The American Association of University Professors said Tuesday it regrets giving a national award to Anthony Tricoli, the former president of Georgia Perimeter College.

Tricoli stepped down earlier this month when Chancellor Hank Huckaby disclosed that the two-year college faces a $16 million shortfall. Layoffs and heavier teaching loads are expected because of the deficit.

"A year ago, much to the retrospective regret of the selection committee" Tricoli received the shared governance award, the group wrote in a statement.