Thread: Regents consider new policies concerning illegal immigrants,

Regents consider new policies concerning illegal immigrants, engineering degrees

The State Board of Regents this week will consider banning illegal immigrants from any public college that can't admit all academically qualified applicants.

The recommendation is one of four the board will vote on Wednesday concerning illegal immigrants. Another of the recommendations, if approved, would require all 35 colleges in the University System of Georgia to verify that every admitted student seeking in-state tuition is in the country legally.

The other recommendations ask students to declare if, to the best of their knowledge, they are entitled to in-state tuition rates and warn them they could face a fine, jail and dismissal from the college if they provide false information on the application.

Also this week, the regents will vote on the University of Georgia's request to offer degrees in civil, electrical and mechanical engineering -- disciplines dominated by Georgia Tech. Each college has argued any expansion should occur on its campus.

Still, the loudest debate centers around a proposal that would prohibit illegal immigrants from attending any college that for the past two years has had to turn away academically qualified candidates because the campuses don't have enough space.

The colleges currently in this category -- UGA, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Medical College of Georgia and Georgia College & State University -- have 29 "undocumented" students, according to University System figures. Students are classified this way because they failed to provide appropriate documentation concerning citizenship. They may or may not be in the country illegally.

"We know there is a lot of concern about this issue, and I feel we have come up with some solutions that address all the concerns out there," said Regent Jim Jolly, who chaired the committee that came up with the recommendations.

The recommendations have been attacked by those on both sides of the debate.

Some say it doesn't go far enough. Lawmakers plan to introduce legislation barring illegal immigrants from all public colleges. This position is supported by some anti-illegal immigration groups, who are expected at this week's meeting.

Others said the ban would deny an education to students who competed and earned a place in college. The American Civil Liberties Union on Monday urged the regents to vote against the proposal. Some Latino college students also plan to attend the meeting to protest the recommendation.

There has been furor over this issue since Kennesaw State University officials disclosed this spring that they charged an illegal immigrant in-state tuition. Illegal immigrants are allowed to attend Georgia's public colleges, but they must pay the higher out-of-state tuition rate.

Federal law allows states to decide whether to admit these students to public colleges, according to guidance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Chancellor Erroll Davis said about 500 of the nearly 310,000 students attending a public Georgia college this fall are undocumented.

"I'm not sure we have a problem," Davis said. "I am hopeful that the legislators will spend their time on legislation that solves problems."

Davis, an engineer, has not voiced support or opposition for UGA's engineering proposals.

UGA officials declined to comment, saying the issue is before the regents. President Michael Adams wrote that allowing UGA to expand its engineering offerings would give students options, provide the state with more workers and let the university compete for additional grants.

Georgia Tech President G.P. "Bud" Peterson wrote to Davis and the regents about his concerns with UGA's request.

"To date, I do not believe that the need for the expansion of engineering programs has been clearly established, the investments required have not been fully identified, and the funding ramifications have not been clearly determined," Peterson wrote.

If approved, UGA's civil engineering program would begin in fall 2012, with the others beginning the following year.
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politic ... -elections

Undocumented students: No in-state tuition
Posted: October 13, 2010 - 12:20am

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS deserve all the taxpayer-supported educational opportunities afforded to them by the government - the government of the country in which they are legal citizens.

The State Board of Regents will consider today several measures aimed at ensuring legal residents of Georgia get preference in acceptance and tuition fees over those who are in the United States illegally.

All of the measures slated to go before the board today deserve passage. The first of those measures would preclude the acceptance of undocumented students if a school is not able to accept all academically qualified applicants because of space. The logic here is sound: Don't slam the door on legal residents in favor of those who are not legal residents.

Another measure would require all 35 public colleges in the University System of Georgia to verify the legal status of any student seeking to pay in-state tuition. Similarly, students would be required to sign a form declaring, to the best of their knowledge, that they are eligible for in-state tuition and warning of a possible fine, jail time and dismissal from college if they lie on the application.

These policies would require illegal immigrants, if accepted to a Georgia university, to pay out-of-state tuition. To do otherwise unfairly burdens native Georgians as well as U.S. students from Alabama to Alaska.

Taxpayers are rightly called upon to subsidize the education of legal Georgia residents and, to a lesser extent, residents of other states and foreign students who legally attend a Georgia school on a student visa. The in-state tuition charged to legal Georgia residents ensures that the money taxpayers fork over first goes to support the children of family and neighbors, and thus, the presumed future workforce of the Peach State.

Residents of other states or nations can pay more for the privilege of getting an education at one of Georgia's institutions of higher learning.

When illegal immigrants are allowed to claim a higher proportion of Georgia taxpayer support than someone from South Carolina, it constitutes an inequity to legal residents and to those citizens of other nations who properly obtained a student visa but must pay out-of-state tuition.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports that some have criticized the measures the trustees are set to consider today, claiming the steps "would deny an education to students who have competed and earned a place in college." That objection holds little water, when proffered in defense of individuals who have not yet "earned a place" as rightful residents of Georgia and citizens of the United States.

Others say the proposed regulations do not go far enough. The General Assembly may take up a bill to ban completely ban illegal immigrants from Georgia colleges. But with an undocumented student population of about 500 out of 310,000 students attending state schools this fall semester (less than two-tenths of 1 percent), lawmakers' time might be better spent on larger cost-cutting measures.

The Board of Regents is the proper venue to address the issue, and - provided its members pass today's proposals - the board is taking the proper steps to do so.

http://savannahnow.com