University Council Minutes

02/11/2026 03:30 PM - Tate Theater, Tate Student Center

View Related Documents Online The University Council met on February 11, 2026, in the Tate Theater. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

Parliamentarian Randy Beck provided remarks on the procedures for voting and debate.
 
As the first order of business, a motion to approve the minutes of the November 19, 2025, meeting was made by Brian Seagraves and seconded by Joe Eustace. A vote was called, and the minutes were approved.
 
Before beginning his report, the President acknowledged the recent passing of UGA President Emeritus Michael Adams who passed away January 27 following a brief illness. During his 16-year tenure, Dr. Adams made a significant impact on the trajectory of the University, and the President stated he was grateful for his service and unwavering commitment to the University of Georgia’s mission. The President stated that the University’s thoughts and prayers continue to be with Dr. Adams’ wife Mary, his sons David and Taylor, and the entire family.
 
President Morehead then presented his report to the Council:

• The President began his report by offering his deepest gratitude to all Council members for their efforts to ensure a successful fall semester and wished everyone a good start to the spring semester.
• In light of the difficult winter weather challenges in recent weeks, the President thanked the many staff members in Finance and Administration, Student Affairs, Marketing and Communications, and other units who worked tirelessly to minimize disruptions and foster safe conditions across campus.
• Last week, the President presented the annual State of the University Address to the campus community. The address focused on UGA’s relentless pursuit of excellence across all areas of its land-grant and sea-grant mission. Led by this mission, the University is experiencing tremendous momentum and has celebrated several recent achievements.
• The UGA School of Medicine continues to make exceptional progress.Construction on the $100 million Medical Education and Research Building is on track for completion in December of this year. Additionally, last September, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education completed a two-day site visit evaluating the progress on several key indicators, including curriculum development, academic policies, and facilities. Dean Nuss expects to be notified by the LCME of its decision regarding preliminary accreditation status soon so that recruitment of the inaugural class of medical students can begin. 
• Last May, the University System of Georgia Board of Regents authorized the University to establish a School of Nursing, and in November, Dr. Carolyn Clevenger, a nationally recognized academic leader from Emory University, was announced as its founding dean. Dr. Clevenger began her new role on January 1. The President stated he appreciated her efforts to prepare the launch of the School of Nursing as early as fall 2027. 
• Together, the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing will expand the University’s impact and position UGA and our graduates at the forefront of improving health care outcomes across the state.
• This year, UGA set another institutional record with more than 51,000 applications for admission, an increase of roughly 8 percent over last year. Just as encouraging are UGA’s student success outcomes. Over the past decade, the percentage of first-year students returning for their sophomore year has averaged nearly 95 percent. Additionally, 90 percent of students complete their degrees within six years, making UGA one of just nine public universities in the nation to reach this mark.
• Beyond completion, UGA graduates continue to thrive after leaving campus. Career outcomes data for the Class of 2024 revealed that 95 percent of graduates are either employed or continuing their education within six months of earning their degrees.
• Meanwhile, UGA’s total R&D expenditures once again reached an all-time high, totaling $654 million in FY25, a remarkable 75% increase since 2015. The University’s commitment to service across the state, advancing economic prosperity, strengthening communities, and connecting Georgians to the resources of the flagship land-grant institution, continues to pay dividends. It was recently reported that the University generated a record economic impact of $9.2 billion on the state of Georgia last year.
• In 2025, UGA celebrated a Marshall Scholar, Truman Scholar, Knight Henessy Scholar, Udall Scholar, three Goldwater Scholars, three Schwarzmann Scholars, and seven Boren Scholars. UGA also was once again named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students, marking the seventh time in the last 12 years UGA has earned that distinction.
• The President extended his congratulations to UGA’s exceptional student-athletes for posting a record high GPA during the fall semester.
• Construction of a new first-year residence hall and the West Campus Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center is scheduled to be completed later this year. At the same time, significant progress on the multi-phase modernization of the facilities on Science and Ag Hill is being made.
• The President stated that these many accomplishments would be impossible without all of the University's faculty, staff, and students, and he thanked all in attendance at the meeting for their many contributions to this success.
• The President also expressed his thanks to the Governor, the Georgia General Assembly, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents for their steadfast support.
• This concluded the President’s report.

