Rebekah Hope Ridley

UWG Next is the University of West Georgia's strategic planning process designed to guide the university's direction over the next five years and beyond, towards its 125th anniversary in 2031. The collaborative process aims to reflect the institution's strengths, challenges, and opportunities, ensuring decisions are informed by stakeholders. The plan is anchored by five core priorities: Student Success, Research and Innovation, Economic Development and Community Engagement, Athletics, and The Arts. It provides a framework for aligning the university's work with the evolving needs of students and the region, reinforcing its role in expanding access to education and contributing to economic and cultural life.

The meeting included discussions on leadership reports regarding federal research funding, athletics, and enrollment. Key topics included updates on strategic planning, equity studies, and course curricular changes across multiple colleges, including the BFA in Art and Engineering Science programs. Administrative updates were provided on academic policies such as withdrawal deadlines, GPA requirements for admissions, and initiatives to increase research expenditures to $50 million by 2031. Additionally, the senate reviewed midterm grading, course alerts, and feedback practices to improve student success.

The Faculty Senate meeting covered several key topics, including a briefing on state budget appropriations and their potential impact on university operations and online course offerings. Discussions also addressed federal financial aid regulations regarding course program of study, faculty committee compositions, and updates on campus facility utilization. Furthermore, the senate reviewed and approved numerous proposals concerning new courses and program revisions across the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the College of Education, the Richards College of Business, and the School of Communication, Film, and Media. Finally, the senate updated internal policies regarding personnel actions, tenure review, voluntary resignations, and the Faculty Senate Chair election procedures.

The Faculty Senate discussed several initiatives, including encouragement for faculty participation in Winter West, enrollment updates related to graduation, and monitoring the status of the federal Department of Education. The Provost shared updates on student-centric course scheduling experiments, upcoming administrative hiring, budgetary processes, and the strategic importance of experiential learning and research. Additionally, various committee reports were presented, resulting in the approval of new courses, revisions to existing degree tracks, and deletions of redundant programs. A focused discussion on faculty research expectations, accountability, and the impact of institutional changes on the balance between teaching, research, and service was also conducted.

The meeting featured discussions with leadership regarding faculty and staff vacancies, university advocacy efforts, and strategies for student success through programs like dual enrollment and three-year degree pathways. The Provost provided updates on faculty hiring, professional development funds, and performance evaluation guidelines. Committee reports included various curriculum changes, such as course additions and revisions across multiple departments, and an update on undergraduate GPA requirements. A major focus was a presentation on the impact of artificial intelligence in the workplace, emphasizing the need to equip students with critical thinking, communication, and basic AI-literacy skills rather than just technical coding expertise.