2020 Annual Report About our 24 Institutions Private Colleges Public Good 72,260 students 52,162 undergraduates 20,098 graduate students 22,815 employees across georgia $3.7B in salaries and wages 2 | Georgia Independent College Association Annual Report 2020 GICA PRIVATE NONPROFIT COLLEGES 72,260 AND UNIVERSITIES students VARY IN TYPE AND MISSION: BACCALAUREATE 52,162 INSTITUTIONS undergraduates MASTERS COLLEGES HISTORICALLY BLACK 20,098 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES graduate students AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS FAITH RELATED 22,815 HEALTH AND employees across georgia MEDICINE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES $3.7B in salaries and wages SINGLE-GENDER EDUCATION Innovation and Transition in a Pandemic | 3 2019-2020 Annual Report Georgia Independent College Association As chair of the Georgia Independent College Over the last two centuries, these private Association (GICA) Board of Directors, I offer institutions of higher education have my greetings on behalf of the Board, which witnessed the addition, merger, and closing is composed of the twenty-four presidents of of private colleges and universities. They GICA institutions and ten public members of have endured wars, natural disasters, the Board. We are proud to serve the Georgia economic crises, and changes in curriculum, Independent Colleges Association, which accreditation requirements, and funding. But represents a rich and impressive history of 2020 brought challenges that we had not higher education in the South. imagined, even in our most strategic planning: a worldwide pandemic. HISTORY OF PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION IN GEORGIA NEW CHALLENGES FOR 2020-2021 In 1835, Oglethorpe University was chartered As we concluded our February 2020 GICA by the state of Georgia, followed in 1836 Board meeting, several Board members by Georgia Female College (now Wesleyan had an impromptu conversation about how Vivia L. Fowler College) and Emory College (now Emory we might respond on our campuses if the University). Throughout the nineteenth and coronavirus that was in the news might come twentieth centuries, additional institutions to Georgia. Little did we know that our lives were either founded as colleges or changed would change—quickly and radically. Within their charters to grant college degrees. weeks, we moved most of our instruction Collectively, our Georgia private colleges have online, arranged for students, faculty, and served students for 2,898 years—not counting staff to work remotely, suspended athletic the years they existed as grammar and high competition and on-campus events, and schools, institutes, and female seminaries! developed policies and procedures for a 4 | Georgia Independent College Association Annual Report 2020 pandemic-regulated world of higher education. its next chapter. She has kept our campus over the past year to support Georgia’s private The word “pivot” had a new meaning in our presidents connected with regular updates on institutions of higher education. vocabulary, and we scrambled to understand federal and state legislation, emergency relief On behalf of the Board of Directors of the the possibilities of “COVID stimulus aid.” programs, and evolving public health guidance. Georgia Independent Colleges Association, Throughout these challenges, GICA has She and her staff hosted Zoom calls for I express profound gratitude to GICA for its provided exceptional leadership to our network leaders across campus to share best practices leadership and commitment to this noble of colleges and universities. Collaboration and work through common challenges as the cause of private higher education. between and among GICA Board members pandemic conditions evolved. and the GICA team has been more important The Board also enthusiastically welcomed than ever during the last year, as we faced the Dr. Baxter to GICA’s Board when she assumed challenges of the pandemic. the presidency at LaGrange College, a GICA institution, and recognized her leadership and personal commitment to GICA institutions OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP by granting her President Emeritus status Vivia L. Fowler, Chair Early in the year, we learned we would need with the association in October at the GICA Board of Directors to conduct a search for an experienced leader annual meeting. President, Wesleyan College to replace Dr. Susanna Baxter who served ten The state of Georgia, and the students years in the role of GICA president. In July attending our institutions, benefit from the 2020, the Board named Jenna Colvin as rich histories, excellent programs, unique GICA president. missions, exceptional value, and significant President Colvin brought a unique combination financial contributions to students offered by of legal, advocacy and higher education