What's Wrong with Education in Georgia?

Christian Baumgarth
Economos
AP English Language
25 October 2012

          As if Georgia did not have enough problems with its education already, new studies have shown that enrollment in colleges in the state of Georgia have significantly dropped in the past year. The current enrollment number for the University System of Georgia is 314,365 which is a decrease of 1.2 percent from last year. There are a total of thirty five universities in this system, nineteen of which have reported a smaller student population this year as opposed to the 2011-2012 school year. The schools with the largest decline in student population are two-year universities and colleges that emphasize associate degree programs.
         
          Since the year 1978, there have been only three years of significant declines in enrollment at Georgia colleges including this year. However, this year is different because it belittles over a decade of educational growth in the state of Georgia. However, some educational officials expected this decline since the pace of growth has slowed down over the past few years.

          Fewer students attending local universities translates into a loss of revenue for the colleges. This decline in enrollment could not have come at a worse time. With the economy the way that it currently is, many schools have been encouraged to cut down on spending. This weak economy, state leaders say, is one of the leading causes as to why enrollment has dropped the magnitude that it has. Others blame the drop on the changes made to Georgia's HOPE scholarship. The program has begun to reduce the amount of aid it gives to students to help them go to college for a reasonable cost.

          It is too soon to say if this trend will continue in the future, or if this is just an anomaly. However, many other universities across the country have experienced similar problems. One of the largest percentage drops in the state of Georgia this past year was Bainbridge College that had its enrollment cut twenty one percent. As far as the most overall student population loss, that award goes to Georgia Perimeter College that lost over 3300 students. Hopefully, this enrollment cut is just a coincidence and next year's count will be better so that the state of Georgia will have one less educational problem to worry about.



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