Higher Education Committee Meeting
Georgia Senate Committee on Higher Education
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Feb 03, 2026
Meeting Information
A meeting of the Georgia Senate Committee on Higher Education to review legislative proposals concerning non-public postsecondary institutions and to receive a presentation on technology solutions for higher education.
Meeting Summary
Senate Bill 400: Enhancing Oversight of Non-Public Postsecondary Education
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Senator Burns introduced Senate Bill 400, a state agency bill aimed at providing additional oversight to the Georgia Non Public Postsecondary Education Commission, which regulates approximately 360 private colleges and trade schools in Georgia. [Video 10:28]
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The bill defines distance education and codifies that unaccredited institutions cannot offer degrees, ensuring clarity and modernization of regulations for non-public postsecondary education. [Video 14:16]
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SB 400 strengthens student protection through the Tuition Guarantee Trust Fund, extending contributions indefinitely and allowing the commission early access to student records before school closures. It also streamlines the appeal process for course/program denials and provides criteria for denying registration to applicants with a history of non-performance. [Video 17:08] [Video 21:31]
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The committee voted to pass Senate Bill 400, recognizing its importance for consumer protection and managing the large segment of non-accredited tertiary education in Georgia. [Video 46:19]
Ellucian Presentation: Modernizing Higher Education Technology
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Laquia Purcell from Ellucian presented on their role as a major technology provider for higher education, supporting over 20 million students worldwide and 100% of Georgia's public institutions, including the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). [Video 48:39]
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Ellucian's technology powers critical functions like financial aid, registration, and student information systems, and supports initiatives such as the HOPE scholarship backbone and the "No More, Borrow Less" program. [Video 51:13]
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A key focus of Ellucian's work in Georgia is the TCSG Connect cross-registration pilot, which allows students to take courses across the technical college system, removing barriers and accelerating credentialing for the workforce. [Video 55:18]
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Ellucian emphasized the need to modernize Georgia's higher education technology, moving from on-premise systems to cloud-based solutions to enhance student retention, completion, and overall efficiency. [Video 59:50]
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