Georgia Southern University Provides Update on Football Bowl Subdivision Feasibility Study
Georgia Southern University today released its Football Reclassification Analysis as developed under contract by the consulting firm of Rosser International, Inc., McGee-Geiger and CSL International. Prepared to examine and assess the University’s position and potential for elevating its football program to the NCAA Division-I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the document contains an extensive review of facilities, current and future scholarship allotments and budget considerations and comparisons. The study provides a roadmap for activity and minimum necessary funding for reclassification. The full report is available for review www.georgiaSouthern.edu/athleticstudy.
University officials announced plans for a prospective study in November 2007 and initial analysis began in June 2008. Surveys, public forums and meetings with various constituents continued through the early part of 2009. As requested, the consultants reassessed some initial projections to more accurately reflect the current and foreseeable economic landscape.
‘With the multitude of factors that had to be analyzed, this study helped the University identify the resources required to succeed at our current level of competition and identify the improvements and facilities needed should the University elect to pursue this change”, said Ron Core, vice president for business and finance. ‘It is important for us not to underestimate the funding required and at the same time, maintain a realistic perspective of potential funding sources.”
Further analysis and discussion of the research, survey results and funding sources will assist University and athletics department administration in determining a future course of action. The NCAA-mandated moratorium on any reclassification continues through December 2011. Currently, the 15 sports programs sponsored by the University (football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, men’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, women’s swimming, men’s and women’s tennis, indoor and outdoor track and volleyball) compete at the NCAA Division-I level.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Georgia Southern University Summer Enrollment Sets New Record
As Statesboro’s largest employer and home to nearly 18,000 students, Georgia Southern University’s economic impact on Bulloch and surrounding counties is well-known.
While the Georgia Southern campus bustles during the ‘traditional” school year from August to May, it does not slow down much during the summer. This summer a total of 9,892 students were enrolled in classes, a nearly 25 percent increase from 8,890 in Summer 2008. The figure set a new record for the growing institution that attracts students from nearly every U.S. state and more than 80 countries.
‘Georgia Southern is continuing to attract outstanding students at record levels,” said Bruce Grube, president of Georgia Southern University. ‘We expect the trend of higher levels of summer enrollment to continue as more and more students take advantage of the course offerings.”
The record enrollment is a boost not just to Georgia Southern, but to the regional economy as well. According to a study by the University’s Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development (BBRED), Georgia Southern students spent $37.8 million on books and supplies, room and board, transportation and other expenses during terms A and B of Summer 2009.
Using a model that each dollar spent is then re-spent in the region, the student spending over the summer added up to a $57.6 million gross output for the economies of nine Southeast Georgia counties (Bulloch, Bryan, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins and Screven). Output is the measure of the total goods and services produced in the region.
“Healthy summer school enrollments are good for the local economy,” said Ron Shiffler, dean of the College of Business Administration and chairman of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Chamber of Commerce. ‘More students in town during the summer meant more money was spent in restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations and more. In turn, those dollars will be re-spent within the community several times over, providing a stable base of economic activity.”
Georgia Southern University had an economic impact of more than $748 million during the 2007-08 fiscal year, according to a study released last year by BBRED. The study showed that Georgia Southern was responsible for 9,350 jobs and pumped $748,099,767 into the economy of the nine-county region in 2007-08.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Presidential Search Enters Screening Stage
While the Presidential Search and Screen Committee is continuing to accept nominations and applications for the post of President (until a new President is named), the Committee’s primary focus now shifts toward the screening of candidates. Candidates are being evaluated on the criteria presented in the position description. Select candidates will be interviewed at an off-campus location during this stage. The Committee will then select five to six candidates to visit campus beginning the last week in August and extending into September. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community will have the opportunity to meet and evaluate the candidates during these campus visits.
More information on these visits will be made available in the coming weeks.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Centennial Place Additions Create ‘True Retail Corridor’ on Georgia Southern University Campus
When Georgia Southern University’s newest residence hall, Centennial Place, opens in August, it will feature additional retail establishments in its food court area.
The Pickle Barrel, currently located in the Landrum Center, will move to the food court at Centennial Place and be renamed The Market at Centennial Place. In addition, the University will add an optical retail store named Optical Express, and the Eagle Print Shop, previously housed at a different location, has moved to Centennial Place.
The latest additions complement the previously announced Cold Stone Creamery and Einstein Bros. Bagels Restaurant that are located in Building 2 at Centennial Place at the corner of Forest Drive and Georgia Avenue.
‘These new establishments will create a true retail corridor on campus,” said Tom Palfy, director of Auxiliary Services for Georgia Southern University. ‘In addition to these new outlets, the University Store (www.gsustore.com) and the Russell Union are located nearby.” The Russell Union is home to numerous establishments including Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A and Talons Grille.
