Updates from S. Jack Hu, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

April 27, 2022

The University of Georgia has much to celebrate this spring. Last week we recognized the excellence of our faculty, staff, and students through Honors Week, and we are just a few weeks away from Spring Commencement ceremonies.

The University also received welcome news as it moves closer to completion of the 10-year Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation cycle. A 10-member review committee composed of faculty and academic leaders from the region recently completed an on-site review in which they met with President Morehead and other campus leaders as well as groups of faculty, staff, and students. The committee had zero recommendations regarding UGA’s compliance with SACSCOC’s 72 standards, which is a perfect score at this stage of the reaffirmation process.

In addition to ensuring compliance with SACSCOC’s standards, universities must also submit a quality enhancement plan (QEP) to improve student learning and success. UGA’s quality enhancement plan is focused on fostering a culture of active learning through a series of initiatives that will begin in Fall 2022. The University and the UGA Foundation have dedicated $6 million over the next five years in support of the QEP, which will include additional instructor development programming, initiatives to help students succeed in active learning classes, and funding for classroom renovations.

Over the last two years, dozens of faculty, staff, and students have contributed to the compliance process and the development of the active learning QEP. This was an extraordinary team effort that has resulted in an extraordinary outcome for our university and its students. I am deeply grateful to the members of the University community whose dedication has brought us to this point. Notice of reaffirmation of accreditation is anticipated by January 2023, and I’m confident that we’ll have more reason to celebrate then.

Sincerely,

S. Jack Hu

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost