UGA Columns July 25, 2016

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Shirley Sherrod, social justice advocate, will give keynote at BFSO luncheon CAMPUS NEWS

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UGA-based cycling team will travel to Ohio to help raise money to fight cancer Vol. 44, No. 2

July 25, 2016

www.columns.uga.edu

University launches initiative to increase graduate enrollment

By Sam Fahmy

sfahmy@uga.edu

During the 2015-16 academic year, private donations helped to fund more than 6,100 scholarships and more than a dozen endowed faculty positions. Donations to UGA continue to help the university recruit and retain outstanding faculty, enhance the student experience and expand the research enterprise.

Historic fundraising year Public phase of comprehensive capital campaign to begin in November

By Katie DeGenova kdegen@uga.edu

For a third consecutive year, the University of Georgia has set a record in fundraising, bringing in $183.8 million in new gifts and commitments during fiscal year 2016.

This year’s historic total ­represents a 28 percent increase over the previous year’s record of $144.2 million. More faculty, staff and retirees donated this year. Their contributions totaled $5.7 million, which included two significant planned gifts and represents a 43 percent increase over last year.

Private funding supports the university at every level. During the 2015-16 academic year, private donations helped to fund more than 6,100 scholarships and more than

CAMPUS NEWS

a dozen endowed faculty positions.

Donations to UGA continue to help the university recruit and retain outstanding faculty, enhance the student experience and expand the research enterprise.

“This major accomplishment speaks to the unyielding ­commitment of the UGA community to elevate our great university to new heights of excellence,” said President Jere W. Morehead.

“I am deeply appreciative of everyone who generously contributed their financial resources. I also am grateful to our development team; the UGA Foundation trustees; leaders of our schools, colleges and other units; and to our outstanding faculty, staff and students. The hard work and dedication of all of these individuals—and many others— made this significant achievement possible.”

At the conclusion of Morehead’s third year as president, fundraising at the University of Georgia continues to grow to record levels. This year’s total of $183.8 million represents an increase of 57 percent over the total raised in FY13.

The university’s eight-year comprehensive capital campaign will enter its public phase in November with a goal of raising at least $1 billion by 2020.

“Breaking an annual fundraising record is worth celebrating, but building an organization that is equipped for long-term success year-over-year is even more important,” said Kelly Kerner, vice president for development and alumni relations.“Momentum ebbs and flows throughout a campaign.

Typically, the year before a public See FUNDRAISING on page 4

UGA is rolling out an initiative to increase the enrollment of graduate students by offering new funding opportunities, innovative interdisciplinary programs and a wider array of ­p rofessional ­d e v e l o p m e n t ­opportunities.

Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten noted that graduate students are drawn to UGA for the opportunity to be mentored by faculty members who are at the leading edge of their fields, and those same graduate students advance knowledge and discovery through their independent work.

“Extraordinary graduate

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programs and a thriving research enterprise go hand-in-hand,” Whitten said, “and both are on an upward trajectory at UGA.” To help increase the number of graduate students on campus, the university recently expanded its Voluntary Incentive Program, which returns 1.555 times the cost of the university’s full-time, in-state tuition to the department of a faculty member who funds graduate students through their research or training grants. The funds from the program, formally known as the Research Incentive Assistantships Voluntary Incentive Program, cover the cost of an additional “VIP” doctoral assistantship to effectively double the number of graduate students that faculty can fund through their grants.

In addition to expanding the Voluntary Incentive Program,

See ENROLLMENT on page 2

TOP 25 PUBLIC COLLEGES

UGA moves up to No. 17 on Forbes list of top colleges

By David Bill

dbill@uga.edu

UGA moved up one spot to rank No. 17 on the Forbes “Top 25 Public Colleges 2016.”

Forbes ranked 660 public and private colleges and universities using factors that the publication says favor “output over input. Our sights are set directly on return on investment: What are students getting out of college.”

“As the University of Georgia continues to gain recognition as one of the nation’s top public universities, students and alumni can be more confident than ever in the value of a UGA education,” said President Jere W. Morehead.

“Significant investments to enhance the learning environment and provide students with the support they need to succeed are clearly paying dividends, and the future of this institution is very bright.”

The only other SEC school on the public school list was the University of Florida at No. 13.

