---
title: HR 484. Georgia State University; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr484
cite_as: HR 484, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr484
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr484.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr484/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71139
date: 2025-03-04
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr485.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr484.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 484
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-03-04
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Samuel Park
  - Carolyn Hugley
  - Tanya Miller
  - Park Cannon
  - Spencer Frye
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR484/2025
upstream_id: 1991492
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - Georgia State University
  - higher education
  - legislative commendation
  - university research funding
---

# HR 484. Georgia State University; commend

## Text

House Resolution 484
By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Hugley of the 141st, Miller of the 62nd, Cannon of the
58th, and Frye of the 122nd
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending Georgia State University; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, Georgia State University, founded in 1913, is a premier urban research
university focused on research, service, and advanced educational opportunities for more
than 52,000 students; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is an enterprising public research university in
downtown Atlanta with satellite campuses in DeKalb, Fulton, and Newton counties; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has been ranked the nation's number one public
university for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report for five
consecutive years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University, a national leader in graduating students from widely
diverse backgrounds, has been named among the top five "Most Innovative" universities in
the country by U.S. News and World Report for a decade and counting; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University is recognized as a national leader in helping students
reach their academic goals and, since 2003, has raised its six-year graduation rate by 74
percent; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has received an $80 million gift from the Robert W.
Woodruff Foundation, the largest gift in university history, to embark on an ambitious
campus transformation to integrate its downtown footprint and create vibrant,
people-centered spaces for students and the city; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University continues its important role of producing new
knowledge that transforms lives and communities thanks to a research portfolio that has
invested more than $1.2 billion in research expenditures over the past six years; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has broken ground on a new, nine-story, $100 million
Research Tower on its Atlanta Campus that will expand its capacity for discovery and
learning; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University's National Institute for Student Success (NISS)
received a $2 million grant from the Ascendium Education Group that will enable the
institute to provide its services to six Georgia colleges and universities, helping them identify
and resolve institutional barriers to college completion; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Education (DOE) has awarded the National
Institute for Student Success (NISS) its first-ever Trailblazer Award, recognizing its success
in increasing graduation rates through data-driven, evidence-based interventions and its
impact on the field of student success nationally; and
WHEREAS, more than 200 Georgia State University student-athletes achieved Sun Belt
Conference academic honors for the 2023-24 academic year, including 130 student-athletes
who earned a place on the Commissioner's List with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher;
and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University's student-athletes collectively finished the year with
a 3.39 grade point average, higher than the overall Sun Belt GPA; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University continues its important role in addressing critical
quality-of-life issues through a highly active research community dedicated to uncovering
new knowledge in cancer, heart disease, mental health, public health, and more, earning
nearly $186 million in research funding in Fiscal Year 2024; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has a $3.2 billion economic impact on metro Atlanta
each year; and
WHEREAS, Georgia State University has adopted a ten-year strategic plan focused on four
initiatives: Student Success 2.0; Identity, Placemaking and Belonging; Innovating Research,
Scholarship and Creative Activity; and Beyond College to Career; and
WHEREAS, nearly two dozen initiatives have been launched under the BluePrint to 2033
strategic plan and are being implemented under each pillar.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and commend Georgia State University for its all-around
success in 2024 and the pride and prestige it brought to the students, staff, and alumni of
Georgia State University.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to
Georgia State University.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution formally commends Georgia State University for its academic rankings, research growth, and economic impact, praising its achievements in 2024.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives recognizing Georgia State University. It lists a series of the university's accomplishments, including its ranking as the nation's top public university for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report, its status as one of the most innovative universities in the country, a 74 percent increase in its six-year graduation rate since 2003, and an $80 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation for campus improvements.
The resolution also highlights the university's research funding, a new Research Tower under construction, awards received by its National Institute for Student Success, student-athlete academic honors, and its $3.2 billion annual economic impact on metro Atlanta. It concludes by directing the Clerk of the House to send a copy of the resolution to the university. It does not create any new law, funding, or legal requirement.

### What it does

- Formally recognizes and commends Georgia State University for its achievements in 2024 on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives.
- Lists specific accomplishments such as national rankings, graduation rate increases, research funding, and a major philanthropic gift.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and send a copy of the resolution to Georgia State University.
- Creates no new law, funding, or legal obligation, serving only as a ceremonial statement of praise.

### Who it affects

This resolution directly names Georgia State University, including its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and student-athletes. It has no legal effect on any other institution, agency, or member of the public.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no binding legal effect and creates no funding, requirement, or policy change. Its practical significance is symbolic: it gives Georgia State University official recognition from the state legislature for its academic and research accomplishments.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses detail Georgia State University's history, enrollment of more than 52,000 students, and its founding year of 1913.
- The resolution cites an $80 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, described as the largest gift in the university's history.
- It notes nearly $186 million in research funding earned in Fiscal Year 2024 and a $3.2 billion annual economic impact on metro Atlanta.
- The resolving clause formally commends the university for its 'all-around success in 2024.'
- The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to the university.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-03-04)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-04)
- Sponsors: Samuel Park, Carolyn Hugley, Tanya Miller, Park Cannon, Spencer Frye
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71139

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr484.md?full=1