
5. "Statement on UGA President Mike Adams". University System of Georgia. Archived from the original on March 14, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
6. "UGA/GRU Medical Partnership: About". University System of Georgia. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
7. "State's 31 Public Colleges and Universities Have a $14.1 Billion Economic Impact - Newsroom - University System of Georgia". Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
8. "Quick Facts - Perimeter College". Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
9. Fincher, Cameron (2003). Historical Development of the University System of Georgia: 1932-2002 (2nd ed.). Athens, Georgia: Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-880647-06-6.
10. "Serving Our Students and State | Campus Consolidations | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
11. "Board of Regents Finalizes Consolidations | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
12. "Board of Regents finalizes consolidations, appoints presidents | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
13. "Regents Approve Kennesaw State, Southern Polytechnic Consolidation | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
14. "Board of Regents Finalizes Consolidation of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
15. "Board of Regents Finalizes Consolidation of Albany State University and Darton State College". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
16. "Regents Align Skidaway Institute of Oceanography with UGA | Communications | University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
17. "University System of Georgia enrollment increases to all-time high". WALB. November 8, 2018. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
18. Rankin, Bill; Stirgus, Eric (March 6, 2019). "Atlanta court upholds University System ban on unauthorized immigrants". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on March 13, 2019. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
19. Vasquez, Michael (June 13, 2020). "In Some States This Fall, Masks at Public Colleges Will Be 'Encouraged' but Not Required". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
20. Kaylor, Lisa (June 29, 2020). "Provost provides guidelines for fall reopening at faculty town hall". Jagwire. Augusta University. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
21. Allison, David (July 6, 2020). "Georgia public universities to require all faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear face coverings". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
22. "About us". GRA. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
23. "GRA helps fuel the launch of companies". Georgia Research Alliance. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
24. "VentureLab: A pipeline of opportunity". Georgia Research Alliance. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
25. "Program Inititatives". GRA. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
26. "Board Meeting - May 2013" (PDF). University System of Georgia. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
27. "USG Institutions - University System of Georgia". www.usg.edu. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
28. "Semester Enrollment Report Spring 2024 2020" (PDF). University System of Georgia. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
29. "University System of Georgia All Budgets For Fiscal Year 2021" (PDF). University System of Georgia. July 1, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.

External links

• Official website