The Market at Centennial Place
The Market at Centennial Place will offer a variety of drinks, food and other items for on-the-go students, faculty and staff. The Market at Centennial Place is designed similar to a traditional European grocery known for its variety of available items.
Optical Express
Optical Express will serve as an on-campus one-stop-shop for quality eyewear at an affordable price. Optical Express will offer glasses and contact lenses. The store, located in Building 1 of Centennial Place on the corner of Chandler Road and Georgia Avenue, will also feature brand-name frames, sunglasses and accessories at bargain prices. Walk-in eye exam appointments and outside prescriptions will be accepted and the store will accept hundreds of insurance and vision plans. Traditionally, students would have to leave campus to find this service.
Eagle Print Shop
Georgia Southern’s popular Eagle Print Shop has relocated from its previous campus location to Building 2 at Centennial Place. The Eagle Print Shop provides black/white and color copies, class notes, fax service, lamination, screen printing, banners and posters. Class supplies such as Scantrons, blue books, pens and pencils are also available. Also available is one- or two-color commercial printing on a variety of special order papers in custom weights and sizes. (http://services.georgiasouthern.edu/print).
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Georgia Southern University Students Volunteer Thousands of Hours to Community
Georgia Southern University students volunteered almost 8,000 community service hours to the Statesboro/Bulloch County community during the 2008-09 academic year, according to the University’s Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement.
The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement strives to better Georgia Southern and Statesboro. All student volunteer service is unpaid and directly benefits the community. The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement provides students with a list of volunteer opportunities along with transportation to the designated sites three times per week.
‘We encourage our students to participate in community service because it can provide them with new skills and because Statesboro is their community,” said Diana Hensley, coordinator of civic engagement. ‘Community service is something that helps set graduates apart from other applicants when seeking jobs and admission to graduate study programs. Volunteer service helps students gain skills, and it is important because it can really helpmake Statesboroan even better place to live.”
Hensley said the benefits of participating in community service are invaluable. Volunteering for community service helps students become better leaders, servers and citizens. Providing aid to citizens of the community, networking and witnessing the end result of their volunteer work are things that can show the students just how valuable their services are.
‘Community service is a great way to be involved in the community of Georgia Southern and Statesboro and to receive personal fulfillment,” said Georgia Southern University student Megan Piper. ‘It surprised me that I gained so many new friends and contacts that I will carry beyond the actual experience and beyond Georgia Southern into my career.”
‘I had strong feelings about doing something to include the elderly, so I volunteered at Southern Manor Retirement Inn,” said student Jamie Bohannon. ‘It touched me so much that I could do something worthwhile for complete strangers. I can honestly say that my experience doing volunteer work here in Statesboro has had a direct impact on my life, and I will continue to be involved in non-profit service for years to come.”
‘The Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement likes to make sure that the students are interacting with the people they are helping,” Hensley said. ‘It can be very meaningful for the students when they see the reactions of the citizens being aided through community service.”
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Georgia Southern University Names New Director of Master of Business Administration Program
Georgia Southern University has named Melissa Holland as the new director of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program offered through the College of Business Administration.
As director of the MBA program, Holland will oversee the recruitment of degree candidates and manage the day-to-day operations of the department.
‘Melissa’s unique background in higher education and in the business community makes her the ideal director for our already successful MBA program,” said Dean Ron Shiffler of the College of Business Administration. ‘We know under Melissa’s guidance the MBA program will continue to grow and provide the exceptional advanced educational opportunity so many business professionals in our area seek.”
Holland comes to Georgia Southern University from the University of Georgia where she was Operations Director for the Terry College of Business Professional MBA programs. Before making the transition to higher education, Holland was a vice-president at Rabobank International and specialized in underwriting large corporate senior debt transactions for companies in the food and agriculture industry. She also previously worked at GE Capital and SunTrust Bank.
‘I’m looking forward to the many opportunities that we have for growth in our traditional and WebMBA programs at Georgia Southern,” said Holland. ‘Helping professionals move to the next level in their education and career is incredibly rewarding and I’m excited about what our MBA program has to offer.”
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Georgia Southern University Students Learning to Lead
While many students are doing a variety of internships this summer, six Georgia Southern University students are participating in a unique internship program that combines hands-on experience with leadership.
Offered by the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement, the Leadership Interns Program enables students to utilize and hone their leadership skills in a “real world” setting. The program is open to students in any major, and the leadership interns may also be eligible to earn academic credit.
Leadership intern students experience an intensive 12-week program in a corporate, non-profit or governmental agency, in which they may be assigned special projects or participate in the day-to-day operations of the organization.
