University Council Minutes
09/29/2021 03:30 PM - Online, Zoom Webinar. Please email univcouncil@uga.edu for information.
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The University Council met on September 29, 2021, via Zoom Webinar for its first meeting of the 2021-2022 academic year. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Parliamentarian Usha Rodrigues provided a brief overview concerning how voting and discussion would be conducted during the meeting.
As the first order of business, the president asked for a motion to approve the
minutes of the April 21, 2021, meeting. A motion to approve was made by Elizabeth St. Pierre and seconded by Janet Westpheling. A vote was called, and the minutes were approved with 167 in favor and 18 abstentions.
President Morehead then delivered his report to the Council:
- The president began his report by thanking members for their commitment to serve on the Council and stated he looked forward to working with all members during the year. The president then introduced those who facilitate Council meetings: Professor Barbara Biesecker, Chair of the University Council Executive Committee; Ms. Fiona Liken, Registrar and Associate Vice President for Instruction, who serves as Secretary of the Council; and Professor Usha Rodrigues of the School of Law, who serves as parliamentarian.
- During a meeting held earlier in the day, the President’s Cabinet approved the naming of the Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education. Dr. McBee held leadership roles for more than 25 years at UGA before serving more than a decade as a champion of higher education in the Georgia legislature. The president stated this recognized an extraordinary leader who provided exceptional service not only to the University of Georgia but to the region and state as well.
- The president provided updates on key leadership positions. Dr. Karen Burg was named Vice President for Research on July 1. On-campus interviews for the Associate Vice President for Human Resources recently concluded. Dean Alan Dorsey of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences announced he would return to the faculty, and a search committee is in place to name a new leader of the Franklin College. Finalists will be interviewed in the coming weeks to replace Dean Linda Fox in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences following her retirement this summer.
- UGA recently welcomed a class of just over 5,800 first-year students from the university’s largest applicant pool ever with more than 39,000 applications. This class has an average high school GPA above 4.0 and an average of 10 Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or dual-enrollment courses. 33% identified as a member of minority group and 8% are the first in their families to attend college.
- Turning to the COVID-19 pandemic, the president stated that in all his years in higher education a more difficult period of time has not been experienced by the campus. He stated he was deeply appreciative of everything that the campus community has done throughout the pandemic and that those in leadership roles are doing their best to support and advocate for everyone on campus. Despite the continued health and safety challenges, the president stated he has been encouraged by the recent trajectory of COVID-19 cases on campus. The number of positive tests has sharply declined. The president urged everyone to get vaccinated and that the university has incentivized vaccine participation. The University Health Center has begun providing booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine to those eligible. The president thanked all who have been working on mitigation and vaccination efforts on campus, especially the members of the Medical Oversight Task Force and Preventative Measures Advisory Board. The president extended his sincere appreciation to those on campus who have worked tirelessly to promote vaccinations, encourage masks, and help keep the campus safe. The president then stated he would continue to do all within his power to protect the campus community.
- UGA was ranked this fall as the 16th best public university in the nation by US News and World Report. This was the sixth consecutive year the university appeared in the top 20.
- For eight consecutive years, UGA has ranked in the top five of U.S. universities driving new products to the market.
- The president and the provost are setting aside $1 million to support the renovation of laboratories and lab support spaces.
- There are two new awards available to recognize the exceptional teaching and research contributions of UGA faculty, the Award for Excellence in Teaching and the Team Impact Award. Both of these will be presented in the spring semester during Honors Week.
- On July 1, the university increased the minimum hiring rate by $1,000 and provided compression and inversion salary increases to benefits-eligible staff earning $32,175 and below. After working recently with the USG, the president announced that the university will once again be able to implement another increase to the minimum hiring rate, bringing it to $27,500, an additional increase of 5%. Additionally, another round of compression and inversion adjustments will be implemented on October 1.
- The Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Plan was approved this summer and will chart the university’s course for diversity and inclusion in the years to come. The plan includes 11 institutional goals and metrics that will chart the university’s course for diversity and inclusion over the next five years.
