Today marks the beginning of classes….a message from President Marrero – August 11, 2021

Dear Colleagues, 

August 11, 2021

Today marks the beginning of classes for the fall semester 2021! From move-in this past weekend, to freshman Convocation, and Eagle Experience events – we welcomed over 5,300 freshmen and over 27,000 students to Georgia Southern. All three of our campuses are active and alive with excitement for the new academic year. This time of the year enlivens us with a sense of renewal and reminds us of our belief in the transformational power of education, our mission to transfer knowledge, and our vision of growing ourselves to grow others.   

I want to thank all of our faculty and staff who are dedicated to maintaining our continuity of curriculum delivery and student services. As we navigate this semester and the coming weeks, we continue to monitor the virus’ impact on a daily basis. We continue to be in regular and frequent communication with state and local public health officials and the University System of Georgia. Though not mandated, I encourage everyone to wear a mask or face covering while inside campus facilities. And most importantly, if you have not already, I strongly urge you to get vaccinated.  

We continue to provide ample opportunities to receive the vaccine on campus, including another mass vaccination opportunity at the Armstrong Campus in Savannah tomorrow, Thursday, August 12. Appointments will be available on the Statesboro and Armstrong campuses weekly during the semester. This will be the most important step you can take to protect yourself and the Georgia Southern community.  

We ask you to continue to engage with the CARES Center, which provides real time support, reporting, and contact notification to help mitigate the spread and exposure of the virus on our campuses. If you have any questions specific to contact tracing and notifications, you can contact the CARES Center directly at covidsupport@georgiasouthern.edu. Remember, most people who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic will not be asked to self-quarantine if they are exposed.

Believe it or not, it is time to plan for next year’s budget (FY23). Some divisions have already begun their budget prioritization process, and all others will be starting this month in their department/unit prioritization that invites involvement at all levels of our institution. You will be hearing from your divisional leadership on the specifics as we develop — and take part in — our annual budget prioritization process. Our goal is to clearly communicate how and why strategic budget decisions are made and the timeline for the budget process. 

Georgia Southern brings us together in a special way. We are fortunate to work in such a beautiful environment, amongst such caring and committed colleagues, at an institution with aspirational goals that when achieved, positively impact the lives of others. As we begin this semester with new and returning students and new faculty and staff, let’s ensure we continue to evidence our values by creating an environment that is inclusive and welcoming of all members of the Georgia Southern family. We will support each other, inform each other, and continue to fulfill our mission of student success.

Sincerely,
Kyle

Last updated: 4/2/2022