75 years of transforming lives - University System of Georgia

75 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING LIVES
1932-1950
Birth, Conflict and Constitutional Status
1932: The University System of Georgia is Born
The transformation of higher education in Georgia began with the election
in 1930 of Richard B. Russell Jr. as governor on a state government reform
platform. As a result, the Reorganization Act of 1931 led to the creation
of an 11-member Board of Regents to provide governance to the newly
formed University System of Georgia. Among the Board’s first challenges
were to shift governance from individual institutions to the interests of the
state as a whole; to redefine the status of the University of Georgia, which
had been the lone guiding force in education in the state; to assess a poorly
planned core curriculum; to manage a very significant deficit; and to gain
control over a disorganized and uncoordinated approach to meeting the
higher education needs of all Georgians.
The Budget Process is Unified
An early accomplishment of the Board of Regents was to present a unified
System budget to the governor and general assembly. The state allocated
a lump sum, which was then allocated to the institutions. This was a unique
and visionary structure, and it paved the way for the University System to
advance higher education and promote economic development in Georgia
over the next 75 years.
Political Interference Threatens Accreditation
In 1941, longstanding conflicts with Gov. Eugene Talmadge threatened
the autonomy of the System. The issue boiled over when the governor
managed the firing of two respected employees. The result was the loss
of accreditation for 10 University System schools and, for Talmadge, the
loss of the governorship as voters reacted to political interference in the
administration of the University System.
Constitutional Status is Achieved
Newly elected Governor Ellis Arnall was committed to preserving a strong
University System. He was elected governor on a platform that included
removing the University System from political interference (see above). In
1943, Arnall secured the passage of a constitutional amendment granting
the University System of Georgia constitutional status. This important
event paved the way for a new era for higher education in Georgia.
GI Bill Drives Post-War Enrollment Boom
World War II caused a drop in enrollments, but the passing of the GI Bill
sparked an enrollment boom. In 1947, the System gained 27,000 students
– half of them veterans. The sudden influx of students was a driving force
behind a new capital expansion program at institutions statewide, along
with a greater focus on research in sciences, technology and liberal arts.
Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Engineering were added at UGA and
Georgia Tech, respectively.
1935, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah
1948, Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta
First Chancellor, Charles M. Snelling (1932-1933)
Chancellor Philip Weltner (1933-1935)
Chancellor Steadman V. Sanford (1935-1945)
Chancellor Raymond R. Paty (1946-1948)
Chancellor Harmon W. Caldwell (1949-1964)