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The capacity of families and communities to meet human needs is of paramount concern as we begin the new millennium. As a field of study and an academic unit at a major public university, the time is right for Family and Consumer Sciences. “Knowledge for Real Life” is not just a motto—it shapes our preparation of emerging professionals, sets our research agendas, focuses our outreach programs, and guides our strategic plan for the future.
As a part of the university-wide strategic planning process, FACS has been engaged in developing plans for 2000-2010. The strategic plan of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences builds on our land-grant tradition, our characteristics and culture of a small college in the large university, and the tremendous strengths of our faculty and staff.
If we are to meet the demand for Family and Consumer Sciences expertise in the future, substantial new resources must be secured. Thus, many aspects of the plan focus on increasing physical, faculty, and financial resources.
I want to highlight these plans so that as alumni, friends, and constituents of FACS, you can help us reach these lofty goals. Yes—you can play a part in making these goals a reality. The strategic directions for 2000-2010 are:
 Foster a community of learners through an addition to and renovation of Dawson and Speirs Halls. A space analysis conducted last year indicated that FACS is operating with just one-half the space it needs to carry out current programs. The UGA Campus Master Plan includes a location for the addition adjacent to Speirs Hall. Estimated cost is $30 million.
Establish the Center for Prevention of Obesity and Related Disorders. Obesity affects more than 55 percent of Georgians which has the dubious distinction of being at the top of the national list of overweight citizens—young, middle-aged and old. The Department of Foods and Nutrition is taking the lead in developing the Center for Prevention of Obesity and Related Disorders, including plans for new faculty, support for Center administration, and research initiatives.
Reduce financial illiteracy and indebtedness. Bankruptcy petitions, high credit card indebtedness, and lack of financial literacy are at an all-time high in Georgia. At the other end of the financial management spectrum, investing and financial security for retirement is of concern to “baby boomers” who are in their peak earning years. There is a high demand for family financial management counselors and for M.S. and Ph.D. graduates to fill positions in higher education institutions. The Department of Housing and Consumer Economics is revising the undergraduate major to meet the criteria for Certified Financial Planner credentialing. An endowed professorship and graduate scholarships will help attain goals in this strategic direction.
Promote resilience among diverse families. Diversity characterizes Georgia’s families. There is a critical need for careful demographic and contextual studies to understand families in today’s rapidly changing society and to develop and rigorously test intervention and outreach programs. While segments of Georgia’s population have achieved greater prosperity in the past decade, large numbers of children continue to be disadvantaged by conditions of poverty. Faculty in the Department of Child and Family Development will be even more effective in promoting family res-ilience with increased resources for endowed professorships and graduate student support.
Reserve Georgia’s material culture in the Historic Costume Collection. Georgia’s diverse populations contributed a rich heritage in the material culture of dress and accessories. Preserving this culture in the Historic Costume Collection of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Inter-iors and contributing to interdisciplinary programs in historic preservation and museum studies, will strengthen the arts and humanities elements of Family and Consumer Sciences. New physical facilities for the Historic Costume Collection are an integral part of the new building plan. Funding for operations and special projects and exhibits are needed to fully exploit the value of the Collection.
These new initiatives will take FACS to a new level of distinction in addressing the pressing needs of our state and nation. They will constitute the core of the college’s development plan for the next decade.
The ultimate purpose of strengthening the capacity of the College
of Family and Consumer Sciences is to benefit the families and communities of Georgia...
The university’s aspiration to be among the top public universities in the nation provides the context for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences’ strategic directions. Our college is excellent today; it can be even better tomorrow. The ultimate purpose of strengthening the capacity of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences is to benefit the families and communities of Georgia, the nation and our international partners. We look forward to the partnerships that will help achieve these goals.
Sharon Y. Nickols
Dean
Note: The complete College of Family and Consumer Sciences Strategic Plan for 2000-2010 can be found on the College website: www.fcs.uga.edu or can be requested from the Director of Communications, Denise Horton, at 706/542-8014.
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