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Next for Clayton State–Fayette: A campus, via SPLOST? I knew CSU-Fayette had reached a new level of success this week when I found myself going from classroom to classroom to see if there was space to squeeze in more desks. In June, I was watching our course enrollments and hoping that we could reach 600 this fall. Today, one week before the start of classes, we stand at 780. We have gone from hoping we have enough students to fill classes to hoping we have enough classes to accommodate our students. As enjoyable as it is to watch the enrollment grow, the best indicators of success are the stories our students share with us. We hear from people on a daily basis how much they appreciate having local access to higher education. This past year, a soldier who had been wounded in the war came home to Peachtree City to recuperate. He wanted to further his education while he was home, but travel was not possible in his condition. Fortunately, we were able to get him admitted on short notice and he was able to begin working on his college degree. This summer, we heard from a student in our Aviation Administration program who was reaping the benefits of completing his college degree. Because he was able to earn his bachelor’s degree, he had been promoted to a new position at Delta. Every day I meet with young people still in high school who are excited about having the opportunity to take a college class in the morning and go to high school the rest of the day. And, I am hearing from parents of former dual enrollment students who share how well prepared their children were for college because they were already acclimated to the college classroom. CSU-Fayette is clearly meeting a need for this community, and I believe that we are just beginning to experience the benefits of having a permanent public university in Fayette County. Not only will we continue to benefit individual students, we also will become a major source of economic development and play a key role in attracting businesses to the county. Now that we have laid such a solid foundation, the question I am asked most often is – What next? Although we have recently expanded and added two new classrooms to our facility, we will outgrow our present site down the road. Not only will we need more classroom space, we also will need science labs, additional student services, and the other essentials that are components of a thriving college campus. So, how do we move on to the next level? I wish that I could just say that next month the university is going to buy a piece of property and build a magnificent university campus. However, that is not how the process works in actuality. Clayton State is a member of the University System of Georgia. Our status as a public university brings numerous benefits to our students. For example, students are guaranteed transferability of core general education courses to any other member institution in the university system. As a public university, our tuition is significantly lower than that of private colleges and we are open to students from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs. And, being a part of a larger system also brings a degree of creditability for students and their future employers. With the advantages of being a public institution comes the responsibility of acting in accordance with the policies and objectives of the university system as a whole. Part of that responsibility involves being good stewards of the state’s resources. Thus, the Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia must approve all building projects to ensure that they meet a need for the citizens of the state of Georgia and are a good use of taxpayer funds. The system does not want to develop a new site that just takes students away from an existing location offering similar programs. In evaluating an institution’s plans for opening a new site, one of the expectations of the University System is that local communities demonstrate a commitment to the new satellite location. Commitment includes promoting a university and helping to increase the enrollment, but it also means investing some capital into a new or expanded venture. There is not a formula as to exactly how much financial support a community needs to provide in order to secure a new university center. Most University System projects have involved at least the donation of land and some additional in-kind services. For example, Newton County donated land along I-20 that is now the Newton Campus of Georgia Perimeter College. A decade ago, Coweta County gave $1 million in property to develop the University of West Georgia’s Newnan Center. These initial investments have paved the way for the continuing development of University System of Georgia programs in each location. Building an expanded CSU-Fayette facility will require some up-front capital investment. Given the current state of the budgets for local governments, the money in the proposed SPLOST that will be designated for the development of a local university may be a way to garner the necessary financial investment. Although I am conservative when it comes to taxes and the limited role of government, I will be voting for the SPLOST in part because of the funds dedicated to higher education. As a long-time resident of this county, I believe that investing in the higher education infrastructure is a proper role for government. Advancing higher education leads to better communities and improves the quality of life for its residents. I understand that it is not only local governments that are strapped for cash right now. Households across the country, including Fayette County, are struggling to make ends meet. It is difficult to think about making long-term investments at such times. But, I believe that the development of a larger university presence in Fayette County is vital to the long-term economic development of the region and is an invaluable resource in helping individuals achieve their personal goals. Of course, the initial capital investment to help initiate the building of a new CSU-Fayette facility does not have to come from government. There also is the opportunity for an individual or company to create a legacy in Fayette County by helping to fund a new center. Being involved with the first stage of developing a Fayette County university has been even more exciting than I had anticipated. It is a pleasure to be a part of an endeavor that is touching people’s lives and helping them achieve their dreams. I am just as excited about our prospects for the future. Clayton State University has made a significant commitment to the development of our site in Fayette County. CSU-Fayette receives no direct support from the state for leasing and equipping the current facility. Clayton State University is committed to serving the needs of this community and is backing their words with significant financial support even in these lean economic times. However, getting to the next step will require significant community support from across the county. I believe we have just begun to scratch the surface of meeting the long-term educational needs for Fayette County. With the adequate support, I envision a thriving university center with state of the art facilities and outstanding programs that meet the needs of individuals and the community at large. I am optimistic about the future because I know this vision is shared by others, and I believe people will work together to make it a reality. [Dr. Kevin Demmitt is the assistant vice president of academic outreach for Clayton State University-Fayette.] login to post comments | Dr. Kevin Demmitt's blog
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