Georgia Tech also was ranked in the top 25 at No. 15, followed by the University of Texas at Austin at No. 16.

Forbes teamed with the Washington, D.C.-based Center for College Affordability and Productivity to rank the schools. CCAP used five general categories to determine

See FORBES on page 4

OFFICE OF VP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND OUTREACH, OFFICE OF VP FOR RESEARCH

OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY

By Kelly Simmons

jgleason@uga.edu

Economic development office helps connect Campus climate survey highlights areas for improvement UGA to businesses in Georgia, nation, world strengths,

By Jan Gleason simmonsk@uga.edu

Sean McMillan is at the heart of economic development in the state of Georgia.

With an office located in the Centergy building in Midtown Atlanta, McMillan plays a critical role in attracting new industry and growing businesses already here.

When it comes to showcasing all that the University of Georgia has to offer, he is a one-stop shop.

“I consider myself an ambassador,” said McMillan, who serves a founding director of UGA’s Atlanta-based office of economic development. “I take business prospects to campus to introduce them to whatever they’re interested in. But—just as important—I also bring the campus to them.”

From introducing business prospects to UGA’s various centers and institutes—such as the Food Product and Innovation Center (FoodPIC) in Griffin, which helps

companies develop new food products—to connecting industry to faculty members who can provide expertise in a specific field, to identifying internships and job opportunities for UGA students, McMillan helps tie the state’s flagship university to businesses and communities across Georgia and—in some cases—around the nation and world.

“When companies know they’re going to get the next

See OFFICE on page 4

The results of a survey that invited faculty, staff and students at the University of Georgia to share their experiences and perspectives on a range of issues will now be used as one of several inputs to inform ongoing efforts to enhance the campus environment.

The Count Me In survey was conducted Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 2015,

by Rankin and Associates Consulting and was open to all faculty, staff

and students to ensure that every member of the campus community had a chance to provide feedback.

Several reminders were sent to encourage participation, and a 23 percent response rate was recorded. Rankin and Associates, which delivered the report last week, recommended caution in generalizing the findings for groups with a response rate below 30 percent.

“The Count Me In survey reflects the university’s commitment

See SURVEY on page 4

2 July 25, 2016 columns.uga.edu

Digest UGA to take over SEC Network July 26

For the second year, the SEC Network is turning over its control room to the 14 Southeastern Conference schools for a two-week stretch that began July 18. Each school will exclusively program 24 hours of the network with classic games, films, ESPN original content and school-produced content.

UGA’s takeover day on the SEC Network is set for July 26 and will feature 10 marquee events from Bulldog annals as well as a number of feature films.

Included on the list of scheduled games are a pair of wins from UGA’s national football championship season of 1980, the basketball victory that propelled UGA to the 1983 Final Four, and most recently, the softball team’s dramatic win over Florida that sent UGA into the Women’s College World Series this spring. The programming schedule for UGA’s SEC Network Takeover Day is at http://tinyurl.com/h85xq9z .

UGA Alumni Association announces members of 40 Under 40 Class of 2016

The UGA Alumni Association recently unveiled the members of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2016.

This program, in its sixth year, recognizes outstanding young UGA alumni younger than age 40.

This year, nearly 400 nominations were submitted. Selections were based on the graduates’ commitment to a lifelong relationship with UGA and their successes in both personal and professional endeavors.

This year’s class includes alumni in a variety of industries ranging from law to optometry, and it includes current and former NFL players and an award-winning country music artist.

The 2016 honorees will be celebrated during the 40 Under 40 Awards Luncheon Sept. 8 at Flourish Atlanta and is open to the public.

The list of this year’s 40 Under 40 honorees is at alumni.uga.edu/40u40 .

BLACK FACULTY AND STAFF ORGANIZATION

Social justice advocate to speak at BFSO luncheon

By Aaron Hale

aahale@uga.edu

Shirley Sherrod, an advocate for social justice and former Georgia state director of rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will deliver the keynote address at UGA’s Black Faculty and Staff Organization’s 14th annual Founders’ Award Scholarship Luncheon.

“Mrs. Shirley Sherrod is a lifelong champion for civil rights and social equality,” said Deborah Elder, a clinical associate professor in the College of Pharmacy and president of the BFSO. “We are excited to hear such a distinguished and inspirational figure share her story.”

