5 Georgia Colleges Ban Illegal Aliens

Five colleges in Georgia are banning illegal aliens from attending their schools beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year. This move follows a decision by the governing Georgia Board of Regents to stop undocumented students from taking seats away from qualified Georgian residents.

Although the board oversees 35 colleges and universities, only five schools will be part of the ban. They are: Georgia College & State University, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia.

Four Recommendations

The board’s Regent Verification Committee made four recommendations on how to handle the problem of illegal aliens attending Georgia colleges. Just 501 of 301,000 students have been found to be undocumented and are currently paying out-of-state tuition, but the board wanted to ensure that the problem does not spiral out of their control.

Offering false information on college applications can result in legal consequences and other moves to verify residency have been adopted.

Managing Students

James Jolly, who chairs the Georgia Board of Regents Residency Verification Committee explained the state’s move saying, “We are an educational agency in the business of preparing individuals for careers requiring knowledge and skills; we are not in the immigration business, nor are we equipped to serve as the immigration authorities.” Jolly noted that the new polices will allow the board “…to ensure proper tuition classification for all students…,” something the state has been upholding since the system was formed in 1931.

Seeking to allay fears that the state may be appearing to be discriminatory, the regents notes that the Georgia university system adheres to current federal and state laws allowing undocumented individuals to be enrolled, if academically qualified. Under these stipulations, these students cannot receive any federal or state benefits including in-state tuition. Students who are in the United States illegally, but enrolled in a Georgia college or university must pay full out-of-state tuition.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•