- In August, another investment in the Georgia Commitment Scholarship Program was made. The program has generated over 600 new need-based scholarships, totaling $91 million for students with financial needs.
- UGA has been recognized for the eighth consecutive year with the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.
- Mary Frances Early has released a memoir, The Quiet Trailblazer: My Journey as the First Black Graduate of the University of Georgia. Thanks to a fund established by the President’s Office, 500 signed copies of the book are being provided to students for a community read.
- During the September 18 home football game, a monument recognizing the first five Black scholarship athletes to play on the UGA football team- Richard Appleby, Horace King, Chuck Kinnebrew, Larry West, and Clarence Pope, known as “The Five”- was unveiled at Sanford Stadium.
- The university is currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and the Division of Student Affairs along with the Hispanic Student Association and LISTO has a calendar of events planned.
- Before closing, the president stated that he had been provided the annual Ombudsperson report by Ms. Qiana Wilson, director of EOO, and asked that it be placed in the minutes.
- This concluded the president’s report to the Council.
The floor was then opened for the following reports:
The following action items were presented to the Council for consideration:
- Chair Susan Sanchez presented the following proposals from the University Curriculum Committee:
- Proposal to terminate the Undergraduate Certificate in Organic Agriculture. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 167 in favor, 3 against, and 15 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new minor in Elementary Agricultural Education. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 181 in favor and 5 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Undergraduate Certificate in News Literacy. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 187 in favor, 1 against, and 3 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Undergraduate Certificate in One Health. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 185 in favor and 3 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Graduate Certificate in International Law. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 187 in favor and 4 abstentions.
- Proposal to change the name of the major in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development (M.S.) to Integrative Conservation and Sustainability (M.S.). A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 184 in favor, 2 against, and 5 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new major in Regenerative Bioscience (B.S.). A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 185 in favor, 1 against, and 5 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new major in Data Science (M.S.). A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 180 in favor, 1 against, and 9 abstentions.
- Proposal to offer the existing Master of Biomanufacturing and Bioprocessing (M.B.B.) at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 151 in favor, 9 against, and 23 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new University of Georgia Research Institute. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 167 in favor, 1 against, and 19 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Academic Affairs Policy Statement No. 23, Improvement and Documentation of Teaching Effectiveness. During discussion, a motion was made by Barbara Biesecker to refer the proposal back to the University Curriculum Committee for further consideration. The motion was seconded by Janette Hill. Following debate on the motion, a vote was called, and the motion was approved with 134 in favor, 26 against, and 18 abstentions.
- Proposal to revise Policy 4.06-5, Air Force ROTC Commitment and Summer Break. During discussion, a motion was made by Barbara Biesecker to refer the proposal back to the University Curriculum Committee for further consideration. The motion was seconded by Esra Santesso. A vote was called, and the motion was approved with 129 in favor, 20 against, and 28 abstentions.
- Proposal for Connect and Complete: Persistence Framework. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved 153 in favor, 1 against, and 25 abstentions.
- Proposal to change the number of hours a student can register for without an override. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 153 in favor, 15 against, and 11 abstentions.
- Chair Elizabeth St. Pierre presented the following proposals from the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees:
- Second Reading: Proposal to revise the Bylaws for the Committee on Student Life. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 165 in favor and 14 abstentions.
- First Reading: Proposals to elect chairs of standing committees by July 1 and to revise the Bylaws of the Program Review and Assessment Committee to elect a chair by July 1. A vote was called on the first item in the proposal, and it was approved with 167 in favor, 1 against, and 3 abstentions. A vote was then called on the second item in the proposal, and it was approved with 166 in favor, 1 against, and 4 abstentions.
- First Reading: Proposal for Executive Committee to review and recommend changes to public facing information on the University Council website. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 166 in favor, 4 against, and 6 abstentions.
- First Reading: Proposal to add a new standing Committee on Information Technology. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 163 in favor, 4 against, and 7 abstentions.
