“Our hearts go out to everyone whose lives have been affected by this tragedy,” President Dorothy Leland said. “One of the things we can do is invite these students to attend Georgia College until their universities reopen. Our students are eager to help and are already exploring opportunities to raise relief money.”

Georgia College has already received inquiries from students who attend schools in the hurricane zone about transferring here. The university will work with interested students on an individual basis to get them enrolled for the current semester or until they can return to their home institution.

To assist these students, out-of-state tuition will be waived, as will all application fees. Additionally, all tuition and fees will be deferred for one semester.

Some beds are available in university housing to accommodate any transfer students, and the university will work with faculty and students to ensure a successful transition to Georgia College.

Students who would like more information should contact the Office of Admissions at (800) 342-0471 or (478) 445-1283.

The university’s faculty and students will have an opportunity to better understand and respond to the devastation caused by Katrina through the GC&SU Teach-In, a roundtable discussion sponsored by The Coverdell Institute on campus. The Teach-In will utilize the expertise of GC&SU faculty to address social, economic, psychological and health concerns that are involved in such tragedy. A date for the Teach-In will be announced soon.

University officials urge anyone who wishes to donate money to disaster relief to make certain their money goes to legitimate organizations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends money be donated to groups such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, recognized church charities and other similar groups. Gifts should be given directly to the charity and specifically designated for hurricane relief.

Georgia College & State University, located in historic Milledgeville, is Georgia’s public liberal arts university.