The luncheon will be held Sept. 9 from noon-1:30 p.m. in the Tate Student Center’s Grand Hall.

Tickets purchased before Aug. 8 are $40; after that date they will be $45. Tables are available for sponsors starting at $320. Proceeds from the luncheon will be used for BFSO activities and the scholarship program, which awards scholarships to outstanding undergraduate, graduate and professional students at UGA. Sherrod is executive director for the Southwest Georgia Project, a nonprofit

that fights social inequality and negative agriculturerelated experiences for minorities through education and engagement of local communities.

Sherrod also is vice president of develShirley Sherrod opment for New Communities at Cypress Pond.

In 2009, she became the first black person to hold the position of Georgia state director of rural development for the USDA. She made national headlines in 2010 when edited remarks she made at an NAACP event forced her resignation. Upon review of the unedited video in full context, the NAACP, White House officials and Tom Vilsack, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, apologized for the firing. Sherrod was offered a new USDA position, which she ultimately declined.

“Members of the UGA, Athens and surrounding communities will have a unique opportunity to learn about Mrs. Sherrod’s actions in response to the adversity she faced,” Elder said.

For questions about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, contact Elder at 706-202-4748 or dlstrong@uga.edu.

ENROLLMENT from page 1

University to host STaR conference

UGA will host a regional, scientific conference for faculty, students, residents and fellows that focuses on the latest advances in translational research for improving human health.

The 2016 Southern Translational Education and Research, or STaR, conference will be held Sept. 22-23 at the UGA Hotel and Conference Center. The deadline for early registration is Sept. 1.

The conference is being sponsored by numerous partners at UGA and Augusta University, including the UGA College of Pharmacy, the Medical College of Georgia Center for Pharmacy and Experimental Therapeutics, the AU Vice President for Research and the AU/UGA Medical Partnership.

The STaR conference will include state-ofthe-art topics in clinical and translational research and offer opportunities for trainees and faculty to showcase their research and network with others to develop new scientific collaborations.

The conference agenda will include keynote addresses Sept. 23 by W. Robert Taylor, who holds the Marcus Chair in Vascular Medicine and is director of cardiology at the Emory University School of Medicine, and Ted Ross, who holds the GRA Eminent Chair in Influenza and Emerging Pathogens and is director of UGA’s Center for Vaccines and Immunology.

The deadline to submit abstracts for presentation at the conference is Aug. 26. Excellence in clinical and translational research will be recognized with the presentation of the STaR Graduate Student Award, the STaR Post-Doctoral Fellow Award, the STaR Young Investigator Award and the STaR Travel Awards.

More information about the conference is at www.rxugace.com/STaR-2016.

Nancy Evelyn

The Graduate School is working with the other schools and colleges on campus to develop new interdisciplinary master’s and doctoral degree programs.

UGA’s Graduate School has hired a fulltime grants coordinator to help faculty successfully compete for training grants that support graduate students in areas that align with their areas of expertise.

UGA faculty members received more than $4 million in training grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health in the last fiscal year alone, and the new grants coordinator will help increase that figure by assisting faculty members in identifying funding opportunities and preparing grant submissions.

“Training grants not only provide support for students,” said Suzanne Barbour, dean of the Graduate School, “they are also recruiting tools for graduate programs. Receipt of a training grant is a mark of excellence that is recognized by students, faculty and prospective applicants.”

Innovative programs

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UGA already offers several interdisciplinary graduate programs in fields ranging from bioinformatics to neuroscience and toxicology. To build on this momentum and prepare students to confront grand challenges that cross disciplinary boundaries, the

Graduate School is working with the other schools and colleges on campus to develop new interdisciplinary master’s and doctoral degree programs.

Through a competitive internal grant program that will be launched this fall, the Graduate School will jumpstart new interdisciplinary programs by providing “seed monies” that will fund 2.5 doctoral level assistantships, with a required match of 2.5 doctoral assistantships from the other schools and colleges.

Barbour said that through this mechanism, “the Graduate School will be a catalyst that inspires faculty to create new graduate programs, especially those at the intersection of complementary disciplines.”

