Fall Kick-off brings light of new goals and changes at AU

By Makenzy Veldboom | Editor in Chief

Classes at Augusta University resumed on Wednesday, August 14. With this term beginning, many freshmen began their first semester and our new president, Dr. Keen, began his first semester as president.

With Keen’s presidency beginning in July, many changes took place immediately and goals were set and shared with the faculty and staff at the Fall Kick-off on Monday, August 12.

At the Fall Kick-off, Keen began with an introduction to the President’s office and other faculty and emphasized that he wants to strengthen the staff by giving them resources to enrich the lives of students and that it all begins with the staff and teachers.

Throughout the year, the president’s office will also be having cabinet meetings with various extensions of the cabinet every week in hopes of creating thorough communication.

The Student Government Association (SGA) will also have more direct communication with the president and offices.

The goals for the next year were shared in the meeting and included:

• Raising $30 million in fundraising for a new research building

• 30 new Biomed faculty over the next three years

• 16,000 students by 2030

• 80% retention by 2023 (returning to AU)

• 70% persistence with y2 to y3 (continuing college career at any institution not just AU)

• Academic planning process improvement

• 50 MCG Savannah students in Fall 2026

• Grow DCG capacity in Augusta and Savannah over the next two years

• Leverage Wellstar relationship

Prior to the Fall Kick-off, an email was sent out to faculty and staff entailing the changes during President Keen’s first week as president. The changes included significant organizational changes including new staff and new positions created.

The specifics of the changes include:

• A new role of the Provost position is being temporarily filled by Graduate School Dean Jennifer Sullivan

• A new position, Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation, currently being held by David Hess

• An elevated role for student affairs, held by Susan Davies

• An expanded role for finance, held by Yvonne Turner the Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Business Officer

• A new role: Executive Vice President for Strategic Effectiveness and Chief of Staff, temporarily filled by Jack Evans, Director of Organizational Change Management and Strategic Initiatives

• A new role: Executive Vice President for Philanthropy, Alumni and Engagement

• A change to community engagement: shifting the oversight of Community Engagement to the Executive Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Economic Development Michael Shaffer

• Special assistant to the president for stakeholder affairs: Director of Community Relations Cedric Johnson appointed as Special Assistant to the President for Stakeholder Affairs

For more information regarding the President’s Office visit here.

Contact Makenzy Veldboom at kveldboom@augusta.edu

Photo: President Keen at the Fall Kick-off 2024.