University History
Georgia College & State University was chartered in 1889 as Georgia Normal and Industrial College and opened on Monday September 30, 1891. Its emphasis at the time was largely vocational, and its major task was to prepare young women for teaching or industrial careers. In 1917, in keeping with economic and cultural changes in the state, it was authorized to grant degrees, the first of which was awarded in 1921. In 1922, the institution’s name was changed to Georgia State College for Women. The University has been a unit of the University System of Georgia since the system was formed in 1932. The name was changed to Women’s College of Georgia in 1961, and, when the institution became coeducational in 1967, it became Georgia College at Milledgeville. The name was later shortened to Georgia College. In August 1996, the Board of Regents approved the name Georgia College & State University to reflect its new mission as Georgia’s Public Liberal Arts University.
Former presidents of the University are Dr. J. Harris Chappell, Dr. Marvin M. Parks, Dr. J.L. Beeson, Dr. Guy H. Wells, Dr. Henry King Stanford, Dr. Robert E. Lee, Dr. J. Whitney Bunting, Dr. Edwin G. Speir, Dr. Rosemary DePaolo, Dr. Dorothy Leland, and Dr. Steve M. Dorman. Cathy Cox became the twelfth president of Georgia College on October 1, 2021.
University Mission
The Georgia College Mission
Georgia College is the state’s only designated public liberal arts university.
We fulfill this mission through a commitment to: An Expansive Educational Experience.
We challenge our students through exemplary teaching. The Georgia College student will think clearly and critically in creatively addressing social issues.
Undergraduate study encompasses multi-disciplinary intellectual encounters with both enduring and contemporary questions, intensive study in the major, exposure to artistic endeavors, opportunities for scholarly research, and capstone experiences that integrate and apply learning.
Post-baccalaureate programs bridge the gap between theory and practice with a focus on regional needs, preparing graduates for professional advancement, lifelong intellectual pursuits, and informed participation in today’s complex society.
Highly Intentional Engagement.
We collaborate with community partners to address mutually identified needs while advancing students’ academic and civic learning, in crafting informed, global citizens ready to serve the public good. Engagement opportunities include undergraduate research, study abroad, internships, community service, and leadership experiences, both in and outside the classroom.
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence.
We foster a sense of belonging within a campus community that values diversity of intellectual thought, experiences and identifications. Georgia College faculty, staff, and students intentionally embrace inclusivity to advance excellence through diversity.
Preparation for Leadership.
We encourage all students to develop a breadth of leadership competencies, including self-awareness, empathy for cultural differences, and effective interpersonal communication. Georgia College students become leaders through engagement with purposeful curricular and co-curricular leadership experiences.
-Approved by the University System Board of Regents October 2017
A Public Liberal Arts University
What is a Public Liberal Arts University?
Public liberal arts colleges and universities differ from other public higher education institutions in their size, scope and emphasis on student centered education. They do not attempt to be all things to all people, but rather focus their efforts on providing a liberal education. They offer the intimacy and intellectual atmosphere of private liberal arts colleges but do not abandon the public mandate to meet the economic workforce needs of the state. Public liberal arts universities are usually moderate in size (generally less than the equivalent of 5,000 full-time students) and focus on exemplary undergraduate teaching and student learning.
Undergraduate programs are diverse, but the majority of degrees are awarded in the fields of arts and sciences. When professional undergraduate programs are offered, they include a heavy liberal arts foundation. The limited number of graduate programs offered at the master’s or doctoral level is similarly built upon a strong liberal arts undergraduate preparation and are tied to the market economy of the state.
Distinguishing Characteristics of a Public Liberal Arts University include:
Emphasis on providing the quality, values and virtues of a private liberal arts college at a lower and more reasonable cost;
A highly selected undergraduate student body with a selected number of graduate programs;
A strong emphasis on transformative, active learning experiences in and out of the classroom;
A focus on student outcomes, with particular attention to the development of:
- strong communication skills (oral and written)
- critical and analytical thinking skills
- a broad understanding of global issues
- an appreciation for diversity
- an ability to integrate information across disciplines
- application of knowledge
- a foundation for making moral and ethical decisions
- civic responsibility.
A commitment to creating an intimate learning environment characterized by high quality student/faculty interactions through:
- small classes
- innovative pedagogy
- internships and service learning experiences
- international study experiences
- faculty/student collaboration on scholarly/research projects
- lectures, concerts, art shows, field experiences, and senior culminating experiences
A rich culture of traditions and rituals that link students with the University beyond graduation;
A commitment to meeting the needs of the state by producing graduates who can take their place within the workplace as leaders and thinkers;
- Accessibility through affordability.
- Limited number of professional and graduate master’s level programs built on a liberal arts foundation.
Expectations of Students
The Georgia College experience is founded on the 3 R’s: Reason, Respect, and Responsibility. Based on this foundation, we expect that during their time at Georgia College students will:
- Set their own personal development goals and take responsibility for their own learning;
- Be prepared to learn and to be intellectually challenged;
- Strive for excellence in their studies and seek to achieve high academic expectations in all of their courses;
- Exhibit the desire to develop an inquisitive mind; respect for human diversity and individuality; a sense of civic and global responsibility; sound ethical principles; effective writing, speaking and quantitative skills; and a healthy lifestyle;
- Be meaningfully engaged in and involved in the campus community;
- Take full advantage of opportunities to develop and implement career plans;
GC students are expected to achieve and maintain high ideals founded on the sound principles of utilizing REASON before acting or reacting, employing RESPECT for others, for ideas, for the law, and for property, and recognizing their RESPONSIBILITY as citizens and members of the campus community.
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