 The floor was then opened to the following reports:

• Executive Committee, presented by Chair Derrick Lemons
• University Curriculum Committee, presented by Chair Susan Sanchez
• Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees, presented by Chair Barbara Biesecker
• Staff Council, presented by President Rebecca Mayo
• Student Government Association, presented by President John Neely
• Graduate Student Association, presented by Vice President Aishat Aina, substituting for President Emerson Moon

The following action items were presented to the Council for consideration.

• Susan Sanchez, chair of the University Curriculum Committee, presented the following proposals:
  • Proposal for a Minor in Forensic Science. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for a Minor in Scientific Diving. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence – Language, Minds, and Machines. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Health Humanities: Health, Arts, and Society. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Industrial Bioscience Skills. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal to change the degree designation for the following majors in the Mary Frances Early College of Education from Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) to Bachelor of Science (B.S.):
    • Communication Sciences and Disorders
    • Exercise and Sport Science 
    • Sport Management. A vote was called and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal to deactivate the Minor in Biomedical Physiology. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
• Barbara Biesecker, chair of the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees, presented the following proposals:
  • Second Reading: Proposed changes to the Bylaws of the Information Technology Committee. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Second Reading: Proposed change to the University Council Bylaws: Part II: Basic Charge to Standing Committees. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Second Reading: Proposed changes to the University Council Bylaws: Membership of University Council Standing Committees. A vote was called, and the seven motions in the proposal were approved.

The following information item was submitted to the Council:

• From the Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost:
  • Renaming of the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development

There being no old or new business, the meeting adjourned at 4:04 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council
 

