South Georgia College Student Handbook

Mission of South Georgia College

South Georgia College traces its roots to 1906 when the Eleventh District Agricultural and Mechanical School was established by an Act of the Georgia General Assembly. In 1927 the institution became the first state-supported junior college in Georgia and four years later emerged as one of the original units of Georgia's system of public higher education. Today, the campus life of every institution in the University System of Georgia is characterized by:

a supportive campus climate, necessary services, and leadership and development opportunities, all to educate the whole person and meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff;
cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in the faculty, staff and student body, supported by practices and programs that embody the ideals of an open, democratic, and global society;
technology to advance educational purposes, including instructional technology, student support services, and distance education;
collaborative relationships with other System institutions, State agencies, local schools and technical institutes, and business and industry, sharing physical, human, information, and other resources to expand and enhance programs and services available to the citizens of Georgia.

South Georgia College shares with the other two-year colleges of the University System of Georgia the following core characteristics or purposes:

a commitment to excellence and responsiveness within a scope of influence defined by the needs of a local area and by particularly outstanding programs or distinctive characteristics that have a magnet effect throughout the region or state;
a commitment to a teaching/learning environment, both inside and outside the classroom, that sustains instructional excellence, functions to provide University System access for a diverse student body, and promotes high levels of student learning;
a high quality general education program that supports a variety of well-chosen associate programs and prepares students for transfer to baccalaureate programs, learning support programs designed to insure access and opportunity for a diverse student body, and a limited number of certificate or other career programs to complement neighboring technical institute programs;
a commitment to public service, continuing education, technical assistance, and economic development activities that address the needs, improve the quality of life, and raise the educational level within the college's scope of influence;
a commitment to scholarship and creative work to enhance instructional effectiveness and meet local needs.

South Georgia College considers its primary scope of influence to be the southeastern region of Georgia that surrounds the campus in Douglas. The College collaborates with Waycross College to offer an innovative associate degree registered nursing program that serves much of southeast Georgia. In addition, South Georgia College utilizes the Georgia coast to offer life-long learning opportunities that attract senior citizens from throughout the United States. The College's residential facilities enable the institution to draw students from other regions of Georgia and neighboring states.

South Georgia College serves a wide array of students, from the recent high school graduate to the working parent or grandparent who commutes to campus to enroll in a course or two. Given its diverse student body, the College curriculum includes a developmental education component to strengthen those basic academic skills necessary for success in the institution's transfer and career programs. The College also provides its students with a range of student activities, intercollegiate athletic opportunities, and cultural events to facilitate a well-balanced college experience.

At its core, South Georgia College is a teaching institution. Excellent classroom instruction and personalized academic advising are its faculty's hallmarks. All faculty and staff are expected to be life-long learners and active participants in the institution's process of continuous planning, assessment, and improvement.

The College offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degree programs that prepare students for transfer in a multitude of baccalaureate program majors. The institution also offers Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificates designed to prepare individuals for careers in several areas of business and computer information systems. Through its Associate of Science in Nursing degree program the College prepares individuals to become registered nurses and thereby meet regional health care needs.

As a contributing member of its community, South Georgia College offers area citizens conferences, seminars, and short courses to develop specific competencies and provide information on special interest topics. The institution and its faculty and staff also work to support regional economic development efforts in cooperation with other community-minded organizations.

A dynamic institution constantly planning, assessing, and responding to change, South Georgia College enthusiastically embraces new technology, innovative methods, and collaborative efforts to advance the missions of the University System of Georgia.