University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue today named USG¡¯s Chief Operating Officer Teresa MacCartney as interim president of Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), upon the departure of President Neal Weaver this May.

Weaver announced he would be stepping down May 10 after nearly seven years. He was named president of Stephen F. Austin University in Texas by the University of Texas System on March 18.

The leadership transition between MacCartney and Weaver will begin prior to his departure.

¡°Georgia Southwestern State University experienced record enrollment under President Weaver¡¯s leadership, and we wish him continued success in Texas,¡± Perdue said. ¡°We¡¯re grateful to Teresa for temporarily stepping into this role and know the university will keep thriving in the interim. As an integral part of the university system¡¯s leadership team, she¡¯ll provide deep institutional knowledge and consistency while we consider next steps.¡±

As COO, MacCartney currently oversees the system¡¯s overall operations for all 26 of USG¡¯s public colleges and universities. This includes defining and evaluating solutions for USG objectives in the departments of Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Real Estate and Facilities, Legal Affairs, Human Resources, Safety and Security, Leadership and Institutional Development as well as Strategic Implementation.

MacCartney previously served as USG¡¯s executive vice chancellor for administration (2019-2021) and as acting chancellor (2021-2022).

¡°I¡¯m grateful for Chancellor Perdue¡¯s confidence in me and am looking forward to being on campus and working with GSW¡¯s outstanding faculty, staff and students,¡± MacCartney said. ¡°As someone who grew up in Cairo, I am very familiar with this region. It is an honor to help guide GSW 正版bbin平台下载 this transition and continue the initiatives that have made it one of the top universities in the South.¡±

Before joining USG, MacCartney served as Georgia¡¯s chief financial officer as well as executive director of the Governor¡¯s Office of Planning and Budget. She has held a number of other leadership roles throughout state government, including with the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Georgia Department of Education. In the past, she has served on various boards including as chairman of Leadership Georgia and on the 正版bbin平台下载 of Directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Currently, she serves on the board of the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority.

MacCartney earned both a bachelor¡¯s degree in mathematics and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. She lives in Cobb County with her two children, William, a high school junior, and Brooke, a senior who will attend the University of Georgia in the fall.

About GSW

Georgia Southwestern State University is a state university located in historic Americus, Georgia. The undergraduate and graduate degree offering institution is ranked as one of the most affordable colleges in the nation. GSW enrolls over 3,400 students and boasts a 16:1 student-teacher ratio with an institutional focus on academic success. For the last three years, GSW was voted the ¡°best place to work¡± in Sumter County, and counts among distinguished alumni the late Griffin Bell, former U.S. attorney general, the late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jimmy Carter.

The 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted today to approve tuition rates for the 2024-25 academic year at USG¡¯s 26 public colleges and universities. Systemwide, in-state undergraduate tuition will increase by 2.5%, and out-of-state tuition will increase by 5%. A new, third level of tuition for out-of-country students will also be established at 2% more than the rate for out-of-state students.

This comes as the 正版bbin平台下载 kept tuition flat at all but one USG institution for six of the past eight years. Escalating costs for people, goods and services, increased competition from the private sector for talent and overall inflation have all contributed to growing pressure on institutional budgets, resulting in today¡¯s decision.

USG¡¯s strong commitment to keeping college affordable for students in Georgia has meant average tuition increases for an undergraduate, in-state Georgia student over the past eight years have been less than 1%, well below the rate of inflation.

Two years ago, thanks to the support of Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly, the board was able to eliminate a mandatory Special Institutional Fee that students had been charged systemwide since 2009. The fee had been established 正版bbin平台下载 the Great Recession to provide financial support to maintain high-quality academic programs and operations 正版bbin平台下载 the reductions in state funding.

Coming at the same time as tuition was held flat, the fee¡¯s elimination reduced college costs starting with the 2022-23 academic year and saved students anywhere between $340 to $1,088 for the year, depending on the institution they attended.

¡°Maintaining affordability is one of the highest priorities of the university system and the 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents,¡± USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. ¡°We are a good deal for Georgians, and we have worked to protect that value particularly for our Georgia undergraduates as we balance affordability with institutional sustainability and academic quality. Our institutions face increasing costs to operate, and we must sustain their momentum as some of the best in the nation at helping students succeed on campus and in the workforce.¡±

Among the 16 Southern Regional Education 正版bbin平台下载 (SREB) states, Georgia is the third lowest in average undergraduate tuition and required fees compared to its public peers, according to national data from the College 正版bbin平台下载. College 正版bbin平台下载 data also ranks USG as the sixth lowest in average tuition and fees compared to its peers across the nation, making USG institutions an excellent value for Georgia students and families.