Expanded development

Graduate education—particularly at the doctoral level—has historically trained students for careers in academia, but national data show that the majority of graduate students find careers in industry, nonprofits and other career tracks.

The depth of knowledge and advanced skills that graduate education offers is more in demand than ever,

UNIVERSITY HOUSING

Campus move-in for students will be held Aug. 7-10

By Carrie Campbell

carrie.campbell@uga.edu

University Housing will welcome all new and returning UGA students to Athens Aug. 7-10 during campus move-in. More than 200 student and staff volunteers will assist with parking, traffic and resident check- in.

On-street parking may not be available on Finley Street (from Baxter Street to Cloverhurst Avenue) and Church Street (from Baxter Street to Talmadge Drive) from noon Aug. 6 until 5 p.m. Aug. 9. Unloading zones near the halls will be strictly enforced, and vehicles left unattended for longer than one hour will be towed.

On Aug. 7-8, traffic is expected to be very heavy on Baxter, Lumpkin, Finley, Hull and Church streets.

Members of the Athens community are advised to avoid these areas and be aware that traffic in the university area will be congested throughout the week.

Follow #WelcomeUGA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for realtime updates on traffic congestion and check-in lines throughout the week.

For more information, visit t.uga.edu/2sE, email housing@uga.edu or call 706-542-1421.

Barbour emphasized, but today’s students also need communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills that transcend disciplines.

A new program known as Graduate Scholars Leadership, Engagement and Development, or GS LEAD, helps prepare graduate students for a broad range of career choices through an immersive summer academy and a community engagement course that will be guided by faculty members from UGA’s Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and the Archway Partnership. GS LEAD is funded by a $495,000 National Science Foundation grant, and the first class of 14 students began this summer.

As a first step toward implementing additional professional development programs, the Graduate School is currently cataloging existing programs and will conduct a needs assessment in the fall. It also is partnering with the Office of Institutional Diversity to increase the enrollment of underrepresented groups in graduate programs.

UGA’s initiative to elevate graduate and professional education aligns with the institution’s strategic plan as well as broader national labor trends.

“Providing excellent graduate and professional education is central to UGA’s mission,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “This important new initiative will help the university advance its strategic priorities of expanding the research enterprise and developing leaders to address the world’s increasingly complex challenges.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers that require a ­master’s degree are projected to grow the fastest in the coming years—nearly ­ 14 percent from 2014 to 2024, compared to 8 percent for degrees requiring a bachelor’s degree. Careers requiring a doctoral or professional degree are expected to grow 12 percent over the same time period and have a median annual wage that is nearly three times greater than the median for all degree levels.

This is the first in a series of stories on elevating graduate and professional education at UGA.

For a complete listing of events, check the Master Calendar on the Web (calendar.uga.edu).

The following events are open to the public, unless otherwise specified. Dates, times and locations may change without advance notice.

UGAGUIDE

EXHIBITIONS

Seeing Georgia: Changing Visions of Tourism in the ­Modern South. Through July 30. Special collections libraries. ­706-542-5788, jhebbard@uga.edu Turned and Sculpted: Wood Art from the Collection of Arthur and Jane Mason. Through Aug. 7. Georgia Museum of Art. Tom Polk. Through Aug. 13. Visitor Center, State Botanical Garden. 706-542-6014, connicot@uga.edu Paper in Profile: Mixografia and Taller de Grafica Mexicana. Through Aug. 21. Georgia Museum of Art. John Abbot, Early Georgia’s Naturalist Artist.

Through Aug. 31. Special collections libraries. ­706-542-8079, jclevela@uga.edu

of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu

THURSDAY, JULY 28 CLASS: ATHENS GROWSMART SERIES Small business owners will learn to analyze and manage their business like a seasoned CEO. There is an application process. Classes also will be held Aug. 4, 18, 25 and Sept. 1. $895. 9 a.m.

Athens Small Business Development Center, 1180 E. Broad St.

MONDAY, AUGUST 1 TUESDAY, JULY 26 CLASS ON SUMMER PERENNIALS A class focusing on plants that thrive ­during the longest and hottest days of the year. This class will highlight perennials that bloom in late summer.

These include, but are not limited to, tall phlox, echinacea and rudbeckia. $20. 3:30 p.m. Visitor Center’s Classroom 2, State Botanical Garden.