What makes the program unique is that leadership interns are guaranteed a minimum of five hours per week of formal leadership mentoring with the organization’s leaders. Seeing leadership in action helps prepare the students to step into leadership roles in their communities and careers; in turn, at the end of the internship, the students provide the organization with five ideas to improve its service, work flow, etc.
Three students Ally Rakoczy, Danielle Rydzewski and Angela Kamson are interning with Huddle, Inc., a marketing firm in Duluth, Ga., with several national clients. Blake Thompson is interning at oXYGen Financial, Inc., a personal finance company in Alpharetta, Ga., Daniel Vinson is interning with Cumberland Island National Seashore in St. Mary’s, Ga., and Allison Beasley is with Habitat for Humanity in Statesboro.
‘We’ve gotten so many opportunities to really see how things are done here by sitting in on, and participating in, company meetings and conference calls with clients. They really expect you to be able to formulate some dynamic ideas and actively participate in meetings,” Rakoczy said.
Rakoczy has certainly made her mark during her internship. Brought in by senior executives to help develop a marketing strategy for one of Huddle’s clients, Valvoline, Rakoczy drew on the information she learned in class and presented a market research plan that showed ways Valvoline could save an estimated $300,000 annually on their mailings and information distribution.
‘In the current economy, this is the kind of leadership that all organizations need,” said Philip Bruce, coordinator of the Leadership Interns Program. ‘Obviously, Huddle was very pleased with Ally’s suggestions and research skills and has begun implementing her strategy in Tennessee and Georgia. Should these two states produce the anticipated results, then her plan will be implemented nationwide.”
‘It has been really exciting to see the ideas we put out there come to fruition and make an impact on the overall program,” Rakoczy said. ‘They have given us a good deal of responsibility, and even though they’re there to help us if we need it, they also have taken steps back to allow us to really do our best to handle what we’re given.”
To apply for a Leadership Internship position or to learn more about the program, contact Philip Bruce in the Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement at 912-478-1435 or visit the website http://students.georgiasouthern.edu/leadership/internship.
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit:www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Summer 2009 Leadership Interns
Huddle, Inc.
Ally Rakoczy Marketing/Sales and Sales Management major
Danielle Rydzewski Marketing/Public Relations major
Angela Kamson Marketing/Sales and Sales Management major
oXYGen Financial, Inc.
Blake Thompson Finance/Financial Planning major
Cumberland Island National Seashore
Daniel Vinson Information Systems/Technology Entrepreneurship major
Habitat for Humanity
Allison Beasley Political Science major, Geography and Regional Economic Development minor
Last updated: 2/2/2018
Georgia Southern University Ranked Nationally for Engineering Technology Degrees
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has ranked Georgia Southern University’s Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology and Civil Engineering Technology among the nation’s leaders in 
enrollment and degrees awarded.
The organization ranked Georgia Southern 28 in the nation for total graduates (71), 26 for women graduates (6), and 18 for total enrollment (541). The rankings are based on Fall 2008 semester enrollment and graduation information submitted by the University.
‘This is an outstanding recognition for our mechanical, electrical and civil engineering technology degree programs,” said Bret Danilowicz, Dean of Georgia Southern University’s Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology. ‘Georgia Southern offers an outstanding opportunity for students to earn engineering technology degrees in a variety of fields and these rankings demonstrate the growth of these popular programs.”
Georgia Southern’s Department of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Technology offers four undergraduate programs of study in Engineering Technology, Engineering Studies, and Technical Management. The department also offers a graduate degree in Master of Technology. Students can receive Bachelor of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Manufacturing. All are accredited programs and are taught by faculty members that have a doctorate degree in their field and substantial industrial experience. Through a unique partnership, students who desire a degree in Engineering from Georgia Tech may also enroll in the Engineering Studies program (GTREP) for freshman and sophomore years and upon completion of the first two years transfer to Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta or Savannah.
Georgia Southern’s Civil Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET). One of the popular features of the Civil Engineering Technology program is the opportunity for qualified students to work in their major field and gain valuable job experience while they are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Civil Engineering Technology graduates are involved in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of facilities essential to modern life. These typically include urban development; structures of all types including buildings and bridges; transportation systems including highways, railroads, airports and waterways; water supply, distribution and disposal systems; and environmental pollution control.
‘Each of these programs continues to grow and employers are interested in our students because of the diverse experience and knowledge they gain both in and out of the classroom,” says Danilowicz. ‘While this is our first year to be ranked nationally, our goal is to continue to move up the rankings as we continue to attract outstanding students from around the world.”
Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving nearly 18,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.
Last updated: 2/2/2018
