News

Following a comprehensive evaluation of Legion Pool and Legion Field and a public review process under the Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA), the University of Georgia has decided to proceed with a redevelopment plan that removes Legion Pool and expands Legion Field into a larger, more versatile green space designed to better serve students.

Transportation & Parking Services (TPS) at the University of Georgia is always thinking of students’ travel needs, wherever they may be going. Two programs — Operation Safe Drive and the Airport Shuttle Initiative — are helping more students than ever get home safely for the holidays.

The University of Georgia has completed the public comment period for the proposed redevelopment of Legion Pool, a project aimed at expanding and enhancing Legion Field to better serve the university’s growing student population.

Chef Robert Clark knows restaurants. From cozy gastropubs to the bustling Bolton Dining Commons, his workplaces have changed over the years, but his passions for cooking and connecting with people have remained the same.

For many students on campus, driving a UGA bus is an intimidating thought, but for 2025 Transit ROADeo winner Laura Towner, a third-year student from Milledgeville, this is far from the case.

The University of Georgia’s West Campus, home to more than 4,500 first-year students, has been transformed through a series of noteworthy renovation projects and new facilities, with more enhancements coming in fall 2026.

As assistant manager at the University of Georgia steam plant, Howard “Don” LaRue oversees a staff of 16, with at least two operators on-site around the clock. He is intentional about spending time with each shift — including early mornings, late evenings and overnight hours — to cultivate a workplace where people trust their abilities and feel comfortable being themselves.

Each home game at UGA is powered by hundreds of staff working behind the scenes to keep fans safe and campus running smoothly. From facilities and public safety to transit, dining, and operations, these are the teams that make game day possible.

Before anyone in the UGA community sets foot in a new or renovated building, Ray McDonald, Bubba Cowart and Ike Free have made sure it’s safe to do so. As contract compliance specialists in the Office of University Architects, they work with contractors to make sure work is completed on time and correctly.

The University of Georgia plans to redevelop the Legion Pool and Legion Field area to better serve and support its students. The decision comes upon the recommendation of a working group that has considered the highest and best use of this space, located in the heart of the Athens campus, for the last six months.

It’s been an unusually quiet hurricane season so far. But that may change with Hurricane Gabrielle taking aim at Bermuda in the coming days and more than two months left before the 2025 storm season officially comes to a close. Wondering how to stay safe? The University of Georgia’s Alyssa Ragan, from the UGA Institute for Disaster Management, answers common questions surrounding hurricane preparedness.

Katie Scoggins came to the University of Georgia to study for a career in public health, but public transit has turned out to be her true calling. Scoggins has worked for Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) for the past 17 years, starting as a student bus driver in 2008 and progressing to a full-time bus driver in 2012 and a transit events planner in 2018.

Following a fall 2024 site visit by the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA), the Office of Research and UGA Finance and Administration have empaneled a team to review and oversee implementation of recommendations emerging from the NCURA visit — and created a mechanism for the research community to track progress on those recommendations.

Michael D. Gebeke, associate vice president for facilities services at Illinois State University, has been named associate vice president for the University of Georgia’s Facilities Management Division following a national search. He will begin his appointment Oct. 6.

The University of Georgia Office of Emergency Preparedness has announced the recipients of the 2025 Edward T. and Sarah Laurent Kassinger Scholarship Award.

Dozens of members of the University of Georgia and Follett Higher Education gathered on Aug. 22 for a ribbon cutting at the UGA Bookstore. The event celebrated the completion of a major remodel of the bookstore to modernize its look and enhance the Georgia Bulldog experience.

A new early intervention training, created and administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, teaches any employee or member of the public the skills they need to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges as well as how to provide initial support until they can connect with appropriate professional help.

The Board of Regents approved the 2026 University System of Georgia health care plans and premiums for active employees and pre-65 retirees at its August meeting. The board also approved the 2026 Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) contribution for retirees 65 and older.

The numbers mean something to Amy Collett. They mean people are getting paid on time. They mean transactions are approved quickly. They mean data is flowing properly.

Recent enhancements to the University of Georgia’s workers’ compensation program have enabled injured UGA employees to return to work faster and healthier through a more streamlined process.

The University of Georgia continues to solidify its standing among the nation’s elite institutions, earning high marks in The Princeton Review’s 2025 rankings for its exceptional blend of academic excellence, affordability and postgraduation success.

