Yesterday marked a momentous step in the planned consolidation of North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College, as the University System of Georgia Board of Regents approved our new name and mission.
The regents approved University of North Georgia as the name that will become effective in January with consolidation. University of North Georgia is a forward-looking name that creates a strong identity for this new university that spans a large geographic region and that will have an array of educational programs – spanning associate to doctoral degrees – that serve a student population of more than 15,000.
The regents also approved the mission statement drafted by the Consolidation Implementation Committee with an addition to specifically reference the institution’s designation as a senior military college.
I am deeply appreciative to the Consolidation Implementation Committee and their thoughtful deliberation of these guiding principles. Their work identified many common elements and values focused on student success and educational experiences that are shared by Gainesville State College and North Georgia College & State University. Further, the committee members have been cognizant of the fact that we are not just renaming an institution. Rather, we are blending two institutions to become a new and even stronger university.
Throughout the process, the committee has been intent on honoring the institutions’ heritage, achievements and particular missions. One of the key concerns for North Georgia constituents is the continuation of the university’s military program.
As one of only six federally-designated senior military colleges in the United States that has produced generations of Army officers, including more than 40 generals, it is important for us all to recognize that the university’s Corps of Cadets will continue to stand as one of the elements that uniquely identifies our university. To further advance the prestige and identity of this important role, we will be conducting a year-long study into the feasibility of creating a “North Georgia Military College,” similar to an Honors College, under the umbrella of the university. COL Billy Wells will be leading that effort and more information will be available as it gets underway.
Similarly, the continuation of Gainesville State College’s heritage as an access institution has been very important to its campus community. The new mission statement also preserves that element through the scope of programs offered and its student-focused theme.
These topics have been highly important to all of our stakeholders. The processes for developing the mission statement and recommending the name engaged thousands of stakeholders across our campuses and communities in healthy discussions about the future of our consolidated institution.
The name and mission statement will now guide the more detail-oriented and complex work of our operational working groups, which are already seeing emerging possibilities to enhance academic opportunities for students.
Over the next few months, our communications and marketing staffs will be developing a visual identity that represents the University of North Georgia. They will involve many departments and constituents as part of this planning process and more information will be coming forward soon. In the meantime, we will exercise good fiscal stewardship by using our existing supplies of materials bearing our current identities as we prepare for implementation of the name and new visual identity in January 2013.
As we move forward toward consolidation, there is much more work to be done, and I encourage all of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community friends to demonstrate the best our institutions have to offer. We have a great and bold mission ahead of us as we seek to improve efficiencies, provide quality higher education opportunities to more Georgians, and contribute to the state’s economic development and the future career opportunities for our graduates.
Sincerely,
Bonita C. Jacobs, Ph.D.
President, North Georgia College & State University