Middle Georgia State University, the only institution to raise tuition 正版bbin平台下载 the last academic year, will also be finishing the last of a three-year plan to align its undergraduate tuition with other universities in the same academic sector.

The board today additionally approved changes to the mandatory fee structure at 20 of USG¡¯s 26 institutions to address the significant growth in the number of students taking classes via fully online course delivery.

The approved structure means fully online students will be charged an online learning fee equivalent to their institution¡¯s technology fee, as well as 50% of their institution¡¯s mandatory fees.

This change provides more consistency to the institutional fees for all students. Mandatory fees support and enhance campus programming and student-focused activities, technology and athletic programs ¨C all critical components to the college experience.

Student affordability remains a priority of the board and USG. Similar to many Georgia families, institutions are experiencing rising costs of goods and services to include escalating costs for technology, software, food, utilities and insurance. Labor costs are also escalating. Additionally, at the start of the 正版bbin平台下载 pandemic in FY21, the university system sustained a budget reduction of $230 million.

Tuition rates for each institution may be found here.

The University System of Georgia (USG) will continue its temporary waiver of test score requirements. With state colleges already test optional, this means no test scores will be required for admission at 23 of USG¡¯s 26 public colleges and universities 正版bbin平台下载 the Academic Year 2025-2026 (Fall 2025, Spring 2026 and Summer 2026).

The temporary waiver does not apply to the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia and Georgia College & State University.

For Academic Year 2025-2026, the 23 remaining institutions will have two options for making admissions decisions:

1. Freshman index: Schools can use a formula that includes the student¡¯s high school grade point average and test scores for either the SAT or ACT.
2. Test-optional: Schools can use the student¡¯s grade point average on the required high school curriculum without a standardized test score at the following minimum grade point averages (GPA):
   • 3.4 GPA for research universities: Augusta University and Georgia State University.
   • 3.2 GPA for comprehensive universities: Kennesaw State University, Georgia Southern University, University of West Georgia and Valdosta State University.
   • 3.0 GPA for state universities: Albany State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Fort Valley State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Middle Georgia State University, Savannah State University and the University of North Georgia.
   • State colleges: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Atlanta Metropolitan State College, College of Coastal Georgia, Dalton State College, East Georgia State College, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Highlands College, Gordon State College and South Georgia State College will continue to be test-optional in accordance with 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents policy.

Test-optional admission was additionally extended to the Dual Enrollment Program through Academic Year 2025-2026. This program provides Georgia high school students the opportunity to earn college credit alongside their high school diploma.

Test scores will continue to be required to apply for Zell Miller scholarships in accordance with state of Georgia requirements.

The Valdosta State University (VSU) debate team on Thursday took home a unique, handcrafted wood trophy as the inaugural winner of the University System of Georgia¡¯s (USG) Regents Cup Debate Series.

Individual students also won honors, including the University of Georgia¡¯s Ansley Warnock as individual debate champion; VSU¡¯s Raegin Jones as individual runner-up; the Georgia Institute of Technology¡¯s Andrew Dowdy as an individual semi-finalist; and the University of West Georgia¡¯s Willow Roark also as an individual semi-finalist.

Other participating institutions included Georgia College and State University and the University of North Georgia.

¡°Higher education must cultivate a student¡¯s ability not only for advocacy but for civil discourse,¡± USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. ¡°We¡¯re trying to create a culture of not only learning to better communicate our ideas, but to also listen to others and their ideas. In hosting this debate series, the 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents has demonstrated its commitment to this idea as well as its support of students who communicate and articulate from different perspectives. As we look to grow the debate series, I¡¯m proud of our participating teams this year and congratulate our winner.¡±

In all, nine students from six USG institutions participated in the event, hosted on Middle Georgia State University¡¯s Macon campus. Intended to highlight how USG students can communicate and articulate from different perspectives in a persuasive, respectful way, the students competed in four rounds of debate, followed by semi-final and final rounds, using the International Public Debate Association structure.

