July 5, 2023 – Summer Updates
Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone had a wonderful July Fourth with family and friends and that you are finding time to recoup and energize for the upcoming fall semester.
Summer classes continue and we are now less than six weeks from the start of the fall semester. Our enrollment numbers look promising as we anticipate growth in our incoming new freshman class, new graduate students, transfers and dual enrolled students. Also, we are seeing extraordinary improvement in retaining our current students. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you as you welcome and support our new and returning students! This is what we do best at Georgia Southern – foster a sense of belonging from day one and commit ourselves, each and every day, to the success of our students.
As I reflect on beginning my eleventh year as a president within the University System of Georgia and fifth year with Eagle Nation, I keenly remember the sense of belonging I felt day one at Georgia Southern. Since that day and now, today, I continue to be energized by our progress and motivated by our future impact. As we begin a new fiscal year, summer serves as a vital period for us to assess our current efforts, sharpen our focus, and define the strategies that will enable us to “solve and evolve” toward reaching our full potential.
To that end, as we embark on a new academic year, it is imperative that we update and refine our Strategic Enrollment Plan (SEP) to ensure we are aligned with current and future market needs. To achieve this, we will incorporate the market-aligned programs identified through the Armstrong Task Force and broaden our assessment and planning efforts to encompass all campuses and the entirety of the region. In addition, we will be reviewing and updating our branding and market strategies to optimize our market yield and elevate our brand. There will be opportunities for you to engage in these university-wide initiatives, and I encourage you to be an active participant in this process! Your insight, expertise, and perspectives are critical to our progress and outcomes.
One specific outcome of our efforts in expanding programs for our market is the announcement of our new presence and delivery of six graduate programs at Ft. Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield education centers. We are currently finalizing an MOU to deliver these programs directly to our soldiers and their families on post beginning this fall. We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to further the educational attainment of our military-affiliated population as they serve our country.
More information on these initiatives as well as progress reports and updates of our Vision 2026 goals (and beyond) will be communicated throughout the fall. I plan to share more at the State of the University addresses (August 29 and 30); Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and SGA meetings; and various workshop forums. We look forward to involving and engaging with faculty, staff, students, and community as we chart our path for the future.
The remaining weeks of summer will go quickly! I couldn’t be more excited about who we are, where we are, and where we are going. Together, we will soar!
Sincerely,
Kyle
People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!
Last updated: 7/5/2023