The University of Georgia is continuing its significant investment in campus infrastructure with several major capital projects underway. Designed to enhance the learning environment, student life and overall well-being, these projects reflect the university’s ongoing commitment to providing a world-class experience for students.

Auxiliary Services has made enhancements to services throughout campus to help make the 2025-2026 academic year the best yet for students, faculty, staff and visitors at the University of Georgia.

On July 24, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) hosted its most expansive Future Fleet Demo Day to date, offering a hands-on look at emerging transportation options that could help reshape UGA’s campus fleet.

Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) has made enhancements for the fall semester to increase access to parking and make it easier for students, faculty, staff and visitors to navigate campus. Changes include over 1,800 new parking spaces, new bus routes and route names, and expanded bus service to park-and-ride lots.

The University of Georgia ensures that every undergraduate student benefits from hands-on learning, also known as experiential learning (EL), before they graduate. Auxiliary Services is helping undergraduates fulfill this requirement while benefiting from the students’ excitement for their field and love of UGA.

Auxiliary Services is increasing the variety of dining options at the University of Georgia and enhancing convenience for customers by expanding franchise partnerships and introducing new technology in multiple locations across campus.

When disaster strikes a university campus, police and emergency services are ready to jump in and respond. But what occurs in the days that follow to get campus back on track? That is the question a team of University of Georgia faculty, staff and administrators sought to address. In collaboration with the Office of Emergency Preparedness, the Institute for Disaster Management was contracted to write the first UGA University Assistance Center plan.

The University of Georgia’s restoration of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, a historic anchor of UGA’s North Campus, has earned top honors from local, state and national organizations recognizing excellence in preservation and design.

A cohort of University of Georgia staff completed the first-ever Sustainability Leadership Program at UGA, designed to grow leaders, build community, and create positive change.

The University of Georgia continues to make strategic investments in infrastructure to strengthen campus systems and mitigate the impact of power outages on teaching, research and student life. Through new construction projects, utility upgrades and long-term planning, these efforts aim to improve reliability and safeguard essential operations.

The old adage, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” is a true testament to Clint Udell’s life and career. As an instructor and facilities coordinator at the UGA Golf Course, Udell oversees the daily operations of the driving range while helping to retain and grow the player base.

This week, Finance and Administration (F&A) and University Human Resources (UHR) celebrated a major milestone: 20 years of recognizing the staff who help keep the University of Georgia running.

Jeff Dalton plays a key role in keeping campus facilities functional, safe and true to their original character. As a project manager for the Facilities Management Division (FMD), he oversees a range of construction and renovation projects, from roof replacements to restorations. Each one requires a blend of technical know-how and long-term thinking.

Carlos Ramirez and David Padgett are the duo behind UGA’s fountain and irrigation team in the Facilities Management Division (FMD). Together, they maintain the water infrastructure that supports fountains and landscaping across the Athens campus, from the Arch to College Station Road. Their work is both expansive and essential.

The University of Georgia celebrated the 25th anniversary of its campus arboretum designation on Friday, honoring over two decades of intentional landscape stewardship and the continued growth of one of the university’s most beloved natural assets.

Britney Green serves her community when she’s on duty and when she’s off duty. Green joined the University of Georgia Police Department in 2014 as a patrol officer. After a year and a half, she moved to the Criminal Investigation Division, eventually becoming a lieutenant and supervisor of the division. Now, she serves as the department’s professional standards coordinator.

On March 13, the first group of staff members from Finance and Administration (F&A) and University Human Resources (UHR) graduated from the Data Analytics for Decision Making certificate program. As part of the graduation ceremony, participants presented team capstone projects that explored new ways to visualize and analyze data across key areas, including facilities, finance, human resources, student space use, and safety.

In December, Finance and Administration and University Human Resources wrapped up the fourth annual Community Holiday Outreach Initiative. The event raised funds and physical donations for families and seniors in Athens-Clarke County for a total value of $16,133, the highest total in the event’s history.

As a building services manager with the Facilities Management Division, Amesha Barnes wants to see all of her team members succeed.

Over 40 university representatives and partners to be showcased

Now through July, UGA Green Labs is hosting the annual Freezer Challenge, a contest encouraging researchers to clean out and maintain ultra-low cold storage units

University’s investment in new safety and security initiatives totals $25 million over the last nine years

University of Georgia Green Labs is a program committed to making labs more sustainable and efficient by reducing resource use and decreasing waste

Tracy Winters helps maintain Dining Services’ high standards