Colleges get 60 days for citizenship checks

ATLANTA - University System Chancellor Erroll Davis on Friday gave the presidents of the state's 35 public colleges and universities two months to pore over student applications and ferret out those who can't prove they are U.S. citizens.

The University of Georgia and the other 34 institutions must file their reports in 60 days to comply with Wednesday's order by the University System Board of Regents to review applications for next year's new students and make sure no undocumented student gets any benefits prohibited by law - such as paying in-state tuition.

Davis outlined his instructions in a four-page memo, which instructs presidents to review the applications of every student admitted for fall semester.

Read the memo Davis sent the presidents of the state's public colleges and universities.

"Please conduct this review within the next sixty days and report the results of your review to Associate Vice Chancellor Tonya Lam, who will compile this information and prepare a report to the Board's newly appointed Special Committee on Residency Verification," Davis said in the memo.

State and federal law prohibit illegal aliens from receiving any government benefits other than K-12 education and emergency medical treatment. University System lawyers interpret that to mean they can be admitted to colleges and universities as long as they pay the full tuition like any other out-of-state or foreign resident.

Administrators at universities across the state were anticipating Davis' memo because of the news coverage of the regents' action. The schools wanted clarification on the details.

"We're waiting for guidance from the system," UGA spokesman Tom Jackson said Friday, before Davis sent the memo. "We do not believe that we have any undocumented aliens registered at UGA."

Administrators did not know whether the regents intended for them to review every application th

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