By Sloan Jones
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Feb. 13, 2015 — In January of 2005, Senate Resolution 33 “….approving the creation of a new four-year college in Gwinnett County by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia,” began moving through the legislative process. On May 10, 2005, then-Governor Sonny Perdue put pen to paper, creating an institution that soon would be named Georgia Gwinnett College.
Today, when the gavel sounded the opening of the legislative day, Georgia Gwinnett students and administrators were there to kick-off the institution’s 10th anniversary celebration.
Resolutions recognized that GGC is the first four-year college founded in the 21st Century as well as the fact that the institution has gone from zero to nearly 11,000 students since its founding.
GGC President Stas Preczewski maintains that to say that Georgia Gwinnett College is a dynamic institution is an understatement. “Over the course of just 10 short years, GGC built upon the efforts of a handful of strong visionaries to establish what has become a nationally recognized, innovative model for 21st century higher education. From the beginning, GGC was deliberately progressive and took strategic steps that now uniquely define our future.”
GGC is ethnically and intellectually diverse. The college literally was built from the ground up to facilitate individual student success – no matter the level of academic preparation, learning style, work schedule or financial barrier. The success of individual GGC students and their families translates into success for the area.
Now the ninth largest college in the Atlanta area and still the fastest growing institution in the state, GGC places student enhanced learning experiences and college completion at the core of its mission. A world-class teaching and mentoring faculty coupled with strong student support initiatives fuel the culture of student engagement that has quickly become the GGC hallmark.
Preczewski adds: “Georgia Gwinnett is not just about numbers and growth, but it is about the lives that have been transformed through an educational institution that has grown up alongside its students, A product of Gwinnett County for Gwinnett County and the region, GGC was created by those who knew best the needs of its citizens and its economy. This celebration will serve as the perfect transitioning point as we move from a growth model to a sustainment model. We are launching a strategic planning process that will shape the institution as it nears its enrollment cap of 13,000.”
GGC has changed the educational landscape in Gwinnett County and beyond. A reflection of this vibrant and progressive region, GGC recently was recognized by U.S. News & World Report magazine as the most ethnically diverse college in the South, among both public and private colleges.
GGC has brought affordable and convenient educational opportunities to the highly populated Gwinnett region. The college’s tuition rate of $118 per credit hour is lower now than when the college opened its doors. USN&WR recognized GGC as having the lowest in-state tuition and fees among ranked public colleges for 2014-15. Its access mission has made higher education possible for many students who otherwise would not have this opportunity.
“This college’s unique mission and vision will continue to transform lives, families and communities for generations to come,” says Preczewski.
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