University Council Minutes

04/15/2026 03:30 PM - Tate Theater, Tate Student Center

View Related Documents Online The University Council met on April 15, 2026, in the Tate Theater. A quorum being present, President Jere Morehead called the meeting to order at 3:34 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 March 18, 2026, 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 extended his deepest thanks to Associate Vice President for Instruction and University Registrar Fiona Liken, who is retiring from the University of Georgia on June 1 after nearly four decades of service to the University. The President led the University Council in congratulating her on her retirement.
 
President Morehead then delivered his report to the Council:

• Earlier this month, Honors Week was celebrated and honored the University’s exceptional faculty, staff, students, and alumni for their outstanding work during the past year. The President congratulated all of those who were recognized for their extraordinary achievements and thanked those who helped to organize this important event.
• The President congratulated Dr. Ed Pavlic, a Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of English, who has been awarded a 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship.This award recognizes his extraordinary career achievements and exceptional promise in future research.
• The President also congratulated Vaughn Frost and Annie Mehta on their selection as UGA’s newest Goldwater Scholars. They are among 454 students nationally to receive the Goldwater Scholarship, the highest undergraduate award of its type in the fields of mathematics, engineering, and natural sciences.
• Last month, UGA Miracle hosted its 31st annual Dance Marathon. The 13 and a half hour event raised over $1.4 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and involved over 2,000 students, faculty, staff, and community partners committed to improving children’s health.
• On March 27, the University of Georgia’s annual giving day, Dawg Day of Giving, set a single-day record for the fifth year in a row, with over 13,000 gifts totaling $8.5 million.
• The Georgia General Assembly has concluded this year’s legislative session, and several measures were approved that will impact the University of Georgia, which are still subject to the Governor’s final approval. The FY27 budget includes $3 million in equipment funds for Phase 3 of the Science and Ag Hill Modernization project as well as $34.5 million in construction funding for Phase 4 of this multi-year capital initiative. The budget also includes $9.5 million in funding for the new School of Medicine and funds for several small capital projects across the University.
• The Amended FY26 Budget, which was approved earlier in the legislative session and signed by the Governor, included major repair and rehabilitation funds, support for the design and planning of a new School of Nursing facility, and critical start-up funding for the UGA School of Medicine.
• The President thanked the Governor, the General Assembly, the Chancellor, and the Board of Regents for their tremendous support of the University of Georgia during this year’s legislative session.
• Reading Day is April 28, followed by final exams and Spring Commencement.
• Commencement exercises will begin at Stegeman Coliseum on Thursday, May 7, for those earning graduate degrees. The undergraduate ceremony will take place on Friday, May 8, in Sanford Stadium. Dr. Meg Amstutz, Dean of the Morehead Honors College, will deliver the graduate commencement address. D.J. Shockley, a highly awarded former University of Georgia and Atlanta Falcons quarterback and TV commentator, will serve as the undergraduate commencement speaker.
• The President closed his report by thanking all Council members for the work they have done to help and serve students across campus each day.
• This concluded the President’s report.

The floor was then opened to the following reports:

• Executive Committee, presented by Chair Derrick Lemons
• Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, presented by Chair Derrick Lemons
• USG Faculty Council, presented by USG Faculty Council Representative Derrick Lemon
• 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 Trey Wilson
• Graduate Student Association, presented by President Ankush Sharma

