Macon State College

Macon State College
Established	October, 1965
Type	Public
President	Dr. Jeffery S. Allbritten
Admin. staff	425
Undergraduates	5,702
Location	Macon, Georgia, USA 32°48′26″N 83°43′56″W
Campus	Macon, Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base
Colors	Blue and Gold
Mascot	The Blue Storm
Website	www.maconstate.edu

Macon State College, formerly Macon College and Macon Junior College, is a four-year, residential, baccalaureate degree institution of the University System of Georgia located in Macon, Georgia. It has a satellite campus in Warner Robins, Georgia, as well as the Robins Resident Center, located on Robins Air Force Base.

The college offers 33 programs of study in 18 bachelor's degree programs -- biology, business & information technology, communications & information technology, early childhood education, middle grades education, English, health information management, health services administration, history, information technology, interdisciplinary studies (B.A. and B.S.), mathematics, nursing, RN-to-BSN, psychology, public service and respiratory therapy. Associate degrees also are offered.

With an affordable tuition designed to encourage access to the University System, as well as excellent instruction offered in convenient locations, Macon State has become the largest college in Central Georgia. In the fall of 2011, Macon State had 5,702 students. Macon State continues to fulfill its mission of serving the region's residents and its economic interests by providing higher education programs of recognized quality.

Residence Life programs began for the first time in the fall 2010 semester when the college started offering housing and expanded student life activities. The college took over operation of a 300+ unit apartment complex adjacent to the Macon campus and renamed the complex College Station. The apartments are student-only units with resident advisers and security on site.

Macon State's main campus is located on more than 400 acres (1.6 km²) on College Station Drive, along Eisenhower Parkway (US 80), in western Bibb County, Georgia. The Warner Robins campus, with three administrative and academic buildings, is located on 79 acres (320,000 m²) Watson Boulevard, just a half-mile from the main gate of Robins Air Force Base. The Robins Resident Center is located in one of the many office buildings located on the Air Force base.

Presidents

2011-present: Dr. Jeffery S. Allbritten

1998–2011: Dr. David A. Bell

1985-97: S. Aaron Hyatt

1984-85: Jack Ragland, served as interim president

1972-84: William W. Wright

1968-72: Jack K. Carlton, the first president of the institution

Current Administrative Officers

President: Dr. Jeffery S. Allbritten

Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs: Dr. Martha Venn

Vice President for Fiscal Affairs: Nancy Stroud

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management: Dr. Melanie McClellan

Vice President for External Affairs and Continuing Studies: Albert J. Abrams

Chief Information Officer: Roger Dixon

Dean of Students: Lynn W. McCraney

Interim Dean of the Warner Robins Campus: David Carpenter

History

The history of Macon State College began in 1965, when the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents passed a resolution to create a public two-year college in Middle Georgia. Subsequently, the voters of Bibb County approved a bond issue to fund the college.

Macon Junior College, as it was then known, opened its doors in 1968 to the largest enrollment ever for a new state college in Georgia. In 1970, the Board of Regents directed Macon Junior College to serve civilian and military employees at Robins Air Force Base. The Robins Resident Center, located on the base, was subsequently established.

As several other junior colleges had recently gained four-year status, many speculated that Macon's would as well. However, the change took some time. It was not until 1983 that a statewide needs assessment indicated that the Macon area was underserved by state higher education. In 1987, the Regents removed "Junior" from the college's name but Macon College remained a two-year school.

In 1989, the college's president, S. Aaron Hyatt, asked the state to grant the college senior status. The following year, 25,000 local citizens signed a petition supporting the move, but state budget cuts prevented the issue from advancing.

Over the next several years, the topic was repeatedly discussed, and "senior status" was often recommended by University System consultants, but it would be 1996 before the Regents finally approved a change in mission and the introduction of the Bachelor of Science degree. Later that year, the school became known as "Macon State College" to indicate the new status. Both changes formally took effect in 1997. The first bachelor's degrees were awarded in May 1999.

During the fall 2007 convocation President Bell mentioned that the Board of Regents estimates Macon State’s enrollment will hit 10,000 by 2020. To accommodate these expectations the College will have to grow to include a more complex mission with additional four-year programs, graduate degrees in appropriate areas and residential housing.