University Council Member	Substitute
Abernathy, Rylie (absent)
Abrams, Alexander
Aina, Aishat
Ainsworth, Scott
Alabady, Magdy
Allenspach, Karin (absent)
Amstutz, Meg (Ex-Officio)	Warnock, James
Anderson, Mumbi (absent)
Anthony, Kailyn
Auer, Matthew (Ex-Officio)
Ayers, Benjamin (Ex-Officio)
Bacon Talati, Virginia (absent)
Bankert, Alexa (absent)
Bar-Peled, Maor
Barnes, Brittany (absent)
Barnes, Jhaycee (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Bendle, Neil
Beyette, Fred
Biesecker, Barbara
Bishop, Matthew
Boakye, Eben (absent)
Bolding, Chad
Bolshoy, Daniel (absent)
Bourlai, Thirimachos
Brocato, John
Brown, Courtney
Cagliani, Rachel
Callands, Tamora
Campbell, Julie
Campbell, Marcia
Campellone, Gianni
Capuozzo, Bob
Carlson Welch, Annie
Carter, Christopher
Chambers, Katie
Chapman, Jennifer
Chapman, Nathan (absent)
Chatterjee, Santanu (Ex-Officio)	Pfarrer, Mike
Clouser, Sherry
Cohen, Susan
Colker, Ella
Colson, Gregory
Cook, Michelle (Ex-Officio)	Dexter, Marques
Coolong, Timothy
Cotterell, Michael
Coverdill, Jim
Cramer, Marianne
Crandall, Shari
Crawford, Lori
Cullen, Thomas (absent)
Damiano, Nelda
Daniel, Jeremy
Davis, Charles (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Davis, Marsha (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Day, Gregory
Diamond, David
Dixon, Cindy
Dortch, Corey (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Dumas, Denis
Dunn, Laurel
Dunnigan, Allison
Eimers, Jennifer
Elam, Amiyah
Elkins, Jennifer
Estep, Jason	Darbisi, Carolina
Eustace, Joe
Fahmy, Melissa
Farley, Alison
Farmer Ford, Kelly	Li, Feng
Farnan, Miranda
Fitt, William
Fulbright, Patrick
Fusillo, Lisa (absent)
Galiautdinov, Andry (absent)
Gallagher, Holly
Gingerella, Lauren
Gogal, Robert
Gordon, Jason
Gowda, Grace
Graff, Jennifer
Graham, Toby (Ex-Officio)
Green, Jessica
Grey, Timothy
Gupton, Timothy
Hall, Cassandra (absent)
Hamilton-Jones, Bethany
Han, Rongbin
Harman, Ruth (absent)
Healey, Lauren
Heiss, Christian
Hill, Janette (absent)
Hirt, Sonia (Ex-Officio)
Hong, Philip (Ex-Officio)
Housley, Lauren
Howe, Chad
Huang, Ching-Yu	Dunbar, Terri
Hunt, Brendan (absent)
Hunter, Mark (Ex-Officio)
Jackson, Angel	Liggett, Sharon
Jackson, Chandra (absent)
Johnson, Daniel (absent)
Jones, Stacy (Ex-Officio)
Kaixiong, Calvin
Kajder, Sara (absent)
Katiyar, Samiksha
Kazanci, Caner
Keshtgari, Manijeh
King, Christopher (Ex-Officio)	Eberhart, Derek
Kinsler, Joshua
Klein, Jared
Krause, George
Krunkosky, Thomas
Kumar, Piyush
Kurup, Samarchith (absent)
Lam, Son
Lambert, Jimmy (absent)
Landers-Potts, Melissa	Bales, Diane
Landrum, Kim
Lee, Jae-Kyung
Lee, Sungkyung
Lel, Ugur (absent)
Lemons, Derrick
Levi, Eva (absent)
Leyting, Jennifer
Liken, Fiona (Ex-Officio)
Lough, Kyser
Malladi, Anish
Mandal, Abhyuday
Marshall, Michael
Martin-Williams, Jean (absent)
Masciadri, Milton
Mastrovita, Mandy
Mayo, Rebecca (Ex-Officio)
McDaniel, Kenneth
Medlock, Amy
Meyer, Nicholas (absent)
Mishra, Abhinav
Moon, Emerson (Ex-Officio)	Cook, Dillon
Morehead, Jere (Ex-Officio)
Mori, Masaki
Morris, Kacy
Myers, Michael
Naeher, Luke
Nattanmai Parasuraman, Ramviyas
Nayla, Nishat
Neely, John (Ex-Officio)
Neighbour, Amanda
Nesbit, Ryan (Ex-Officio)
Nolan, Lisa (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Nuss, Michelle (Ex-Officio)
Olali, David (absent)
Olukosi, Oluyinka
Orlando, Ron
Orso, Alessandro (Ex-Officio)	Ramasamy, Ramaraja
Oshri, Assaf
Pagnattaro, Marisa (Ex-Officio)
Palmer, Chadwick
Parker, Sharon
Peake, Jason
Peroni, John (absent)
Perry, Hayes (absent)
Petrongelli, Amy
Petty, Jeffrey Todd (Ex-Officio)
Place, Nick (Ex-Officio)	Kopsell, Dean
Quarles, Brandon
Read, Glenna
Redmon, Melissa
Reeves, Nancee
Resutek, Robert
Rice, Jennifer
Roberts-Galbraith, Rachel
Rodrigues, Usha (Ex-Officio)
Rosenhaft, Pierce
Royer, Angie
Rubenstein, Eric
Saldanha, Terence
Sanchez, Susan
Santesso, Esra
Sargan, James	DeNino, Maureen
Sawyer, Laura	Prescott, Eileen
Saylor, Elizabeth
Schey, Ryan
Schirmer, Trenton	Fu, Joseph
Seagraves, Brian
Sen, Rik	Eaton, Greg
Seock, Yoo-Kyoung
Sharma, Suraj
Shelton, Braden (absent)
Shelton, Kisha (absent)
Shenoy, Somanath
Sial, Ashfaq
Sims, Cynthia	Freeman, Melissa
Smith, Demetrius
Smith, Kelly (Ex-Officio)
Spangler, Denise (Ex-Officio)
Sperling, Lisa
Sperr, Ed
Standifer, Alton	Weeks, Elizabeth
Standifer, Brittany
Stanton, James
Stelzleni, Alexander	Liu, Hongxiang
Stenport, Anna (Ex-Officio)
Stewart, Lawton
Stillion Southard, Belinda
Stooksbury, David	Garcia, Sonia
Tanner, Susan
Tate, Allan
Taxel, Elizabeth
Thakur, Neha (Ex-Officio)
Timian, Viki
Tolley, Beth
Turney, Justin (absent)
Urbauer, Jeff
Vallury, Sechindra (absent)
Van Rees, Charles (absent)
Villari, Caterina
Walcott, Ron (Ex-Officio)
Walker, Jennifer
Walton, Jill (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Weliweriya, Nandana  (absent)
Winter, Amy
Wolf, Montgomery
Woods, Chip
Xiong, May
Yager, Patricia
Yahyaoui Azami, Hind (absent)
Young, Catie
Zhang, Hui
Zhen, Chen
Zvonkovic, Anisa (Ex-Officio)	Geier, Charles

Voting Record for February 11, 2026, Meeting