The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine

Public Relations

Op-Ed from the Deans of the University of Georgia

UGA's teaching mission threatened

March 14, 2010

The employees of the University of Georgia recognize the extreme economic times facing the state. As many Georgia citizens have lost jobs or experienced decreased income, the faculty and staff of the University of Georgia also have made sacrifices in response to budget cuts, such as decreased pay resulting from furloughs, increased cost of health insurance, and more work responsibilities because of open positions left unfilled.

We are proud of how our dedicated employees have persevered in fulfilling all the missions of the university, despite the hardships being faced. Faculty and staff are willing to continue making sacrifices to help balance the budget, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the institution.

Our talented faculty and staff stay in academia, often forgoing higher income in the private sector, because they believe in and wish to contribute to the university's missions, especially that of teaching. Public and private universities, as well as private corporations, recognize they may be successful in recruiting top talent away from university settings during such economic times, and they will dedicate the resources to do so. In fact, many of our best faculty currently have offers from other institutions.

For every talented faculty member we lose, the staff who support them will lose jobs, and the research funding or service income that faculty member would generate will be lost. Replacing that faculty member will be difficult, in most cases more costly, and it will be several years before the new faculty member can establish his or her program and become productive.

While these costs of faculty turnover are real, the greatest loss cannot be counted in dollars — the education of our current and future students will suffer. The best instructors in the classroom are those who are renowned experts in their field. Loss of these individuals from our campus will negatively affect teaching at all levels. The reputation of the University of Georgia and the quality of instruction rests on the accomplishments of its outstanding faculty, supported by its exceptional staff. It is vital that we do everything possible to retain our great faculty and staff to sustain the tradition of excellence at the University of Georgia.

Garnett S. Stokes
Dean, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences

J. Scott Angle
Dean, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Rebecca H. White
Dean, School of Law

Svein Oie
Dean, College of Pharmacy

Michael L. Clutter
Dean, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

Arthur M. Horne
Dean, College of Education

Maureen Grasso
Dean, Graduate School

Robert T. Sumichrast
Dean, Terry College of Business

E. Culpepper Clark
Dean, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

Laura Dunn Jolly
Dean, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

Sheila W. Allen
Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine

Maurice Daniels
Dean, School of Social Work

Daniel J. Nadenicek
Dean, College of Environment and Design

Thomas P. Lauth
Dean, School of Public and International Affairs

Phillip L. Williams
Dean, College of Public Health

John L. Gittleman
Dean, Odum School of Ecology

This Op-Ed piece was published in newspapers throughout
the state of Georgia on March 14, 2010.