706-542-6156, ckeber@uga.edu

THRU TERM CLASSES END

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2 EXTENDED SUMMER SESSION CLASSES END

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27 TOUR AT TWO Paper in Profile: Mixografia and Taller de Grafica Mexicana. Led by docents. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum

units. 9 a.m. Grand Hall, Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St. 706-542-6086, jmilton@uga.edu

TOUR AT TWO For the exhibition Turned and Sculpted: Wood Art from the Collection of Arthur and Jane Mason.

Led by docents. 2 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. ­706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu

GRADES DUE Grades for Extended Summer Session, Thru Term and Short Session II are due by 5 p.m.

STAFF COUNCIL MEETING 2:30 p.m. 137 Tate Student Center.

2016 TEACHING ASSISTANT ORIENTATION Aug. 9. Sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning, the orientation is for all new graduate students with instructional responsibilities during the 2016-2017 academic year. 7:30 a.m. Science Learning Center. 706-542-1713, ckuus@uga.edu

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 UGA FANS DAY Times and a schedule will be posted on ­georgiadogs.com when it is available. Sanford Stadium.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 RESIDENCE HALL MOVE-IN Through Aug. 11. 706-542-1421, housing@uga.edu (See story, page 2).

SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT TOUR: DECORATIVE ARTS Led by docents. 3 p.m. Georgia Museum of Art. 706-542-4662, hazbrown@uga.edu

THRU TERM FINAL EXAMS Through Aug. 3.

SHORT SESSION II CLASSES END

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 SHORT SESSION II FINAL EXAMS

Calendar items are taken from Columns files and from the university’s Master Calendar, maintained by Marketing & Communications. Notices are published here as space permits, with priority given to items of multidisciplinary interest. The Master Calendar is available on the Web at calendar.uga.edu .

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EXTENDED SUMMER SESSION FINAL EXAMS Through Aug. 4.

SATURDAY, JULY 30 HUMMINGBIRD RAMBLE Attendees will walk through the Hummingbird Trail to find the hummingbird’s secret hiding places. $15. 9 a.m. Visitor Center State, Botanical Garden.

706-542-6014, ckeber@uga.edu

columns.uga.edu July 25, 2016

MONDAY, AUGUST 8 GRADUATE SCHOOL ORIENTATION The Graduate School Orientation and Information Fair is an opportunity for incoming graduate students to learn about key components of their graduate education experience from the dean of the Graduate School, members of the Graduate School staff and representatives of key campus

COMING UP

NEW FACULTY ORIENTATION Aug. 9. All new faculty are invited to attend new faculty orientation, sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning. The agenda and r­ egistration information are at http://t.uga.edu/2rO . 8 a.m.

Georgia Center for Continuing Education. 706-5421355, edwatson@uga.edu CLASS OF 2020 FRESHMAN WELCOME Aug. 10. All incoming students (Class of 2020 and transfer) are invited to attend Freshman Welcome, UGA’s official welcome celebration. 6 p.m.

Parking lot near entrance 10 of Sanford Stadium. ­706-542-0080, jmg88@uga.edu GROUP FITNESS FREE WEEK Aug. 11-17. Space may be limited. Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities. 706-542-5060, christina.reynolds@uga.edu . (See Bulletin Board, page 4).

FALL SEMESTER CLASSES BEGIN Aug. 11.

TO SUBMIT A LISTING FOR THE MASTER CALENDAR AND COLUMNS Post event information first to the Master Calendar website (calendar.uga.edu). Listings for Columns are taken from the Master Calendar 12 days before the publication date. Events not posted by then may not be printed in Columns.

Any additional information about the event may be sent directly to Columns. Email is preferred (columns@uga. edu), but materials can be mailed to Columns, Marketing & Communications, 286 Oconee Street, Suite 200 North, Campus Mail 1999.

NEXT COLUMNS DEADLINES July 27 (for Aug. 8 issue) Aug. 3 (for Aug. 15 issue) Aug. 10 (for Aug. 22 issue)

Riding for a cure

Cycling team raises money to fight cancer

By Kristen Morales kmorales@uga.edu

Some hardcore cyclists shave their hair for that sliver of an edge—less wind resistance, faster speed.

