Georgia Highlands College

Last updated
Georgia Highlands College
Georgia Highlands College Insignia.GIF
Other name
Georgia Highlands, Highlands, GHC
Former names
Floyd Junior College (1970–1987)
Floyd College (1987–2005)
MottoTake Charge of Your Future
Type Public college
Established1970;54 years ago (1970)
Parent institution
 University System of Georgia
President Mike Hobbs
Students4,796 [1]
Location
Four locations: Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, and Dallas, Georgia
,
U.S.

34°10′11″N85°12′27″W / 34.169757°N 85.207443°W / 34.169757; -85.207443
CampusSuburban, 200 acres (81 ha)
Colors     Blue and orange
Nickname Chargers
MascotBolt
Website www.highlands.edu
Georgia Highlands College logo.png

Georgia Highlands College (Georgia Highlands or GHC) is a public college in northwest Georgia. It has locations in Floyd County (near Rome), Cartersville, Marietta, and Dallas and serves the northwest parts of Georgia, as well as parts of east Alabama and southeast Tennessee. [2] [3] A member of the University System of Georgia, the college was originally a community college and has since expanded to also offer bachelor degrees. [4] Between 5,700 and 6,100 students are enrolled at GHC in any given semester, representing 49 different countries. [5] In 2020, the college had a record high number of graduates and an economic impact of over $181 million. [6]

Contents

History

Established in 1968 and opened in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, [7] the school was originally named for Floyd County, of which Rome is the county seat, which was in turn named after John Floyd. It was later shortened to just Floyd College in 1987. In April 2005, the Georgia Board of Regents voted to change the school's name, and on August 1, 2005, the institution officially became Georgia Highlands College to reflect the regional nature of the population it serves. [8] [9] The college has expanded its service area by opening new instructional sites in 1994, 2005, 2009, and 2010.

Academics

Georgia Highlands College currently offers Associate degrees, and eight Bachelor degrees, including Bachelor of Science degrees, and Bachelor of Business Administration degrees. [10] The college provides over twenty Associate pathways and Bachelor programs entirely online. [11] In 2020, the college completed an academic reorganization from Divisions to Schools within the college. [12]

Georgia Highlands College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. [13] GHC's Associate of Science in Nursing degree and its Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). The Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Associate of Science in Nursing is approved by the Georgia Board of Nursing. [14]

Faculty

In 2016, GHC's full-time faculty was 57% female and 87% white. [15] 73.2% of the GHC faculty was full-time and ranked Assistant, Associate, or full Professor, while 26.8% had the rank of Instructor. As of Fall 2016, 51% of the full-time faculty had tenure, 22% were on track for tenure, and 26.8% were not on the tenure track. All full-time faculty had a master's degree as required by SACS, and 30% additionally had a terminal degree such as a doctorate [15] The full-time faculty to student ratio at GHC is 21:1. [3]

Campuses

Georgia Highlands Cartersville campus Georgia Highlands College Cartersville campus.JPG
Georgia Highlands Cartersville campus

Georgia Highlands College offers courses and services at the original campus and at five additional instructional sites.

Floyd Campus

GHC was founded as Floyd Junior College in 1970 in Rome, Georgia. The campus includes Bishop Observatory, a library, the Lakeview Auditorium building, the McCorkle and Walraven academic buildings, a tennis court, and fields for soccer, softball, and baseball. This site includes Paris Lake and has access to a 20-acre tract behind the campus that has been set aside as a protected natural wetland ecosystem, which includes a 1,200-foot boardwalk and two observation platforms. [16] In 2015, the Floyd campus began housing a new Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), offering training for law enforcement officers. [17]

Cartersville Instructional Site

GHC began offering classes in a small space in downtown Cartersville, Georgia in the 1980s. The current Cartersville location was opened in 2005. The site includes a 55,000-square-foot student center designed with a mountain lodge feel that matches the original classroom building and has a two-story stone fireplace in the open-air student lounge as its centerpiece. Along with the campus bookstore, the center houses a small café, a game room, a weight and cardio room, two volleyball/basketball courts, and a suspended indoor running track. [18]

In 2017, the University System of Georgia approved $17.7 million in funds to construct a new STEAM building at the Cartersville site. [19] [20] The building, which features new classrooms and lab rooms, opened to students in Spring 2019. [21]

Heritage Hall Instructional Site

The James D. Maddox Heritage Hall Instructional Site, in downtown Rome, Georgia, has been in operation by GHC since 1994 and houses the college's Division of Health Sciences nursing and dental hygiene programs. Heritage Hall also houses the GHC Foundation and the Marketing and Communications office. [22] The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program is also housed at the site. [23]

Marietta Site of GHC on the KSU Marietta campus Marietta Site of GHC on the KSU Marietta campus.jpg
Marietta Site of GHC on the KSU Marietta campus

Marietta Instructional Site

The Marietta site opened in 2005. This location became GHC's third site, opening for classes on the campus of Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) (now Kennesaw State University (KSU). In 2022, GHC relocated to 1090 Northchase Parkway, Suite 150 in Marietta. The site includes a lab, learning commons, and several classrooms.

