The University of Georgia is moving forward with plans to expand support for first-year and transfer students. The plans follow three recommendations made by the Presidential Task Force on Student Learning and Success in its final report to UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
Included in the plans are the expansion of the monthlong residential Freshman College Summer Experience to support more underserved students, establishment of a campus-wide Council on the First-Year Experience and creation of a working group to bolster resources and programs for transfer students.
“These initiatives build upon our existing successful first-year programs that help acclimate new students to UGA,” said Rahul Shrivastav, vice president for instruction. “This will significantly transform how the university offers support to underserved students.”
The task force recommended steps to make the Freshman College Summer Experience more accessible to first-generation, Pell Grant-eligible and rural students. The university is implementing plans to make this recommendation a reality by summer 2018 as part of a comprehensive approach to facilitate a successful transition for all first-year students.
Following another task force recommendation, Morehead is establishing a campus-wide Council on the First-Year Experience. This new council will foster collaboration among various offices that offer first-year programs and services and provide a centralized information resource for students and their families. The group will be co-chaired by Associate Vice President for Instruction Naomi Norman and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Michele Howard.
The task force also recommended expanding resources to support transfer students in their transition to the university. Under this initiative, Morehead has charged a working group to implement the specific strategies outlined in the task force report, including increasing collaboration with other system institutions; strengthening communications with transfer students; and enhancing information, resources and outreach provided to these students prior to orientation and during enrollment. The working group will be chaired by Director of Academic Advising Services Judith Iakovou and Associate Dean of Students Jan Barham.
“I’m excited to get started on these foundational pieces to enhance the college experience for our students,” said Victor Wilson, vice president for student affairs. “This will have significant impacts for new students coming to UGA who need help transitioning to a large, Research-1 university.”
The Task Force on Student Learning and Success, co-chaired by Shrivastav and Wilson, was charged last February with taking a fresh look at the university’s undergraduate learning environment to identify new opportunities to further enhance the educational experience for UGA students in and out of the classroom.
“This university will never be satisfied with the status quo, and I am pleased to see the work of the task force beginning to take shape to enhance our learning environment,” said Morehead. “I look forward to announcing additional plans related to the recommendations in the coming weeks.”
The task force, composed of a 20-member committee including senior faculty and administrators from a number of schools, colleges and units, provided 12 recommendations that were organized into three broad objectives: evolving the curriculum, enhancing teaching and learning, and expanding student support and mentoring.
A full copy of the report is available for review at https://president.uga.edu/report.
Transfer Student Working Group
- Judy Iakovou (Co-Chair)
Office of the Vice President for Instruction
Director of Academic Advising Services - Jan Davis Barham (Co-Chair)
Division of Student Affairs
Associate Dean of Students - Ja’Kyra Austin
Undergraduate Transfer Student
Transfer Student and Orientation Leader - Julia M. Butler-Mayes
College of Education
Director of Student Services - Charles Carabello
UGA Admissions
Associate Director of Enrollment Management - David Eckles
Risk Management and Insurance Program, Terry College of Business
Associate Professor, Chair of the Undergraduate Program Committee, Terry College of Business - Katherine Field
Franklin College
Coordinator of Transfer Academic Services - Chase Hagood
Academic Enhancement
Director, Academic Enhancement - James Kershaw
Tau Sigma National Student Honor Society
President - Jean Martin-Williams
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Professor, Associate Dean - Nicole McConnell
Center for Student Activities and Involvement
Assistant Director
Council on the First-Year Experience
- Naomi Norman (Co-Chair)
Office of the Vice President for Instruction
Associate Vice President and Director of First-Year Odyssey - Michele Howard (Co-Chair)
Division of Student Affairs
Associate Vice President - Linda Bachman
Office of Experiential Learning
Director of Experiential Learning - Maggie Blanton
Division of Academic Enhancement
Director of Student Services - Taylor Cain
Center for Student Activities and Involvement
Director of Center for Student Activities - Don Chambers
Terry College of Business
Associate Director of Entrepreneurship Program - Al Clarke
University Health Center
Clinical Psychologist - Lindsay Coco
Division of Academic Enhancement Assistant
Director of Initiatives, Freshman College Summer Experience - Kali DeWald
Career Center
Lead Career Consultant for Undeclared and Exploring Students - Jennifer Eberhart
Academic Advising Services, OVPI
Director of Exploratory Center - Phillip Griffeth
Office of Academic Honesty and Integrity
Director of Academic Honesty - Melissa Hevener
Student Government Association
Undergraduate Student Representative - Eddie Higginbotham
Division of Student Affairs
Dawg Camp - Justin Jeffery
Division of Student Affairs
Director of International Student Life - Linda Kasper
University Housing
Executive Director - James McClung
Office of International Education
Director of Oxford Program - Maria Navarro
Honors Program
Associate Director - Jennifer Patrick
Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
Coordinator of Student Academic Services - Dominque Quarles
Office of Institutional Diversity
Director of Diversity and Inclusion - Rosemary Segreti
Office of the Registrar
Senior Associate Registrar - Claudia Shamp
Division of Student Affairs
Director of Greek Life - Cara Simmons
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Director of Student Success and Advising Center - Carrie Smith
Division of Student Affairs
Assistant Dean of Students for Student Care and Outreach - Tiffany Smith
Division of Student Affairs
Senior Coordinator of Multicultural Services and Programs - Alton Standifer
Undergraduate Admissions
Director of New Student Orientation - Lori Whitaker
Office of Student Financial Aid
Financial Aid Advisor