But when Amy Heath sported a bald head and eyebrows for last year’s Pelotonia bike ride, the look was not by choice. Still, she ended up riding twice as far as she’d planned.

That’s because Heath, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Education’s language and literacy education department, lost her hair after going through chemotherapy to fight breast cancer, which had been found months earlier. Despite the diagnosis—or, rather, because of it—Heath trained to ride in the annual 180-mile, three-day bike ride that raises money for cancer research.

Diagnosed in 2014, Heath underwent surgery in January 2015. After the surgery, she set a goal to ride 25 miles. She said to herself. “I’ll be fighting, rather than surviving.”

This is Pelotonia’s eighth year, bringing thousands of cyclists from across the country to Columbus, Ohio, to fight cancer. The race is Aug. 5-7; all money raised goes to cancer research.

Heath, who moved to Athens from Ohio State University, will be part of the UGA-based team Midnight Train From

Georgia and will be celebrating all that she’s accomplished since riding with her bald head just a year ago.

Not long before last year’s Pelotonia, Heath spotted something familiar while walking into Dondero’s restaurant. On the back of a car in the parking lot was a lime green arrow, Pelotonia’s logo. Who in the world would know about Pelotonia here, she thought.

She decided to ask Erin Ciarimboli, a woman seated nearby, and realized she was riding with three others connected with UGA. Ciarimboli and her husband, B. Noble Jones, graduate students in the Institute for Higher Education, began riding in Pelotonia in 2014 when cancer and cycling intersected their lives.

They, along with friends Charlie Carabello, a cyclist and cancer survivor, ­ Henry Oddi, who worked with Carabello in the UGA admissions office, and Adrienne Amador, now at Berry College, became the first team to represent UGA and the state in last year’s Pelotonia.

This year, they are a team of seven: Amador; Ciarimboli; Jones; Oddi; Carabello; Heath; Michael Pinnegar, a software developer and Heath’s brother; former UGA professor Bradley Paye; and Rachel Burns, a doctoral candidate at UGA’s Institute for Higher Education.

Members of the UGA Pelotonia team, Midnight Train From Georgia, include (from left) Henry Oddi, Erin Ciarimboli, Charlie Carabello, Amy Heath and Rachel Burns.

Heath’s own journey with cancer started in late 2014, when she and her husband were trying for a second child. After a miscarriage, Heath noticed a lump in her breast. When it grew larger, she immediately got a mammogram. She was 38 years old with a toddler.

They could tell, just by the mammogram, it was cancer. While at the doctor’s office, Heath also asked for one more test: to see if she was pregnant. That day she got two doses of news, one bad, one devastating.

Given how fast her newly diagnosed breast cancer was moving—fed by estrogen, she had no idea that her attempts to get pregnant were also feeding the cancer—Heath had a radical mastectomy and chemotherapy within months. She can no longer have children but is grateful for her

daughter Vivian, 4.

With cancer, she said, many people think it can’t happen to them—yet more than 75 percent of women with breast cancer have no family history of it, according to the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Heath wants others to know it’s OK to talk about it. The team also encourages others to fight against cancer by riding, raising money or making a donation.

“Pelotonia helped me to see that we need each other to survive and fight cancer,” she said.

ON THE WEB

facebook/com/georgiamidnight http://tinyurl.com/hgcj3hv

4 July 25, 2016 columns.uga.edu OFFICE

SURVEY

from page 1

to listening to the voices of our faculty, staff and students as we work together to ensure that the University of Georgia is a place where each and every individual can achieve their full potential,” said Associate Provost for Institutional Diversity Michelle Garfield Cook, who chaired the 11-member committee that worked with Rankin and Associates to develop the survey.

Cook noted that several key themes emerged from the study:

from page 1

Comfort with climate at UGA

Of the 23 percent who responded overall, 81 percent reported being comfortable or very comfortable with the climate at UGA, in line with findings from these types of surveys at similar institutions. The findings also indicated that students felt comfortable in the classroom environment and perceived faculty as role models.

