Presidential recruitment initiatives that will bring up to 25 new faculty members to campus are underway at the University of Georgia to increase research activity and give students more opportunities to enhance their writing and data literacy skills.
Up to 12 tenure-track faculty members will be recruited through a new $3 million initiative that provides schools and colleges with startup funds that enable faculty members to launch their research programs at UGA. In addition, up to 13 lecturers and tenure-track faculty members will be hired through a $1 million presidential hiring initiative to teach courses in discipline-specific writing and data literacy. The two new presidential initiatives complement existing faculty searches that are underway in schools and colleges across campus.
“These initiatives are fueled by two of this institution’s top priorities: enhancing our learning environment and solving grand challenges for our state and the world,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “Continuing to build the strength of our faculty is essential to helping UGA reach new heights of excellence in these key areas.”
The Presidential Support for Startup Initiative builds on the momentum of the university’s dramatic growth in research activity, which has increased by 29 percent over the past five years. In addition, it will give students more opportunities to conduct faculty-mentored research in a range of fields.
The Presidential Investment in Data Literacy and Intensive Writing Hiring Initiative stems from two recommendations of the UGA Task Force on Student Learning and Success. Based on a review of the literature in higher education and workforce trends, the 20 members of the task force concluded that data literacy and writing are critical competencies for undergraduate students. To enable a greater emphasis on discipline-specific needs in these areas, searches for tenure-track faculty and lecturers are underway in 10 schools and colleges.
The initiatives are part of a series of strategic investments in faculty since 2013 that have helped reduce class sizes and recruit faculty who conduct research that advances the university’s Great Commitments of healthier people, a more secure future and stronger communities.
“The university’s consistent record of investing in faculty members underscores our commitment to providing students and the state we serve with life-changing instruction, research and service,” said Interim Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Libby V. Morris. “Investments in faculty members are investments in the future of this institution.”
