The Mental Health Task Force, which will be chaired by Associate Vice President Lynn Durham, comes partly in response to recent concerns expressed by student leaders.

“Both the undergraduate and graduate Student Government Associations advocated for the formation of a task force,” Peterson said. “This group will review our current efforts to increase awareness and prevention of mental health issues, as well as potential causes and responses when mental illness or extreme emotional stress are suspected. We want to ensure that Tech is a place where students can continue to thrive and solve the challenges of the 21st century.”

In a white paper submitted to the president last month, students identified academics, student life and finances as a few areas of concern for mental health on campus. 

The group will meet several times during the summer and includes representatives from the faculty, administration and student body:

• James Black — former president, Graduate Student Government Association
• Susan Cozzens — Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Faculty Affairs
• Shannon Croft — Psychiatrist, Student Health Services
• Dan Morrison — Director, Housing, Residence Life
• Jennifer Mullins — Assistant Director, Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Ruperto Perez — Director, Counseling Center
• Nick Picon — President, Undergraduate Student Government Association
• Colin Potts — Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
• Sangita Sharma — President, ANAK Society
• John Stein — Dean of Students
• Arren Washington — President, Graduate Student Government Association

The President’s Committee on Disabilities and Access will determine if campus barriers — whether physical or technology-related — adversely impact access to Tech’s programs or services anywhere across the 400-acre campus, which houses some 238 buildings and other structures.

“Georgia Tech is committed to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities throughout our campus community and ensuring full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other pertinent laws, that recognize and protect the civil rights of people with disabilities,” Peterson said. “This committee will have broad oversight responsibilities to ensure that we are meeting our responsibilities and obligations.”

Once convened, the committee will be charged with reviewing Institute policies, identifying potential problem areas, and benchmarking against national best practices for disability and access compliance. The committee will detail its findings in an annual report to the president that will include recommendations for improvement.

Initial committee members include:

• Archie Ervin — Vice President, Institute Diversity (Co-Chair)
• Gary Wolovick — Managing Attorney, Legal Affairs (Interim Co-Chair)
• Susann Estroff — Senior Attorney, Legal Affairs
• Steven Girardot — Assistant Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education
• Scott Jones — Director, Design and Construction / Facilities Management
• Lance Lunsway — Director, Parking and Transportation
• Denise Johnson Marshall — Assistant Dean of Students and Director, Disability Services
• Helena Mitchell — Executive Director, Center for Advanced Communications Policy
• Dan Morrison — Director, Residence Life
• Mia Reini — Director, Compliance and Policy Management
• Christie Rink — Assistant Director, Athletics Event Operations
• Jon Sanford — Associate Professor, College of Architecture and Director, Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access
• Jenny Singleton — Professor, Psychology
• Lori Sundal — Director, Enterprise Information Systems
• Thomas Vance — Senior Human Resources Business Partner
• Howard Wertheimer — Director, Capital Planning and Space Management
• Undergraduate Student Government Representative (TBD)
• Graduate Student Government Representative (TBD)

Individuals interested in the committee's progress can track the activities on a soon to be established website or can contact one of the committee members directly.

“We have made a great deal of progress toward the goals articulated in the strategic plan,” President Peterson said. “I am confident that under the leadership of Provost Bras and this group we can continue to do so.”

The purpose of the newly formed Strategic Plan Advisory Group will be to serve as a forum for the continued discussion of strategic issues and to provide counsel to Institute leadership on the alignment, effectiveness, implementation and impact of the Strategic Plan.

“The notion of what constitutes the technological research university of the 21st century continues to evolve,” Bras said. “For example, three years ago very few people were talking about massive open online education, but it is now one of the foremost topics in higher education. We are looking to this advisory group to help ensure that our aim is true.”

The Strategic Plan Advisory Group will meet for the first time next week. Initial members will serve one- to three-year terms, working toward a rotation of alternating two-year terms:

• Gisele Bennett – Director, Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
• Michael Best – Associate Professor, International Affairs
• Kim Cobb – Associate Professor, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
• Mark Demyanek – Assistant Vice President, Environmental Health & Safety / Facilities Management
• Jim Fortner – Associate Vice President, Financial Services
• David Frost – Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Ron Johnson – Professor of the Practice, Industrial & Systems Engineering and Managing Director, Tennenbaum Institute
• Fatimot Ladipo – Assistant Director, Federal Relations

The group’s specific responsibilities will include reviewing proposals related to the Strategic Plan, identifying gaps or changing priorities, recommending resource needs, and communicating progress to the campus community.