- Chair Janette Hill presented the following proposals from the Faculty Affairs Committee:
- Proposal for revisions to the Lecturer Appointment and Promotion Guidelines. During discussion, a motion was made by Ruth Poproski to amend the proposal by removing the language, “Assistant Professors who have successfully completed their third-year review” from those who are eligible to vote on the promotion of Lecturers to Senior Lecturers. The motion was seconded by Tessa Andrews. Following discussion on the motion to amend, a vote was called, and the motion to amend was approved with 128 in favor, 24 against, and 27 abstentions. Following further discussion, a vote was called, and the amended proposal was approved with 140 in favor, 7 against, and 25 abstentions.
- Proposal for a COVID-19 letter for endorsement by University Council. Following discussion, a vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 117 in favor, 19 against, and 29 abstentions.
- Kevin Burke, substituting for Chair Scott Nelson, presented the following proposal from the Committee on Facilities:
The following information item was offered to the Council for consideration:
- Chair of the Executive Committee Barbara Biesecker was on-hand to answer questions for the following information item from the Executive Committee Subcommittee on Baldwin Hall:
During new business, a motion was made by Alex Medina and seconded by Jessica Roberts to put two proposals discussed by Staff Council president Savannah Hembree in her report on the meeting agenda. Following discussion, the motion was withdrawn by Alex Medina. Next, a motion was made by Richard Winfield to put a
resolution related to COVID-19 on the meeting agenda. The motion was seconded by Sarah Jantzi. The motion to place the resolution on the meeting agenda was debated, a vote was called, and the Council approved placing the resolution on the agenda with 79 in favor, 38 against, and 30 abstentions. Following further discussion, a vote was called, and the resolution was approved with 82 in favor, 29 against, and 31 abstentions.
There being no further new business, the meeting adjourned at 5:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council
University Council Members Present
| Abdelwahab, Mennah |
| Adhikari, Koushik |
| Altizer, Sonia |
| Andrews, Tessa |
| Atkins, Rebecca |
| Auer, Matthew |
| Ayers, Benjamin |
| Barnett, Kent |
| Bartges, Joe |
| Bewg, Patrick |
| Bierema, Laura |
| Biesecker, Barbara |
| Bivins, Danny |
| Blankenship, Sara (substitute Du, Wenijian ) |
| Boudreau, Maric |
| Bourlai, Thirimachos |
| Brandon, Christopher |
| Brightwell, Rebecca |
| Britton, Benjamin |
| Brocato, John |
| Brown, Wayde |
| Burg, Karen |
| Burns, Sarah |
| Burton, Jalen |
| Cain, Taylor |
| Callands, Tamora |
| Camus, Al |
| Carpenter, Tina |
| Caulfield, Amanda |
| Christ, Margaret |
| Chummar, Shelly |
| Cobran, Ewan |
| Colson, Gregory |
| Cona, Kelly |
| Conner, Joann |
| Cook, Julian |
| Cotterell, Michael |
| Crawley, Laura |
| Crepaz, Markus |
| Cunha, Marcus |
| Darbisi, Carolina |
| Darley, Andrew |
| Davis, Charles (substitute Nowak, Glen) |
| Davis, Marsha |
| de Paula Baptista, Rodrigo |
| Deka, Subhraleena |
| DeMaria, Don |
| DeVault, Travis |
