Here's at look at President Keel's State of the University address for 2023

President Keel discusses Augusta University’s past, present and future on May 24, 2023. (screenshot from Augusta University Livestream)

By Clara Sorrow | Staff writer

Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel delivered his yearly “State of the University” address on May 24, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. in the Maxwell Theatre. The event was also livestreamed.

This meeting primarily covered the funding the school has received, but also delved into the new programs created, the buildings that are underway for the health sciences campus, philanthropy towards students and more.

Keel congratulated new hires, including Ryan Erlacher, the director of athletics, Mark Thompson, who is interim dean of the Hull College of Business and Nancy Young, serving as interim dean of the Dental College of Georgia. He also introduced the New School of Public Health, initiated by Provost Neil MacKinnon, which allowed for Dr. Teresa Waters to be hired as the inaugural dean of the school.

He continued to discuss the legislative session that ended in March. This session passed a $105 million dollar budget for the Medical College of Georgia, which will function in part to help Augusta Health’s future partnership with Wellstar, a non-profit healthcare system with people-focused outpatient care. This will come with a new medical record system entitled “Epic.”

Further financial support for Augusta University was granted through Congressional Directed Spending, totaling $6.8 million. U.S. Representative Buddy Carter announced $1 million in federal support for the Medical College of Georgia’s Center for Telehealth. Representative Sandford Bishop announced $2 million in federal funding for the Southwest Campus of the Medical College of Georgia with the purpose of being able to establish a primary training hub. Lastly, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock granted a total of $3.8 million to AU, with $2.7 going to AU Public Safety equipment and $1.1 million going to AU Medical Center equipment.

Conversely, Augusta University experienced a $10 million budget cut out of a total of $66 million cut from the total University System of Georgia. An increase in enrollment has counteracted this, resulting in a transfer of $8.9 million to AU.

The Medical College of Georgia will also be expanding to include a partnership campus with Georgia Southern University on their Armstrong Campus.

He then discussed the strategic investments put into the university, totaling to about $34.6 million. These investments are split, with 62% going towards the academics and student body of Augusta University, 26% going towards institutional support and 12% going towards research.

President Keel displays a three-year investment breakdown. (screenshot from Augusta University Livestream)

Philanthropy was also a big topic at this year’s State of the University Address. Ninety-one scholarships have been established in total, resulting in $27.5 million in scholarships to students. $11.9 million of this amount was designated on a need-basis.

President Keel emphasized the importance of these scholarships.

“We have so many students that are in their final year of school here and have to drop out because they’re several hundred dollars–not several thousand–several hundred dollars short of paying their tuition,” he stated. “We can’t let that happen.”

He continued to discuss several current and finished projects, including the newly completed literacy center, the recently renovated Greenblatt Library, the upcoming parking deck on the Health Sciences campus with a projected completion date of Spring 2025, the Augusta University Datacenter with a completion date of August 2024 and the replacement of the Sanders Building for research which has a long term plan to be finalized.

He also mentioned the Carnegie Community Engagement Classification and celebrated collaborations with the Phinizy Swamp and the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.

As far as enrollment is concerned, President Keel introduced the “16 x 30” plan, with the goal being to have Augusta University reach 16,000 students by 2030. This prediction is based on an 18% total increase in student enrollment since 2015 which has been 2.3% average per year.

In order to further facilitate this, President Keel has met with Columbia County Superintendent Steve Flynt in order to solidify Augusta University Courses being taught in all five high schools in Columbia County by Fall 2023. The university is also introducing many new programs to entice students, including Master’s degrees online, new BS and BA programs and a plan for a new extensive animation program.

The address is wrapped up by discussing the past, present and future of Augusta University.

President Keel stated that tomorrow is “a script that you all are going to have to help us write.”

Contact Clara Sorrow at csorrow@augusta.edu.