Faculty/staff work-life issues

Shannah Cahoe Montgomery

Based in Midtown Atlanta at the Centergy building, Sean McMillan helps tie the state’s flagship university to businesses and communities in Georgia, the nation and world.

generation of workers trained to meet the needs of the 21st century, when they have access to the professors and programs we have in an environment of creativity, folks want to come and innovate,” said Chris Carr, Georgia’s commissioner of economic development. “The ease of access by having one point person is huge. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to have access to the University of Georgia.”

Carr’s office also is in the Centergy building, which houses the economic development department for the Georgia Electric Membership Corp., Georgia Power, Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia QuickStart (part of the Technical College System of Georgia) and the Georgia Workforce Development as well.

In addition, several of the roughly 80 industry innovation and design centers in Midtown Atlanta are in the Centergy building, including Home Depot and Panasonic.

The innovation centers are offices—separate from a company’s headquarters—that allow creative teams to contemplate new ideas and products.

Fostering growth and prosperity

“As a land-grant institution, one of our most important priorities is to help foster economic growth and prosperity in this state,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Providing a central doorway for businesses to access UGA’s vast resources is key to achieving this priority, and the economic development office serves as that doorway.”

Morehead established the Atlanta-based office in 2013 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the university’s role in economic development.

McMillan reports jointly to UGA Vice

Bulletin Board

Ramsey Center ‘Free Week’

Members of the Ramsey Student Center can try select group fitness classes for free Aug. 11-17.

Class options include deep water aerobics, yoga, athletic conditioning, BodyPump, Zumba, Barre, kickboxing, cycling and Walk Georgia programs. For the full schedule, visit http://recsports.uga.edu .

Ramsey Center maintenance

The three pools in the Ramsey Student Center’s Natatorium are closed until Aug. 10 for pump room maintenance. Part of the Ramsey Renewal renovation project, the closure will involve the installation of a new state-of-the-art system. The Natatorium bleacher area and Rec Pool Courtyard also are closed.

Several areas in the Ramsey ­Student Center are or will be closed for annual wood floor maintenance.

President for Public Service and Outreach Jennifer Frum and UGA Vice President for Research David Lee, signifying the far reach of the university’s economic development enterprise.

Connected to opportunities

McMillan’s background with QuickStart—he helped launch Kia and its parts suppliers in West Point in 2008—and his roles as an adviser to the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s board of directors, a member of the board of directors for the Georgia Economic Developers Association and a member of the board of directors for the Korea U.S. Chamber of Commerce keep him connected with domestic and international opportunities that help the state prosper.

“He knows better than we do what the university has to offer,” Carr said.

And he knows what the community has to offer UGA. Eddie Mabe, human resources director for the Athens-based McCann Aerospace, reconnected with McMillan in Athens last year. The two had worked together years before in LaGrange.

McCann, which recently had been acquired by Accurus Aerospace Corp., needed qualified employees. McMillan connected Mabe with UGA’s College of Engineering and Terry College of Business.

Four students, three from engineering and one from business, are interning with McCann this summer. Hopefully, McCann said, the company can hire some of these students after they graduate.

“If it weren’t for Sean, we probably wouldn’t have made the right connections,” Mabe said.

The Volleyball Arena is closed until Aug. 5, Racquetball Courts 7-10 will be closed Aug. 1-7 and Studio E will close Aug. 3-7.

TEDxUGA nominations

​Do you have an idea worth spreading? ​Since 2013, ​TEDxUGA has been engaging the campus community in an exploration of ideas worth spreading and is currently seeking dynamic faculty and staff presenters to take the stage for TEDxUGA 2017.

Visit tedxuga.com/nominate to submit a nomination for a faculty or staff member by Sept. 30.

Self-­nominations are welcome and ­encouraged. Email tedxuga@uga.edu with any questions.

Bulletin Board is limited to information that may pertain to a majority of faculty and staff members.

Virtually all of the faculty respondents agreed that research was valued by UGA. Faculty respondents also reported a clear understanding of the criteria for promotion and tenure. Similarly, the vast majority of staff respondents reported that their supervisors provided them with adequate resources to pursue professional development.

On the other hand, of the faculty and staff who responded to the survey, a majority noted that they had seriously considered leaving UGA in the past year, due primarily to low salaries.

In addition, some faculty and staff indicated a need for improvement in areas such as hiring practices, reclassification decisions and work-life balance.

