UGA's undergraduate degree programs in Gwinnett are being phased out. The reason for the phasing out of these programs is that the University System of Georgia Board of Regents has created a new four-year college, Georgia Gwinnett College, at the former Gwinnett University Center location. Thus, the University of Georgia is no longer accepting applications to its undergraduate programs in Gwinnett. Further information on the phasing out of UGA at Gwinnett’s undergraduate programs may be found here:
http://www.usg.edu/news/2005/060805-2.phtml
UGA’s involvement in Gwinnett County dates back to 1984, when the University System Board of Regents first established the Gwinnett University Center as a locus for University System of Georgia institutions to provide degree programs and continuing education to residents of the Gwinnett County area. For several years, UGA offered only continuing education and graduate degree programs at the Gwinnett University Center, but in Fall 2002, UGA embarked upon a bold new path when it launched its first undergraduate degree programs at that location: a BBA in General Business offered by the Terry College of Business; a BSEd in Instructional Psychology, Training, and Technology offered by the College of Education; and the Franklin College’s BS Interdisciplinary Studies degree with an emphasis in the Biological Sciences. Thus, UGA at Gwinnett, a partnership between the University of Georgia and the Gwinnett University Center, expanded its mission of providing the residents of the Gwinnett County area quality educational opportunities to include not only continuing education and graduate degree programs, but also the final two years of study in selected undergraduate degree programs for new transfer and second-degree students.
Fall Semester 2003 brought residents of the Gwinnett County area additional opportunities to complete an undergraduate degree as three more bachelor’s degree programs became available through UGA at Gwinnett: BSEd programs in Science Education and Special Education offered by the College of Education, both of which lead to teacher certification; and the Franklin College’s Bachelor of Arts (AB) Interdisciplinary Studies degree with an emphasis in the Social Sciences, which allows students to choose a concentration in either psychology or sociology. And in Spring Semester 2005, the Franklin College’s BS degree was switched from the IDS/Biological Sciences degree program to the BS in Biology degree.
We had hoped that, in upcoming years, the Franklin College would be adding to its undergraduate degree completion programs offered in Gwinnett. Even though that is not to be, we are proud of what we and our students have accomplished since the Franklin College at Gwinnett enrolled its first students in the fall of 2002, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that our students complete their studies and earn their BS or AB degree from UGA by the time our undergraduate programs close their doors in Gwinnett at the end of Spring Semester 2008.
It has been exciting to be a part of this venture, UGA at Gwinnett. It has also been rewarding, for we believe that this venture has afforded wonderful opportunities to the Franklin College—and more importantly, to our students and the residents of the Gwinnett area.
