Kemp’s final State of the State address boosts higher ed

Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp delivered his eighth and final State of the State address before a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly last week, as he begins his last year as governor.

The governor shared there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of Georgia, and one area of great pride is higher education.

“Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that Georgia is one of the top states in the country for four-year public university affordability,” Kemp said. “And while we’ve kept the cost of higher education in check and college within reach of Georgia families, we’ve also invested more in post-secondary education than ever before.”

The state is investing $2 billion more in higher education than when he first took office in 2019, Kemp said.

“That includes $40.7 million in this year’s budget proposals, alone, for health care education facilities and medical workforce training programs,” he said. “And since I first took office, we’ve spent over $26 million for medical residency slots in our state, adding 897 positions for a grand total of 2,523 residency slots as of this fiscal year. This year, my budget proposal adds another $2.1 million to further this upward trend in such a critical workforce need.” 

As Georgia’s designated health sciences university, Augusta University President Russell T. Keen said the governor, the leadership of the House and Senate and the members of the Georgia General Assembly have been tremendous supporters of AU’s life-saving and life-changing work.

“The steadfast support of the governor, the lieutenant governor, the Speaker of the House and the members of the Georgia General Assembly truly strengthens Augusta University,” Keen said. “Their commitment gives us the tools and momentum to continue growing as a world-class institution. Working alongside these dedicated leaders, we stay focused on one shared goal: building a healthier, brighter future for the people of Georgia.”

While Georgia is a national leader in merit-based aid for higher education between the HOPE Scholarship and grant programs, Kemp’s amended budget proposal invests $325 million in the University System of Georgia’s new DREAMS Scholarship program – the first need-based scholarship of its kind in Georgia history.

“In future years, this one-time endowment will create opportunities for generational economic advancement for thousands of students, and down the road, it will allow them to complete college and begin meaningful careers without the burden of crippling debt,” Kemp said. “The DREAMS Scholarship will build on the incredible, unmatched legacy of the HOPE Scholarship and leave no stone unturned when it comes to student achievement in our state. From now on, throughout the country, Americans will know that HOPE and DREAMS are alive and well in Georgia.”

This new scholarship will be particularly impactful at Augusta University since 42% of AU undergraduates qualify for a Federal Pell Grant, which is a need-based grant for students with significant financial need that helps pay for college expenses without requiring repayment, provided they maintain academic progress and meet other federal requirements.

Kemp said this unprecedented initiative will also complement the Georgia MATCH program the state launched in 2023.

“In just the first two years of MATCH, we’ve seen a 5.9% rise in USG enrollment and a 7.1% increase in TCSG enrollment,” he said. “Meanwhile, other states around the country have seen decreases in public university enrollment and 17 states are still well below pre-pandemic levels.”

For the 10th consecutive year, Augusta University has exceeded its enrollment goals with a total of 12,337 students enrolled, marking a 6.5% increase from Fall 2024. The university’s growth includes a record 1,288 freshmen, 6,405 total undergraduate students and 5,932 graduate, professional and post-professional students enrolled.

“With record enrollment, groundbreaking research, continued investment in new facilities and the addition of new campuses across Georgia, Augusta University’s impact throughout the state continues to expand,” Keen said. “The accomplishments of the past year reflect our deep commitment to excellence in every interaction and every experience.”

Among the top undergraduate majors, the College of Nursing saw a 13% increase followed by the College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Education and Human Development, which grew by 11% and 9%, respectively.

At the graduate level, the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences saw the largest percentage increase, with the launch of the Intelligence, Defense, and Cybersecurity Policy PhD program. Meanwhile, the James M. Hull College of Business and the School of Public Health grew by 26% and 24%, respectively.

The governor’s proposed budget also recognizes the hard work of state employees by including a one-time $2,000 salary supplement to full-time, regular state employees.

“Our state employees have done incredible work in unprecedented times and are one of the driving forces behind Georgia’s success,” Kemp said. “This is just another reminder — on top of the pay raises and supplements we have provided in years past — that their hard work does not go unnoticed and that we are truly thankful.”

Keen thanked the governor for recognizing the hard work of state employees, including those at Augusta University.

“This recognition affirms that our employees’ hard work, resilience, and commitment are essential to our students’ success and the well-being of our state,” Keen said. “I appreciate Gov. Kemp honoring the extraordinary efforts of state employees, including the dedicated faculty and staff at Augusta University.”

In addition, Kemp’s proposed budget includes $4.4 million for the replacement of the fire alarm system in the Interdisciplinary Research Building on the Health Sciences Campus at Augusta University.

For weekly updates on all legislative news, Government Relations invites those interested to subscribe to the Capitol Connection, an online newsletter that provides a legislative recap, budget updates and other details about the week at the Georgia Statehouse.