That’s why we prioritize supporting and empowering communities in Georgia and around the world.
Our commitment to service begins in Athens but extends far beyond our state lines. From campuses in Washington, D.C., to Cortona, Italy, we strive to expand collaboration and accessibility through research, scholarship, technical assistance, and training.
UGA has been recognized as a community-engaged institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for a second time. The University first received the award in 2010. Since then, the number of service-learning courses at UGA has more than doubled, and experiential learning opportunities have expanded exponentially. In the 2019-20 academic year, over 7,100 students performed 336,000 hours of service.
Supported by the Georgia Power Foundation and UGA, Archway Partnership community Thomson-McDuffie County launched an on-site training program for local high school students. The welding program at Thomson High School (shown above) aims to address the growing shortage of skilled workers in the region. Welding instructors encourage students to participate in competitions, which can result in scholarships. They also help students with job placement after graduation. This year, 15 students completed the welding program.
Teacher shortages are a growing problem in rural communities, especially when it comes to special education. Julie Rigdon, of Waycross, learned of a lack of educators for students with visual impairments in South Georgia. She decided to do something about it. Rigdon enrolled in UGA’s online Bachelor of Science in Special Education program, a two-year program that suited her family’s needs. After finishing the degree, she became the visual impairment teacher for Ware, Clinch, Brantley, and Bacon counties. She helps students read Braille and develop skills to meet their needs. UGA offers online bachelor’s and master’s programs to help Georgians in every county have access to flexible, quality education.