Georgia university system leader discusses meeting with DeVos

Feb. 20 2017 - University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley. AJC FILE PHOTO

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Feb. 20 2017 - University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley. AJC FILE PHOTO

University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley said Tuesday he talked about the importance of Pell Grants, the system’s efforts to consolidate colleges and other issues during last week’s meeting with U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

Wrigley discussed the meeting during his monthly presentation to the Georgia Board of Regents, describing it as “excellent.”

The chancellor said they also talked about federal student aid and current discrimination guidelines. The Trump administration’s proposed budget would cut Pell Grant funding for college students by about $4 billion.

“It was a great opportunity to tell our story,” Wrigley told the board.

Wrigley said in an interview that there were no decisions made during the meeting. He said he was invited to the meeting by state Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs.

DeVos, who has been criticized by some groups for a lack of transparency, said little about the meeting, releasing a two-sentence statement that confirmed the meeting and that it addressed a "broad range of higher education issues facing the state of Georgia."