Regents finalize tuition freeze

The state Board of Regents met Tuesday, and, as had been anticipated, voted to freeze tuition at the University of Georgia and at other schools in the University System of Georgia. It’s a reaction to the coronavirus pandemic that closed campuses in Athens and across the state for what’s left of spring semester. Tuition will not increase for the fall semester.

From Maureen Downey, AJC…

The vote assures that students at Georgia's 26 public colleges and universities will pay the same tuition next year as they did this year. But it is unclear what the future holds.

In his update to the regents, Chancellor Steve Wrigley said financial losses are being felt from the system-wide shutdown of campuses, including $200 million in refunds to students for housing and dining hall costs.

Losses will climb to $340 to $350 million as other funding sources falter during the summer, said Wrigley, citing lost income from canceled camps, professional learning programs, study abroads and other events.

Wrigley said the losses will be offset in part by a short-term infusion of $125 million that the University System of Georgia hopes to receive from the CARES Act, the $2 trillion federal coronavirus legislation designed to provide financial relief to states, corporations, citizens and schools.

"There will be economic and fiscal impacts on our campuses," he told the regents. "We want to get on the other side of this thing in a strong position."