Updates From The Dean - Issue 6

Georgia Southern has launched a new capital fundraising campaign Together We Soar. This $125 million campaign focuses on four priorities: empower student success, advance teaching & public impact research, elevate athletics, and enrich campuses & community vibrancy. For more details on the full campaign, please visit the campaign website - https://advancement.georgiasouthern.edu/together-we-soar/.

For the College of Science and Mathematics, we have identified three main focus areas for our fundraising efforts - student success programs, student research support, and doctoral research fellowships. The success of these fundraising efforts will require participation from our full team - faculty, department chairs, and the dean’s office team. Over the coming weeks and months, you will begin to hear more about our efforts in this area as we continue to build a more detailed COSM fundraising plan. Below is some additional information about each of our COSM focus areas.

Student Success Programs: The College is building a teaching and learning ecosystem that engages students in critical educational experiences during their time at Georgia Southern. Ideally, COSM students will have multiple opportunities to engage in experiences that will drive their development toward a professional career as scientists or mathematicians.

Studies have shown that students who engage in these extra activities have improved retention and graduation rates as well as improved academic performance. These programs will be key elements of our recruitment strategies to attract more students to STEM programs in COSM as well as attract more top-tier high school graduates that are looking for these activities as they consider multiple universities.

These activities will ensure Georgia Southern is a “first-choice university” for high school students throughout the state and the nation. These resume building experiences will assist students as they pursue their first job as a STEM professional or as they apply for entry to top-quality graduate or professional programs. Goal: $1.5 million.

Student Research Support: Undergraduate Research Fellowships and Graduate Research Fellowships provide hands-on research experiences that are a vital component in the development of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College encourages student participation in individual research investigations carried out under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students who participate in these types of valuable real-world research not only build resume worthy experience, but it also provides them with a launching point for the rest of their academic and professional careers.

Studies have shown that students who engage in these extra activities have improved retention and graduation rates as well as improved academic performance. These programs will be key elements of our recruitment strategies to attract more students to STEM programs in COSM as well as attract more top-tier high school graduates that are looking for these activities as they consider multiple universities.

These activities will ensure Georgia Southern is a “first-choice university” for high school students throughout the state and the nation. These resume building experiences will assist students as they pursue their first job as a STEM professional or as they apply for entry to top-quality graduate or professional programs. Goal: $1.5 million.

Student Research Support: Undergraduate Research Fellowships and Graduate Research Fellowships provide hands-on research experiences that are a vital component in the development of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College encourages student participation in individual research investigations carried out under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students who participate in these types of valuable real-world research not only build resume worthy experience, but it also provides them with a launching point for the rest of their academic and professional careers.

Participating in research experiences generally results in student presentations at national and regional scientific meetings, co-authorship on peer-reviewed journal publications, and a unique education, all of which give students an exceptional educational experience at Georgia Southern University.

Students who participate in research activities are generally more competitive and better prepared when applying to graduate school in STEM or medical programs and have hands-on experience when they transition to a STEM career. Goal: $1.5 million.

Doctoral Research Fellowships: Doctoral research fellowships are a key component in the development of the world class, highly qualified Scientists and Mathematicians that are vitally needed for the continued growth of the Georgia workforce and economy.

These prestigious fellowships allow the COSM Ph.D. programs to recruit high-quality students who otherwise would not be able to attend Georgia Southern University. Fellows work closely with COSM faculty on cutting-edge research projects.

Research Fellowships: Doctoral research fellowships are a key component in the development of the world class, highly qualified Scientists and Mathematicians that are vitally needed for the continued growth of the Georgia workforce and economy.

These prestigious fellowships allow the COSM Ph.D. programs to recruit high-quality students who otherwise would not be able to attend Georgia Southern University. Fellows work closely with COSM faculty on cutting-edge research projects.

The doctoral research fellows focus solely on driving their research forward. They fill a critical need in growing the research capacity in COSM, which in turn drives Georgia Southern closer to attaining Carnegie R1 research designation thereby elevating the entire university.

Additionally, these Fellows serve as mentors to our undergraduate and master’s students interested in gaining valuable research experiences. Goal: $4 million.

-Dean Huggins