The first meeting of its board of trustees installed its first president, Abraham Baldwin, a native of Connecticut and graduate of Yale University. This meeting also identified the 633 acres on the banks of the Oconee River on which the University was to be built.
The first classes were held in 1801, in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences—named in honor of Benjamin Franklin—under the direction of President Josiah Meigs. The university graduated its first class in 1804.
White and male most of its history, women were admitted to the university in 1918. In 1961, UGA became racially integrated after notable tension with the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Now, UGA is a racially and gender diverse campus with a student population that is 57% female and 43% male.
The university's motto is et docere et rerum exquirere causas ("to teach and to inquire into the nature of things").
UGA is home to the George Foster Peabody Awards, which are presented annually for excellence in television and radio news, entertainment and children’s programming. It also presents the annual Delta Prize for Global Understanding, which recognizes individuals or groups whose initiatives promote peace and cooperation among cultures and nations.
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2 Football 3 Statistics 4 Distinguished Alumni 5 Sources 6 External links |
Campus
Though there have been many additions, changes, and augmentations, UGA’s campus maintains its historic character and southern charm. The customary practice is to divide the extensive, 4,308 acre campus into two sections: North Campus [1] and South Campus [1].
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Modeled on Yale University’s Central/Old Campus [1], UGA’s North Campus contains the picturesque historic buildings—such as the Chapel [1], Old College, New College, the Phi Kappa [1] and Demosthenian Houses [1], Park Hall [1], Meigs Hall, and the President’s office [1]—as well as modern additions such as the Lumpkin Law School [1] and the Main Library [1]. The dominant architectural themes are Federal—the older buildings—and Greco-Roman Classical/Antebellum style. UGA’s North Campus has also been designated an Arboreum by the State of Georgia.
Moving from North Campus toward South Campus — the more recently constructed and scientific and mathematical section of campus — one passes the Tate Student Center [1] and, most notably, the 92,058 seat Sanford Stadium[1]: home of the UGA Bulldog Football Team [1]. The white English Bulldog is UGA’s mascot and is properly known as "Uga" [1]. (UGA's mascot is another Yale influenced aspect of the University.) The Bulldogs play in the Southeastern Conference against teams such as the University of Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Louisiana State University. The biggest rivalries, though, are between the Bulldogs and the Atlantic Coast Conference Georgia Tech Yellowjackets and—most importantly—the University of Florida Gators [1].
The UGA-UF game is held annually in late October/early November in Jacksonville, Florida: a supposedly neutral site. Often referred to as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," this event is a must-do for UGA undergrads as well as alumni. The Bulldogs are cheered on in this game--as well as in all the others--by the 90,000+ fans that sell out every home game as well as the UGA Marching Band, affectionately known as “The Red Coat Marching Band.” [1]
Certainly, Football dominates the UGA athletic scene. However, other notable teams include the UGA Equestrian Team [1], the UGA Gymnastic Team [1], the UGA Fencing Club [1], and the UGA Baseball Team [1] and the UGA Basketball Teams (men's [1] and women's [1]) which play in the UGA Stegeman Coliseum [1].
Football
Statistics
Distinguished Alumni
Sources
External links