Sonny Perdue announced he will retire as chancellor of the University System of Georgia after four years, prompting the USG board to launch a national search for his replacement. Perdue said he will remain in the role until a successor is named, and cited student-focused leadership and system modernization efforts during his tenure. The board said Perdue influenced 14 university presidential appointments and oversaw enrollment highs for three conservative years. It also noted systemwide proposals, including a plan to merge East Georgia State College into Georgia Southern University, and USG’s work on the Commission for Public Higher Education, a nascent accreditation effort seeking federal recognition. Perdue’s exit lands as USG faces ongoing affordability and access pressures; the board cited an audit showing inflation-adjusted USG tuition declined roughly 24% since 2017. The replacement search is expected to shape USG’s next phase on affordability, enrollment strategy, and accreditation modernization.