University Council Minutes

09/25/2013 03:30 PM - Tate Theater, Tate Student Center
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The University Council met on September 25, 2013 in the Tate Student Center's Tate Theater. President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

The minutes of the April 18, 2013 meeting were approved as distributed.

President Morehead's report to the Council included the following remarks:

  • The President began the meeting by thanking all new members to the Council for agreeing to serve and welcoming back all continuing members.
  • The first three months of President Morehead's tenure have been busy but rewarding. He stated that he has visited Atlanta numerous times for University business. He has also visited other cities throughout the state and has met with various agricultural leaders as well as many legislative leaders. The President has also met with many alumni and friends of the University, listening to what they have to say about UGA.
  • The President emphasized that his focus has been on the academic core of the University, centering on strengthening the quality of instruction, research, and public service and outreach at UGA.
  • The President informed Council members that the Fall semester has seen the enrollment of the best undergraduate class in the history of the University. Overall, the class has an average 3.86 GPA, a 1280 SAT score, and an ACT score of 29. For Honors students, overall numbers include an average GPA of 4.07, a 1462 on the SAT, and an ACT score of 33.
  • The University has again entered the top 20 U.S. News ranking of public research universities, up from 21 last year. The University has also made the Public Ivy list for a second year in a row.
  • Several major capital projects are underway. The Board of Regents has approved both the design and construction funding for a new science learning center on campus. The Regents' recommendation will now go forward to Governor Deal for consideration in the state budget. Construction of the science learning center was the top priority for UGA submitted by the President for consideration and was one of two major capital projects the Regents recommended to the Governor. The President thanked the Chancellor and the Regents for their support of this project. As well, the President plans to meet shortly with a group of science leaders along with Dean Dorsey of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences and others to discuss how to make this project successful, including getting the design correct through consulting various science instructors on campus as well as the Center for Teaching and Learning and other groups to ensure the design is one that is relevant today and can be easily transformed in the future. If approved, the science learning center will include updated science classrooms and new laboratories for undergraduate students, allowing for the renovation of older space on campus for research purposes. If all goes as planned, construction could begin next summer.
  • Construction on the new Bolton dining hall is underway in the middle of the campus with an expected opening of next Fall semester.
  • A new Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital is also in the works to be located off College Station Road.
  • The first phase of construction for the Terry College of Business Learning Community will be underway soon with the construction of Correll Hall. This project is being funded entirely with private contributions.
  • The President encouraged Council members to visit the Health Sciences Campus. Brown Hall has been opened on the campus as a residence hall for students, and a new dining facility has opened as well.
  • The President updated Council on four important searches occurring at the University. The search for the new Provost is underway, with candidates coming to the campus in late October and early November. The President thanked the Provost search committee for their work in the search. The search committee to select a new Vice President for Finance and Administration has been chosen and will be chaired by Vice President for Information Technology Timothy Chester. A search committee is currently being formed to select a new Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations. The President hopes that both VP searches will be completed by the middle or latter part of Spring semester. Lastly, the search for a new Executive Director of Legal Affairs is also underway. Professor Bo Rutledge of the School of Law is chairing the search committee for the position. Finalists are expected on campus before the end of the semester. The President is optimistic that a talented applicant pool will be available for these positions.
  • The President expressed his appreciation to Dr. Libby Morris for serving as Interim Provost, Ryan Nesbit for serving as Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Beth Bailey for her service as Interim Executive Director of Legal Affairs. The President congratulated Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Tom Landrum for his career of service to the University. He will be retiring next June.
  • A number of new deans have joined UGA since the last Council meeting and were acknowledged by the President: Dr. Charles Davis of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dr. Donald Leo of the College of Engineering, Dr. Stefanie Lindquist of the School of Public and International Affairs, and Dr. Charles Knapp, who is serving as Interim Dean of the Terry College of Business. Also, the President acknowledged the new Vice President for Student Affairs Victor Wilson.
  • The UGA Foundation will be meeting September 26th and 27th on campus.
  • Georgia plays LSU this Saturday, September 28th at 3:30 p.m.
  • On October 16th, Dr. James Clapper will deliver the UGA Charter Lecture at the Chapel.
  • On November 19th, the Presidential Investiture Ceremony will occur.
  • This concluded the President's report to the Council.

