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University of North Georgia (¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ) President Michael Shannon gave an inspirational talk that identified "moonshots" for ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's strategic big bets to create the path for a university that has never existed at "Reveille: Awakening the Future of Higher Education," an event held Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 in the Convocation Center at ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's Dahlonega Campus.

Drawing parallels to President John F. Kennedy's iconic 1962 "We Choose to Go to the Moon" speech, Shannon outlined how these moonshot goals will allow ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ to deliver at scale for the region, state and nation.

He laid out this bold vision against the backdrop of a society that is growing increasingly skeptical of the value of higher education, arguing that ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ can answer its calling by differentiating itself and demonstrating relevance to the communities it serves.

"¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ equips leaders who are prepared to go anywhere and do anything," Shannon said.

He sees these moonshots coming to life through ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's conception of the community as a classroom, the university's distinctive value and the power of its five campuses to make an impact on the areas that surround them.

Seven of the moonshots tied into ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's seven strategic big bets, which were announced in October:

Design and build a leadership foundry

Moonshot: ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will launch the "Leadership Foundry" to coordinate the delivery of a signature leadership experience for every student on every campus (with full implementation for all students by fall 2027).

Supercharge workforce development

Moonshot: ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will align key workforce programs (nursing, education, business and entrepreneurship, and agriculture) based on efficiency and speed to credential with full connectivity to industry, ensuring 95% placement and by 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will become the "go-to" learning hub for innovation and entrepreneurship north of the "I-285 perimeter."

Accelerate the fine arts and entertainment

Moonshot: By 2032, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will develop and build an arts ecosystem on the Gainesville Campus — an interdisciplinary, arts innovation hub — which will become the focal point of the arts in the southeastern United States.

Expand the STEM value proposition

Moonshot: ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will leverage interdisciplinarity to become a disruptive STEM applied learning "go-to" university across physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, cyber, computer science, data, AI, and engineering.

Get in the national security game

Moonshot: By 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will synchronize programs in intelligence, diplomacy and homeland defense to become the nationally recognized, first-choice university for building the next generation of national security workforce experts for the local, regional, state, and national level.

Deliver the Corps of the future

Moonshot: By 2028, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will deliver the best officer development program in America and grow the ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ to 1,000 cadets and increase its annual commissioning to 120+ Army second lieutenants.  

Build the most competitive, value-added Division II athletics program in the nation

Moonshot: ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will deliver the best NCAA Division II athletics program in America.

Shannon also announced three upcoming initiatives:

• The Institute for Peak Performance, which will draw upon the strength of the Athletics Department, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ, Department of Kinesiology, and Department of Physical Therapy.
• An Innovation Hub in downtown Gainesville to assist entrepreneurs.
• A Nighthawk Next Hub in Gilmer County High School.

The president outlined three moonshots tied to ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ's commitment to legacy-making, as well:

First Gen students

Moonshot: By 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will become the First Choice for First Gen in Georgia and will serve as the ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ model for access, opportunity, and support — leading first-generation student retention and graduation rates.

Hispanic students

Moonshot: By 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will become a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, reflecting the communities which ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ serves.

Veteran students

Moonshot: By 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will become a premier destination for student veterans and their family members and increase veteran enrollment to over 5% of total enrollment.

Evergreen scholars

Moonshot: By 2030, ¹ú²ú×ÔÅÄ will become a university which provides every alumnus affordable education for a lifetime fully aligned with the marketplace with opportunities for all learners to join along the way.