Keel maps out future of AU in state of the university address
Keel outlined a strategic plan to grow the institution during his State of the University address May 31. (screenshot from Augusta University livestream)
By Rakiyah Lenon | Editor in chief
Augusta University’s president, Brooks A. Keel, outlined a strategic plan to grow the institution during his State of the University address in the Lee Auditorium on the Health Sciences Campus on May 31.
Keel recognized several new administrators, including Marc Austin, associate provost and dean of Augusta Online; Brad Warren, dean of libraries, and Mark Lane, vice president of Communications and Marketing.
Keel will also serve as the acting CEO of the AU Health System.
Faculty across various university departments collaborated to create the strategic plan.
“I think we have a strategic plan that will not sit on a shelf, and it certainly won’t collect any dust,” the AU president said. “It’s innovative, it’s unique, it’s exciting, provides a roadmap for us to go for the next five years. I can’t wait to see where this is going to take us.”
Keel said that the budget passed for this fiscal year by the Georgia General Assembly is one of the most beneficial for higher education in recent years. Appropriations for the 2023 fiscal year include funds for energy production, medical education, rural health and removing the special institutional fee.
Keel spoke about where the funds approved by the Georgia General Assembly would go. (screenshot from Augusta University livestream)
The special institutional fee ranging from $100-$550 had been implemented in 2010 to make up from cuts to state funding. However, it will now be eliminated due to an input of funds from the Georgia General Assembly, relieving a weight from many college students.
“The General Assembly put $230 million into the system, and it was given to the various campuses so we could eliminate the special institutional fee,” he said. “This is a huge windfall for our students across the state of Georgia, but also for our Augusta University students too.”
Keel spoke of the importance of enrollment and student retention for a university.
AU has seen an increase in enrollment every year since 2015. Though enrollment numbers for undergraduates declined 3.2% in 2021, graduate enrollment increased by 10.7%, leading to a 0.4% increase in enrollment overall last year. AU was one of only four USG schools to have a net increase in enrollment.
“Our future depends on making sure we continue to see an increase in enrollment every single year,” he said. “I cannot stress to you enough how important that is.”
Keel said that engagement from everyone is key when it comes to ensuring students feel like they belong at AU.
“Every single one of you can help with this retention piece,” he said. “This is a full-court press to do everything we can to bring more students to this university and keep them here.”
In his address, Keel emphasized that as both a university and a medical institution, students and patients are its top priorities.
Keel said that AU should take advantage of the unique qualities that is has to make it a destination campus. He said that it would take effort from everyone to continue pushing the institution forward.
“I’m convinced we can do it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to an incredibly bright future for this university and this healthcare system.”
The recording of Keel’s address is available to watch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvpz5xr67XA&list=PLmTxNqeMAJ-PcfcZ6R7guIlJco_XfduCy&index=1
Contact Rakiyah Lenon at rlenon@augusta.edu.
