The system supplement: a report of the Georgia Board of Regents, Vol. 44, no. 3 (Mar. 2007)

The
System Suppleme7nt5 A report of the Georgia Board of Regents Vol. 44, No. 3 March 2007 "Creating a Mo re Educated Georgia"

Aviation Technical College Merges with Middle Georgia College

A s of July 1, 2007, college students who plan to pursue careers in aviation

tion," said University System Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. "This common-sense merger will

will have new higher educational make Georgia more competitive in

options, thanks to a merger of two this arena. And we are pleased to

institutions approved in March by welcome the outstanding faculty

the Board of Regents.

and staff now at Georgia Aviation

The regents put the final seal of and Technical College into the

approval on the transfer of Georgia University System family."

Aviation and Technical College

Dr. Richard Federinko, presi-

(GAVTC) in Eastman from the

dent of MGC, stated, "We are very

Department of Technical and Adult pleased that the members of the

Education (DTAE) to the

Board of Regents have given

University System. The aviation

their approval, along with the

school will become part of Middle Department of Technical and Adult

Georgia College in Cochran and Education Board's approval, for

assume the Middle Georgia College GAVTC to join with MGC under

name. The DTAE board previously the University System of Georgia.

approved the transfer during that Linking together Georgia Aviation,

body's January meeting.

with its certificate and associate

The merger creates Georgia's

degree programs, and Middle

only state-supported aviation col- Georgia, with its bachelor degree

lege that will offer a variety of cer- programs, creates the state's first

tificate, associate and now, select comprehensive public college spe-

bachelor aviation degrees. Officials cializing in aviation education

indicate the merger places Georgia and training."

Federinko further

stated, "Through

joint accreditation,

shared resources and

gained operating effi-

ciencies, the new

Middle Georgia

College will be better

positioned to contin-

ue offering a high

quality, safe aviation

The campus of Georgia Aviation and Technical College, located at Heart of Georgia Airport

educational experience at an affordable

in Eastman.

cost to both the stu-

dents and the avia-

in a strong position to meet the

tion industry at large."

aviation industry's needs for more

Both DTAE and USG officials

graduates with four-year degrees as have worked on the merger since

well as fulfilling the continuing

mid 2006, when it became appar-

demand for skilled workers with

ent such a move would result in

certificates and associate degrees. enhanced course offerings, greater

"We are pleased to be able to

operational efficiency, and greater

create new degree programs and

student services, such as residence

enhance Georgia's ability to pro- halls. Officials also indicate the

duce needed graduates in avia-

merger will have a positive effect

Middle Georgia College President Richard Federinko fills in the Board of Regents on the new certificates and degrees his institution will be offering as a result of the merger with Georgia Aviation and Technical College.
on the local and state economies, with improved aviation workforce training sparking development in aviation and related fields. Existing industry, along with government and military operations such as Robins Air Logistics Command Center in Warner Robins, also will benefit from the merger.
Larry Calhoun, interim president and vice president of instructional services at GAVTC, estimates that the nation will need about 12,500 new air-traffic controllers and 30,000 more pilots 10 years from now, and in just seven years, the country will need 55,000 new aviation mechanics as the current workforce ages.
"The FAA estimates that over the next 15 years passenger boarding will grow by some 15 percent including a 30 percent growth in air transport and commercial operations," said Dr. Julie Massie Clark, MGC's chair of aviation management and business. At the 35 busiest airports in the nation, she said, total operations are expected to grow by more than 34 percent by 2020. "MGC is going to be on the front line of this overwhelming growth, offering Georgia students the training they need to win a position in the aviation industry."
See "Aviation," Page 2 ...

