At the State of the University address, President Jere Morehead announced new initiatives which will begin during the coming year, ranging from the plan to create an innovation center on campus, to new programs and grants dedicated to growth in innovation and entrepreneurship.
“I can honestly say I’m more optimistic about the state of our university than I have ever been,” Morehead said.
During the first portion of his speech, Morehead said 68 percent of students graduate within four years, 86 percent graduate within six years or less and 96 percent of UGA graduates are employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of graduation.
He also praised the partnership between the University and the state of Georgia, pointing to a new estimate of the institution’s annual statewide economic impact, now valued at $6.3 billion.
“Working together, we are transforming the learning environment. We are changing the lives of our students,” Morehead said. “We are proving that the future of public higher education in American is being molded right here, where it began, at the University of Georgia.”
There are also plans to continue into phase two of an initiative from last year which promoted the recruitment, retention and success of underserved students.
“A portion of the funds will be designated for continuation of projects from the first phase,” Morehead said. “The remaining funds will be allocated for the development of new initiatives to enhance the academic experience of underrepresented, first generation, rural and other underserved students.”
After thanking the community for their work in fostering a diverse and constructive environment at UGA, he announced the steps the university will be taking to promote entrepreneurship and innovation throughout UGA’s campus.
A 30-person committee, who Morehead assembled, was tasked to answer this question by creating a plan which will span from 2020 to 2025.
The plan will promote excellence in teaching and learning, grow research, innovation and entrepreneurship at the university and strengthen partnerships and communities in Georgia and nationwide. The final plan will be introduced as part of the State of the University address in 2020.
Morehead then spoke about the results of a task force assembled last year, and their vision to create an innovation district at the interface of North Campus and downtown Athens. It would be a space designed to inspire “collaboration, discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
“The district would be a hub for university start-ups and research commercialization. A place where bright ideas become new products businesses and non-profits that benefit communities here in Georgia and around the world,” Morehead said. “It would create unique internships and research opportunities for our students ensuring they remain competitive in our knowledge-based economy.”
A launch team for the innovation district was assembled by Morehead in September to drive forward the process and to develop a long-term masterplan that will encompass multiple portions of university land on Oconee and Broad streets.
They also will look into the potential renovation of the Business Services Annex Building to transform it into a start-up incubator for faculty and alumni, offices for industry partners who want deeper collaboration with faculty and students and a space for entrepreneurship training, co-working and “big-sky thinking”.
“This is our moment to accelerate, and we must seize it,” Morehead said.
All of these efforts will be backed by a multi-pronged innovation initiative, which Morehead said will be composed of a semester-long innovation fellows program, a start-up mentor in resident program and a new version of Dawg Camp which will blend student success and leadership programs.
Morehead went on to repeat the successes of the past year and emphasize the value of community.
“When we commit- when we unite around a common purpose- there is no goal, no aspiration beyond our reach,” Morehead said. “Let me assure you that the state of the University of Georgia has never been stronger, our future never brighter, and the credit goes to you.”