DAHLONEGA - A town hall meeting on Nov. 13 will discuss the implementation of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Strategic Plan, specifically the first of the plan's four goals, which is focused on academic excellence. The event will be presented via videoconference to all UNG campuses.
"UNG is in a small percentage of institutions that have taken steps toward strategic plan implementation; many schools create a strategic plan, but few actually get around to putting it into action," said Dr. Eric Skipper, interim vice president for university affairs and CEO of UNG's Oconee Campus. "We want to show what we have accomplished at this point and what we are in the process of accomplishing. We have made huge steps forward in our first two stages of goal one, which are the academic master plan for all campuses and the creation of a facilities master plan. We are definitely headed in the right direction and we want to ensure we continue that."
The strategic plan, Engaging UNG: Planning for Excellence, was developed in 2013-2014 through a collaborative effort involving about 60 faculty, staff and students. UNG President Bonita Jacobs said there is ongoing work and planning being done at the unit and department levels toward all of the plan's goals.
Skipper said this meeting will be the first in a series of events to share information about the progress of the plan's implementation and to provide the university community an opportunity to provide feedback and input. During spring semester, there will be additional meetings focused on goals two, three and four of the plan.
"It is important that our strategic plan is dynamic and responsive to evolving needs, so awareness, involvement and feedback are important to the implementation process," Jacobs said. "I am very appreciative to Dr. Eric Skipper and his committee for their leadership to ensure our strategic plan continues to engage the UNG community."
In meetings on Aug. 10 to welcome faculty and staff for the new academic year, Jacobs discussed the university's successes over the past year and its progress toward fulfilling the goals the strategic plan, which is in its first year of implementation.
During the faculty and staff meetings, Jacobs emphasized how the successful actions associated with the four goals of UNG's strategic plan – to promote academic excellence and innovation, to enhance leadership and development of the whole person, to expand engagement and educational opportunity, and to build campus identity and institutional unity – are having positive impacts on educational opportunities and communities served by UNG faculty, staff and students.
The highlights included:
- UNG students earned about $300,000 in prestigious, nationally competitive scholarships, including two Fulbright awards for international study and research.
- More than 91 percent of recent UNG graduates are employed or enrolled in programs to continue their education.
- Students are benefitting from reduced textbook costs through rental programs and free and open-access textbooks developed by UNG faculty and the UNG Press.
- The Corps of Cadets set more academic and leadership performance records than any class in recent history, including the top Army ROTC cadet in the nation and a record number of commissioned officers.
The meeting will be held on Friday, Nov. 13, at 10:30 a.m., and will be viewable at the following locations:
- Cumming Campus - conference room, 262
- Dahlonega Campus - Hoag Auditorium
- Gainesville Campus - Continuing Education Building, auditorium
- Oconee Campus - Student Resource Center, room 522