GHC Paulding Site at the Historic Douglas Country Courthouse GHCPaulding.jpg
GHC Paulding Site at the Historic Douglas Country Courthouse

Paulding Instructional Site

The Paulding location in Dallas was opened in 2009. Administrative offices, classrooms, and the library are located in the Bagby building and the Winn building in the Dallas Town Square. [24] Kennesaw State University and GHC have several active partnership programs available at the Paulding site, including degrees in Psychology, Elementary & Early Childhood Education, and Integrative Studies. [25]

In 2018, the University System of Georgia approved $4.1 million in funds to renovate the buildings at the Paulding site. [26] [27] The renovations will provide space for further course offerings, allowing more complete degrees at the Paulding site. [28]

Student life

Demographics

The student body at Georgia Highlands College is relatively diverse. Over 60% of students are female, and 24% are non-traditional age students (24–65 years old). The median student age is 23. [3] 69% of students are white/Caucasian, 17% are black/African American, and 8% are Hispanic/Latino. [29] GHC has an active veteran cohort of students, and was ranked a “Top School for Veterans” by Military Advanced Education in 2012, and from 2014 to 2018. [30]

Clubs and organizations

The largest club at the college, Brother 2 Brother (B2B), encourages excellence among minority male students. B2B began as part of the Georgia Highlands African-American & Minority Male Excellence program (GHAME) in 2008. [31] GHC B2B won outstanding chapter of the year several times at the 300+ member national Student African American Brotherhood Conference. [32] GHC's chapter of the national academic organization Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) was recognized as Regional Top Distinguished Chapter Overall in 2016, 2017, and 2018. [33]

The Six Mile Post, GHC's student newspaper, consistently wins awards for student articles, artwork, editing, photography, and advertising at the Southern Regional Press Institute and the Georgia College Press Association. [34] For four decades, the college has published Old Red Kimono, an annual book of student artwork, poetry, and short stories. [35] Since 2010, students at GHC can compete in a public speaking competition funded in part by the Rome Area Council for the Arts. [36]

GHC also offers students business focused clubs such as Business Leaders of Tomorrow and Logistics and Supply Chain Management Association. These business clubs focus on developing relationships between students and local industry leaders as well as developing workforce related skills. The club membership is mainly filled with bachelor level students, but are open to all GHC students on all campuses regardless of major.

Student clubs and GHC Student Support Services began offering food pantry services in partnership with the Atlanta Food Bank in 2017 to students that are food insecure. [37] Since 2005, the college has hosted Foundation Summer Camp, a free service for boys that includes STEAM and athletic activities. [38]

Since 1997, GHC has offered geology field credit for summer trips to Wyoming. [39] GHC partners with KSU to offer semester abroad trips with credit courses in Montepulciano, Italy. [40] GHC regularly offers biology credit trips to Costa Rica and culture/business credit trips to European countries. [41]

Athletics

Georgia Highlands College, nicknamed the Chargers, is a Division I member of the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) and Region XVII of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Men's sports include basketball and baseball. Women's sports include basketball and softball. The athletics program began play in the 2012-2013 season with men's and women's basketball, and added baseball and softball the following year (2014). The men's basketball team has won Regional Championships in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The women's basketball team won a regional title in 2016 and the women's baseball team won a regional title in 2017. The Charger mascot is named “Bolt”.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Polytechnic State University</span> Former state university in Marietta, Georgia, US

Southern Polytechnic State University was a public, co-educational, state university in Marietta, Georgia, United States approximately 20 miles (32 km) northwest of downtown Atlanta. Until 2015, it was an independent part of the University System of Georgia and called itself "Georgia's Technology University."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felician University</span> Catholic university in New Jersey, US

Felician University is a private Catholic university with two campuses in New Jersey, one in Lodi and one in Rutherford. It was founded as the Immaculate Conception Normal School by the Felician Sisters in 1923 and the school has changed names several times in its history, most recently in 2015 to Felician University. In 2016-17 enrollment was 1,996, with undergraduates comprising around 1,626 students; 21 percent were men and 79 percent were women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darton State College</span> Public college in Albany, Georgia, US

Darton State College was a public college in Albany, Georgia. It was part of the University System of Georgia and had its higher enrollment, 6,097 students, in 2011. Prior to its merger with Albany State University in 2016, the college offered 84 two-year transfer and career associate degrees, 4 four-year baccalaureate degrees, and 49 certificate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State University of New York at Delhi</span> Public college in Delhi, New York, U.S.