Closing the salary gap between the university and its peer institutions, which grew in the wake of the Great Recession, has been a key institutional priority. For the past three years, the university has been able to offer merit-based raises to faculty and staff.

The recently expanded Office of Faculty Affairs has partnered with Human Resources to deliver training on best practices for recruiting and hiring, to strengthen existing supervisor training programs and to craft materials to help search committees maximize the diversity of hiring pools.

The office also offers workshops on faculty mentoring that include information on improving the retention of faculty in underrepresented groups.

In addition, the university launched a Women’s Leadership Initiative in March 2015 to promote gender equity. As a result of the initiative, UGA has updated its hiring practices, introduced leadership development programming and made new resources available to faculty and staff.

Differing experiences by groups

Of the 23 percent who responded, 16 percent reported experiencing exclusionary, intimidating, offensive and/or hostile conduct, compared with 20 to 25 percent of respondents at similar institutions. The report noted that minorities and individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender were more likely than others to report incidents of this nature.

The report reiterates UGA’s position that “diversity and inclusion are crucial to the intellectual vitality of the campus community.”

The university has a number of programs that foster an inclusive campus environment, including a certificate program in diversity and inclusion for faculty and staff.

In addition, outreach programs such as the Georgia African American Male ­Experience, Georgia Daze and Movimiento Latino are helping create a more diverse student body. Key measures of student ­success are positive. As just one example, the university’s six-year graduation rate is 85.3 percent overall and 87 percent for African-American students.

“The report underscores the need to create new opportunities for dialogue and raise awareness of the resources available to our faculty, staff and students,” said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Pamela Whitten. “Our priority now is to examine the effectiveness of our existing programs, fill in any gaps and better publicize the current resources UGA offers to enhance the living, learning and working environment on campus.”

In response to the report, Whitten is charging a series of student, faculty and staff working groups representing Human Resources, the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Office of Faculty Affairs to review the findings of the survey and explore opportunities to continue to enhance the living, learning and working environment at UGA. An additional action step is a campus-wide communications audit to determine levels of awareness regarding campus resources for faculty, staff and students. The audit findings will help the university identify strategies to better promote programs and services.

“I am grateful to the committee that oversaw this survey and to the faculty, staff and students who chose to share their views and experiences,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “We will continue to work together to foster an open, positive and inclusive campus environment.”

ON THE WEB

http://diversity.uga.edu/index.php/programs/ article/campus-climate

FUNDRAISING from page 1 announcement is a very strong fundraising year, but the real measure will be the eightyear trend line over the course of the entire campaign.

“The goal of a campaign is to reset substantially the annual fundraising aspirations of an institution, and we have already achieved that objective as we enter the public phase of our campaign,” he also said.

Support from faculty, staff and retirees

FORBES from page 1

the rankings: • Student satisfaction (25 percent): student evaluations, retention rates.

• Post-graduate success (32.5 percent): salary of alumni, CCAP’s America’s Leaders List.

• Student debt (25 percent): average federal student loan debt load, student loan default rates, percent of students with federal loans.

• Graduation rate (7.5 percent): four-year graduation rate.

• Academic success (10 percent): students who win prestigious scholarships or earn a doctorate.

Other honors UGA has received in the last year are a No. 21 ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” edition and No. 12 on Kiplinger Magazine’s list of best values among public colleges and universities.

will continue to play a role during the comprehensive capital campaign.

“Gifts large and small from our faculty, staff and retirees carry significant weight.

External influencers and stakeholders view UGA through a new lens—and are more likely to support it—if they see internal ‘buy in,’ ” Kerner said. “Their philanthropic support signifies their confidence in UGA in the most concrete way.”

ABOUT COLUMNS Columns is available to the campus community by ­subscription for an annual fee of $20 (second-class delivery) or $40 (first-class delivery). Faculty and staff members with a disability may call 706-542-8017 for assistance in obtaining this publication in an alternate format.

Columns staff can be reached at 706-542-8017 or columns@uga.edu

Editor / Juliett Dinkins Art Director / Jackie Baxter Roberts Photo Editor / Dorothy Kozlowski Senior Reporter / Aaron Hale Communications Coordinator / Vacant The University of Georgia is committed to principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.

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The University of Georgia is a unit of the University System of Georgia.