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 Biomedical Regulatory Sciences. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for the following changes in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
    • Proposal for a Minor in Tourism Management
    • Proposal to change the name of the existing Minor in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management to the Minor in Parks Management
  • Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Corporate Communications. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Undergraduate Certificate in Gender and Health. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Online Graduate Certificate in Animal Health Regulations. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Online Graduate Certificate in Biopharmaceutical Regulations. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Online Graduate Certificate in Foundations in Veterinary Pathology. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for an Online Graduate Certificate in Medical Device and Technologies Regulations. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal for a Graduate Certificate in Relational Therapy Practice. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal from the College of Pharmacy to terminate the following graduate certificates:
    • Graduate Certificate in Clinical Residency in Pharmacy: PGY-1
    • Graduate Certificate in Clinical Residency in Pharmacy: PGY-2. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposal from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to offer the following seven existing majors at external campuses. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
    • Animal and Dairy Sciences (M.S. Thesis, M.S. Non-Thesis, Ph.D.) on the Tifton Campus
    • Crop and Soil Sciences (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin and Tifton Campuses
    • Entomology (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin and Tifton Campuses
    • Food Science (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin Campus
    • Horticulture (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin and Tifton Campuses
    • Plant Pathology (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin and Tifton Campuses
    • Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics (M.S., Ph.D.) on the Griffin and Tifton Campuses.
  • Proposal for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.). A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
• Elizabeth St. Pierre, Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee, presented the following proposals:
  • Proposed Revision of the UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
  • Proposed Revision of the UGA Guidelines for Appointment and Promotion of Academic Professionals. A vote was called, and the proposal was approved.
• Barbara Biesecker, Chair of the Committee on Statutes, Bylaws, and Committees, presented the following proposal:
  • First Reading: Proposed Revisions to the University Council Bylaws. Votes were called on the motions contained in the proposal and all motions were approved.

The following information item was presented by Dr. Alton Standifer and Dr. Nathan Moore:

• UGA Five-Year Strategic Plan Report

 
There being no old or new business, the meeting adjourned at 4:18 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Fiona Liken, Registrar
Secretary to University Council

 

