Page 5 - 2019 President's Annual Report

Intentional Growth:
Capital improvements to best serve students
New buildings, renovations, and road projects to build a
safer, more effective University
Numbers of students and credit hours produced are not the only
evidence of Middle Georgia State’s growth over the past year. As our
student population grows, so, too, must our facilities. We are pleased
that we have been able to call upon resources from multiple sectors –
private, public, philanthropic, and others – to make the wise investment
of creating a more inviting, more accessible, more spacious, and safer
place in which our students and employees can live, work, and study.
During the 2018-19 academic year, construction started on two major
capital improvement projects, with others slated to begin work during
2019-20:
In May, we broke ground on Lakeview Pointe, a 310-bed residence
facility on the Macon Campus. This new hall will roughly double the
number of students who can live on the Macon Campus, meeting a
longstanding demand for additional housing in Macon and allowing
more students to make use of the facilities and programs offered there.
The removal of a large earthen berm was the first phase of a road
improvement project for the Macon Campus, undertaken in partnership
with Macon-Bibb County consolidated government. As a public facility,
and as a major landmark in the west Bibb landscape, the Macon Campus
serves as a thoroughfare for not only MGA students and employees but
for community members. This road project, funded by SPLOST funds,
will make the campus a safer and more inviting place for pedestrians
and drivers alike.
In Cochran, major improvements in two facilities are underway, funded
by state appropriations: Roberts Library and Dillard Hall are both
undergoing major renovations during the coming year. The Roberts
Library project will create a more open and inviting space for students
to learn and study and will make the resources available to our students
and community members better suited for study in the age of digital
information. Dillard Hall’s improvements will include more and
better-equipped laboratory space for students in our School of Health &
Natural Sciences, meeting the needs of some of our fastest-growing
programs.
Finally, we were proud to announce the coming of our University
Enrollment Center, to be located on the Macon Campus. This facility will
bring together the key enrollment-related offices under a single roof –
making it an inviting point of entry for students needing assistance with
going about the business of attaining a college credential.
AABI Accreditation makes
a good investment even better
Aviation degree the only program in Georgia
to be recognized by international accrediting body
As aerospace continues to be a significant driver in our state’s economy,
our School of Aviation offers a unique and sizable value proposition to
students in Georgia. With some of the highest-paying and most
in-demand jobs in the state, those with aviation credentials have
remarkable earning and advancement potential – and the value of an
MGA Aviation degree has gone up, thanks to recognition from the
Aviation Accrediting Board International (AABI).
Middle Georgia State University’s
Bachelor of Science in Aviation
Science and Management – Advanced
Flight degree is now accredited by
AABI, making this degree program the
first in the State of Georgia to receive
this recognition.
Adon Clark, dean of the School of Aviation, said, “This is the culmination
of several years’ hard work on the part of everyone at the School of
Aviation. We’re proud to know that our dedication and commitment to
quality has been recognized by AABI and that our students will continue
to reap the benefits of this accreditation wherever their careers take
them, here in Georgia or around the world.”
AABI is responsible for reviewing and accrediting aviation programs
throughout the world. The accreditation process involves a detailed,
comprehensive review of curriculum, operations, safety, and all other
aspects of an aviation program. Middle Georgia State received the
accreditation after a two-year review process.
AABI Accreditation Ceremony