Builders of the University Terrace

About the Terrace

The Builders of the University Terrace at Georgia Southern University stands as a lasting monument to the faculty and staff whose service shaped the institution across generations. Located on the Statesboro Campus just off Sweetheart Circle, the terrace honors those whose dedication, leadership, and commitment contributed materially to the University's growth from a small agricultural school into a comprehensive public research university.¹

The idea for the Builders of the University Terrace originated in the mid‑1990s through the vision of Dr. J. Norman Wells, a professor of mathematics who served Georgia Southern University for more than thirty years. Dr. Wells believed the institution's history should permanently recognize faculty and staff whose daily work sustained the University's mission and culture. Working with fellow retirees, he developed the concept of a physical memorial that would commemorate long‑term service rather than financial contribution.²

The project was undertaken with the support of what later became the Georgia Southern University Retirees Association (GSURA). From its inception, the terrace was designed to honor retired employees who had completed a minimum of ten years of service and whose careers reflected professionalism, dedication, and meaningful contribution to students, colleagues, and the broader University community.²

Construction of the Builders of the University Terrace was completed in 1997. The site was formally consecrated and dedicated during the presidency of Dr. Nicholas L. Henry, who served as President of Georgia Southern University from 1987 to 1998. The dedication plaque at the terrace records this moment, establishing the University's enduring commitment to honoring service as a foundational institutional value.¹

Physically, the terrace consists of a masonry wall bearing individual bronze plaques. Each plaque records the name of a retired faculty or staff member, their professional role, and years of service. Collectively, the wall documents service dating back to the University's founding in 1906, when it opened as the First District Agricultural and Mechanical School. As Georgia Southern evolved through successive name changes and expanding academic missions, the terrace continued to grow as additional retirees were honored.¹

Beyond recognition, the Builders of the University Terrace serves as a historical record of Georgia Southern University itself. The plaques reflect every era of institutional transformation—from Georgia Normal School, to South Georgia Teachers College, to Georgia Southern College, and ultimately Georgia Southern University—making the terrace a living archive of institutional memory and continuity.²

In 2023, Georgia Southern University expanded the reach of the Builders tradition through the launch of a Virtual Builders of the University Wall. Developed by GSURA, the digital wall mirrors the physical terrace and allows users to search retirees by name or retirement year and view downloadable virtual plaques. This initiative ensures continued recognition while preserving the historic terrace as the symbolic heart of the tradition.³

Today, the Builders of the University Terrace remains one of the most comprehensive employee recognition monuments within the University System of Georgia. It affirms Georgia Southern University's belief that institutional excellence is built not only through facilities and programs, but through the faithful service of the people who have defined its mission, values, and character over time.