The State University of New York at Delhi is a public college in Delhi, New York, United States. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Over 3,000 students attend the institution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valdosta State University</span> Public university in Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.

Valdosta State University is a public university in Valdosta, Georgia, United States, and is one of the four comprehensive universities in the University System of Georgia. As of 2019, VSU had over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students. VSU also offers classes at Moody Air Force Base north of Valdosta in Lowndes County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berry College</span> Private college in Mount Berry, Georgia, US

Berry College is a private university in the Mount Berry community adjacent to Rome, Georgia. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Berry College was founded on values based on Christian principles in 1902 by Martha Berry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaGrange College</span> Private Methodist college in LaGrange, Georgia, U.S.

LaGrange College is a private college in LaGrange, Georgia. Founded in 1831 as a female educational institution, LaGrange is the oldest private college in Georgia. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers more than 55 academic and pre-professional programs, including graduate degrees in education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Marion University</span> Public university near Florence, South Carolina, US

Francis Marion University is a public university near Florence, South Carolina. It is named in honor of American Revolutionary War Brigadier General Francis Marion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University East</span> Public university in Richmond, Indiana, U.S.

Indiana University East is a public university in Richmond, Indiana, a regional campus of Indiana University that serves the eastern Indiana and western Ohio area. Established in 1971 by the Indiana University Board of Trustees, IU East enrolls over 4,000 students on its five-building, 174-acre campus and in online classes. IU East has 60 academic degree programs, offering bachelor's and master's degree programs and certificates in areas of Business and Economics, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Natural Science & Mathematics, Informatics, General Studies, Nursing and Health Sciences, and Social Work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta University</span> Public university in Augusta, Georgia, US

Augusta University (AU) is a public research university and academic medical center in Augusta, Georgia. It is a part of the University System of Georgia and has satellite medical campuses in Savannah, Albany, Rome, and Athens. It employs over 15,000 people, has more than 56,000 alumni, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piedmont University</span> Private college in Demorest, Georgia, U.S.

Piedmont University is a private university in Demorest and Athens, Georgia. Founded in 1897, Piedmont's Demorest campus includes 300 acres in a traditional residential-college setting located in the foothills of the northeast Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. Total enrollment is approximately 2,500 students and the campus includes ten residence halls housing more than 750 students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shorter University</span> Baptist college in Rome, Georgia, US

Shorter University is a private Baptist university in Rome, Georgia. It was founded in 1873 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through six colleges and schools. In addition Shorter operates the Robert H. Ledbetter College of Business and the School of Nursing at off-campus facilities in the Rome area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Gwinnett College</span> Public college in Lawrenceville, Georgia, US

Georgia Gwinnett College is a public, four-year college in Lawrenceville, Georgia. It is a member of the University System of Georgia. Georgia Gwinnett College opened on August 18, 2006. It has grown from its original 118 students in 2006 to approximately 12,000 students in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asia-Pacific International University</span>

Asia-Pacific International University is a private Christian university located in Saraburi, Thailand. Its main campus is in the rural town of Muak Lek, Saraburi Province and the nursing school is located on the grounds of Bangkok Adventist Hospital in downtown Bangkok. It is the only tertiary education institution serving the Southeast Asia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. Asia-Pacific International University was formerly called Mission College until mid-2009 when it was granted university status. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kennesaw State University</span> Public university in Cobb County, Georgia, US

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a public research university in the state of Georgia with two campuses in the Atlanta metropolitan area, one in the Kennesaw area and the other in Marietta on a combined 581 acres (235 ha) of land. The school was founded in 1963 by the Georgia Board of Regents using local bonds and a federal space-grant during a time of major Georgia economic expansion after World War II. KSU also holds classes at the Cobb Galleria Centre, Dalton State College, and in Paulding County (Dallas). The total enrollment exceeds 45,000 students making KSU the third-largest university by enrollment in Georgia.

The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public college with campuses in Allendale and Walterboro, South Carolina. It is one of four regional University of South Carolina System campuses which make up Palmetto College. USC Salkehatchie is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus. More than 1,100 students attend at one of its two sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashland University</span> Christian university in Ashland, Ohio, US

Ashland University is a private Christian university in Ashland, Ohio. The university consists of a 135-acre (55 ha) main campus and several off-campus centers throughout central and northern Ohio. Ashland was founded in 1878 as Ashland College. It is affiliated with The Brethren Church.

