“2007 may very well have been the best year ever” for the University, President Michael Adams said Thursday to a crowd of predominantly faculty members at his State of the University address.

Among the chief accomplishments, Adams said in his annual speech at the Chapel, was surpassing the Archway to Excellence fundraising goal of $500 million 14 months ahead of schedule.

Adams also expressed excitement about the progress of bringing medical school courses to the former Navy Supply Corps School site on Prince Avenue, a development furthered Tuesday at the Board of Regents’ meeting.

Adams outlined four of his chief goals for 2008:

- INCREASING ACCESS TO EDUCATION

The University should better reflect the ethnic profile of the state, Adams said, noting that this year’s freshman class is the most ethnically diverse and academically prepared in the history of the school.

“Real success will have been achieved only when the percentages are such that, frankly, we are able to quit calculating them each year and fretting over slight changes,” he said. “Frankly, we are not there yet.”

One key to ensuring universal access to education is providing more financial support for lower-income students.

Ethnic minorities make up 21 percent of this year’s freshman class, he said. Blacks are the largest minority, at 8.2 percent.

- IMPROVING THE UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCE

More tenure-track faculty need to teach first- and second-year courses, senior faculty need to teach undergraduates and the school needs more endowed faculty, Adams said.

These, along with improved resources for the library and more Honors and freshman seminar offerings, will further the University’s academic mission.

“There is simply no way around it – we will have to continue to raise mountains of cash” to make those goals happen, Adams said.

- IMPROVING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

The University ranks ninth in the country for international education. Adams said 30 percent of graduating seniors participated in a residential study abroad program during their college career. But, Adams recognized, 70 percent did not study abroad.

The key to increasing that number is providing more core classes at study abroad locations to ensure students, particularly sophomores, do not fall behind while going abroad.

“We yet need to establish year-round opportunities for UGA students in Asia, Africa and both a German- and French-speaking locale,” he said.

- ENHANCING RESEARCH

The University must attract a strong population of graduate students and aggressively pursue grant monies, Adams said.

As evidence of success in 2007, Adams pointed to a $20 million biofuels research grant for the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center and research at the Georgia Cancer Center.

“The state and the nation depend on the creativity and discovery that emanate from” research institutions, he said. “It is an obligation, not an option.”