Dean’s Corner
Archways to Excellence
by Dean Jack Crowley
We have much to celebrate at the College of Environment and Design here
at the University of Georgia! Here in the pages of the Golden Mean,
you will see a great number of student achievements and faculty accolades
both on campus and off, and service projects that have made a great difference
to the people of this region and the world. In addition to these bright
spots, there are a number of important milestones that we proudly recognize
– including the 75th year of the Landscape Architecture program,
the 30th year of Historic Preservation instruction, and the 20th year
of the Historic Preservation program, and the recognition of two of our
faculty for outstanding scholarship and teaching. In April 2003, Professor
James Porter received the Josiah Meigs Award
for excellence in teaching while Patricia Gowaty
was honored as a Distinguished Research Professor. Anniversaries and moments
like this are critical opportunities for us to assess our achievements
and plan strategically for the future.
The University of Georgia has seen a tremendous rise in excellence in
the past decade. For those who love this institution, this climb to prominence
has been exciting. The potential for us to rise to the very top ranks
of public universities in America grows more apparent each year. In order
to meet the goals set forth by the university and the college, though,
we must gain the financial support of our alumnae, friends and others.
If we are to move to the top of the ranks we will require the leadership
levels of support that all first-rate universities enjoy.
Towards this end, the university is launching its first campaign of the
new century, called The Archways to Excellence. The total university campaign
goal is $500 million. Within that rests a $30 million objective for the
College of Environment and Design. This is a bold goal for a new college.
These resources will allow us to make the investment necessary to meet
the demands and challenges of this new century – the century many
argue will be that of the environment. Three overarching objectives will
guide our efforts -- a commitment to:
1) Recruit and retain top faculty. The College of Environment and Design
will raise $10 million in faculty support, which will help create new
faculty chairs, visiting scholarship positions and funds for faculty research
and travel.
2) Attract and support the very best graduate students. The college will
raise $6 million to create scholarships and fellowships that will draw
in and nurture students of the highest merit.
3) Advance the quest for knowledge and achieve preeminence. The college
will raise $14 million to create centers for programmatic enrichment.
These include units like the River Basin Science and Policy Center, the
Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes, and the Center for Community
Preservation, Planning and Design.
The heart of our mission is to provide an excellent education for young
men and women to address the physical environment, extending from the
completely natural to the totally built. Environmental issues such as
natural resource and species preservation, urban design and development,
and global climate change will all be tackled by our students and faculty
on a daily basis. Graduates of our program will make a difference in the
world. With this campaign, we will ensure that this important mission
continues for years to come.
On behalf of all of us at the College of Environment and Design, I look
forward to talking with you more about our plans for the future, to get
your feedback on these ideas and the role you might play in ensuring their
success.
This page last updated April 2, 2003.
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