University Council Minutes
03/15/2023 03:30 PM - Tate Theater, Tate Student Center
View Related Documents Online
The University Council met on March 15, 2023, in the Tate Theater. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. Parliamentarian Usha Rodrigues provided remarks regarding the voting and debate procedures for the meeting to the Council.
As the first order of business, the president asked for a motion to approve the
minutes of the November 30, 2022, meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Stephen Harvey and was seconded by David Okech. A motion was made by Scott Nelson to amend the minutes that was not approved. A vote was then called, and the minutes were approved.
President Morehead then delivered his report to the Council:
- The president began his report by stating that he hoped faculty and students enjoyed Spring Break and that staff members enjoyed the Staff Appreciation Event that took place in the Tate Student Center.
- The president then updated Council members on several recent announcements:
- Vice President for Student Affairs Victor Wilson has announced his retirement as of September 30 of this year. He has served as Vice President for Student Affairs for the past 10 years but has served his alma mater in a number of roles over the last 40 plus years. To solidify his legacy on the UGA campus, the president announced a campaign to name the Memorial Hall Ballroom in his honor. Senior Vice Provost Michelle Cook has been named the next Vice President for Student Affairs.
- Kevin Abernethy has been named the new Vice President for Government Relations.
- Dr. Alan Dorsey will be returning to the faculty after leading the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences as dean since 2012. Dr. Anna Stenport, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Rochester Institute of Technology, has been named the next dean of the Franklin College. She will join the UGA faculty as the University of Georgia Athletic Association Professor in Communication Studies on April 1 and will assume the role of dean on June 1.
- Dr. Dan Silk, Chief of the UGA Police Department, has been named Associate Vice President for Public Safety effective March 1.
- Kelly Kerner, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations, will step down at the end of March to become the chief philanthropy officer of Piedmont Health System. He has made significant contributions to the university during his time at UGA, including his leadership of the Commit to Georgia campaign, which was the largest fundraising initiative in the university’s history and helped secure over 3,600 scholarships, nearly 100 endowed professorships, and significant support for new and renovated facilities. Jill Walton will serve as interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations beginning April 1.
- The president highlighted several measures from this year’s State of the University Address for the Council:
- Investing in classroom renovations, faculty training, and student programming in support of the Active Learning Initiative.
- Continuing to build the strength of faculty to drive discoveries that improve the world.
- Launching a Field Study Fellows Program in June to help faculty develop a suite of new field study programs.
- Committing an additional $1 million to support and expand experiential learning scholarships.
- Launching the new Connect and Complete program to assist students experiencing academic difficulties and at risk of early withdrawal.
- Piloting a project to assist third- and fourth-year students who are in good academic standing but who face growing financial challenges.
- Developing the one-stop shop this spring and summer, with a launch planned by fall 2023 to consolidate key services utilized by students.
- Continuing to recruit and retain excellent staff by investing another $200,000 in the Engage & Learn program to address critical workforce and development needs across the campus.
- Launching the Innovation District’s newest initiative, the UGA Industry Ambassador Program to further strengthen industry engagement.
- The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs named the University of Georgia a top producer of Fulbright students, marking the fifth time in 11 years that the university has received this recognition.
- UGA recently ranked number 2 among U.S. universities sending new products to market. This is the seventh straight year that UGA has been among the top two in this category.
- UGA was also recognized once again as the top military friendly tier 1 research university.
- Track and field student athletes had a strong showing in the NCAA nationals that took place in Arizona. The men’s team recorded their best finish in program history, finishing as the national champion runner-up, while the women’s team secured their second fifth place finish in three years.
- The president congratulated Coach Abe and the Women’s Basketball team for making the NCAA tournament.
- The Georgia General Assembly remains 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 the University of Georgia, including:
- $2,000 cost of living raises for all full-time, benefit-eligible state employees.
- Funding to support growing health care costs.
- Additional support for the Hope Scholarship program.
- Equipment funding for Phase I and construction funding for Phase II of the Science and Ag Hill Modernization project.
- Design, construction, and equipment funding for Phase I of the Poultry Science Complex renovation.
- The president stated that advocating for pay increases will remain his top priority this legislative session.
- Admissions decisions for the fall 2023 class will be released soon, and the president stated he looked forward to sharing more about what is shaping up to be another strong class at the next Council meeting.
