Campus News

Proposals sought for next faculty hiring initiative

Morehead
Jere Morehead

UGA deans have been invited to submit proposals for positions to be funded or partially funded through a second Faculty Hiring Initiative, recently approved by President Michael F. Adams.

The second initiative will be conducted during the 2010-2011 academic year for appointments beginning in fall 2011.

A previous hiring initiative, announced by the president in his State of the University Address in January, resulted in 25 new positions across 12 of the university’s 16 schools and colleges.

“Despite ongoing budget issues, the senior administration has made the decision to focus our limited financial resources on rebuilding faculty ranks,” said Adams. “Faculty play a key role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of teaching, research and service, and it is crucial that we begin to replenish the ranks of tenure-track faculty that have been eroded during the budget crises of the past few years.”

Jere Morehead, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, will again work with the deans to identify critical tenured and tenure-track positions to be funded or partially funded through the special initiative.

“Depending upon budgetary conditions, I expect this latest hiring initiative will be supported by up to $2.5 million in permanent salaries and $2 million in start-up funds,” Morehead said. “We hope to hire a minimum of 25 new faculty.”

In addition, the UGA Athletic Association has provided an additional $1 million to establish four new professorships. All UGA schools and colleges are eligible to request these funds, but priority will be given to areas not previously supported by Athletic Association funding.

To ensure uniformity in the review process, an application form has been developed. Deans are requested to return the completed forms with a cover letter to the Office of the Provost no later than Sept. 3. An advisory group will be formed to review all the proposals and make recommendations to the provost.

“This second hiring initiative should be a clear indicator to the university community that faculty hiring is our top priority and that this will be a sustained effort,” said Morehead. “This initiative, like the first one, provides a special opportunity to attract some very fine talent to the University of Georgia.”

Morehead said that he and David Lee, vice president for research, want to encourage the hiring of several faculty clusters in the coming years to enhance the research enterprise and that one or two clusters may be considered in the second hiring initiative.

Questions about the proposal process should be addressed to the provost or Vice Provost Libby Morris.