Fall 2005

Volume 9 Number 1
A publication of Macon State College
Home » MSC Today Magazine » Fall 2005 » Q&A

President David A. Bell is interviewed by MSC-TV during grand opening festivities for the newly renovated Library building on the Macon campus. (Photo: Bruce Radcliffe)

Forward Thinking

This fall, as he reached his eighth anniversary
as College president, Dr. David A. Bell reflected on what
Central Georgia can expect from Macon State over the next five years

Q. What is the significance of Macon State's enrollment exceeding 6,000 students for the first time in its history?

A. While 6,145 students place us among the growth leaders in the University System, the best news is what's going on behind the number. It means that 6,145 Central Georgians - students just out of high school, working mothers, young veterans and older adults changing careers - all recognize the value of higher education and are going to college. That's tremendously important because Central Georgia's future prosperity and quality of life will be largely determined by the talent of these students. When they graduate, more than 90 percent will remain in Central Georgia to teach our children, provide quality healthcare and contribute to the success of business, industry and Robins AFB.

We pay attention to the numbers because we must anticipate the needs for faculty and teaching facilities, although we don't measure our success by the size of the student body. It's more about outcomes and what our graduates contribute to society.

Macon State College has shown remarkable growth and progress in recent years. Since 1998, the College has:

• Increased enrollment 73 percent to a record total of 6,145 students as of fall 2005. More than 1,800 students are taking classes at the Warner Robins Campus, also a record.

• Launched eight bachelor of science degrees in areas that address professional workforce needs in Central Georgia: business, communications, early childhood education, health information management, health services administration, information technology, nursing and public service.

• Undertaken more than $65 million in new construction projects, including the Student Life Center, a permanent Warner Robins Campus and the Charles H. Jones Building, which houses the divisions of nursing & health sciences and natural sciences & math, as well as the brand new division of education. Macon State's Library reopened this fall after extensive renovations, expansion and unsurpassed technological advancements.

• Secured new grants totaling at least $6.3 million, including funding for technology initiatives, minority student achievement and ongoing development of the campus botanical gardens project.

• Along with the MSC Foundation, built endowment funds totaling $6.9 million to assist in the development and improvement of the college.

Q. Will the College continue to expand facilities over the next few years?

A. The College has one major building project, the Professional Sciences Building, which is currently number five on the Board of Regents' priority list of major projects. We plan to pursue funding to build a facility for our education programs. And we hope to significantly increase the square footage of the Warner Robins Campus to support the tremendous growth we're seeing there. All of our campuses will continue to become even more beautiful through the development of the Waddell Barnes Botanical Gardens and other projects. We want our students, our faculty and staff and the public at large to find an attractive, hospitable environment at Macon State College.

Q. What kind of academic programs and economic initiatives do you see Macon State College developing by 2010?

A. We will continue to embrace and refine the philosophy that the presence of a robust metropolitan college is a key factor in strengthening the economy of the region it serves. Among other things, that will mean introducing additional bachelor's degree programs at Macon State, and they will tie in with what the most important enterprises of Central Georgia - Robins Air Force Base, the healthcare industry, education and business - need in terms of personnel and expertise.

Some new programs will be built around emerging trends in information technology. Others may stem from baccalaureate programs we already have. In education, for example, we hope to expand to majors in middle and secondary grades. I know this for certain: new degree programs will focus on what Central Georgia needs.

We are also going to at least double our efforts to support the region's major enterprises with ongoing professional development. That means more initiatives like what we are doing at our Warner Robins Campus through the Institute for Business & Information Management. One of the Institute's major projects is providing ways for Robins Air Force Base personnel to fully engage the efficiency improvement method known as Lean.

The College is also going to do more to support our graduates over the course of their careers, which is crucial given the fact that more than 90 percent of our graduates remain in Central Georgia. It's not enough that we graduate students with degrees in accounting; we need to give the opportunities to return to the campus to continuously update their accounting skills and keep up with the trends in their profession.

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