Future of HOPE, Heritage Hall renovation depend on Georgia legislators' actions
By Jessica Love
[email protected]
Staff Writer
Currently before the Georgia Legislature are a number of issues to do with higher education in general and Georgia Highlands College in particular.
Two issues to be addressed will have a specific impact upon Georgia Highlands College students.
First, the well being of the HOPE Scholarship hangs in the balance, and secondly, $3.9 million may be contributed to the renovation of Heritage Hall.
In November 2003, a report was released proposing dramatic changes in order to preserve the health of HOPE. These changes include eliminating payment for books and fees, implementing a standard 3.0 grade point average and capping the number of eligibility hours.
�We at Georgia Highlands College feel it is crucial to maintain the integrity of the scholarship so that it will always be available to students,� said Dr. Randy Pierce, Georgia Highlands College President.
Funding of the Heritage Hall renovation is included in the Minor Project category in the Governor's Budget. According to Pierce, this project was approved by the Board of Regents several years ago and has now made its way into the top five on the list for funding.
If passed, the $3.9 million will go towards the renovation of Georgia Highlands College's infrastructure at Heritage Hall. Heritage Hall was built in 1936 so the plumbing, heating and air-conditioning all need to be replaced.
Pierce hopes that at the end of the legislative session there will be money to fund the renovation.
The vote on the final budget will be held during the last week of this session.
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