Faculty Senate 

Chunlei Liu, Ph.D. Professor of Computer Science
VSU Faculty Senate President 2022-2023 

The Faculty Senate had significant accomplishments in the past year. The Faculty Evaluation Model was revised to reflect the BOR policy changes for post-tenure review and administrative review. The Faculty Handbook and the VSU Statues were updated. The Promotion and Tenure Policy was modified to give non-tenured faculty a route to promotion. These changes will profoundly impact faculty members’ careers and VSU’s future.  

In the coming academic year, we encourage faculty members to get their concerns and suggestions heard by their faculty senators and at the Faculty Senate meetings. We look forward to a wonderful year of shared governance.  

Council on Staff Affairs (COSA) 

Chris Griggs, Plant Services, Central Warehouse Manager 
COSA Chair 2022-2023 

I want to welcome you back for another school year. I hope you had the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family. Taking a break away from the everyday tasks and enjoying the moment can be restorative. As our students arrive and make their homes here, I imagine that each of us is getting prepared to jump start this year right. COSA is here to help you make this upcoming year a success. As COSA Chair, I look forward to assisting you in your endeavors this year! 

Academic Affairs 

Robert T. Smith, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Academic Affairs is pleased to welcome several new permanent members to its leadership team, including Dr. David Slykhuis, Dean of the Dewar College of Education and Human Services and Professor of Teacher Education; Ms. Monica Meler, Department Head of Art and Design; Dr. A. J. Ramirez, Coordinator of Women’s and Gender Studies; Dr. Colin Walker, Coordinator for the Quality Enhancement Plan; Dr. Paul Vincent, Department Head of Physics, Astronomy, Geosciences, and Engineering Technology; Dr. Ray Elson, Associate Dean of the Langdale College of Business Administration; Dr. Steve Downey, Department Head of Leadership, Technology, & Workforce Development and Interim Department Head of Library and Information Science. We are also welcoming over 20 additional new faculty members in a variety of disciplines.  

This year, we continue to strengthen our students’ learning experiences. We conducted a successful 2021-22 pilot of our new QEP, Trailblazing: Shaping the Undergraduate Experience through Experiential Learning, which focuses on experiential learning for students, and we move out of the pilot stage this year as more faculty and programs join in this effort. We also continue to pilot our First Year Seminar Experience classes with courses designed to assist first-year students in acquiring and/or enhancing applicable skills related to their academic and co-curricular goals. Students are guided through the application of those skills using a variety of activities including reflections and the completion of a signature assignment. 

Finance and Administration 

Traycee Martin, Vice President for Finance and Administration 

Update on Capital Projects 

Performing Arts Center – In July 2018, conceptual designs were prepared in cooperation with a theatre consultant group and reviewed by the College of the Arts. The $18 million proposal was supported by the University System of Georgia (USG) as part of its FY20 capital request, with the understanding that $5 million would be privately raised.  

VSU received an appropriation of $1.3M in planning money for this project in the FY 2021 state budget allocation. Construction funds of 12.4M have been approved. Design is currently in process with the help of USG, Architect and Contractor. The VSU Foundation is tasked with securing $5M in private gifts in support of this project and to date has received $2.17M in funds and is working on a plan to raise the remainder by the end of 2022. As of May 20, 2022, the VSU Foundation has received gifts totaling $3,353,911. An additional gift of $1,000,000 has been committed and will be received summer 2022 (awaiting construction contract). In addition, a gift of $900,000 is expected later this summer. Once these outstanding gifts are realized, the VSU Foundation will have received $5,253,911. 

Farber Hall Renovation – Two million dollars in funding was approved for this project during the past legislative session, and pre-construction activities are already in progress with the USO! 

Student Affairs 

Dr. Vince Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs 

Student Conduct and Title IX 

Darius Thomas has been hired as the new Director of Student Conduct and Title IX Coordinator at VSU. Please welcome Darius at dariuthomas@valdosta.edu. To report incidents of sex-based discrimination or sexual misconduct visit https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/student-affairs/title-ix/. 

Reminder: Use of Institutional Facilities and Property in Political Campaigns 

USG Board of Regents Policy 6.14.1 - The President of each University System of Georgia (USG) institution may authorize the use of institution facilities for political speeches; however, such use shall be limited to meetings sponsored by recognized organizations of the institution and shall be held only at places designated by the President. The use of USG materials, supplies, equipment, machinery, or vehicles in political campaigns is forbidden.