By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Enrollment down at state schools
Placeholder Image

ATLANTA — More than half the schools in the University System of Georgia are teaching fewer students this fall than last year, reversing more than a decade of record-setting enrollment, according to a report by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The newspaper, relying on preliminary data, reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/PSMh6y ) the system enrolled 312,600 students as of Sept. 6, a 1.1 percent drop from the 316,095 the prior year. It was only the third time since 1978 that enrollment dropped. Final numbers are expected next month.

The data indicates five schools dropped by more than 10 percent: Fort Valley State University; and Bainbridge, Georgia Perimeter, East Georgia State and Gordon State colleges.

Meanwhile, Georgia colleges are dealing with another round of state budget cuts — $54 million this year and $54 million next year. In the past, schools used additional tuition revenue from higher enrollments to soften the cuts, but that is not an option for many campuses this year.

"If the students are not there, then institutions will have to consider fewer personnel and reduced program offerings," system spokesman John Millsaps said.

The university system has warned colleges about the drop for more than a year. While the system gained about 100,000 students over the past decade, the rate of increase slowed recently.

"We cannot grow at double-digits indefinitely," said Rob Watts, interim president of Georgia Perimeter College. The school gained more than 11,000 students over the past decade but dropped this fall.

Millsaps said the system cannot pinpoint the reason for the enrollment decline. Officials placed much of the blame on the weak economy and changes to financial aid programs such as the federal Pell Grant and Georgia's HOPE scholarship that reduced award payouts for some recipients, the newspaper said.

Similar enrollment drops have been seen at public colleges in Ohio, Florida and California.

Sign up for our e-newsletters
BI hosts LCSS Gala
LibertyCountySchools

Bradwell Institute’s Friends Helping Friends will host the 3rdAnnual Liberty County School System Special Needs Gala Saturday at 7p.m.

The dance portion of the gala is free and open to the public.

FHF was started three years ago by BI special needs teacher Charlie Moon. FHF is comprised of a large group of general education students that connect special needs students with their general education peers. They have raised $20,000 in the last 30 months, for events like this, a new sensory room, music therapy equipment, and many other fun events. 

“FHF does so much for the special needs students. It really brings them out in their social skills. They become so much more comfortable around us all,” FHF Junior Danielle Hennessee said. 

FHF Junior Jada Naftzinger said it’s a two-way street. “It not only helps them, but us as well. It brings us out of our own shells and comfort zones.” 

Moon added, “For us, the Gala is not our calling card. I’ve told the students from day one, unless they truly know these special needs students, we won’t do the Gala at all. We’ll throw a big pizza party instead. The point is, we want the kids to really focus on the one-on-one, in-class work, hanging out in the halls, really talking to them. That’s the only way this program truly reaches its potential. Our motto is, “Changing lives, one friend at a time.”

During a private dinner which precedes the public dance, district office personnel, representatives from Congressman Buddy Carter’s office, district SPED staff, BI Football players and FHF members, parents and the honored guests – 50 special needs students from around the district will be in attendance.

Latest Obituaries