University Council Minutes

02/18/2015 03:30 PM - Tate Theater, Tate Student Center
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The University Council met on February 18, 2015 in the Tate Theater. A quorum being present, the meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by President Jere Morehead.

As the first item of business, the minutes of the November 19, 2014 meeting were approved as distributed.

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

  • President Morehead opened his remarks to the Council by formally introducing Council parliamentarian Professor Usha Rodrigues of the School of Law. Professor Rodrigues took over parliamentarian duties beginning in the fall semester of 2014.
  • President Morehead also introduced to the Council the new Vice President for Instruction, Dr. Rahul Shrivastav.
  • The President expressed his profound sympathy and concern over the tragic death of student Tanzila Alam, stating that the University's thoughts and prayers continue to be with her family and friends. The President stated that he is very concerned that the focus has not been on Tanzila and her family but rather on unfounded claims and speculation regarding the cause of her death that have been circulating on social media and incomplete reporting. The President then stated in no uncertain terms that the University has been assured by medical experts that there was no bacterial meningitis at the University of Georgia and while no official cause of death has been confirmed, the University has been informed by Athens Regional Medical Center that bacterial meningitis has been ruled out. The President urged all members of the University community and the media to follow this guidance from the medical experts rather than the unfounded rumors on social media and to keep the family and friends of Tanzila in its thoughts.
  • The UGA Facilities Management Division and the UGA Police Department were thanked by the President for their response to this week's ice storm. The President further thanked Vice President for Finance and Administration Ryan Nesbit for the work of his team and the outstanding individuals who work in Finance and Administration for their work in keeping the campus safe and passable during this period.
  • The President also expressed his appreciation to Dr. Marshall Shepherd, a Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences, for the advice and consultation he provided regarding this week's winter weather.
  • Dean Sheila Allen and the faculty and staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine were recognized by the President for the dedication of the new Veterinary Medicine facility on College Station Road. The President encouraged Council members to visit and tour this new facility.
  • On Thursday, February 26, Delta Hall, the new UGA facility in Washington, D.C., will be dedicated. The Delta Airlines Foundation has committed a five million dollar gift in support of the UGA in Washington initiative. Delta is also planning to fund internships for students and a lecture series with this gift. The President thanked Delta for their corporate support and expressed hope that other corporate donors will step forward with support for UGA.
  • The President informed the Council on two new ranking for the University. First, UGA has been listed in the American City Business Journals' ranking of the top 20 public colleges in America, coming in at number 16. UGA has also been also listed among the top five research institutions producing the most 2014-2015 Fulbright U.S. scholars.
  • As the President mentioned in his State of the University address, the University is streamlining and enhancing grants management in order to enhance the productivity and support for faculty. As of Monday, February 16, Dr. Carl Bergmann, Associate Vice President for Research-Facilities, is serving as the Interim Director of Pre- and Post-Award Grant Services.
  • Soon, Provost Whitten, Vice President Nesbit, and the President will present the University's institutional budget priorities to Chancellor Hank Huckaby of the Board of Regents. As it was last year, the top priority will be securing merit-based salary increases for faculty and staff. In addition, the President will be seeking support for targeted strategic initiatives that would enhance the academic enterprise at the University of Georgia. The President will also be making the case for a merit-increase to Georgia lawmakers and Governor Deal's office. This case will continue to be made as the General Assembly meets in the coming weeks. On February 19, the Dawgs at the Dome event will occur at the state capital. A number of student leaders will be participating in this event, and the President will be provided the opportunity to speak to the State House and Senate. As well, the Governor has recommended, and the General Assembly is now considering, two major construction projects which have significant private support: Phase Two of the Terry College of Business Learning Community and the Center for Molecular Medicine.
  • Lastly, the President reminded Council that the University is declaring the week of May 12 Staff Appreciation Week. This week will be used as an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of the staff members at UGA. On Friday, May 15, Staff Appreciation Week will culminate with an event held at the Intramural Fields.
  • 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 consideration:

There being no old or new business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned by 3:57 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dr. Jan Hathcote, Registrar
Secretary to University Council




University Council Roster

Aderibigbe, Ibigbolade

Hall, Jori

Nesbit, Ryan

Allen, Sheila

Hammersley, Jackie

O'Neill, Peter

Arabnia, Hamid

Hathcote, Jan

Øie, Svein

Atkinson, Eric

Hazinski, David

Pagnattaro, Marisa

Bakker, Ryan

Heaton, Will

Pendergrass, Jan

Bayer, Lisa

Heiss, Christian

Peterson, Thomas

Beckstead, Robert

Henry, Arlana

Poland, Mary

Bell, Peyton

Holladay, Steven

Popik, Vladimir

Bliss, Thomas

Hollander, Barry

Rathbun, Stephen

Brush, Ryan

Holosko, Michael

Reidenbaugh, Patrick

Buda, Nate

Hughes, Linda

Reyes, De Corcuera, Jose

Cahoon, Lynn

Iyengar, Sujata

Rhicard, Laura

Cameron, Kristen

Jackson, Deven

Roberts, Susan

Cauthen, T.W.

Jacoby, Drew

Rose, John

Christoffel, Chandler

Jutras, Peter

Rossbacher, Brigitte

Coffield, Julie

Kaplan, Holly

Sarmiento, Fausto

Dennis, Carla

Keadle, Tim

Sharma, Suraj

Dorfman, Jeff

Keen, Brenda

Shelton, Robin

Dorsey, Alan

Kerner, Kelly

Shipley, David

Dunham, Richard

Kiepper, Brian

Shrivastav, Rahul

Freeman, Melissa

Lee, David

Spivey, Julie

Frick, Janet

Lee, Jung Sun

Spooner, David

Gandhi, Kamal

Lee, Kyunghwa

Starai, Vincent

Giraudo, Silvia

Lewis, Michael

Stooksbury, David

Gittleman, John

Lindquist, Stefanie

Tessman, Brock

Glass, Anne

Madden, Marguerite

Toews, Mike

Goodhue, Dale

Malone, Barrett

Tricksey, Lauren

Gordon, Leslie

Mason, Charlotte

Turner, Madison

Graham, Toby

Mativo, John

Vencill, William

Grantham, Tarek

Maurer, John

Whitten, Pamela

Grey, Timothy

McNulty, Tom

Wilde, Susan

Griffin, Michele

Medine, Carolyn

Williams, Brian

Griffith, Jennifer

Moore, Allen

Williams, Phillip

Grossman, Barbara

Morehead, Jere

Wilson, Victor

Gutizerrez Sanchez, Gerardo

Nadenicek, Daniel

Zhao, Yiping

Naeher, Luke

Zomlefer, Wendy


 

 

Represented by Proxy

Anderson, Mark

Angle, J. Scott

Azadi, Parastoo

Bailey, Deryl

Bivins, Danny

Darbisi, Carolina

Davis, Charles

Dotts, Brian

Gragson, Ted

Greene, Dale

Jones, Betty

Kaplan, Betina

McBride, Walt

Meller, Abbey

Moore, Mary

O'Kelley, Kip

Schuster, Barbara

Sellers, Holly

Thompson, Jim

Weigle, Chloe