| Dolan, Erin |
| Dorsey, Alan |
| Duberstein, Kylee |
| Durham, Stephan |
| Dwivedi, Puneet |
| Eggenschwiler, Jonathan |
| Emerson, Kerstin |
| Evans, Ellen |
| Farmer, Mark |
| Ferreira, Susana (substitute Karali, Berna) |
| Finch, Morgan |
| Foutz, Timothy |
| Frum, Jennifer |
| Fu, Joseph |
| Fuhrman, Nick |
| Fusillo, Lisa |
| Garrett, Jim |
| Gassman, Brenna |
| Gerlach, Chris |
| Glenn, Travis |
| Goetcheus, Cari |
| Goodie, Adam |
| Gordon, Leslie |
| Graham, Toby (substitute Armour, Mollie) |
| Greene, Dale |
| Gresham, Jasmine |
| Grey, Timothy |
| Guay, Mary |
| Hallman Martini, Rebecca |
| Harding, Lindsey |
| Harvey, Stephen |
| Hembree, Savannah |
| Henry, Kendall |
| Herndon, Keith |
| Heynen, Nik |
| Hill, Daniel |
| Hill, Janette |
| Hirt, Sonia |
| Hu, Jack |
| Hughes, Hilary |
| Injaian, Allison |
| Jantzi, Sarah |
| Jaskyte Bahr, Kristina |
| Jones, Diann |
| Jones, Stephanie |
| Joorabchi, Nassim |
| Ke, Yuan |
| Klass, Haley |
| Krimer, Paula (substitute Schneider, Sarah) |
| Leach, Erin |
| Leahy, Brendan |
| Leclerc, Monique |
| Lemons, Derrick |
| Leo, Donald |
| Lewis, Zachary |
| Liken, Fiona |
| Little, Laura |
| Lollis, Mary Nichols |
| Loudermilk, Grayson |
| Madonna, Anthony |
| Maillo-Pozo, Sharina |
| Malladi, Anish |
| Mallon, Anthony |
| Mandala, Chad |
| Markewitz, Daniel |
| Marks, Carter (substitute Gresham, Jasmine) |
| Marshall, Michael |
| Martin-Williams, Jean |
| McBride, Walt |
| McClellan, Ray |
| McClung, James |
| McDonald, Bill |
| McHale, Brittany |
| Mead, Daniel |
| Medina, Alex |
| Mehta, Khushi |
| Meichner, Kristina |
| Meskin, Aaron |
| Miller, Kristen |
| Mitchell, Marie |
| MohanKumar, Sheba |
| Mojock, Christopher |
| Moore, George |
| Moore, Myra |
| Morehead, Jere |
| Morrison, Alison |
| Mouilso, Emily |
| Muszynski, Artur |
| Nesbit, Ryan |
| Netter, Jeff |
| Njoku-Obi, Bart |
| Nuss, Michelle |
| Olmsted, Joseph |
| Palmer, Chadwick |
| Park, Andrew (substittue Strauss, Alex) |
| Paton, Chad |
| Peake, Jason |
| Peduzzi, Alicia |
| Perren, Samuel |
| Phua, Joe |
| Piotrowski, Stacey |
| Pless, Jennie |
| Poland, Mary |
| Poproski, Ruth |
| Pringle, Catherine |
| Reed, Rachel |
| Reifsteck, Fred |
| Renwick, Margaret |
| Renzi-Hammond, Lisa |
| Roberts, Jessica |
| Rubenstein, Eric |
| Rutledge, Peter B. "Bo" |
| Saba, Corey |
| Samples, Tim |
| Santesso, Esra |
| Scheyett, Anna |
| Seock, Yoo-Kyoung |
| Severns, Paul |
| Shelton, Kisha |
| Shelton, Robin |
| Shipley, David |
| Shrivastav, Rahul |
| Sial, Ashfaq |
| Singh, Rakesh |
| Smith, Kelly |
| Smolko, Timothy |
| Spangler, Denise |
| St. Pierre, Elizabeth |
| StaRomana, Benny |
| Stigler, Stevie |
| Stone, Rebecca |
| Story, Carson |
| Summerlin, Donald |
| Taha, Thiab |
| Thomason, Olga |
| Toebben, Nick |
| Tucker, Bram |
| Turner, Pamela (substitute Goetz, Joe) |
| Vrolijk, Jake |
| Walcott, Ron |
| Wallace, Isabelle |
| Watson, Joseph |
| Watson, Richard |
| Westpheling, Janet |
| White, Elizabeth |
| Wilson, Victor |
| Winfield, Richard |
| Wojdynski, Bartosz |
| Wolf, Montgomery |
| Woods, Beth |
| Woodson, Brock |
| Worthy, Sheri |
| Wright, Bradley |
| Wurzburg, Elizabeth |
| Xiao, Qian |
| Yao, Angela |
| Zheng, George |
Voting Record of September 29, 2021 Meeting