Georgia’s university system adopts $3.6B budget request. $167M goes to enrollment growth

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved a $3.6 billion fiscal 2026 budget request Wednesday.

The 2026 budget, which takes effect next July, represents a $221.1 million increase over this year’s spending plan. By far the largest increase - $167.8 million - would cover projected enrollment growth.

The regents also adopted a $193.1 million capital budget request, down slightly from the $198 million the university system sought for the current fiscal year. The largest portion of the capital budget - $91.8 million - would go toward five proposed building projects.

The wish list includes $31 million for a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) building at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. Another $23 million would go toward modernizing a building in the Science and Ag Hill area of the University of Georgia campus in Athens.

In fact, most of the capital spending request for construction involves renovation projects as opposed to new construction, Tracey Cook, the system’s chief fiscal officer, told board members Wednesday.

Both the operating and capital budget requests move next to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget for review. Gov. Brian Kemp will present his spending requests to the General Assembly in January.

In other business Wednesday, the regents heard results from an internal audit showing the system’s institutions are still not fully complying with a policy issued in May of last year prohibiting the schools from requiring job applicants to submit a diversity statement, typically a one- or two-page document outlining how applicants plan to advance diversity.

All 26 of Georgia’s public colleges and universities either have implemented compliance plans or are in the process of developing a plan, Ted Beck, the university system’s assistant vice chancellor for internal audit, told board members. However, there remain “opportunities for improvement,” he said.

The audit recommended that the schools adopt a system-wide process for ensuring that all job postings ban references to affirmations, ideological tests, or oaths by applicants. The report also suggested the university system adopt uniform mandatory training procedures to be applied to all of the schools.

System Chancellor Sonny Perdue said he was pleased with the audit.

“They are doing their best to comply with the wishes of the board,” he said.