Georgia Gwinnett College

Georgia Gwinnett College
Seal of Georgia Gwinnett College
Established	Spring, 2005
Type	Public
President	Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman
Undergraduates	8400
Location	Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA
Campus	Lawrenceville, Georgia
Colors	Green and Grey
Nickname	Grizzlies
Mascot	"General" Grizzly
Website	http://www.ggc.edu

Georgia Gwinnett College, also referred to as GGC or simply Georgia Gwinnett, is a fully accredited four-year public college located in Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States, with an enrollment of nearly 8,000 undergraduate students. Georgia Gwinnett College was selected as a College of Distinction for 2010-2011.

Organization

A new model in public higher education, Georgia Gwinnett College, located in Lawrenceville, has a unique organizational structure that omits academic departments and other units typically found in higher education. Under the leadership of a president and cabinet, the college has several administrative divisions and four schools, including:

• School of Business
• School of Education
• School of Liberal arts
• School of Science and Technology

History

Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) opened in 2006 as the nation’s first four-year public college founded in the 21st century and the first four-year public institution created in Georgia in more than 100 years.

Local leaders had long wanted a college within Gwinnett County, the largest county east of the Mississippi River lacking a four-year college. In 1994, the county purchased 160 acres of land and designated it specifically for the development of a college campus. Five years later, the Georgia legislature showed support by allocating nearly $20 million for a building on the property. The following year, the county donated the land to establish the Gwinnett University Center (GUC), a partnership among four University System of Georgia (USG) institutions. Before the year ended, the USG Board of Regents approved construction of the first classroom building. GUC opened in January 2002.

In October 2004, the USG Board of Regents voted to create a new four-year college in Gwinnett County, than home to nearly 700,000 people. The new college would inhabit the GUC campus and replace the four institutions then offering courses on the site. In March 2005, the Georgia legislature passed Senate Resolution 33, authored by Sen. Don Balfour, establishing the new college. That same year, Gov. Sonny Perdue deferred a $5 million appropriation in the 2006 state budget for a 29,000 square-foot classroom building.

In September of 2005, the Georgia Board of Regents hired Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former chief academic officer of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point, as the College’s inaugural president. A month later, the Board of Regents voted to name the institution, “Georgia Gwinnett College.”

Georgia Gwinnett College opened its doors on Aug. 18, 2006, to 118 juniors. The following fall, the college’s enrolled its first freshman class and in 2008, GGC held its inaugural commencement ceremony, graduating 17 students. In January 2009, Georgia Gwinnett College held its first winter graduation ceremony.

In June 2009, the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools granted Georgia Gwinnett its initial accreditation in record time, enabling the college to apply for research grants and awards for students and faculty members, and expand its degree programs. That fall, more than 3,000 students were on campus.

In 2010, GGC celebrated the opening of its new Library and Learning Center and its first student residence halls, transforming the commuter college into a residential campus. More than 5,300 students enrolled for the 2010 fall semester. The new GGC Student Center opened in January 2011. Also in 2011, the college completed a new laboratory facility to serve its dramatically expanding enrollment. Georgia Gwinnett is preparing to launch its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall of 2012.

As of spring semester 2012, GGC has nearly 8,000 students.

UPDATED BY GGC PUBLIC AFFAIRS 1/17/2012.

Mission

Georgia Gwinnett College provides access to targeted baccalaureate level degrees that meet the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. It emphasizes the innovative use of technology and active-learning environments to provide its students enhanced learning experiences, practical opportunities to apply knowledge, increased scheduling flexibility, and a variety of course delivery options. Georgia Gwinnett's knowledgeable faculty and staff actively engage students in various learning environments, serve as mentors and advisors, and assist students through programs designed to enhance their academic, social, and personal development. GGC produces contributing citizens and future leaders for Georgia and the nation. Its graduates are inspired to contribute to the local, state, national, and international communities and are prepared to anticipate and respond effectively to an uncertain and changing world. The GGC website emphasizes Georgia Gwinnett College's practical, technological, and flexible education programs:

"Georgia Gwinnett College provides access to targeted baccalaureate level degrees that meet the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. It emphasizes the innovative use of technology and active-learning environments to provide its students enhanced learning experiences, practical opportunities to apply knowledge, increased scheduling flexibility, and a variety of course delivery options."

Academics

GGC offers the following degree programs important to meeting the needs of the region and the state: Information Technology, Business, Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, English, History, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Education, Special Education, Math and Exercise Science.

Majors in fields such as Biology, English, History, Political Science and Math include teacher certification tracks for students interested in teaching at the secondary level.

Student life

The current student to faculty ratio for the college is 19:1 GGC provides a variety of extracurricular activities ranging from sport to student clubs. There are 58 registered organizations at GGC offering students a wide variety of ways to get involved.

Student Government Association

The Student Government Association (SGA) represents the entire student body of GGC. It consists of the Executive Council and the Senate. The Executive Council, which acts as the titular executive branch of SGA, consists of a President, Vice-President, Senate Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Senate acts as the legislative branch of SGA. In the Senate, each school is represented by a minimum of three Senators plus an extra Senator for each 1000 students (rounded up) in that school. The Senate also consists of Freshmen Representatives who are appointed by existing Senator to represent the freshmen of GGC. Both Senators and Freshman Representatives have voting rights in the Senate. The Senate is conducted by the Senate Chairperson from the Executive Council, and that Senate Chairperson appoints a Senator to be the Senate Secretary to help him or her carry out Senate quorums. Unlike the Senators and Freshman Representatives, the Senate Chairperson only votes when there is a tie.

During the Spring 2012 Semester, the Senate will be discussing the "Omnibus Amendment," which will have multiple consequences for the constitution of SGA. The amendment, if passed by SGA, will create a Summer Committee, will require the President to announce meeting times for next year's SGA meetings prior to elections, and will create a five-student Judicial Council, which will act as the judicial branch of SGA.

An ad hoc "Food Services Committee," (FSC) has been created by SGA to address issues students have with food-related matters at Georgia Gwinnett College. FSC promotes advocacy while detesting anything adversarial.

Dining services

GGC offers a wide range of dining venues which are open for breakfast to dinner (venue times may vary).

Faculty

In general, faculty at Georgia Gwinnett College are not eligible for tenure but are instead hired through renewable one- to five-year contracts. In 2010 the school had 193 instructional full-time faculty members and 131 part-time instructional faculty members. In the fall of 2011, the total number of faculty members rose to 500. This was due to the addition of 180 full time and part time faculty members, an increase of 32% increase from 2010.

Athletics

On August 2011, Dr. Darin Wilson was hired as the first director of athletics for Georgia Gwinnett College. Construction of the $12 million intercollegiate athletics complex is to begin in 2012, and the college is scheduled to start its intercollegiate athletics program in August 2012.

Mascot

On March 6, 2008, the students selected the grizzly bear as their official mascot. The mascot's name is General Grizzly.

Accreditation

On June 25, 2009, GGC received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges. The school of education is completely Accredited by Georgia Professional Standards for teachers education.

Campus

The current campus consists of buildings A, B, and C that are used for classes and activities. There is also a Fitness Center (Building F), Administration building (Building D), and several dorm buildings. The newest buildings on campus include a Library and Learning Center, a Student Center, and an Instructional Lab Facility (Building H).

External links

• GGC homepage
• USG info on GGC