University System of Georgia's mission is knowledge
ATLANTA — Across the nation and world, there is no time in history when it has been so essential to acquire knowledge and possess flexible skills to participate successfully in the work force. That in itself makes the University System of Georgia’s mission critical to the state’s economic future. Our mission is knowledge: To create it through research, transfer it through teaching and apply it through service.
Most importantly, the system's overall purpose is to raise attainment levels for communities across Georgia. Long gone are the days when public higher education can just focus on enrolling more students. USG must graduate more students while maintaining the system’s commitment to academic excellence. And we must do so knowing the environment in which we work is changing more rapidly than ever.
In the next 10 years, two-thirds of jobs will require some education beyond high school. Presently, only 47% of Georgia’s work force meets that requirement. Research shows 99% of jobs post-Great Recession went to workers with a post-secondary education — 70% to workers with at least a bachelor’s degree. The economy relentlessly rewards education. As the growth of good, high-paying jobs outpaces the growth of middle- and low-paying jobs, it is imperative there are enough college graduates to fill these positions. Yet with the opportunities this provides, we will need also to navigate challenges that threaten to blunt our impact.
Georgia and the nation are experiencing declining birth rates that will impact each in upcoming years – as it has in some states already. Some of Georgia’s counties, particularly those in rural areas, are already experiencing population declines among young people who traditionally are thought of as college-aged. At the same time, we are experiencing a shift in demographics that has challenged our campuses to do better among those students we have traditionally served poorly, including those who are the first in their families to attend college.
USG faces these changes as the nation’s universities and colleges, including ours, have seen a shift in funding support that more directly relies on students and families. And this is happening as national polls show the public has doubts about whether a degree is worth it at the very time a degree is needed more than ever.
The university system believes it is a good deal for Georgia. Yet we recognize it is up to us to prove our worth. Thus, we have Strategic Plan 2024.
Student success, responsible stewardship, economic competitiveness and community impact – these are the overarching four goals that will guide our strategy for the next four years and beyond. They represent not a catalog of everything we do, but most directly what we need and have to do to drive Georgia forward.
Strategic Plan 2024 Goals
The plan goals are strategic emphases focused on meeting the most critical needs of Georgia. Accomplishing these goals will require the commitment and hard work of faculty, staff and administration at all USG institutions working together as one system to better serve our students and the state of Georgia.
Student Success
We will increase degree completion through high -quality and lifelong academic options, focused learning and elimination of barriers to access and success for all Georgians.
Responsible Stewardship
We will ensure affordability for students by containing costs and optimizing efficiency across the system.
Economic Competitiveness
We will advance Georgia through investing in world-class research and equipping students with marketable skills, knowledge and experience.
Community Impact
We will work with our communities to improve quality of life.
