February 2026 – Updates from President Marrero

February 5, 2026
 
Dear Colleagues,
 
It was nice to have just a “little” snow and not too much ice the last few weeks. Personally, I’m ready for the start of spring weather and all the activities this time of year brings to our campuses and communities!
 
The consolidation process with East Georgia continues with significant milestones in the month of February. Our consolidated fall 2026 undergraduate admission application is now live—one application for all campuses and programs, designed to make it easier for students to start their journey in the way that works best for them. Whether they begin at one of our many locations or online, students will find a clear, flexible path to their chosen degree.
 
Other major milestones this month include the Banner “Big Bang,” which will merge student records across our institutions; the submission of our SACSCOC Substantive Change documentation; and the onsite visit supporting the transition of the East Georgia campus athletic program to NAIA. Thank you to everyone playing a role in making this integration successful and impactful for our students and communities.
 
The legislative session continues throughout February, with efforts focused on finalizing the amended FY2026 budget and preparing for the early-March crossover deadline for all legislation and the FY2027 budget. We remain grateful for the continued support of our legislative delegation and the Governor as we advance our mission to transform lives and prepare students for successful careers. We will continue to provide information through budget presentations to the University community, and will share available updates with the Faculty Senate and Staff Council. As the session progresses and additional information becomes available, we will keep the campus community informed.
 
Thank you to the many individuals who nominated colleagues for our University Awards of Excellence. With 166 nominations across 10 categories, including the team award, your participation reflects our strong culture of recognition.
 
This month, we are also preparing for the fifth administration of our Employee Engagement Survey. Watch for communications and information sessions throughout February as we prepare for the March 2–16 launch. The survey offers every employee an opportunity to share feedback that helps ensure our University remains a place where people feel engaged, supported, and valued.
 
Thank you for your continued dedication to student success, performance excellence, and building a culture of high performance and evidence-based leadership.
 
Soaring Beyond, Because of You!
I am very proud to share that Georgia Southern University has earned the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement (CE) Classification, a national designation recognizing the University’s commitment to providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences through strong community partnerships. Awarded by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the designation highlights how civic engagement is embedded across teaching, learning, and research at Georgia Southern.
 
Selected among more than 230 institutions nationwide, Georgia Southern demonstrated how its academic programs, co-curricular experiences, and reciprocal community partnerships prepare students to apply classroom learning beyond campus and graduate career-ready and community-minded. 
 
Thank you for all you do for Georgia Southern…from Swainsboro to Savannah to Hinesville, Statesboro, and Augusta…you are transforming lives!
 
Sincerely,
Kyle
 
People. Purpose. Action: Growing Ourselves to Grow Others!