The students were presented with topics before each round and given 30 minutes to prepare initial arguments. The format encourages debaters to ¡°think on their feet¡± and develop strong refutation skills. Debate topics included global economic development, agricultural subsidies and the impact of artificial intelligence. The final round saw a debate over prioritization of ocean exploration over space exploration.

The event¡¯s guest judges included USG Regent Erin Hames, state Sen. Freddie Powell Sims (D-Dawson), former USG Regent Robert F. Hatcher Sr., MGA Community Liaison Charles Richardson, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Foundation Chief Operating Officer Jodie Snow, Mercer University School of Law Dean Karen Sneddon and former Gov. Nathan Deal.

The winning team received a handcrafted wood trophy made by Ronny Just, a retired Georgia Power manager and craftsman who views his work as ¡°memorializing wood that matters into things that last.¡±

Just created the trophy¡¯s signature look using historical wood from a red oak on UGA¡¯s North Campus, a 100-year-old live oak from the famed Sweetheart Circle at Georgia Southern University, a pecan tree that was planted in 1889 when the Georgia State Capitol was dedicated and black walnut from North Georgia.

Notice of Data Breach.

This website notice is intended to provide the same information included in the notification letters to individuals for whom the University System of Georgia (USG) has insufficient or out-of-date contact information. USG was involved in an incident that may affect the security of certain individuals¡¯ personal information. We want to provide affected individuals information about the incident, steps we are taking in response, and steps to guard against identity theft and fraud, should they feel it is appropriate to do so.

What Happened? USG purchased MOVEit? Secure File Transfer software from Progress? Software to transfer and store sensitive data. As has now been widely reported, the MOVEit? software included a vulnerability that allowed cybercriminals unauthorized access to the files stored on the MOVEit? platform at numerous government, higher education, and corporate customer sites worldwide beginning on or about May 28, 2023. This included USG. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have determined that data was acquired from the MOVEit? platform by a cybercriminal group named CL0P. The files and information obtained by this cybercriminal group will likely be published on its website.

What Information Was Involved? Data related to affected individuals may include:

• Full or partial (last 4 digits) Social Security Number
• Date of Birth
• Bank account number(s)
• Federal income tax documents with Tax ID number

What We Are Doing. USG takes protecting personal information seriously and is taking steps to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. MOVEit? Transfer software operating at USG was immediately blocked upon detection of the breach on May 31, 2023, and has now been fully updated and secured in accordance with guidance from Progress? Software and CISA. After updating and securing the system, USG immediately began a lengthy investigation to determine which individuals may have been impacted by the incident.

What Affected Individuals Can Do. Review information from the Federal Trade Commission¡¯s website, https://IdentityTheft.gov/databreach, for steps to help protect from identity theft. In addition, we recommend individuals affected by the USG incident take advantage of free credit monitoring and related services offered via Experian using the instructions below.

Other Important Information:

To help protect an individual¡¯s identity, USG is offering complimentary access to Experian IdentityWorks^SM for 12 months.

If an affected individual believes there was fraudulent use of their information as a result of this incident and would like to discuss how it may be possible to resolve those issues, please contact an Experian agent. If, after discussing the situation with an agent, it is determined that identity restoration support is needed then an Experian Identity Restoration agent is available to investigate and resolve each incident of fraud that occurred from the date of the incident (including, as appropriate, helping with contacting credit grantors to dispute charges and close accounts; assisting with placing a freeze on their credit file with the three major credit bureaus; and assisting with contacting government agencies to help restore their identity to its proper condition).

Please note that Identity Restoration is available to an affected individual for 12 months from the date of this notice and does not require any action on their part at this time. The Terms and Conditions for this offer are located at www.ExperianIDWorks.com/restoration.

While identity restoration assistance is immediately available to an affected individual, we also encourage them to activate the fraud detection tools available through Experian IdentityWorks as a complimentary 12-month membership. This product provides superior identity detection and resolution of identity theft. To start monitoring personal information, please follow the steps below:

• Enroll by July 31, 2024 (The code will not work after this date.)
• Visit the Experian IdentityWorks website to enroll: https://www.experianidworks.com/credit
• Provide the activation code: NKMGW87BY

If an affected individual has questions about the product, need assistance with Identity Restoration that arose as a result of this incident, or would like an alternative to enrolling in Experian IdentityWorks online, contact Experian¡¯s customer care team toll-free at 1-833-918-1243 by July 31, 2024. Be prepared to provide engagement number B116633 as proof of eligibility for the Identity Restoration services by Experian.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE 12-MONTH EXPERIAN IDENTITYWORKS MEMBERSHIP

