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

University of Georgia
Advancing Excellence: Updates from S. Jack Hu, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

April 30, 2024

The University of Georgia’s commitment to excellence is reflected across multiple rankings. After having been consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities by the U.S. News and World Report for eight straight years, UGA graduate and professional education was highlighted earlier this month with the release of U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 “Best Graduate Schools” rankings. Several of our colleges, schools and programs were ranked in the top 20. Although rankings such as U.S. News and World Report’s are only one measure of academic quality, they reflect the strategic investments we are making in graduate and professional education and the dedication of our outstanding faculty.

 

We celebrated a tremendous milestone this month as we broke ground on the new medical education and research building on UGA’s Health Sciences campus. From skills and anatomy labs to a medical library and student support spaces, this building provides a vital expansion of the UGA School of Medicine’s facilities and the needed infrastructure to enroll and train more medical students.

 

It has been a memorable month for several of our impressive undergraduate students. UGA junior and Foundation Fellow Alex Drahos was one of 60 undergraduates from across the nation to be selected as a 2024 Truman Scholar. He is the 22nd UGA student to receive this prestigious award that recognizes academic excellence, outstanding leadership potential and students with a commitment to pursuing a career in government or the nonprofit sector.

 

Elaine “Lainey” Gammon and Sara Logsdon, UGA juniors and students in the Morehead Honors College, were selected as 2024 Barry Goldwater Scholars, the highest undergraduate award of its type for the fields of mathematics, engineering and natural sciences.

 

These three students join the ranks of other UGA students who have received prestigious awards this year including five Boren Scholars, three Pickering Fellows, Rhodes Scholar Mariah Cady and Schwarzman Scholar Ashni Patel. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating our outstanding graduate and undergraduate students at the upcoming Commencement ceremonies on May 9-10.

 

Thank you all for your dedication to pursuing teaching, research and service excellence in your classrooms, laboratories and communities.

 

Sincerely,

S. Jack Hu

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

 

 
After a hearty climb, Connect Abroad Italy students pose in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. (Photo by Angel Bhardwaj)

TEACHING

Students go abroad during their first year of college

During spring break, 120 first-year UGA students boarded planes bound for four vibrant international hubs — Cuba, Italy, the U.K. and Morocco. For many, it was their first international trip, and for others, it was their first time on a plane. But for all of the participants, it was their very first study abroad experience. These students were part of Connect Abroad, the inaugural pilot program geared toward first-year students.

Cecilia Rhine pointing at her research poster. Rhine is a third-year student studying exercise and sport science at the Mary Frances Early College of Education. Her CURO research focuses on the association between daily step counting and tibial cartilage strain changes for ACL reconstruction patients.

RESEARCH

CURO ignites passion for research with student symposium

UGA undergraduate students came together to showcase their individual research projects and achievements at the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities Symposium on April 8-9. The 2024 Symposium featured 623 undergraduates pursuing 188 different majors from 16 schools and colleges. Almost 280 faculty members from 75 departments served as mentors.

People working in a garden. A Sahm Award supported the Farm to Neighborhood healthy eating camp, which included curriculum and support for UGA’s School of Social Work. (Photo: Shannah Montgomery)

SERVICE

Four local projects receive Sahm Award funds

UGA continues to strengthen its commitment to Athens-Clarke County through an endowment established by Athens native and UGA alumna Bobbi Meeler Sahm and her family. Four collaborative local projects between UGA and Athens-Clarke County organizations have been selected to receive a total of $39,000 as part of the Bobbi Meeler Sahm Service and Outreach Awards for 2024.

 

RESOURCES 

Image: View of the Main Library on a sunny spring day

SEC ALDP Fellowship

This program is part of a broader initiative of the Southeastern Conference and allows faculty to gain valuable knowledge and experience in academic leadership. To be eligible, a nominee must be a tenured faculty member or have a standing appointment as service or administrative faculty. Nominations for the 2024-2025 cohort are due May 8.

Image: Park Hall cupola in the background with reeds and bare winter tree branches in the foreground.

New Leader Program

This program introduces newly appointed unit administrators at UGA to important policies and provides them with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills through interactive discussions and activities. Participation is expected for campus leaders appointed after September 1, 2023. Registration for fall 2024 is requested by August 22.

Banner that says ''We Are Georgia'' in white letters on a red background of a map of part of Georgia.
University of Georgia Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

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