State of the University
Last year, the University of West Georgia enjoyed its centennial and celebrated its history, heritage, and traditions. Now, in the first year of the University’s second century, we look ahead to a bright future. This report on the “State of the University” is a report card on where we are and a forecast as to where we are headed.
For me, the 2007-08 school year began for me as it always does – helping students move into their residence halls. I insist that I am not getting older, but I have observed that students’ suitcases and boxes have grown heavier over the years. Like our students, I was also preparing myself for the first day of classes. For the 14th straight year, ever since I first arrived at West Georgia, I have been teaching a class. In fact, all the University’s other top administrators, including the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and all of the deans, teach a course each year. We don’t just pay lip service to the University motto of “Educational Excellence in a Personal Environment” – we put it into practice every day with our time, energies, and personal commitment to our students.
And there have never been more students at the University of West Georgia. The word is out—this is the place to be! In August we welcomed a record-setting 1800 new freshmen. We now have the largest student body in our history – a total of 10,677 students.
October 8, 9, and 10 were busy days on campus, as we welcomed to West Georgia campus the University System of Georgia Chancellor and Board of Regents. In my formal presentation to the Board, I focused on the University System’s Strategic Plan and how the University of West Georgia will play a pivotal role in implementing the six goals of that plan. This presentation and the Executive Summary of the University’s strengths and achievements provided hard evidence to the Regents that we are well deserving of their faith and support.
The University of West Georgia will play an increasingly important role in the University System of Georgia. As a first step toward meeting the goals of the USG strategic plan, the Regents have designated a “robust tier” of four doctoral comprehensive universities. These are Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University, Valdosta State University, and – you guessed it, the University of West Georgia. As a member of this “robust tier,” West Georgia will face new and greater challenges – and opportunities – than ever before. These challenges and opportunities are summarized in a PowerPoint presentation I gave to the University community entitled “Our Changing World.”
The University of West Georgia is strong and growing stronger. We are poised on the threshold of an exciting new chapter in our history. Our most recent kudos and achievements are a good indication of where we are and where we are headed:
- Visiting English Professor Paul Guest has been selected to receive a $50,000 Whiting Writers’ Award, given to “emerging writers of exceptional talent and promise” by the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation.
- James Magazine named UWG as a top 10 pick in four categories in its third annual “Ranking Georgia’s Colleges and Universities” publication and is mentioned as “an institution of note.” In the James Top Political Science/Governmental Affairs Programs in Georgia category, UWG ranked sixth out of 10 universities in Georgia. Other rankings were seven out of 10 in the People’s Choice Based on Academic and Overall Reputation category and a ninth place in the Institution Georgians Most Identify Themselves With As To Interest, Support and Favorable Opinion category. The university also received a ranking of tenth in the National Rankings of Georgia’s Top Institutions.
- The University System of Georgia awarded the Love Valley/Campus Center the 2007 Award of Excellence. The award was given for the way in which the Campus Center blends with Love Valley and makes use of green space.
- Professor Sharmistha Basu-Dutt has been named to receive the Regents Award for Excellence in Teaching in March, 2008.
- West Georgia has qualified for the National Debate Tournament for 35 consecutive years.
- Every year since 2002, West Georgia cheerleaders have won national championships.
- For the eighth time in the last ten years, UWG has had more Honors students’ research proposals accepted for presentation at the National Collegiate Honors Council than any other U.S. college or university – truly a “Decade of Dominance.”
- The Princeton Review ranked the Richards College of Business in The Best 282 Business Schools in 2007 and is expected to do so again in 2008.
- In 2007 the University of West Georgia moved up one tier among master’s universities in the south in U.S. News and World Report’s rankings.
- For the fifth consecutive year, West Georgia has been recognized in the Princeton Review as a Best Southwestern College of 2008.
- West Georgia has by far the greatest number of students in the entire University System taking e-core courses, accounting for about 39% of the entire USG enrollment.
- In May 2008 Honors student Ajay Pillai will graduate at the age of 17, the youngest ever bachelor’s graduate in the University System of Georgia.
- In 2007 the AAAS (American Academy for the Advancement of Science) awarded its first-ever Science Education Prize for High School Teachers to Chris Kennedy, West Georgia M.Ed. 2001.
- Logan Leslie, a 2007 Honors College graduate with a B.S. in Chemistry, is attending Stanford University on a full scholarship. Among his extensive record of scholarly achievements was his selection for a Gates-Cambridge Scholarship, one of the most prestigious in the world.
- The College of Education’s new instructional laboratory is designed to improve science and mathematics teaching in the elementary and middle school classroom.
- Construction has begun on a new Health and Wellness Building, which is on schedule to open in December 2008.
- A major renovation and addition to the Callaway Geosciences Building is expected to be completed by August 2008.
- Plans are being updated for the projected football stadium and athletics complex, and we anticipate playing our first home game in the new stadium in the Fall of 2009.
- With the land transfer of 246 acres from the City of Carrollton – and the possibility of an additional 1300 acres, the University of West Georgia has ample room for orderly growth to serve the growing educational needs of the Atlanta metro area.
