Graduate Center opens in Cumming City Hall

Twenty five students already have begun classes in the Mike Cottrell School of Business Graduate Center located in the top floor of Cumming City Hall, with at least that number expected to start classes in the next session in January 2009.

North Georgia College & State University and Cumming celebrated the grand opening of the graduate center Aug. 24. The center is the university's first off-site full degree granting program, bringing its new Master of Business Administration degree, within reach of students along the Ga. Hwy. 400 corridor.

"North Georgia has had a presence in Forsyth County for 10 years," said NGCSU President David Potter, "but this new facility and the MBA program are symbolic of our commitment to expand regional educational opportunities in the future."

The school is pleased to be able to respond to the demand and need for higher education in Forsyth County, long one of the state's fastest growing counties, said John E., Douglas director of MBA Marketing & Development for the school. He said Forsyth County has the largest number of residents who hold bachelor's degrees, but not master's degrees, in the state. That, its growth and having the highest per capita income in Georgia make it an ideal location for a graduate center, he said.

Several hundred people – including civic and business leaders, students, faculty and staff, and alumni – attended the ceremony and open house to commemorate the center's opening, including Mike Cottrell, who made the center and business school possible with his donations and work, and his wife, Lynn.

Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt, noting the community's growth, praised efforts by university officials and civic leaders to provide area residents with expanded opportunities for higher education.

The graduate center focuses on three areas in its teachings: leadership, teamwork and global perspective. Douglas said these are the main areas that leaders of Fortune 1000 companies describe as critical needs in their employees.

An optional international trip and study project is part of the program. All students will work in teams on a project that must be designed to help a local non-profit or government agency. Those projects will be presented to the agency and to instructors for use and a grade.

Douglas said the first "cohort" of 25 MBA students began classes a week earlier. This first group of students meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings. In January, the second cohort will have classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Once a cohort finishes the program, another group will begin. The program lasts between 20 and 24 months, depending upon what electives the student takes in the summer.

"We are very pleased with the 25 students we've got," he said.

The first cohorts' ages range from the early 20s to mid-40s, with 15 men and 10 women enrolled.

The graduate center has one large classroom that has all the technological and telecommunications capabilities that might be needed, including the ability for video conferencing of classes. Another small classroom, four conference rooms and a student lounge – complete with computer work stations – round out the center.

The center uses approximately 4,700 square feet of space, but has plenty of room to expand on the top floor of Cumming City Hall, Douglas said.

Jim Jolly, the regional representative to the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and a Dalton businessman, remarked that area residents should be proud of the partnership that facilitated the university's growth in a way that meets the educational needs of the region and its citizens.
- www.northfulton.com

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