A credit card is not required for enrollment in Experian IdentityWorks. An affected individual can contact Experian immediately regarding any fraud issues, and have access to the following features after enrolling in Experian IdentityWorks:

• Experian credit report at signup: See what information is associated with one¡¯s credit file. Daily credit reports are available for online members only.*
• Credit Monitoring: Actively monitors Experian file for indicators of fraud.
• Identity Restoration: Identity Restoration specialists are immediately available to help you address credit and non-credit related fraud.
• Experian IdentityWorks ExtendCARETM: Individuals receive the same high-level of Identity Restoration support even after the Experian IdentityWorks membership has expired.
• $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance**: Provides coverage for certain costs and unauthorized electronic fund transfers.

For More Information. USG regrets any inconvenience or concern caused by this incident. Individuals with further questions or concerns or would like an alternative to enrolling online, please call 1-833-918-1243 toll-free Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. ¨C to 8 p.m. Central Time (excluding major U.S. holidays). Be prepared to provide the engagement number: B116633.

USG encourages everyone to remain vigilant and review personal account statements and monitor free credit reports. Anyone may also contact the major consumer reporting agencies to request a security freeze free of charge as provided by federal law. To obtain a credit freeze, callers will generally need to provide their Social Security Number, date of birth, and address. The contact information for the major consumer reporting agencies is:

• Equifax: PO Box 740241, Atlanta, GA 30347 1-800-525-6285 (equifax.com)
• Experian: PO Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013, 1-888-397-3742 (experian.com)
• TransUnion: PO Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016, 1-800-680-7289 (transunion.com)

For additional information regarding steps to take to avoid identity theft including fraud alerts and security freezes, you may also contact the Federal Trade Commission at 600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580, (202) 326-2222 or 1-877-FTC-HELP and see identitytheft.gov and https://www.identitytheft.gov/#/Know-Your-Rights. All United States citizens have additional rights pursuant to the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act. Residents of the District of Columbia may also contact the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Iowa residents should report suspected identity theft to local law enforcement or the Iowa Attorney General. Maryland residents may also contact the Maryland Attorney General for additional information at 200 St. Paul Place, 16th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; 1-410-576-6300 or 1-888-743-0023; or at www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov. A Massachusetts resident has the right to obtain a police report. New York residents may obtain additional information from the New York State Attorney General¡¯s website: ag.ny.gov/resources/credit-lending/identity-theft. North Carolina residents may obtain additional information from the North Carolina Attorney General¡¯s office at 9001 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699-9001, 919-716-6400, ncdoj.gov. Rhode Island residents may obtain a police report and may also obtain additional information from the Rhode Island Attorney General at www.riag.ri.gov (401) 274-4400. Individuals should report suspected identity theft to law enforcement, including to your state¡¯s attorney general and to the Federal Trade Commission.

_{*Offline members will be eligible to call for additional reports quarterly after enrolling.}

_{**The Identity Theft Insurance is underwritten and administered by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, an Assurant company. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.}

The 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) has announced it will conduct national searches to find the next presidents of Albany State University (ASU) and Savannah State University (SSU).

ASU President Marion Ross Fedrick announced last month her plan to accept a new role at Georgia State University as executive vice president and chief of staff, effective July 1, 2024. Fedrick will additionally serve as a senior advisor to Chancellor Sonny Perdue for initiatives related to the system¡¯s three public historically Black colleges and universities, which include ASU, SSU and Fort Valley State University.

Cynthia Robinson Alexander, previously USG¡¯s associate vice chancellor for finance, has served as interim president of SSU since July 2023 after the departure of President Kimberly Ballard-Washington. She will continue to serve as interim president 正版bbin平台下载 this time.

¡°The success of Georgia¡¯s public HBCUs is vital for students, and they remain important to our mission to educate Georgia citizens for the 21st century,¡± Perdue said. ¡°We want to find the best leaders who can build upon the work of their predecessors and help our institutions make sure students enter a highly skilled workforce ready to contribute and grow their own prosperity as well as the state¡¯s.¡±

Both universities continue to play critical roles within the system and Georgia. ASU is USG¡¯s largest HBCU, enrolling 6,599 students as of Fall 2023. Since its founding in 1903, ASU has prepared students for the state’s teaching workforce and is a critical partner in educating Georgia’s future nurses.