North Metro Technical College was a two-year state technical college located in the state of Georgia, and governed by the Technical College System of Georgia. The college was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees since 2006. Since the beginning of July 2009, it is now the North Metro campus of nearby Chattahoochee Technical College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle Georgia State University</span> Public university in Macon, Georgia, US

Middle Georgia State University is a public university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. It is part of the University System of Georgia and offers programs to students on five campuses in Middle Georgia and online. Middle Georgia State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AdventHealth University</span> American Seventh-day Adventist health institution

AdventHealth University (AHU) is a Seventh-day Adventist institution specializing in healthcare education with campuses in Orlando, Florida, and Denver, Colorado. It is associated with AdventHealth, which is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system. The physical facilities are located next to AdventHealth Orlando and Centura Health in Denver. The university offers over 20 undergraduate and graduate degrees from associate to doctorate level, including online and post-baccalaureate certificates.

References

  1. ↑ "Spring 2024 Semester Enrollment Report" (PDF). University System of Georgia. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ "University System of Georgia - University System of Georgia". Usg.edu.
  3. 1 2 3 "Georgia Highlands College - Inside Higher Ed". Insidehighered.com.
  4. ↑ "GHC launches new bachelor's degree to meet workforce need".
  5. ↑ "Research and Policy Analysis | Enrollment Reports | University System of Georgia".
  6. ↑ "Record graduation, economic impact at GHC despite slight dip in fall enrollment". 15 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Georgia's Private Colleges Agonize on Fate". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. December 6, 1970. Retrieved 25 July 2018– via Newspapers.com. Lock-green.svg
  8. ↑ "Floyd College name change now official". Northwest Georgia News. April 21, 2005. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "About Us". Highlands.edu. 4 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-12-04.
  10. ↑ "Bachelor Degree Programs < Georgia Highlands College".
  11. ↑ "Courses and Degrees | GHC Online".
  12. ↑ "Georgia Highlands College reorganizes into schools of study". 21 August 2020.
  13. ↑ "SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS COMMISSION ON COLLEGES" (PDF). SASC:COC. June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Accreditation - PAAR". Sites.highlands.edu.
  15. 1 2 "Fact Book : Academic Year 2016-2017" (PDF). Sites.highlands.edu. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  16. ↑ "Floyd Campus - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu.
  17. ↑ "Georgia Public Safety Training Center Partners with Georgia Highlands College - GPSTC". Gpstc.org. 21 August 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "Cartersville site - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu.
  19. ↑ "GHC plans new $17.7 million building: Investment will help growing college deal with ever-increasing enrollment". The Daily Tribune News. May 17, 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  20. ↑ "Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia : Capital Outlay - FY 2017" (PDF). Usg.edu. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "Construction begins on new GHC academic building in Cartersville, progress video live - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu. 11 July 2017.
  22. ↑ "Heritage Hall - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu.
  23. ↑ "WRGA Rome's NewsTalk - GHC now offering nursing assistant training courses". Wrganews.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. ↑ "Paulding Site - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu.
  25. ↑ "KSU - Paulding Site - 2+2 Degree Programs". Paulding.kennesaw.edu.
  26. ↑ Staff, Neighbor (June 28, 2018). "College to use $4M in funding to renovate former Dallas bank building". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  27. ↑ "Georgia Highlands College To Expand In Paulding". Dallas-Hiram, GA Patch. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  28. ↑ "GHC granted funding for renovations at Paulding site to expand degree and program offerings - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu. 28 June 2018.
  29. ↑ "Ranking". Usnews.com. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  30. ↑ "Military Advanced Education - Top Schools". Military Advanced Education.[ permanent dead link ]
  31. ↑ Senn, Lydia (14 September 2010). "Georgia Highlands creates a brotherhood with GHAME". Northwestgeorgianews.com.
  32. ↑ "Georgia Highlands College". 2.highlands.edu.[ permanent dead link ]
  33. ↑ "GHC Phi Theta Kappa Named Top Distinguished Chapter". Patch.com. 23 June 2018.
  34. ↑ "Six Mile Post Year in Review: GHC student newspaper celebrates another winning year - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu. 16 May 2018.
  35. ↑ "Old Red Kimono". sites.highlands.edu.
  36. ↑ Doug Walker (27 February 2018). "RACA provides grants to other groups". Northwestgeorgianews.com.
  37. ↑ Wilder, Kristina (22 October 2016). "Georgia Highlands College Charger Food Pantry making sure no student is hungry". Northnewsgeorgia.com.
  38. ↑ "GHC to host 13th annual free summer Foundation Camp for boys this May - Georgia Highlands College". Highlands.edu. 14 May 2018.
  39. ↑ "GHC continues one of its longest-running field courses, celebrates 20 years in Wyoming - Georgia Highlands College". highlands.edu. 28 November 2017.
  40. ↑ "KSU - KSU in Tuscany - Faculty and University Partners". dga.kennesaw.edu.
  41. ↑ "WRGA Rome's NewsTalk - GHC ranked second best state school in Georgia". Wrganews.com.[ permanent dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.