Governor Nathan Deal recommends funding for two Georgia Southern projects supporting workforce development

January 16, 2018

Two Georgia Southern University projects have been included in Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal’s recent budget recommendations to the General Assembly for the upcoming fiscal year. Gov. Deal’s budget priorities include building an educated workforce capable of meeting future job demands.

Now the fourth largest public university in Georgia, Georgia Southern is fully focused on its mission to serve the region and the state by developing the workforce. Georgia Southern will serve as an intellectual catalyst for southeast Georgia, promoting innovation and growth.

Gov. Deal appropriated $49.9 million in construction funding for the new Engineering and Research facility on the University’s Statesboro Campus. An allocation of $4.9 million for the project’s planning and design was included in the FY 2018 budget. Georgia Southern’s College of Engineering and Computing has experienced 60 percent growth in student enrollment over the last five years. The multipurpose building with 157,000 square feet of space will allow for the College’s growth of approximately 1,000 students, and will provide learning opportunities for 4,000 students currently housed across the University’s Armstrong Campus in Savannah and Statesboro Campus. Beyond teaching, this facility allows the University’s faculty and students to engage in research, support regional industry projects, as well as attract and support new industries planning to start in or relocate to the region.

Gov. Deal also included $2.7 million in equipment for the new Waters College of Health Professions facility on the Armstrong Campus. The FY 2018 budget included $22 million in construction funding for the new facility. Currently under construction, the 63,000 square-foot building will feature a state-of-the-art simulation suite, enabling students to learn with virtual patients in a hands-on, team-oriented environment that will allow the University to support student success and help meet the needs of the regional workforce. Georgia Southern University is the top producer of undergraduate health professionals in the University System of Georgia.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 142 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Savannah, Statesboro, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.