[April 27, 2020] | Let's have some Good news this week and something we can all agree on. For those attending a higher education institution like UGA, Dalton State, Kennesaw State, or any other state school, there will not be a tuition increase this year. Good news, students! It was good news to learn that the University System of Georgia Board of Regents (USG-BOR) unanimously approved a recommendation to keep tuition the same for the upcoming fiscal year.
Undergraduate and graduate students will pay the same for the 2020-21 academic year as they did for the 2019-20 academic year. If you were wondering, the University of Georgia in-state tuition is $4,895 per semester for students taking more than six hours. Out-of-state tuition is $14,415 per semester for students taking more than six hours.
This is the third time in the past 10 years the USG-BOR has not increased tuition. Great news.
Georgia resident students will pay the same tuition rate for online classes as they would for in-person classes. Out-of-state students will pay the same tuition rates as they did for spring 2020.
The USG-BOR approved the elimination of all mandatory fees ? excluding the special institutional fee and technology fee ? for the summer 2020 semester.
You can imagine that the COVID-19 has hit the Board of Regents in the pocketbook just like most everything and everyone has been. The BOR's revenue losses are expected to be between $330 and $340 million through the summer semester. The BOR is expected to receive approximately $125 million in funds from the federal government. A decision on how these funds will be used has not been reached yet.
School Lunch program
More good news. A lot of folks are not on Facebook and may not read every bit of the paper, but I just wanted to give a shout of APPRECIATION to our school lunchroom folks. During all this stay at home, our lunchrooms have been preparing food for our students all over our district?s counties. Bus drivers have been taking these lunches to the students where they are. This has been a giant task, and these folks have done an outstanding job. Even in the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, they stood so big and tall to take care of their/our children.
Since I am the Chairman of Education in the GA House of Representatives, I know that this is not the case all over our state. In our area it has been a hit for many of our struggling families.
Businesses reopening
More good news: Governor Kemp has okayed the reopening of many businesses that were closed during the start of the Pandemic. You have heard about it on every news show and of course just heard about parts of the plan. When you see the 27-page Executive Order that set the rules for reopening our small businesses, I think you will see the care that went into the decision. Many will choose to wait to reopen, and that is up to them, and we can choose not to go. I would still be smart and wash those hands and pay attention to the rules when you enter a place of business that may be open. Work with the owners of our small businesses if they request you to sit in a certain area, etc.; we need to work together on the reopening. Yes, I got some looks when I had my mask on this past weekend while picking up a few things. But I think it?s smart to do that right now.
If you would like your copy of Governor Kemp?s Executive Order on reopening, you can go to the Governor?s Website and get it, or you can email or call me, and we will send it to you.
Also, if you have questions about reopening, I will do my best to answer them. It was busy this weekend answering the harder questions out there on reopening.
One of the most rewarding parts of this job is when you get to help a citizen cut through red tape and get the information or help, they need. I appreciate all the calls, emails, and opportunities to do this most every day.
If you need the Executive Order or help, please give me a call at home or at the Capitol. My aide, Lisa Fountain, is working from home right now, helping me help you, so don?t hesitate to call on us. Email rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov or 770-893-2039 or 404-656-7153.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your State Representative.