May 2026 – Commencing, Conferring, and Celebrating!

May 6, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

We are in the final week of the spring semester and preparing to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students. Next week, we will celebrate more than 4,500 graduates during five commencement ceremonies in Statesboro, Savannah, and Swainsboro. This positions us to award a record number of degrees this academic year, reflecting the collective dedication and success of our students, faculty, and staff. 

Commencement is a truly special occasion, bringing together family and friends to celebrate the journey each graduate has accomplished. And at the heart of that journey are you—our faculty and staff—whose dedication has inspired, guided, and nurtured every student along the way. We call these ceremonies “commencements” because they mark not an ending, but a beginning—the launch of our graduates into their careers and futures. As we proudly say at Georgia Southern, they are “Ready Day One!”

I am also excited to welcome our dynamic commencement speakers, who, through their words of inspiration and wisdom, will help us recognize this important chapter and what lies ahead for our graduates. 

With the conclusion of the Georgia General Assembly last month and the pending budget signature of the Governor this month, we have prepared our FY2027 budget. Thanks to the support of the Governor, our delegation, and the FY2027 growth and performance allocation from the University System of Georgia, we are pleased to be strategically directing recurring support for 37 new faculty positions, 24 new staff positions, nearly $1.5 million in salary market equity and promotion and tenure increases, and continued investments in student support, research, and our strategic enrollment plan.  

These investments align with our Big Rock Goals of supporting student success, market-aligned/relevant programs, operational efficiency and effectiveness, and research/community impact and vibrancy. In addition, the FY27 funded items from the State, once signed by the Governor, include $4.2 million for East Georgia Campus HVAC renovations, $1 million for a Georgia Southern Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar, and $5.5 million to create a literacy center established through House Bill 1193. Further details of our priority investments have been presented at Faculty Senate and Staff Council meetings over the last few weeks. All documentation will be posted, as is our transparent custom, over the coming weeks. 

Soaring Beyond, Because of You!

As you know, our vision statement of “People. Purpose. Action. Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!” drives our continual efforts to improve our culture and workplace environment at Georgia Southern. Because of your feedback, Forbes Magazine has recognized Georgia Southern University for its commitment to institutional culture with the recent announcement of the publication’s list of “America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2026.” Out of 600 companies on the list, Georgia Southern impressively landed in the top tier at the 33rd spot on the list.  This is the second year Forbes has published the list, and the University was recognized this year for the first time. Representing the education industry, Georgia Southern was second on the list behind Columbia University (#10).

As the semester concludes and we transition into the summer terms, I continue to be grateful that we are part of an institution that is growing, impacting, setting records, transforming lives, and serving as the catalyst for economic and talent development in Southeast Georgia. 

Sincerely,

Kyle

People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!