University Relations


July 2003 News

NGCSU Continuing Education and GADC courses offered in Forsyth

DAHLONEGA - A recent survey of Forsyth County residents conducted by North Georgia College & State University resulted in more than 900 responses regarding interests in courses offered in Cumming by Continuing Education at North Georgia.

"The results show that residents would like to see professional development courses related to Web design, management, education and Microsoft Office software," said Kimberly Foster, director of the NGCSU Division of Public Service. "On the personal enrichment side, photography, small business, sign language and ballroom dancing were the classes of most interest."

Foster, who said Continuing Education and Georgia Appalachian Development Center classes have been offered in Forsyth County since fall 2001, explained that the goal of her staff is to accommodate the county's residents according to their interests in courses.

"We have been offering Web design classes for two years and they always seem to do well in the number of participants enrolled," she said. 

Owners of small businesses and entrepreneurs are predominate among Forsyth participants, Foster explained.

"The business owners who are coming to our classes in Forsyth are taking Web design classes and Internet marketing," she said. "They are looking to create a Web site or improve upon an existing one."

The Internet marketing class teaches students how to market their product or service over the Internet. Topics covered include search-engine submission and optimization, banner ads, Web site traffic analysis, and online publications.

Foster said she hopes to add teachers from Forsyth County to the teaching staff for courses offered by Continuing Education at the North Forsyth High School.

For additional information, contact Continuing Education at NGCSU, 706-864-1918, e-mail conted@ngcsu.edu , or call the Georgia Appalachian Development Center, 706-867-2815.

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  APPLYING KNOWLEDGE: Dr. Frank Fearon conducts clinical work with second year physical therapy students, Alexis Gaines (center) and Kamilah Saddler.

Accreditation continues for physical therapy program

DAHLONEGA - The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education has approved continued accreditation of North Georgia College & State University's graduate physical therapy education program. The 11-year-old program, enrolling 72 students this academic year, was the second graduate program at the university.

The CAPTE report stated that "through the process of self study, revision, and submission of Progress Reports, the program has met all of the requirements for compliance with the intent of the 1998 Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation of Education Programs for the Preparation of Physical Therapists."

Physical therapy's next self-study report and on-site review won't take place again until 2009. Drs. Bob Laird and Frank Fearon wrote and submitted North Georgia's program report, and Fearon served as the review coordinator.

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CAMPUS LANDMARK: A piece of North Georgia College & State University history, the 1902 three-inch breech gun, or cannon, returned to its old home on the university's Retreat Triangle this month after a four-year absence, and a $4,500 restoration project, sponsored by the North Georgia Parents' Association. The wooden wheels on the cannon had deteriorated and the NGPA, under the leadership of Barney Poole, raised the funds to replicate the wheels with two die-cast aluminum replacements. The NGPA donated $2,000 with additional contributions coming from alumni and students. The cannon has been on campus since at least 1969, according to Col. Tom Palmer, commandant of cadets, who was a student at the time. The other cannon, a 75 mm pack howitzer, now  outside the military science department, will still "sound" reveille and retreat when it is fired every weekday. The century-old cannon will be on display at the triangle until a permanent home is found. Retired Master Sgt. Al Nowak, commandant's office, pressure washed the triangle's brick foundation after the cannon was set up.

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Forsyth residents show interest in university classes and degree programs

DAHLONEGA - A survey of Forsyth County residents resulted in more than 900 responses about college and university courses offered in the local area.

Donna Gessell, director of Graduate Studies and External Programs at North Georgia College & State University, said information gathered by the recent survey will help the university plan for higher education classrooms needed in Forsyth County and for the academic programs offered to local residents interested in enrolling in courses leading to college degrees.

"Especially intriguing are the times people report that they are interested in taking classes," Gessell said. "More than 33 percent of respondents indicated that they would attend a program offered eight hours a day every other Friday and Saturday, and 46 percent said they would attend a program offered eight hours a day every other Saturday and Sunday."

Although intensive weekend programs are not yet listed on the Forsyth program's class schedule, Gessell said university administrators at NGCSU and at Gainesville College are considering providing weekend courses plus those academic areas of study requested by the county's interested citizens.

The courses most often requested include teacher education, languages, computer sciences, English, business, mathematics and psychology.

The most requested academic degree programs are business, teacher education, computer sciences, nursing, psychology and languages.

The most popular times for scheduling classes, as reported by the survey respondents were: Weekdays 6-10 p.m.; Saturdays 8-noon; and Weekdays 4-8 p.m.

Gessell said that 30,300 surveys were sent by mail to local residential addresses, with 943 completed surveys returned.

Mike Weaver, a former principal of all three Forsyth County high schools, works part-time as an on-site coordinator for NGCSU programs in the Board of Education building and at area high schools.

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This page last modified on: Friday, 05 November 2004 16:48:40 -0500 by University Relations    

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