Mehaffy speaks at GSW Constitution Day event

AMERICUS—What is the purpose of college? Well, according to George Mehaffy, vice president for leadership and change at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), its purpose is to “prepare the next generation of actively engaged citizens for democracy.”

Mehaffy spoke Wednesday, Sept. 24 at a Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) convocation recognizing Constitution Day. In Sept. 1787, the U.S. Constitution was signed by delegates from the Constitutional Convention.

Representing the AASCU sponsored American Democracy Project (ADP), Mehaffy stressed that college is not simply for teaching facts, rather teaching how to find facts – critical thinking. Mehaffy established the ADP in 2003 in partnership with The New York Times. Among 229 other public colleges and universities, Georgia Southwestern has been involved in the initiative since its inception. Prior to AASCU, Mehaffy was the vice president for academic affairs at Eastern New Mexico University.

Established in 1961, the AASCU includes 430 public institutions, including GSW, and over 3.7 million students. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Georgia Southwestern’s next convocation is scheduled for October 15 featuring a Fulbright Scholar Ambassador Hamdi Saleh of Egypt. For more information, contact GSW University Relations at (229) 931-2037.