The University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved a $3.6 billion fiscal 2026 budget request on Wednesday of this week.  The 2026 budget, which takes effect next July, represents a $221.1 million increase over this year’s spending plan. By far the largest increase – $167.8 million – would cover projected enrollment growth.  They also adopted a $193.1 million capital budget that  includes $31 million for a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) building at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. Another $23 million would go toward modernizing a building in the Science and Ag Hill area of the University of Georgia campus in Athens.  Most of the capital budget requests are for renovations at existing buildings instead of new building projects.