USG to Make it `Faster, Friendlier and Easier' for Military Personnel to Get Diplomas
The University System of Georgia (USG) is stepping up efforts to serve the educational needs of the U.S. military by launching the Georgia Military Education Initiative (MEI). A coordinated and synchronized System-wide approach will be used to expand the degree programs, courses and support services available to every branch of the military.
"Georgia has one of the largest military populations in the nation, and the University System should become a major educational service provider for those men and women who are serving our country through military service," said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr.
North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) has been designated as the lead institution in the MEI, given its status as The Military College of Georgia and its close association with the military community. Officials at NGCSU will orchestrate the planning and development of the initiative's overall strategy with the support and oversight of the Board of Regents, the University System Office staff and in cooperation with other USG institutions and eventually, the Department of Technical and Adult Education.
"We are honored to accept responsibility for coordinating this effort and look forward to the USG becoming a major provider of educational programs to the military," said NGCSU President David L. Potter. "Using the inherent strengths of various USG institutions in a collaborative manner, we expect to rapidly expand our support with flexible, high-demand pro-
grams of superior quality. The end result will be an overall increase in opportunity for the men and women of the Armed Forces and an enhanced capability for the innovative delivery of instruction by USG institutions to all our citizens."
The MEI initiative has been planned as a coordinated, highly flexible, high-tech approach to serve military personnel who seek to further their education. University System officials seek to address the unique challenges that make it difficult to provide college degree programs to military personnel a population frequently on the move and out of reach of a USG campus through traditional means. Other than the obvious goal of helping military personnel earn a college degree, the MEI program also will address some logistical issues faced by this group. Customer service to the military community will be improved by making access to the University System's programs and services faster, friendlier and easier. The new initiative will eliminate red tape that could be a barrier to admission for military personnel and expand the use of technology to deliver online courses to military personnel, no matter where they are based. University System officials have been working since the spring of 2006 with a militarybased educational group known as the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) to develop prototypes for courses that can be delivered to military personnel in the field through such means as the popular iPod. As part of the MEI initiative, a number of online degree programs will be used to help expand program delivery the USG's eCore (core curriculum courses), WebMBA (online master's degree in business administration), WebBSIT (bachelor of science in information technology degree), European Union and African Studies Certificate programs. For more information on the University System's developing MEI program, contact: Billy E. Wells Jr., executive assistant to the president of NGCSU, 706-864-1993, bewells@ngcsu.edu. Q

Aviation
Continued from P. 1 ...
Specifically, the Board of Regents in March a p p r o v e d : the establishment of
six associate degree programs in aviation; the assumption of operations at GATVC by Middle Georgia College, including faculty and staff appointments and the naming of the newly merged college as Middle Georgia College; the extension of USG employee health insurance and other benefits to employees who transfer into the University System from GATVC; the assumption by Middle Georgia College of academic instructional responsibility of current GATVC students; and the acquisition of all property of GAVTC to ownership of the Board of Regents, including 21.5 acres and existing facilities. Now that the merger has been approved, the colleges will work on transferring control of Georgia Aviation's assets, 66 personnel and 248 students to Middle Georgia C o l l e g e . MGC also will undergo accreditation processes, expected to be completed in 2010, with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Aviation Accreditation Board International. Q

75

Do You Know...that Richard B. Russell, Jr. was governor at the time
the University System of Georgia was created in 1932?
Answer: Russell was elected in 1930 on a state government reform platform. His administration
enacted the Reorganization Act of 1931 leading to the creation of an 11-member Board of Regents to provide governance to the newly formed University System of Georgia. Q

-- 2 --

USG Digest
North Georgia College
& State University recently received a $10 million gift, the largest donation in the institution's 134-year history, from Dahlonega community leader Mike Cottrell to benefit the School of Business & Government.The school will be renamed the Mike Cottrell School of Business. Cottrell's son, Michael Cottrell, is a 2005 business-marketing graduate of NGCSU. Part of Cottrell's gift to the university will be used to establish the business school's Center for the Future of North Georgia. The n ew center will be an applied research resource for the region's cities, counties, chambers of commerce, economic development authorities and other public and private entities. NGCSU President David Potter said the gift "will allow North Georgia to advance in ever greater service to the state."
Colleges simply do not ramp up
as quickly as Georgia Gwinnett College. Typically, hiring 10 or 20 new professors in a year is a quantum leap, even for a much larger university. During the next six-month period prior to opening the college in the fall for its first freshmen class, the number of PhD faculty at GGC will increase from 10 to more than 100, a remarkable task for the president, his senior staff and the deans of the four-year college. "The response to our job offers has been remarkable," said GGC President Daniel Kaufman. "Many are giving up comfortable and lucrative assignments to come to this fledgling institution." Kaufman added that the human resources office at the fouryear, high-tech-oriented state college has received more than 1,100 resumes, with applicants from the Ivy League, top collegesand universities. Q
The
System Supplement
John Millsaps
ASSOCIATE VICE CHANCELLOR
Diane Payne
PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR
To Provide Feedback
write to: diane.payne@usg.edu

ON CAMPUS

Georgia State's Olympic-Era Residence Halls Transferred to Georgia Tech

University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. announced in early March the transfer of the residence halls originally built to house athletes participating in Atlanta's 1996 Centennial Olympic Games from Georgia State University to the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Since fall 1996, the residence halls, located at North Avenue and Centennial Olympic Park Drive, have housed Georgia State students. Beginning with the fall 2007 semester, the buildings will be occupied by Georgia Tech students.
As Georgia State continued to create oncampus housing adjacent to its downtown campus, University System officials realized that the Olympic Dorm complex would be a better fit with the adjacent Georgia Tech campus.
"On behalf of the Board of Regents, we are pleased with this outcome that keeps this valuable property within the University System," said Davis. "This is an optimal result for the System and will benefit both Georgia State and Georgia Tech."