Savannah State increased enrollment this past fall to 3,099 students. As the oldest public HBCU in the state, it has a rich 134-year history in higher education that includes being the first institution of higher learning in the city of Savannah. Both institutions were among the university system¡¯s original members.

USG will now initiate national searches to find the universities¡¯ next leaders. This decision begins the process to name presidential search committees at each institution. Those committees, once finalized, will be announced at a later date.

About Albany State University:

Joseph Winthrop Holley founded Albany State University in 1903 as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institute. The institution first received financial support from the state of Georgia in 1917. Designated as an agricultural and teacher training college, the institute was renamed The Georgia Normal and Agricultural College and in 1932, became part of the newly formed University System of Georgia.

Granted four-year status and renamed Albany State College in 1943, the school¡¯s enrollment increased, and the college began offering its first graduate programs in 1981. The 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents granted the institution university status in 1996, at which time it was renamed Albany State University.

ASU offers more than 35 undergraduate degree programs, of which the most popular majors are health and human performance, nursing, biology, management, criminal justice, early childhood education and psychology. ASU also offers graduate programs in multiple academic areas, including Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Master of Public Administration, Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Nursing and an Educational Specialist degree.

About Savannah State University:

Founded in 1890 as a result of the Second Morrill Act, SSU moved from Athens to its permanent location in Savannah in 1891 and became a member of the newly formed University System of Georgia in 1932, at which time the institution¡¯s name changed to Georgia State College.

The college served as Georgia¡¯s land-grant institution for Black students until 1947, when the land-grant designation was transferred to what was then Fort Valley State College. In 1950, Georgia State College changed its name again, to Savannah State College. The 正版bbin平台下载 of Regents granted the school university status in 1996, and the institution became Savannah State University.

SSU offers the region¡¯s only four-year Naval ROTC program with tuition-assisted training in science and technology leading to commissioned service in the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps. SSU also has the only marine science undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Georgia based entirely on a coastal campus and is one of the few institutions in the country to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Sonny Perdue is offering his congratulations to Albany State University President Marion Ross Fedrick, who announced today she will take a new role within the university system to build upon her leadership expertise.

In a letter to the Albany State community, Fedrick said she has accepted a new role at Georgia State University as executive vice president and chief of staff to President Brian Blake, effective July 1, 2024.

With this announcement, Perdue has asked Fedrick to additionally serve as his senior advisor for initiatives related to the system¡¯s three public historically Black colleges and universities.

¡°Marion has built a formidable reputation within USG for her resourcefulness and creative ability to support the success of faculty, staff and students,¡± Perdue said. ¡°I¡¯m grateful she¡¯s staying within the system to continue her stewardship in public higher education. She will be an invaluable resource working on behalf of our HBCUs and at a USG institution that ranks as one of the nation¡¯s best for undergraduate teaching and innovation.¡±

Details about the next steps for Albany State¡¯s leadership transition will be forthcoming.

Fedrick is an accomplished senior leader with over 30 years of experience in education administration, strategic planning, crisis management and strategic partnership management in both the private and public sectors.

She initially joined Albany State in October 2017, serving as both the interim executive vice president and interim president before the board appointed Fedrick as Albany State¡¯s 10th president on Aug. 14, 2018.

¡°The importance of Albany State to USG and to the Southwest Georgia community cannot be overstated, and it¡¯s been an absolute honor to have been part of building up this next generation of leaders,¡± Fedrick said. ¡°While I¡¯m excited about the opportunities ahead, a part of my heart will always remain in Albany, and I¡¯m grateful for the students, friends and colleagues who will carry on the legacy of this extraordinary and unsinkable institution.¡±

Prior to her service at Albany State, Fedrick served as USG¡¯s vice chancellor for human resources, overseeing administration of all systemwide human resources initiatives, employee benefits programs and organizational and leadership development initiatives.

She previously led strategic initiatives relating to effective university administration, leadership development and human resource planning efforts at Clark Atlanta University, Emory University Hospitals, State of Georgia¡¯s Office of State Personnel Administration, AT&T and the former BellSouth Corporation.

A first-generation college student, Fedrick is a certified Senior Human Resources Professional. She is also a three-time graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor¡¯s degree in adult education (including a concentration in organizational development), a master¡¯s degree in public administration and a doctorate in education.