The floor was then opened for the following standing committee and association reports:

The following Action Items were presented to the Council for approval:

There being no old or new business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 4:33 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Jan Hathcote, Registrar
Secretary to University Council


University Council Roster

Abbott, Jennifer

Grossman, Barbara

Nadenicek, Daniel

Anderson, James

Hall, Jori

Nagy, Tamas

Anderson, Mark

Hammersley, Jackie

Nairn, Joe

Ashley, Louise

Harrison, Mark

Nesbit, Ryan

Atkinson, Eric

Hathcote, Jan

Oie, Svein

Azadi, Parastoo

Hayes, Audrey

Ojo, Akinloye

Baginski, Steve

Hazinski, David

Orpinas, Pamela

Bailey, Deryl

Holmes, Shannon

Owsiak, Andy

Baker, Tyler

Hughes, Linda

Pagnattaro, Marisa

Bayer, Lisa

Infante, Carlos

Pendergrass, Jan

Bierema, Laura

Jolly, Laura

Peterson, Thomas

Biesecker, Barbara

Jones, Betty

Popik, Vladimir

Boyhan, George

Jutras, Peter

Potter, William

Bringolf, Robert

Kalivoda, Karen

Poudyal, Neelam

Burd, Adrian

Kaplan, Betina

Riley, David

Cahoon, Lynn

Keadle, Tim

Roberts, Andrew

Carswell, Andy

Keen, Brenda

Roman, Paul

Chapman, Sue

Kisaalita, William

Rosemond, Amy

Chowdhury, Uzma

Lai, Ming-Jun

Rossbacher, Brigitte

Chumbler, Neale

Lamb, Taylor

Samp, Jennifer

Coker Vickie

Laufersweiler, Austin

Sarmiento, Fausto

Collins, Guy

Lee, Jung Sun

Schulte, Christopher

Covich, Alan

Leo, Donald

Sellers, Holly

Cramond, Bonnie

Leonard, Elizabeth Weeks

Shelley, Clay

Daniel, Jerry

Lewis, Michael

Shipley, David

Darbisi, Carolina

Lindstrom, Jennifer

Siegel, Connor

Davis, Charles

Lockhart, Lettie

Smith, Amanda

Dluhy, Richard

Luken, Emily

Snyder, Margaret

Dorfman, Jeff

Madden, Marguerite

Spooner, David

Dorsey, Alan

Makanani, Kyley

Stabb, Eric

Dotts, Brian

Matic, Gordana

Starai, Vincent

Dove, Robert

Mativo, John

Steffens, Ashley

Dreibelbis, Hadley

Matthews, Paul

Stewart, Shontel

Eberle, Roxanne

Mauricio, Rodney

Taha, Thiab

Filipov, Nikolay

Maynard, John

Tessman, Brock

Fox, Linda

McBride, Walt

Tollner, Bill

Froetschel, Mark

McDonald, William

Trap, Diane

Gallagher, Megan

McDuff, Nancy

Tschepikow, Kyle

Garfinkel, David

McEwen Dee Dee

Walker, Virginia

Giraudo, Silvia

McNulty, Tom

Wallinga, Charlotte

Gittleman, John

Medine, Carolyn

Weber, Brett

Glass, Anne

Melcher, Katherine

Wesolowski, Brian

Goodhue, Dale

Meller, Abbey

White, Rebecca

Gordon, Leslie

Melnik, Beth

Williams, Phillip

Graff, Jennifer

Moore, Mary

Wilson, Jim

Griffeth, Robert

Morehead, Jere

Wilson, Victor

Griffin, Michele

Morris, Libby

Zeigler, Shelby

Griffith, Jennifer

Morse, Jack

Zhao, Yiping


Zomlefer, Wendy





Represented by Proxy

Angle, J. Scott

Becker, Lee

Berghaus, Roy

Bivins, Danny

Buck, James

Buntin, David

Frum, Jennifer

Gandhi, Kamal

Grasso, Maureen

Harsman, Melissa

Heiss, Christian

Hendrickson, Scott

James, Jennifer

Knapp, Charles

Lee, David

Lindquist, Stefanie

Naeher, Luke

Poulsen, Annette

Quesada, Margaret

Schuster, Barbara

Wilder, Shannon