University Council Minutes
02/16/2022 03:30 PM - Online, Zoom Webinar. Please email univcouncil@uga.edu for information.
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The University Council met on February 16, 2022, via Zoom Webinar. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Parliamentarian Usha Rodrigues provided a brief overview to remind Council members of the procedures for voting and discussion during the meeting.
As the first order of business, the president asked for a motion to approve the
minutes of the December 1, 2021, meeting. A motion was made by Elizabeth St. Pierre to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded by Jean Martin-Williams. A vote was called, and the minutes were approved with 156 in favor and 3 abstentions.
President Morehead then delivered his report to the Council:
- The president began his report by providing several updates to the Council.
- There was an increase in exposure to the Omicron variant of COVID at the beginning of the semester, but the peak has been followed by a rapid decline in positive cases. Testing at the UGA Health Center and reports from the testing of waste water show significant declines in the presence of the virus on campus.
- The president stated that the unviersity continues to provide several mitigation measures to protect the campus community from COVID variants while medical professionals and university administrators remain attentive to the impacts of the virus on campus. Cloth and KN95 facemasks are available, and the UGA Health Center will continue to offer asymptomatic testing as well as COVID vaccines to faculty, staff, and students.
- The president thanked everyone for ongoing efforts to keep the campus healthy and safe during the pandemic.
- The president extended his deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Noel Fallows who passed away in December. Dr. Fallows was a great friend and devoted member of the UGA community. He served as a faculty member and department head in Romance Languages and as an Associate Dean in the Franklin College before becoming the Associate Provost for Global Engagement. Dr. Martin Kagel has assumed the role of Interim Associate Provost for Global Engagement.
- Longtime director of the Honors Program, David Williams, announced that he would return to the faculty from his administrative post in the Morehead Honors College. Dr. Wiliams played a major role in the growth and development of the Honors Program over the years and served as the inaugural dean of the Morehead Honors College. The president thanked him for his extraordinary service. Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Chief of Staff in the Provost’s Office, Meg Amstutz, is serving as Interim Associate Provost and Dean of the Morehead Honors College as a search process gets underway.
- Vice President for Instruction Rahul Shrivastav has been selected to serve as Executive Vice President and Provost at Indiana University Bloomington. Dr. Shrivastav played a major role in a number of institutional accomplishments in recent years, including launching the experiential learning requirement, the establishment of the Exploratory Center, and significant work with faculty and deans to ensure the fulfillment of our teaching mission throughout the pandemic. Dr. Marisa Pagnattaro is serving as Interim Vice President for Instruction, and the search for a permanent vice president is underway.
- Dr. Usha Rodrigues will serve as Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dr. Sarah Covert will return to campus and provide part-time support in the Provost’s Office.
- On July 1, 2022, Dr. Philip Hong will join UGA as dean of the School of Social Work.
- Finalists for dean of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences are visiting campus. The president stated that he hopes that Council members are able to participate in those interviews.
- Applications for first-year admission continue to soar at the university. More than 39,600 applications were submitted prior to the January deadline. This represents an increase of over 85% since 2014.
- The president highlighted several items from the State of the University address provided last month. These include the expansion of mental health and well-being resources on campus; a fundraising initiative to establish more need- and merit-based scholarship endowments for graduate students; and renewing the successful ALL Georgia program for six more years.
- A key component of SACSCOC accreditation reaffirmation has been the Quality Enhancement Plan to elevate student learning and success. The subject of UGA’s Quality Enhancement Plan is active learning, and as a part of the plan, the university will invest $6 million over the next five years to institutionalize active learning across our campus. The president thanked all of those involved in the re-accreditation process.
- The General Assembly is back in session, and the House and Senate are working on a number of priorities that affect UGA.
- The Governor’s recommended budget includes several items that are top priorities for UGA, including a $5,000 cost of living raises for state employees in the amended FY 22 budget and the proposed FY 23 budget; funding to eliminate the Special Institutional Fee across the USG that will reduce costs for undergraduate and graduate students; funding for equipment to support the Poultry Science Building; funding to renovate and modernize research and innovation space on and around Science Hill. The president stated that advocating for pay increases will remain his top priority this legislative session.
- The president closed his remarks by mentioning the success that the UGA football team has had since the last Council meeting, defeating the University of Alabama to secure the College Football National Championship, UGA’s first in 41 years. The president congratulated the student athletes for their success and thanked J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks, Head Football Coach Kirby Smart, and their respective staffs for all of their work leading the football program to such a successful and memorable season.
