It’s been just over a year since Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel, PhD, and other university leaders announced AU’s new strategic plan, Creating a Legacy Like No Other, and in the year since the roll-out, colleges and schools, departments, and smaller teams and units have worked to align their respective goals and strategic plans with the greater university plan.

Outlined within Creating a Legacy are three aspirational imperatives supported by five strategic priorities and three interwoven priorities, all aimed at elevating Augusta University into an institution of higher education like no other, not just in the state of Georgia, but across the region, nation and beyond.

“When we announced Creating a Legacy Like No Other, we understood the scope of the lofty goals we placed upon ourselves, but we truly believe that Augusta University is a one-of-a-kind institution for student success, research and community engagement,” Keel said. “In the last year alone, we have seen significant achievements and innovative partnerships that point to a brighter future for Augusta University.”

The strategic plan’s first aspirational imperative is reaching an enrollment of 16,000 students by 2030. This includes enrolling more new students and keeping them here once they arrive.

“Our enrollment at Augusta University has grown every year since 2015, and we expect continued growth in fall 2023,” said Susan Davies, PhD, vice president for enrollment and student affairs. “From new educational programs and exciting new partnerships to new initiatives aimed at setting our students up for success, everything we are doing is strategically aligned to not only grow our student population, but also to make sure the Augusta University student experience is like no other.”

One of the biggest components of reaching the 16×30 goal will be the success of Augusta University Online.

Over the last year, Marc Austin, PhD, associate provost and dean of Augusta University Online, has assembled a team to get the new academic support unit off the ground and ready for students to enroll for the fall 2023 semester. Augusta University Online has introduced three graduate-level online programs and will expand in the coming years at a measured pace based on needs of the workforce and students.

Augusta University Online will directly benefit from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed between AU and the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence, which will enable soldiers to earn a Master of Science in Information Security Management or a Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies from Augusta University completely online.

Unique partnerships like the MOU with ARCYBER will be a strong driving force behind AU’s projected growth. Other partnerships that have been announced and are continuing to grow include Augusta Advantage, which offers Augusta Tech students a more efficient pathway to transition from a two-year associate’s degree to a four-year bachelor’s degree, and Pounce to Your Profession, a dual-enrollment partnership with Columbia County schools.