News from the University System of Georgia: region 9

NEWS

FROM

The University System of Georgia

Two USG Universities Rank Among Nation's Top 20 Public Institutions
Georgia has two institutions ranked among the top 20 public national universities in the United States in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2003."
Georgia Tech is No. 9 on the coveted list, while the University of Georgia is No. 18.
The 2003 "Best Colleges" report, released in September 2002, and the magazine's 2003 edition of "Best Graduate Schools," released in April 2002, also contain a variety of other rankings.
The reports rank Georgia Tech: First among the nation's graduate and undergraduate schools
of industrial and systems engineering; Second among undergraduate programs in aerospace/aero-
nautical/ engineering; Third among undergraduate programs in civil engineering; Fourth among undergraduate programs in mechanical engi-
neering; and Fourth among graduate engineering programs overall.
The reports rank UGA: Among the top three public law schools in the South; Third among graduate programs in public
management/administration and public finance; Fourth among graduate programs in vocational/ technical
education; and Fourth in terms of "best value" among national public univer-
sities.
The reports rank Georgia State University: First among the nation's public universities with part-time
MBA programs and fifth overall; and Second among undergraduate business programs in insurance/
risk management.
The reports rank the Medical College of Georgia: Sixth among the nation's graduate programs in nursing anes-
thesia (a ranking held since 1998).
Some Facts About East Georgia and Middle Georgia colleges:
I East Georgia College added an associate of applied science degree in information technology this fall.
I Besides the economic activity generated by everyday business at Middle Georgia College, a number of new jobs were generated when the college recently broke ground on a 40,000 square foot, $4 million wellness center being built by Kajima Construction, Inc. In providing much-needed space for recreation, student activities and sports events, the new facility will address the academic, health and wellness, and developmental needs of the MGC community.
I East Georgia College student Deidra Salter was one of 60 academic achievers nationwide named to the 2002 All-USA Academic Team by the international honor society Phi Theta Kappa, the American Association of Community Colleges and the newspaper USA Today. Students from both East Georgia and Middle Georgia College made the All-Georgia Academic Team.

Did You Know?
N The Board of Regents is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. The original 11 regents developed a plan in 1932 centralizing governance of the state's higher education institutions for the first time in Georgia.
N According to a recent economic-impact study coordinated by the Board of Regents' Office of Economic Development, East Georgia and Middle Georgia colleges generated a combined total of nearly 900 jobs and infused $62.8 million into the local economy during Fiscal Year 2001.
N Middle Georgia College collaborates with Georgia Southern University in extending its programs via the University System of Georgia's Dublin Center, where associate- through master's-level degree programs are offered to approximately 1,000 students per semester.
N Augmenting its main campus in Swainsboro, East Georgia College maintains off-campus centers and cooperative programs in Statesboro, Hinesville, Louisville and Vidalia, Ga.
Bachelor's Degrees in IT, Industrial Engineering Tech Available at MGC
Through a cooperative agreement with Middle Georgia College (MGC), Southern Polytechnic State University began offering a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering technology on MGC's campus in Cochran, Ga., this fall.
Now, students working on associate-level engineering degrees at Middle Georgia College can go on to earn baccalaureate degrees without breaking stride.
Soon, Macon State College also will offer a four-year degree in Cochran. Macon State has obtained an "Enhancing Access" grant from the Board of Regents to bring its high-demand bachelor's degree in information technology to the MGC campus. This program is scheduled to begin in Spring 2003.

NEWS

FROM

The University System of Georgia

Middle Georgia College Focuses on Increased ACCESS for Adult Learners at Dublin Center
Middle Georgia College's Dublin Center, which serves approximately 1,000 students per semester, is reaching out to offer special assistance to adult learners.
To help ease the apprehension felt by many people over age 25 about returning to college, the center this fall began offering prospective non-traditional students free refresher courses in the evening and on weekends. Students can spend four weeks going over "Basic Computer Skills" or take a six-week "Math Refresher" course. They also can brush up their skills in key areas such as time management, taking notes, research and taking tests via an eight-week "Success Enhancer" course. Even current students at Middle Georgia may take these courses.
The refresher courses are just one element of the center's new "ACCESS" program, funded by a threeyear, $100,000 grant from the University System's Board of Regents. The program will focus on increasing educational opportunities for non-traditional students, particularly in disciplines such as teacher education, nursing and information technology, which have not produced enough graduates to keep pace with demand.
In addition to offering academic support for adult students, the Dublin Center plans to make emergency child-care and other campus services available during evening hours and to allow non-traditional students to check out textbooks for core and non-credit classes.

USG Resume Database Helping Employers to Recruit
FusionPoint Technology Solutions of Macon is one of the latest Georgia businesses to benefit from the University System of Georgia's online statewide database of college students and alumni seeking consideration as job candidates.
The consulting firm recently hired three Georgia Tech graduates located through GeorgiaHire.com, which provides cost-effective one-stop shopping for businesses in need of qualified job candidates. Students and alumni can post their resumes on the web site free of charge. It costs nothing for potential employers to search the database for job candidates and only a nominal fee to post job openings and company profiles.
More than 150,000 students and alumni have posted their resumes for review since February 2000, and more than 12,600 employers have searched the database during that period.
Rural Economic Development Center Helping 21-County Regional Economy
The Georgia Rural Economic Development Center (GREDC) based at East Georgia College (EGC) is making a difference in the state's rural central region through programs and research that have contributed significantly to the progress made by many of this region's communities.

Did You Know?
N East Georgia College is assisting ZCorum, Inc., a broadband and solutions provider, in opening a facility in Georgia's first rural technology park located adjacent to the college campus. Until the firm's building opens later this year, EGC is providing use of its computer labs for employee training, along with a venue for job fairs. Once ZCorum's staff of up to 150 people is in place, EGC will provide customized employee training.
N An on-line nursing course in clinical calculations developed and taught by a Middle Georgia College faculty member was recognized this fall as an Exemplary Course by WebCT, an international firm that provides course-management software to support colleges and universities' on-line learning. Independent evaluators assessed the design of 85 courses offered by institutions world-wide and selected the most creative, effective and intelligent courses to receive the "WebCT Exemplary Course" designation.

A public/private partnership, the center was founded in 2000 with funds from the University System of Georgia's Intellectual Capital Partnership Program, the East Georgia College Foundation and the private sector.
The GREDC conducts research on possible solutions to local, regional and state development problems, educates local and regional leadership, and provides grant opportunities for community economic-development projects.
Also, through a joint project with Georgia Tech's Economic Development Institute, the center supports businesses via an aggressive entrepreneurservices program. In addition to providing direct support to entrepreneurs, the center encourages local development authorities and chambers of commerce to be proactive in recruiting entrepreneurs, particularly those who help could help support rural Georgia's large manufacturing business sector.
The GREDC also is working to enhance technology literacy in rural communities by providing computer training and Internet access at EGC.