Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Georgia Gwinnett College is welcoming 3,600 new students to class today for the start of the fall 2011 semester.

Many of the same students showed up for Tuesday night's March through the Arch, a rite of passage that acting vice president of academic and student affairs said symbolizes the young peoples'"entrance into the academic community."

"It's a book end experience," said Lois Richardson. "The march back through the arch will take place once those same students graduate."

This year, the college is welcoming a total of 8,400 students to the campus. More than 500 faculty members will be there as well--that's nearly 100 more than last year.

"We are growing extremely fast," Richardson said.

In fall 2010, the college enrolled more than 5,000 students. The year before that, the college had about 3,000 students.

The college currently offers 12 majors with 40 concentrations within those majors, Richardson said.

Earlier this month, officials with the college as well as legislators and students gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new 24,000 square-foot instructional laboratory facility.

Officials with the college also recently hired the institution's first-ever athletic director, Darin Wilson

For more information, visit www.ggc.edu

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Georgia Gwinnett College is welcoming 3,600 new students to class today for the start of the fall 2011 semester.

Many of the same students showed up for Tuesday night's March through the Arch, a rite of passage that acting vice president of academic and student affairs said symbolizes the young peoples' "entrance into the academic community."

"It's a bookend experience," said Lois Richardson. "The march back through the arch will take place once those same students graduate."

This year, the college is welcoming a total of 8,400 students to the campus. More than 500 faculty members will be there as well--that's nearly 100 more than last year.

"We are growing extremely fast," Richardson said.

In fall 2010, the college enrolled more than 5,000 students. The year before that, the college had about 3,000 students.

The college currently offers 12 majors with 40 concentrations within those majors, Richardson said.

Earlier this month, officials with the college as well as legislators and students gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new 24,000-square-foot instructional laboratory facility.

Officials with the college also recently hired the institution's first-ever athletic director, Darin Wilson

For more information, visit www.ggc.edu