University System of Georgia looks to update core curriculum, puts forward budget proposal
The University System of Georgia is looking to streamline the core curriculum in hopes of making it more intuitive for students.
Ashwani Monga, chief academic officer for USG, told a meeting of the Board of Regents on Friday that the system has core requirements that provide students with important baseline knowledge and allow for easy transfers between institutions. But the current core could use some improvements, he said.
"(Students) just look at these areas as checkboxes, 'I need to sign off, I'm done with A-1, I need to do A-2 as well,' without ever thinking what this is doing for them," Monga told the regents.
The new system will include more intuitive names for the requirements and include information about the skills that students should be learning from core classes in the syllabus. It will also let some core classes count as pre-requisites for majors, allowing students to start on their chosen area of study earlier, and hopefully unify requirements to make transfers easier.
"We want to make sure ... you should be able to see what you're getting out of it," Monga said.
The recommendations will be brought back to the Board of Regents in October for final approval, and Monga said they hope to fully implement the changes by fall of 2024.
Chancellor announces all time high of diplomas
USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue asked for a drumroll from the regents to roll out the latest number of degrees awarded.
"I'm pleased to announce in the fiscal year 2023, USG institutions awarded an all time high of, let me hear it, 75,228 degrees," he told the regents. "Folks, that is a record in light of decreased enrollment. Now you know what that means? Enrollment may be dropping because of demographics, COVID and all that, but our completion rates and our diploma granting is going up. That's good."
Since 2011, Perdue said that USG has had a 37.1% increase in diplomas alongside just a 5% increase in enrollment.
Perdue also praised the finalization of the merger between Wellstar and AU Health system, a merger the regents had authorized.
Looking ahead to the next budget cycle
Chief Fiscal Officer Tracey Cook presented on the USG's proposal to amend their budget for fiscal year 2024. This is an opportunity for USG to request changes or additions for the current year budget, based on guidance from the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget.
Cook said the guidance mandates that amendments have to be one-time strategic investments. For this year, USG is asking $386 million in additional funding for a total amended budget of $3.57 billion; including $88 million for a new enterprise resource management system.
"The goal is to ultimately have one unified single platform for our financials, for our human resources and for our student account management system for all our 26 institutions," Cook told the regents.
The 2025 budget is also being put together currently. The current request includes a $99 million increase in funding for education and $2.8 million for non-teaching programs, such as the Georgia Public Library and other services, for a total proposed budget of $3.29 billion.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: The core curriculum for university system is being updated for 2024
