While proud of the accomplishments the University System of Georgia has made under his tenure, Chancellor Erroll Davis warned of future challenges because of the weak economy and rapid enrollment growth.
Davis spoke of higher education being at a crossroads during his final address to the State Board of Regents as chancellor. He will retire when his contract expires the end of the month.
Hired in 2006, Davis' tenure is marked with record growth and steep budget cuts -- challenges his successor, Hank Huckaby, will face as well.
The system enrolled about 260,000 students when Davis started and will have about 320,000 students this fall. Meanwhile, the system has lost about $1 billion in state funding in recent years because of the recession. In response the system reduced class offerings, relied more on part-time professors and increased the tuition and fees charged students.
"Even as the recovery continues, however, I do not sense that the historic way in which we have approached funding for public higher education can continue or will continue," Davis said.
He worried about quality education becoming too costly and turning into a luxury for a few. He urged the regents to keep college affordable and accessible while maintaining high quality.
"Do we really want a two-tiered higher education system in this country where first-rate education is associated with private colleges and universities and minimally funded public institutions are seen as second-rate?" he said. "Do we really want a situation to exist where those with money have access to that first-rate education and those without the economic means or the ability to tap into scholarships are shut out?"
Read more: The Atlanta-Journal Constitution: Chancellor warns of future challenges during final regents meeting
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