May 26, 2022
The University of Georgia concluded a successful spring semester with commencement ceremonies that conferred degrees to more than 7,600 outstanding students. Joining 342,000 living alumni, they are poised to make a difference in a range of endeavors.
Seeing the excitement of students and their families during commencement is a vivid reminder of how higher education creates a foundation for success, both for individuals and for society. Here at the University of Georgia, the quality of our instruction was recently recognized with a Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award
to the Department of Mathematics. Additional efforts to reduce class sizes are underway, and the launch of several initiatives to promote active learning in Fall 2022 will further enhance undergraduate student success. For graduate students, the launch of GradFIRST seminars will increase professional development opportunities and complement the discipline-specific training they receive.
Educating students is one of many ways our institution contributes to the vitality of our state and world. The newly created Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture will catalyze interdisciplinary research and connect faculty and students with industry partners to help feed a growing global population. In addition, the new UGA Research Institute will help faculty create new research partnerships with agencies such as the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and NASA.
The Connected Resilient Communities program facilitated by the University’s Archway Partnership represents an important expansion of our service mission, as does the USDA-funded PROPEL program that is led by the University’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. PROPEL, which stands for Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership, takes communities through a six-step model focused on economic development, data analysis, strategic planning, community engagement, and vision setting.
As we look back on a successful spring semester and begin summer sessions, I want to extend my deep appreciation to our faculty, staff, and academic leaders for their dedication to the University and its missions. I hope you all find time this summer to rest and rejuvenate so that we can continue to excel in our teaching, research, and service.
Sincerely,