- This concluded the president’s report.
The floor was then opened for the following reports:
The following action items were presented to the Council for consideration:
- Susan Sanchez, chair of the University Curriculum Committee, presented the following proposals:
- Proposal to deactivate the Undergraduate Certificate in Disaster Management. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal to deactivate the major in Dance (B.F.A.). Following discussion, a vote was called and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal for a new minor in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal for a new minor in Forestry. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal for a new minor in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal for a new minor in Wildlife Sciences. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal to offer the existing major in Special Education (M.A.T.) with an Area of Emphasis in General Curriculum online. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal to make the following changes in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Proposal to change the name of the major in Animal Science (B.S.A.) to Animal and Dairy Science (B.S.A.)
- Proposal to terminate the major in Dairy Science (B.S.A.).
- Proposal for a new major in Animal Biosciences (B.S.A.). A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- Barbara Biesecker, chair of the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees, presented the following proposals:
- First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the University Council Bylaws: Program Review and Assessment Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
- First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the University Council Bylaws: Faculty Post-Tenure Review Appeals Committee. An extensive discussion occurred on the proposal. During discussion, a motion was made by Joseph Fu to add to the end of the last sentence in item number 3 the phrase, “and that any disciplinary action is based on a finding of incompetence.” The motion was seconded by Daniel Markewitz. During debate on the motion to amend, a motion was made by Margaret Renwick to amend the language in the motion made by Joseph Fu to, “In case the remedial action includes dismissal that dismissal must be based on a finding of incompetence.” The motion was seconded by Joseph Fu. A vote was called, and the motion was approved. Discussion concluding on Joseph Fu’s original motion to amend the proposal, a vote was called and the motion was defeated. A vote was then called on the main proposal, and the proposal was approved.
- First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the University Council Bylaws: Staff Council. Savannah Hembree made a motion to pull the proposal from the agenda for further consideration. The motion was seconded by David Okech. A vote was called, and the motion was approved.
- First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the University Council Bylaws. Following a discussion on the proposal, a vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
There being no old or new business, the meeting adjourned at 4:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council
| Council Member Name |
Name of Substitute |
| Addison, Donald |
|
| Altizer, Sonia (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Andrews, Tessa |
|
| Archuleta, Kristy |
|
| Atkins, Rebecca |
|
| Auer, Matthew (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Ayers, Benjamin (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Barnett, Kent |
|
| Barnett, Mason |
Cruz Willis |
| Bartges, Joe |
|
| Beer, Jenay |
|
| Biesecker, Barbara |
|
| Birgisson, Bjorn |
|
| Blankenship, Sara |
Matthew Seivert |
| Boudreau, Maric |
|
| Bourlai, Thirimachos |
Haijian Sun |
| Bouwman, Kimberley |
|
| Branan, Trisha |
|
| Britton, Benjamin |
|
| Brocato, John |
|
| Burg, Karen (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Cain, Taylor |