In the same speech, President Bell also announced that with this growth the college would have to reorganize from divisions into schools. He then announced the official foundation of the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Information Technology, the School of Nursing & Health Sciences, and the School of Business. Dr. Robert Kelly was then named the first dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

In April 2010, the president announced that the college had assumed operations of a 300+ apartment complex adjacent to the Macon campus. The units are available only to Macon State students and opened as student housing for the Fall 2010 semester. The housing initiative is part of a new Residence Life program that includes new student activities. It is anticipated the college will add additional housing and new facilities for student activities.

In the fall of 2010, Dr. Bell announced that he would end his term as president in June 2011. In July 2011, Dr. Jeffery S. Allbritten, who had been serving as president of the Collier County Campus of Edison State College in Naples, Florida, assumed office as Macon State's new president.

In January 2012, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the merger of the college with Middle Georgia College by Fall, 2013. It is not anticipated that any of either schools' current campuses will close.

Schools within the College

• School of Arts and Sciences [1]

The School of Arts and Sciences, located in the Humanities and Social Sciences Building on the Macon Campus, offers programs of study leading to a bachelor’s degree in one of these areas: biology, communications and information technology, English, history, interdisciplinary studies, mathematics, psychology and public service. Additionally, students may pursue an A.A. or A.S. degree in any one of 23 areas of study. Dr. Ronald Williams is dean of the school.

• School of Business [2]

The School of Business is located in the Professional Sciences Center on the Macon Campus. The school offers bachelor's degrees with majors in accounting, management, marketing, general business and production/operations management. Also, an associate of science degree is offered, along with several certificate programs. Dr. Varkey Titus is dean of the school.

• School of Education [3]

The School of Education is temporarily located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus while construction takes place on the new School of Education building. The school offers the bachelor's degree in early childhood and special education, the bachelor's in middle grades education with the opportunity to earn dual certification in general and special education, and a bachelor's degree in secondary education tracks in biology, English, history, and mathematics for candidates interested in teaching at the high school level. Dean of the school is Dr. Pamela Bedwell.

• School of Information Technology [4]

The School of Information Technology is located in the Professional Sciences Center on the Macon Campus. The school's bachelor's degrees prepare graduates for critical roles in the rapidly evolving IT profession. The major concentrations within bachelor's degrees include: Network Technologies and Administration; Information Assurance and Security; Integrated Digital Media; Software Development; and Information Technology Management. Dean of the school is Dr. Alex Koohang.

• School of Nursing & Health Sciences [5]

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences is located in the Charles H. Jones Building on the Macon Campus. The school offers quality healthcare bachelor's degree programs in patient care and non-patient care careers: Health Information Management/Health Information Technology, Health Services Administration, Nursing and Respiratory Therapy. Dean of the school is Dr. Rebecca Corvey.

Bachelor's Degree Programs

• Biology [6]
• Business & Information Technology [7]
• Communications & Information Technology [8]
• Early Childhood Education [9]
• English [10]
• Health Information Management [11]
• Health Services Administration [12]
• History [13]
• Information Technology [14]
• Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Arts) [15]
• Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Science) [16]
• Mathematics [17]
• Middle Grades Education [18]
• Nursing (RN to BSN completion)[19]
• Nursing (generic)[20]
• Psychology [21]
• Public Service [22]
• Respiratory Therapy [23]

Student life

The college has developed a Student Life Program that encourages participation. More than 40 student organizations are offered, along with a wellness program that has facilities and health programs available to students, faculty, staff and alumni. Additionally, an honors program has been developed to help academically advanced students develop their intellectual potential through even more challenging educational activities. An extensive Residence Life program kicked off in Fall 2010 with the college assuming operations of a nearby 300+ unit apartment complex. Ample parking also is available for commuters, and the campus is served by public transportation.

With the expansion of Student Life programs in the fall of 2010, the college has seen an increased interest in sports activities. The college has formed clubs with teams that compete against other college club teams in baseball, basketball, rugby, soccer, tennis and cheerleading.

Naming of new mascot

Increasing interest in club sports activities also created interest in the college mascot. As a junior college, the institution had used Mustangs as the mascot, but the name faded away after the intercollegiate athletics program was dissolved a few years after it began. In 2010, the Student Government Association asked for, and received, permission to name a new mascot. Nominations were received from students, faculty and staff. A committee reviewed more than 300 suggestions and recommended to the president that The Blue Storm become the new mascot. President Bell approved the recommendation.

Points of interest

• Waddell Barnes Botanical Gardens

External links

• Macon State College website
• Macon Campus map
• Warner Robins Campus map