University Council Member	Substitute
Abernathy, Rylie (absent)
Abrams, Alexander
Ackerman, Troup
Aina, Aishat (absent)
Ainsworth, Scott	Stauffer, Katelyn
Alabady, Magdy  (absent)
Allenspach, Karin (absent)
Amstutz, Meg (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Anderson, Mumbi
Anthony, Kailyn
Auer, Matthew (Ex-Officio)
Ayers, Benjamin (Ex-Officio)
Bacon Talati, Virginia
Bankert, Alexa (absent)
Bar-Peled, Maor
Barnes, Brittany
Barnes, Jhaycee (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Bendle, Neil
Beyette, Fred
Biesecker, Barbara
Bishop, Matthew
Boakye, Eben (absent)
Bolding, Chad	Da Silva, Bruno
Bolshoy, Daniel (absent)
Bourlai, Thirimachos (absent)
Brocato, John
Brown, Courtney
Cagliani, Rachel
Callands, Tamora
Campbell, Julie
Campbell, Marcia
Campellone, Gianni
Capuozzo, Bob
Carlson Welch, Annie
Carter, Christopher	Nix, Calvin
Chambers, Katie
Chapman, Jennifer (absent)
Chapman, Nathan (absent)
Chatterjee, Santanu (Ex-Officio)
Clouser, Sherry	Jones, Nicole
Cohen, Susan
Colker, Ella
Colson, Gregory
Cook, Michelle (Ex-Officio)
Coolong, Timothy	McGregor, Cecilia
Cotterell, Michael
Coverdill, Jim (absent)
Cramer, Marianne	Wane, Qione
Crandall, Shari
Crawford, Lori
Damiano, Nelda
Daniel, Jeremy
Davis, Charles (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Davis, Marsha (Ex-Officio)	Easley, Charles
Day, Gregory
Diamond, David
Dixon, Cindy
Dortch, Corey (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Dumas, Denis
Dunn, Laurel
Dunnigan, Allison
Eimers, Jennifer	Tiller, Lori
Elam, Amiyah (absent)
Elkins, Jennifer
Estep, Jason
Eustace, Joe
Fahmy, Melissa
Farley, Alison
Farmer Ford, Kelly	Dunbar, Terri
Farnan, Miranda (absent)
Fitt, William (absent)
Franklin, Dory
Fulbright, Patrick
Fusillo, Lisa
Galiautdinov, Andry
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	Leahy, Brendan
Heiss, Christian	Mulamoottil, Varughese
Hill, Janette (absent)
Hirt, Sonia (Ex-Officio)
Hong, Philip (Ex-Officio)	Lee, Hee Yun
Housley, Lauren
Howe, Chad (absent)
Huang, Ching-Yu
Hunt, Brendan (absent)
Hunter, Mark (Ex-Officio)
Jackson, Angel
Jackson, Chandra
Johnson, Daniel (absent)
Jones, Stacy (Ex-Officio)
Kaixiong, Calvin
Kajder, Sara (absent)
Katiyar, Samiksha
Kazanci, Caner (absent)
Keshtgari, Manijeh (absent)
King, Christopher (Ex-Officio)
Kinsler, Joshua
Klein, Jared
Krause, George (absent)
Krunkosky, Thomas
Kumar, Piyush (absent)
Kurup, Samarchith (absent)
Lam, Son
Lambert, Jimmy
Landers-Potts, Melissa
Landrum, Kim
Lee, Jae-Kyung (absent)
Lee, Sungkyung
Lel, Ugur
Lemons, Derrick
Levi, Eva (absent)
Levinson, Jan
Leyting, Jennifer
Liken, Fiona (Ex-Officio)
Lough, Kyser (absent)
Malladi, Anish
Mandal, Abhyuday
Marshall, Michael
Martin-Williams, Jean
Masciadri, Milton
Mastrovita, Mandy
Mayo, Rebecca (Ex-Officio)
McDaniel, Kenneth (absent)
Medlock, Amy
Meyer, Nicholas (absent)
Mishra, Abhinav (absent)
Moon, Emerson (Ex-Officio)	Sharma, Ankush
Morehead, Jere (Ex-Officio)
Mori, Masaki
Morris, Kacy
Myers, Michael
Naeher, Luke
Nattanmai Parasuraman, Ramviyas
Nayla, Nishat
Neely, John (Ex-Officio)	Wilson, Trey
Neighbour, Amanda
Nesbit, Ryan (Ex-Officio)
Nolan, Lisa (Ex-Officio) (absent)
Nuss, Michelle (Ex-Officio)
Olali, David
Olukosi, Oluyinka
Orlando, Ron (absent)
Orso, Alessandro (Ex-Officio)	Ramasamy, Ramaraja
Oshri, Assaf	Kogan, Steven
Pagnattaro, Marisa (Ex-Officio)
Palmer, Chadwick
Parker, Sharon
Peake, Jason (absent)
Peroni, John (absent)
Perry, Hayes (absent)
Petrongelli, Amy
Petty, Jeffrey Todd (Ex-Officio)
Place, Nick (Ex-Officio)
Quarles, Brandon
Read, Glenna
Redmon, Melissa
Reeves, Nancee (absent)
Resutek, Robert
Rice, Jennifer (absent)
Roberts-Galbraith, Rachel
Rodrigues, Usha (Ex-Officio)
Rosenhaft, Pierce (absent)
Royer, Angie
Rubenstein, Eric	Borron, Abigail
Saldanha, Terence
Sanchez, Susan
Santesso, Esra
Sargan, James	Babinski, Paul
Sawyer, Laura
Saylor, Elizabeth
Schey, Ryan
Schirmer, Trenton	Fu, Joseph
Seagraves, Brian
Sen, Rik
Seock, Yoo-Kyoung
Sharma, Suraj
Shelton, Braden (absent)
Shelton, Kisha
Shenoy, Somanath
Sial, Ashfaq
Sims, Cynthia
Smith, Demetrius
Smith, Kelly (Ex-Officio)
Spangler, Denise (Ex-Officio)
Sperling, Lisa	Thrift, Zach
Sperr, Ed
Standifer, Alton
Standifer, Brittany (absent)
Stanton, James	Garner, Bridget
Stelzleni, Alexander
Stenport, Anna (Ex-Officio)	Lemons, Paula
Stewart, Lawton
Stillion Southard, Belinda
Stooksbury, David (absent)
Tanner, Susan (absent)
Tate, Allan
Taxel, Elizabeth
Thakur, Neha (Ex-Officio)
Timian, Viki
Tolley, Beth
Urbauer, Jeff
Vallury, Sechindra	Carver, Scott
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 (absent)
Yahyaoui Azami, Hind
Young, Catie (absent)
Zhang, Hui
Zhen, Chen
Zvonkovic, Anisa (Ex-Officio)	Geier, Charles

Voting Record of April 15, 2026, Meeting