Georgia’s private colleges. This report provides experiences to the role as GICA moved into an overview of the work of the GICA staff Innovation and Transition in a Pandemic | 5 2020 Leadership GICA STAFF Ms. Jenna M. Colvin Ms. Lisa K. Macke Dr. Melissa P. Tarrant Mr. James M. (Chip) Moore III President Vice President Director of Research Director of Operations & Data Analysis Ms. Juliet Jatcko Ms. Judith W. Spain, CCEP Mr. James E. Toney Marketing and Events Compliance Program Consultant, Cornerstone Manager Consultant, Spain & Spain Communications Group 6 | Georgia Independent College Association Annual Report 2020 LIFETIME HONORARY TRUSTEES Robert K. Ackerman James M. Griffin Manning M. Patillo Lexington, SC Sanibel, FL Atlanta, GA Nancy Blake Henry J. Hector I. Clayton Ramsey Griffin, GA Montgomery, AL Atlanta, GA Dr. Susanna Baxter Appointed President Emeritus John S. Burd Ross W. Lenhart John K. Trainer Gainesville, GA Pawleys Island, SC Jacksonville, FL In special recognition of distinguished service to the Georgia Manly F. Gilmer Sarah H. Lunsford Preston C. Williams Independent College Association, Woodstock, GA Roswell, GA Montezuma, GA Dr. Susanna Baxter was appointed R. Kirby Godsey Walter Y. Murphy President Emerita of GICA. While Macon, GA Atlanta, GA serving as President of GICA from 2010 to 2020, Dr. Baxter’s service demonstrated exceptional commitment and contributions to the Association, exemplifying the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, civic responsibility, vision, and leadership. Dr. Baxter also provided visionary leadership to numerous advisory boards, committees and professional organizations critical to the higher education sector, including the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities State Executives organization and the Coalition for College Cost Savings. Innovation and Transition in a Pandemic | 7 GICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS The presidents of each of the 24 independent colleges and universities in the state, along with business and community leaders, comprise the GICA Board of Directors. Mr. Charlie Harman Ms. Margaret Kaiser Dr. James F. Mellichamp 360 Public Strategies Piedmont College Mr. Howard Mosby Ms. Leocadia Zak Grady Memorial Hospital Mr. Dean. C. Collins EXECUTIVE Agnes Scott College Point University Mr. John Coleman COMMITTEE Dr. Linda Buchanan Sovereign’s Capital Dr. Mark Roberts Andrew College Reinhardt University Vivia Fowler, Chair Ms. Nancy Juneau Dr. Stephen Briggs Juneau Construction company Dr. Donald Dowless Dean Collins, Vice-Chair Berry College Shorter University Mr. Keith H. Shurbutt Keith Shurbutt, Treasurer Dr. Anne Skleder KPMG LLP Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell Brenau University Spelman College Jenna Colvin, Ex-Officio Dr. Susanna Baxter Dr. Steve Echols LaGrange College Dr. James (Andy) Sheppard Linda Buchanan Brewton-Parker College Thomas University Dr. Rob Scott John Coleman Mr. Ryan Shepard Life University Dr. Robert Myers CARE Toccoa Falls College Donald Dowless Mr. William B. Underwood Dr. George French Mercer University Dr. Emir Caner Jimmy Fleming Clark Atlanta University Truett McConnell University Mr. Antonio Molina Charlie Harman Dr. J. Derek Halvorson Nguyen & Pham, Mr. Jimmy Fleming Covenant College LLC Attorneys at Law Vulcan Materials Company Nancy Juneau Dr. Ronald G. White Dr. David Thomas Dr. Vivia Fowler Rob Scott Emmanuel College Morehouse College Wesleyan College Ronald G. White Dr. Gregory Fenves Dr. Nicholas Ladany Dr. Drew Van Horn Emory University Oglethorpe University Young Harris College 8 | Georgia Independent College Association Annual Report 2020 About Our Students GICA students SUCCEED by graduating … on time … with high demand degrees … and critical 64% of degrees earned by GICA students thinking skills to solve today’s complex problems were in high demand fields GRADUATION RATE 49% 4-YEAR 6-YEAR of GICA undergraduates identify as Black, Latinx, AAPI, indigenous 47% 26% 58% 50% or persons of color GICA USG GICA USG Innovation and Transition in a Pandemic | 9 2020 Year in Review GICA began 2020 anticipating a typical year, plans for students and academic delivery, and operations. GICA worked closely with plans to engage in the legislative session, and convening affinity groups to share best with leaders in the Governor’s office, the work on a variety of policy issues, host a practices and innovative ideas to manage the General Assembly, the Department of Public robust schedule of professional development pandemic and plan for a return to “normal” Health and the Department of Emergency meetings for campus leaders, and launch operations. Management during this time, and we several new initiatives. The spring 2020 GICA’s institutions were ready for the appreciate the collaboration and support from semester kicked off on our campuses with