Cumming Campus expansion starts
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia (91ÁÔÆæ) broke ground Nov. 3 on a 27,300-square-foot addition to its Cumming Campus. Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, state Sen. Steve Gooch, and Cumming Mayor Troy Brumbalow joined 91ÁÔÆæ President Bonita Jacobs and other state, Forsyth County, and university leaders for the ceremony.
"This expanded space will allow 91ÁÔÆæ to train even more students to excel in high-demand career fields," Duncan said. "The position of this campus in fast-growing Forsyth County gives it a unique opportunity to support Georgia's growing workforce."
The new space will allow for the addition of bachelor's degrees in Cumming and provide a capacity for future enrollment of 2,200 students, particularly in health care and technology-centric programs in demand along the growing Ga. 400 corridor. Construction will begin in early 2023 with the new space set to open in fall 2024.
"91ÁÔÆæ is celebrating our Sesquicentennial — our 150th anniversary — this year and the 10th anniversary of the Cumming Campus," Jacobs said. "These milestones give us an opportunity to reflect on our heritage, celebrate our achievements and look toward our future. Our university's founders knew in 1873, as we know today, the value of a college education and its role in strengthening communities."
This expanded space will allow 91ÁÔÆæ to train even more students to excel in high-demand career fields. The position of this campus in fast-growing Forsyth County gives it a unique opportunity to support Georgia's growing workforce.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan
The $14.5 million expansion will enhance the current 36,000-square-foot Cumming Campus building, after the project received funds in both the Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023 state budgets.
Brumbalow expressed gratitude to 91ÁÔÆæ and the state for their investment in the area.
"We are grateful for the way 91ÁÔÆæ continues to serve our community and provide a quality education for our workforce," Brumbalow said. "This expansion will only further those already strong efforts."
"Thanks to this new space, 91ÁÔÆæ's Cumming Campus will open even more doors into higher education for students close to their homes," Gooch said. "I am grateful we were able to provide funding for this high-impact initiative."
This expansion will increase the size of the Cumming Campus facility by more than 75%, making room for chemistry, physics, foreign language, and computer labs, plus extra space for classrooms, offices, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and academic advising.
"The expansion of 91ÁÔÆæ's Cumming Campus represents a significant commitment of higher education in the Forsyth County community, which is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in America," Dr. Ken Crowe, executive director of the Cumming Campus, said. "This expansion will continue the partnership between local education and business in meeting workforce needs for the region."
The Cumming Campus has grown 175% since opening in 2012 and currently serves 1,373 students.
Fall graduates look to future with optimism
91ÁÔÆæ awarded roughly 985 degrees and certificates to students this fall, and it honored more than 650 of those graduates in a pair of Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.
Luncheon honors scholarship recipients
Five nontraditional female students at 91ÁÔÆæ each earned a $2,000 scholarship from the Women of 91ÁÔÆæ on Dec. 5 at the Women's Holiday Scholarship Luncheon.
Special ed lab aids future educators
During the fall semester, future educators from 91ÁÔÆæ took part in a special education lab in which they worked with a software tool that helped them assess students, craft education plans and receive immediate feedback.
Grads prepare for their next steps
91ÁÔÆæ will award almost 1,000 degrees and certificates this fall, and more than 600 graduates are scheduled to take part in the Dec. 7 commencement ceremonies.