The floor was then opened for the following reports:
The following action items were presented to the Council for consideration:
- Chair Barbara Biesecker presented the following proposal from the Executive Committee:
- Chair Susan Sanchez presented the following proposals from the University Curriculum Committee:
- Proposal for a new minor in Early Cultures. During discussion on the proposal, a motion was made by Bram Tucker that was seconded by Sarah Jantzi to send the proposal back to the University Curriculum Committee. A vote was called, and the motion to send back the proposal was approved with 106 in favor, 38 against, and 30 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health Data Fluency. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 160 in favor, 1 against, and 7 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Undergraduate Certificate in Film and Media Scoring. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 169, 2 against, and 5 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Graduate Certificate in Film and Media Scoring. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 171 in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions.
- Proposal to offer the existing Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling online. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 173 in favor, 2 against, and 5 abstentions.
- Proposal to terminate the major in Special Education (B.S.Ed.) on the Griffin campus only. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 166 in favor, 4 against, and 8 abstentions.
- Proposal to terminate the major in Social Studies Education (M.Ed.) online only. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 166 in favor, 6 against, and 7 abstentions.
- Proposal to terminate the major in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) on the Griffin campus only. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 168 in favor, 2 against, and 8 abstentions.
- Proposal for revisions to the Academic Honesty Policy. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 163 in favor, 1 against, and 13 abstentions.
- Proposal for a new Academic Affairs Policy Statement No. 23, Improvement and Documentation of Teaching Effectiveness. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 135 in favor, 8 against, and 35 abstentions.
- Chair Elizabeth St. Pierre presented the following proposals from the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees:
- First Reading: Proposal to revise the bylaws of the Facilities Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 167 in favor, 2 against, and 6 abstentions.
- First Reading: Proposal to revise the bylaws of the Program Review and Assessment Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 166 in favor, 1 against, and 8 abstentions.
- First Reading: Proposal to revise the duties of the Executive Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 158 in favor, 2 against, and 6 abstentions.
- Second Reading: Proposal to add a new duty for the chair of the Executive Committee to the Bylaws of the Executive Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 164 in favor, 1 against, and 5 abstentions.
- Second Reading: Proposal to revise the Bylaws of the Faculty/Staff Parking Appeals Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved with 165 in favor and 4 abstentions.
- President Savannah Hembree presented the following proposal from the UGA Staff Council:
There being no old or new business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council
University Council Roster
| Koushik |
Adhikari |
| Mary |
Ager |
| Sonia |
Altizer |
| Meg |
Amstutz |
| Tessa |
Andrews |
| Rebecca |
Atkins |
| Matthew |
Auer |
| Ben |
Ayers |
| Kent |
Barnett |
| Joe |
Bartges |
| Patrick |
Bewg |
| Laura |
Bierema |
| Barbara |
Biesecker |
| Danny |
Bivins |
| Sara |
Blankenship |
| Marie-Claude |
Boudreau |
| Thirimachos |
Bourlai |
| Trisha |
