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Armstrong FactsAASU to Bestow Honorary Doctorate on Former President and Mrs. Robert A. Burnett
Savannah, GA—Armstrong Atlantic State University will bestow an Honorary Doctor of of Letters on two of its most tireless supporters, Robert A. Burnett, fifth president of the university, and his wife, Mary V. Burnett. The Burnetts are being recognized for their nearly twenty-five years of dedicated service to the university.
President Thomas Z. Jones will award the degree—the highest honor Armstrong Atlantic can bestow upon someone— to the Burnetts during the commencement ceremony for fall graduates on December 14. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 A.M. in the AASU Alumni Arena.
Robert Burnett joined Armstrong State College in 1978 as a professor of history and progressed through the ranks of dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, vice president and dean of faculty, and acting president. In 1984, he was appointed the fifth president of the institution, a position he held until his retirement in 1999.
Burnett’s vision for Armstrong State College was of a vibrant urban institution of higher education with an atmosphere of open communication, strong faculty governance, and superlative planning and assessment. He urged the college on to a level of growth and recognition.
Burnett’s complement, his wife Mary, is a community leader and professional woman. Gifted with sound judgment and a charming presence, Mary Burnett played a crucial role in the success of her husband’s presidency. Both worked tirelessly on the university’s behalf.
"Dr. Burnett provided strong leadership for Armstrong Atlantic State University during his presidency of the institution. By his side during these years was Mrs. Burnett, who not only provided her special grace and talent to the university, but served our community in remarkable ways through her active participation in many community-based organizations," said Thomas Z. Jones, president of AASU. "We are honored to recognize their many contributions through the awarding of the honorary doctor of letters degree to each of them."
Robert Burnett’s distinguished career spans nearly forty years. He holds a bachelor of arts in economics from Wofford College and a master of arts and Ph.D. in history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Burnett began his academic career at Pfeiffer College as an assistant professor of history. He then spent twelve years at the University of Louisville, serving in the capacities of assistant professor, associate professor, professor, chairman of the history department, and university ombudsman.
Mary Burnett earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Texas, El Paso, and taught school for several years. An energetic volunteer, she has been involved in numerous nonprofit organizations, including the PEO Sisterhood, Candler Hospital Auxiliary, Savannah Symphony Women’s Guild, The One Hundred at Backus Children’s Hospital, the Chancel Society of St. John’s Church, and the Huntingdon Club.
During Robert Burnett’s presidency, Armstrong Atlantic State University’s enrollment more than doubled from 2,500 to nearly 5,700 students, with significant growth in the number of students from outside of Chatham County and from historically underrepresented groups. By the fall of 1998, thirty percent of the student body came from minority backgrounds.
To attract students of exceptional academic ability, the University Honors Program was reinvigorated. He strengthened the athletics program to offer additional resources for students. The first exchange agreements with foreign universities were negotiated, and an International Programs Office was created to encourage students and faculty to study abroad and to assist international scholars during their stay at Armstrong Atlantic.
Burnett enjoyed frequent contact with students and kept himself keenly aware of their needs and concerns. As a result, student services were significantly expanded.
Burnett’s ability to think strategically, coupled with his keen understanding of the legislative process, led to a marked increase in funding for AASU. The university’s total budget more than quadrupled to $44.7 million, and funding was obtained for half-a-million square feet of new academic space. A $500,000 gift from Philip Solomons created the university’s first endowed chair, the Shirley and Philip Solomons Eminent Scholar Chair in Economics. During the Burnett tenure, the university’s total endowment skyrocketed from less than $200,000 to $5.4 million.
Burnett established an institutional advancement office to oversee programs and services in alumni affairs and development. The number of active alumni increased significantly, and private financial support soared. Foundation assets grew from $200,000 to $2.8 million. At this time, the university received a $1.3 million bequest, the largest gift in AASU history.
The Burnett presidency brought student computer labs, distance learning programs and facilities, and an infusion of technology across campus. As the first to integrate a fiber optics network in the University System of Georgia, the institution became a technological leader. Web-based instruction was introduced, and hardware and software were upgraded.
More than twenty-five academic majors were developed during Burnett’s presidency. The institution regained autonomy to offer graduate studies, and several master’s level programs were introduced. Student access increased with the establishment of the Weekend College and centers in Brunswick and Liberty counties.
Academic quality was enhanced as admissions standards rose, and student achievement on state, regional, and national tests remained well above the average. In a rare commendation, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools lauded Armstrong Atlantic for its strong faculty governance. Excellent scholars were recruited, and faculty development became a priority.
Armstrong Atlantic remained a strong teaching institution, but research and scholarship expanded under Burnett’s guidance, with the total value of university grant and contract awards increasing significantly to $2.1 million in 1998.
Burnett took great interest in the physical development of AASU. A comprehensive, long-range facilities master plan was created to guide the university’s growth. Under his leadership, two new buildings emerged at AASU: the Sports Center and University Hall. In 1998, the university received approval for a new science center and student residence complex.
President and Mrs. Burnett fostered the ideals of public and community service. They served on many nonprofit boards and made the university more responsive to regional needs. He founded the Public Service Center in 1991 to help Georgia communities identify and resolve complex urban and regional issues.
In addition to guiding Armstrong Atlantic, Burnett held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations, including the Presidents’ Commission of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the Rotary Club of Savannah, and the Business, Education, and Technology Alliance.
December 13, 2002