07 LC 21
9368
Senate
Bill 279
By:
Senators Reed of the 35th, Golden of the 8th, Jones of the 10th and Brown of the
26th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to the University System of Georgia, so as to
provide a short title; to provide that certain students who apply for admission
to member institutions of the University System of Georgia as freshmen and who
graduate from certain public or private high schools in this state with a grade
point average in the top 10 percent of such student´s graduating class
shall be automatically admitted; to authorize the Board of Regents to promulgate
rules and regulations regarding such admissions; to provide that the Board of
Regents and the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall develop a formula for
giving extra weight to grades earned in certain classes in calculating a
student´s high school grade point average; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
This
Act shall be known and may be cited as "Georgia´s Promise."
SECTION
2.
Part
2 of Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to the University System of Georgia, is amended by inserting
new Code Sections 20-3-88 and 20-3-89 to read as follows:
"20-3-88.
(a)
Beginning with those students admitted for the 2008-2009 academic year, each
member institution of the University System of Georgia shall admit an applicant
to the institution as a freshman if the applicant:
(1)
Graduated in one of the two school years immediately preceding the academic year
for which the applicant is applying for admission to from an eligible high
school, as defined in Code Section 20-3-519, with a grade point average in the
top 10 percent of the student´s graduating class;
(2)
Is a resident of the State of Georgia and either is a citizen of the United
States or an eligible noncitizen as defined in the federal Title IV
requirements;
(3)
Has been a resident of this state for a period of at least two years immediately
preceding July 1 of the year of his or her high school graduation;
and
(4)
Received a college preparatory diploma.
To
qualify for admission under this Code section, an applicant shall submit an
application before the expiration of any application filing deadline established
by the institution and shall meet the qualifications of this subsection and all
other nonacademic qualifications of the institution.
(b)
After admitting an applicant under this Code section, the institution shall
review the applicant´s record and any other factors the institution
considers appropriate to determine whether the applicant may require additional
preparation for college-level work or would benefit from inclusion in a
retention program. The institution may require a student so identified to
enroll during the summer immediately after the student is admitted under this
Code section to participate in appropriate enrichment courses and orientation
programs. This Code section shall not prohibit a student who is not determined
to need additional preparation for college-level work from enrolling, if the
student so chooses, during the summer immediately after the student is admitted
under this Code section.
(c)
The Board of Regents shall be authorized to adopt rules and regulations relating
to the operation of admissions programs under this Code section.
20-3-89.
The
Board of Regents and the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall adopt a common
weighting formula for advanced placement and international baccalaurate
coursework in calculating high school grade point averages for purposes of
implementing the provisions of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-157 and Code
Section 20-3-88."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.