|
| Camus, Al |
|
| Carlson Welch, Annie |
Shari Crandall |
| Carpenter, Tina |
|
| Carters, Rayna |
|
| Cherkinsky, Alexander |
|
| Chess, Shira |
|
| Christ, Margaret |
|
| Colson, Gregory |
|
| Cook, Michelle |
|
| Cotterell, Michael |
|
| Cullen, Thomas |
|
| Darley, Andrew |
|
| Davis, Brad |
|
| Davis, Marsha (Ex-Officio) |
Erin Lipp |
| DeMaria, Don |
|
| DeVault, Travis |
|
| Dorsey, Alan (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Duberstein, Kylee |
|
| Ehlers, Benjamin |
|
| Emerson, Kerstin |
|
| Farmer, Mark |
|
| Ferreira, Susana |
Berna Karali |
| Fu, Joseph |
|
| Fuhrman, Nick |
Joseph Dahlen |
| Gerlach, Chris |
|
| Glenn, Travis |
|
| Gottdenker, Nicole |
|
| Graham, Toby (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Greene, Dale (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Grey, Timothy |
|
| Gueneli, Berna |
Alexander Sager |
| Hall, Cassandra |
|
| Halper, Edward |
|
| Hammock, Alexandra |
|
| Hanawalt, Christina |
|
| Harvey, Stephen |
|
| Hembree, Savannah (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Henriott, Bryson (Ex-Officio) |
Emily Prosser |
| Herndon, Keith |
|
| Hirt, Sonia |
|
| Holladay, Steven |
|
| Hong, Philip (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Hu, Jack (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Injaian, Allison |
Lewis Bartlett |
| Jantzi, Sarah |
Hai Pan |
| Ji, Pengsheng |
|
| Jones, Diann |
|
| Jones, Shana |
|
| Jones, Stephanie |
|
| Jones, Tom |
|
| Ke, Yuan |
|
| Kempski, Jeffrey |
|
| Lakuriqi, Enkeleida |
|
| Leach, Erin |
|
| Leahy, Brendan |
|
| Leo, Donald |
|
| Liken, Fiona |
|
| Lindgren, Kate |
Claire Myers |
| Little, Laura |
|
| Lollis, Mary Nichols |
|
| Madonna, Anthony |
|
| Maillo-Pozo, Sharina |
|
| Malladi, Anish |
|
| Manning, Frank |
|
| Markewitz, Daniel |
|
| Marotta, Anthony |
|
| Martin-Williams, Jean |
Skip Taylor |
| Mason, Charlotte |
|
| Mason, William |
|
| Matthews, Paul |
|
| McBride, Walt |
|
| Medeiros, Patricia |
|
| Meskin, Aaron |
|
| Miller, Kristen |
|
| Mojock, Christopher |
Ginny Frederick |
| Moore, Myra |
|
| Morrison, Alison |
|
| Mouilso, Emily |
|
| Muszynski, Artur |
|
| Navara, Kristen |
|
| Nelson, Scott |
|
| Nesbit, Ryan (Ex-Officio) |
James Shore |
| Netter, Jeff |
Annette Poulsen |
| Nolan, Lisa (Ex-Officio) |
Jesse Hostetter |
| Nuss, Michelle (Ex-Officio) |
Clive Slaughter |
| Okech, David |
|
| Pagnattaro, Marisa (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Palmer, Chadwick |
|
| Park, Andrew |
|
| Peduzzi, Alicia |
|
| Peroni, John |
|
| Perren, Samuel |
|
| Peterson, Thomas |
|
| Place, Nick (Ex-Officio) |
Josef Broder |
| Poland, Mary |
|
| Poproski, Ruth |
|
| Poulson, Rebecca |
|
| Pringle, Catherine |
|
| Reed, Rachel |
|
| Renwick, Margaret |
|
| Renzi-Hammond, Lisa |
|
| Rice, Jennifer |
|
| Roberts, Jessica |
|
| Rodgers, Lauren |
|
| Rogers, Toni |
|
| Royer, Angie |
|
| Rutledge, Peter B. "Bo" (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Saleh, Eman |
|
| Samples, Tim |
|
| Santesso, Esra |
|
| Sartorato, Matt |
Marena Fleming |
| Severns, Paul |
|
| Sheagley, Geoffrey |
|
| Shelton, Kisha |
|
| Shipley, David |
|
| Singh, Rakesh |
|
| Smith, Kelly (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Smolenski, Craig |
|
| Smolko, Timothy |
|
| Spangler, Denise (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Sperling, Lisa |
|
| St. Pierre, Elizabeth |
|
| Stone, Rebecca |
|
| Taha, Thiab |
|
| Templin, Dawson |
|
| Tucker, Bram |
|
| Turner, Pamela |
|
| Walcott, Ron (Ex-Officio) |
Anne Shaffer |
| Watson, Richard |
|
| Westpheling, Janet |
|
| White, Elizabeth |
|
| Wieling, Elizabeth |
|
| Wilson, Victor (Ex-Officio) |
|
| Wolf, Montgomery |
|
| Woods, Beth |
|
| Worthy, Sheri |
|
| Wright, Bradley |
|
| Wurzburg, Elizabeth |
|
| Xiao, Qian |
|
| Yao, Angela |
|
| Zhao, Dehai |
|
| Zhen, Chen |
Mateusz Filipski |
| Zheng, George |
|
| Zvonkovic, Anisa (Ex-Officio) |
Allisen Penn |
| |
|
Voting Record of March 15, 2023, Meeting