University of Georgia (UGA)

Background

The University of Georgia (UGA) was first chartered by the Georgia General Assembly in 1785 and began classes in 1801, making it the first state-chartered university in the United States. The university is located in Athens, Georgia. It is a land-grant and sea-grant university and is classified among “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity.” ^{1 2}

The university offers more than 140 degree programs across 18 schools and colleges, including the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, College of Engineering, and School of Public and International Affairs. Its athletic programs compete as the Georgia Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). ²

As of 2024, UGA claimed more than 355,000 living alumni worldwide. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the university among the top 20 public universities in the nation. ^{2 6}

In addition to public funding, the university is endowed by the University of Georgia Foundation, which operates over $2.35 billion in assets. The foundation provides an average of more than $155 million annually to UGA. ⁷

In 2024, the university spent, $600 million on research, nearly half of which was funded by the federal government. Federal research expenditures at the university rose 15% in fiscal year 2024 from $221.8 million to $255.1 million. ⁸

Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) Conference

In July 2023, the University of Georgia (UGA) hosted the seventh annual Election Science, Reform, and Administration (ESRA) Conference in Athens. The event was organized by the Political Science Department in collaboration with the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. ESRA is an election administration conference funded by left-of-center groups such as Democracy Fund, the National Science Foundation, and the Hewlett Foundation. It also received funding from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Election Data and Science Lab. ^{3 4 5}