Branan |
| Rebecca |
Brightwell (substitute Zolinda Stoneman) |
| Benjamin |
Britton |
| John |
Brocato |
| Wayde |
Brown |
| Karen |
Burg |
| Taylor |
Cain |
| Tamora |
Callands |
| Al |
Camus |
| Tina |
Carpenter (substitute Jenny McCallen) |
| Amanda |
Caulfield |
| Margaret |
Christ |
| Ewan |
Cobran |
| Greg |
Colson |
| Kelly |
Cona |
| Joann |
Conner (substitute Rhuanito Ferrarezi) |
| Julian |
Cook |
| Michael |
Cotterell |
| Laura |
Crawley |
| Marcus |
da Cunha |
| Carolina |
Darbisi |
| Andrew |
Darley |
| Marsha |
Davis |
| Subhraleena |
Deka |
| Don |
DeMaria |
| Travis |
DeVault |
| Erin |
Dolan |
| Alan |
Dorsey |
| Kylee |
Duberstein |
| Stephan |
Durham |
| Puneet |
Dwivedi |
| Kerstin |
Emerson |
| Ellen |
Evans |
| Mark |
Farmer |
| Morgan |
Finch |
| Tim |
Foutz |
| Jennifer |
Frum |
| Joseph |
Fu |
| Nick |
Fuhrman |
| Lisa |
Fusillo |
| Jim |
Garrett |
| Brenna |
Gassman |
| Chris |
Gerlach |
| Travis |
Glenn |
| Adam |
Goodie |
| Leslie |
Gordon |
| Toby |
Graham |
| Dale |
Greene |
| Jasmine |
Gresham |
| Timothy |
Grey |
| Mary |
Guay |
| Mussie |
Habteselassie |
| Rebecca |
Hallman Martini |
| Lindsey |
Harding |
| Stephen |
Harvey |
| Savannah |
Hembree |
| Kendall |
Henry |
| Nik |
Heynen |
| Daniel |
Hill |
| Janette |
Hill |
| Sonia |
Hirt |
| S. Jack |
Hu |
| Hilary |
Hughes |
| Hilary |
Hughes |
| Tarik |
Itum |
| Alli |
Injaian |
| Kevin |
James |
| Sarah |
Jantzi |
| Kristina |
Jaskyte Bahr |
| Diann |
Jones |
| Shana |
Jones |
| Stephanie |
Jones |
| Nassim |
Joorabchi |
| Haley |
Klass |
| William |
Lanzilotta |
| Erin |
Leach |
| Brendan |
Leahy |
| Monique |
Leclerc |
| Derrick |
Lemons |
| Donald |
Leo |
| Zachary |
Lewis |
| Fiona |
Liken |
| Laura |
Little |
| Mary Nichols |
Lollis |
| Grayson |
Loudermilk |
| Nicholas |
Magnan |
| Sharina |
Maillo-Pozo |
| Anish |
Malladi |
| Anthony |
Mallon |
| Daniel |
Markewitz |
| Carter |
Marks |
| Michael |
Marshall |
| Jean |
Martin-Williams |
| Walt |
McBride |
| D. Ray |
McClellan |
| Jamie |
McClung |
| Bill |
McDonald |
| Brittany |
McHale |
| Danny |
Mead |
| Alexander |
Medina |
| Khushi |
Mehta |
| Kristina |
Meichner |
| Aaron |
Meskin |
| Kristen |
Miller |
| Marie |
Mitchell |
| Sheba |
MohanKumar |
| Chris |
Mojock |
| George |
Moore |
| Myra |
Moore (substitute Annette Poulsen) |
| Jere |
Morehead |
| Alison |
Morrison |
| Emily |
Mouilso |
| Artur |
Muszynski |
| Ryan |
Nesbit (substitute James Shore) |
| Jeff |
Netter |
| Lisa |
Nolan |
| Shelley |
Nuss |
| Joseph |
Olmsted |
| Marisa |
Pagnattaro (substitute William Vencill) |
| Chad |
Palmer |
| Parth |
Patel |
| Chad |
Paton |
| Jason |
Peake |
| Alicia |
Peduzzi |
| Sam |
Perren |
| Joe |
Phua |
| Stacey |
Piotrowski |
| Nick |
Place |
| Jennie |
Pless |
| Mary |
Poland |
| Ruth |
Poproski |
| Catherine |
Pringle |
| Rachel |
Reed |
| Fred |
Reifsteck |
| Margaret |
Renwick |
| Lisa |
Renzi-Hammond |
| Rosanna |
Rivero |
| Jessica |
Roberts |
| Eric |
Rubenstein |
| Bo |
Rutledge |
| Corey |
Saba |
| Eman |
Saleh |
| Tim |
Samples |
| Esra |
Santesso |
| Yoo-Kyoung |
Seock |
| Paul |
Severns |
| Kisha |
Shelton |
| David |
Shipley |
| Ashfaq |
Sial |
| Rakesh |
Singh |
| Mary |
Sinsheimer |
| Jacek |
Siry |
| Kelly |
Smith |
| Tim |
Smolko |
| Denise |
Spangler |
| Elizabeth |
St. Pierre |
| Benny |
StaRomana |
| Rebecca |
Stone |
| Carson |
Story |
| Donald |
Summerlin |
| Elizabeth |
Swift |
| Thiab |
Taha |
| Olga |
Thomason |
| Nick |
Toebben |
| Bram |
Tucker |
| Pamela |
Turner |
| Ron |
Walcott (substitute Anne Shaffer) |
| Isabelle |
Wallace |
| Joseph |
Watson |
| Richard |
Watson |
| Jan |
Westpheling |
| Elizabeth |
White |
| Victor |
Wilson |
| Bart |
Wojdynski |
| Montgomery |
Wolf |
| Beth |
Woods |
| C. Brock |
Woodson |
| Sheri |
Worthy |
| Bradley |
Wright |
| Beth |
Wurzburg |
| Qian |
Xiao (substitute Ting Zhang) |
| Angela |
Yao |
| Chen |
Zhen |
| Y. George |
Zheng |
Voting Record of February 16, 2022, Meeting