"Thanks to the efforts of many individuals within the University System, the transfer of Georgia State's Village will provide resources needed to build more student housing on our campus, a component of our updated master plan that calls for an additional 4,500 beds over the next 10 years," said Georgia State University President Carl Patton. "Also, research shows that students who live on campus are
more involved in campus life, get better grades and graduate more q u i c k l y. "
The four residence halls, initially constructed for a cost of $79.6 million, currently can house 2,000 students in 3-6 bed apartments. "I would like to express my appreciation to Chancellor Davis and everyone who made this possible," said Georgia Tech President Wayne Clough. "Acquiring the Georgia State Olympic residence halls will help us meet the housing demands of a growing student body at Georgia Tech and allow us new options as to how we use the land on our campus." Q

CSU Foundation Donates Multi-Million Dollar Art Complex To Board of Regents
C olumbus State University's new downtown art and theatre complex was built entirely with private funds. Now completed and without debt, part of the complex was given to the Board of Regents at the board's March meeting. The rest of the facility also will be turned over to the regents shortly.
The property now housing the art and theatre complex was acquired by the CSU Foundation's real estate management arm, Foundation Properties, Inc., in November 2004 as part of a $1.25 million acquisition of the former Pillowtex Warehouse. The foundation invested $12.2 million to complete renovation of the facility into more than 66,500 square feet of state-of-the-art classrooms and gallery space. The facility, CSU's Corn Center for the Visual Arts, is home to the university's Department of Art.
The rest of the complex is new construction for the Department of Theatre, and not yet ready to be turned over to the state. When that does happen, it will mean the University System of Georgia is the beneficiary of a world-class complex worth more than $31 million, all paid for from private gifts to the university's recently completed capital campaign.
See "Corn Center," Page 4 ...

-- 3 --

Corn Center Continued from P. 3 ...

"The generosity of the Columbus community and CSU alumni led to the creation of this beautiful complex," said Bill Reaves, chair of Foundation Properties, Inc. "The Corn Center for the Visual Arts is a real resource to the university and this region, and will indeed have an impact on the state through expanded cultural opportunities and the talented alumni who graduate from here. The CSU Foundation and Foundation Properties, Inc. are proud to have played a role in the development of this statewide asset."
The Corn Center for the Visual Arts contains two galleries, one of which has yet to be developed; exhibit preparation

and collection storage areas; nine art studios, including a photography classroom with several darkrooms; five kilns and two art critique rooms. Classes started in the center in January for approximately 150 students in the art department.
"Columbus State University and its foundations and supporters have been very generous in their commitment to facilities through gifts and public-private partnerships." said Linda Daniels, vice chancellor for facilities at the Board of Regents. "Their work is helping to create a stronger education system in Georgia. The students and the state are ultimately the beneficiaries." Q

The Corn Center for the Visual Arts is part of Columbus State University's new art and theatre complex on the Chattahoochee River.

B O A R D OF REGENTS
Allan Vigil McDonough
CHAIR
William H. Cleveland, M.D. Atlanta
VICE CHAIR
James A. Bishop Sea Island
Hugh A. Carter, Jr. Atlanta
Robert F. Hatcher Macon
Felton Jenkins Madison
W. Mansfield Jennings Jr. Hawkinsville
James R. Jolly Dalton
Donald M. Leebern Jr. Columbus
Elridge W. McMillan Atlanta
Patrick S. Pittard Lakemont
Doreen Stiles Poitevint Bainbridge
Willis J. Potts Jr. Rome
Wanda Yancey Rodwell Stone Mountain
Benjamin Tarbutton III Sandersville
Richard L. Tucker Duluth
O F F I C E R S
Erroll B. Davis Jr. CHANCELLOR
Julia M. Murphy SECRETARY TO THE BOARD
William R. Bowes TREASURER

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