November 30, 2022
At the University of Georgia, we are defined by our commitment to academic excellence. Earlier this month, the University announced its record-breaking completion rates and strong first-year retention rate. The latest numbers show that over 75% of UGA freshmen finish in four years, and 88% finish in six years. The retention rate remains strong at 94.3%. UGA’s success exceeds the average completion and retention rates of its peer institutions. This success has been made possible by ongoing initiatives across campus including faculty hiring initiatives, increased resources for student well-being and mental health and strong need-based scholarships and student emergency funds.
We also received the welcome news that Natalie Navarrete, a Morehead Honors College student and Foundation Fellow, was named a 2023 Rhodes Scholar. Her selection makes UGA one of only three public universities in the U.S. and the only institution in Georgia this year to have a Rhodes recipient. At the end of October, three UGA students demonstrated academic prowess by winning the Capital One College Bowl, a multi-week trivia competition. Aidan Leahy, Elijah Odunade and Layla Parsa will each receive $125,000 in scholarship winnings for their achievement.
I’m also proud to highlight UGA’s continued contributions to public service. At the beginning of this month, UGA won the national Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ highest award for public service. This honor was received for the Archway Partnership, a community engagement outreach program that connects rural Georgia communities with UGA resources.
Combining both service and research, UGA and the Georgia Tech Research Institute along with the Georgia Department of Public Health have received a five-year, $17 million cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence. UGA will help to translate new discoveries from the center into usable data and interventions for public health departments across the United States.
As we near the end of the fall semester, I want to thank each member of the campus community for your exemplary leadership and dedication to the University’s mission of teaching, research and public service.
Sincerely,
