Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE - The University of Georgia ushered in a new era of dominance Wednesday in Gwinnett County as school and state officials dedicated the university's new Gwinnett Campus facility.

"In many ways this is an exciting day for UGA and Gwinnett County," UGA president Michael Adams said.

Housed in more than 60,000 square feet in the Intellicenter office building - located at 2530 Sever Road near the Old Peachtree Road exit off Interstate 85 - the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus offers 14 graduate programs and several professional certification courses.

The campus, UGA's largest satellite offering, previously shared space with Georgia Gwinnett College up until May.

UGA has offered graduate degree programs in Gwinnett since the mid-80s, but has increased the number and scope of programs in recent years, officials say. Current offerings include master's degrees from several UGA schools and colleges, including the Terry College of Business, the School of Public and International Affairs, the School of Social Work and the College of Agricultural and Environmental Science.

The College of Education offers both master's and specialist degrees and is now offering a doctoral program in counseling and student personnel services. The first class started course work this summer.

Additionally, the facility offers continuing education programs provided by the Georgia Center for Continuing Education, which offers customized training for businesses and organizations.

"We now have more space to accommodate our growing academic and continuing education programs in Gwinnett," said Bob Boehmer, head of UGA's satellite campuses in Gwinnett, Griffin and Tifton.

Hazel McMullin, the Deputy Director of Human Resources with Gwinnett, said pursuing a master's in public administration at the Gwinnett Campus has been ideal while juggling work and family. While enrolled, she has been promoted and has benefited from tuition reimbursement.

"Like they say these days, that's crazy good," she said.

Gwinnett and neighboring Cobb County are big business for UGA as both counties comprise most of the university's student body. Of the top 50 high schools that feed the university's growing student body, 11 are Gwinnett-based, Adams said.