Georgia Perimeter College
Encyclopedia
Georgia Perimeter College is a two-year associate degree-granting unit of the University System of Georgia
. In May 2011, the state Board of Regents approved two bachelor's programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Sign Language Interpreting and a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics. GPC serves metro Atlanta with multiple campus
locations and offers 40+ programs of study, including Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Dental Hygiene, Criminal Justice and Sign Language Interpreting.
The institution was founded by the Gabe County Board of Education as DeKalb College in 1958 and offered its first classes in Clarkston
, Georgia, in 1964. Its service area grew as new campuses opened and students came to the college from throughout the metro area. In 1997, DeKalb College was renamed Georgia Perimeter College.
, with more than 25,500 students enrolled. GPC’s online program is the largest in the state university system, serving more than 9,000 students.
• Georgia Perimeter transfers almost 3,000 students annually to bachelor’s degree programs within the University System of Georgia, accounting for one-fifth of all transfers within the university system. To allow students seamless transfers to four-year institutions of their choice, Georgia Perimeter has pioneered a Transfer Admission Guarantee
(TAG) program, signing more than 40 TAG agreements with in-state, out-of-state, public and private four-year colleges and universities.
• More than one-third of Georgia Perimeter College’s faculty members have earned their doctorate, although this statistic does not include the numerous part time instructors. GPC has had more Governor's Teaching Fellows than any other institution in Georgia, 40 since 1996. More than 46 GPC faculty members have received National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Teaching Excellence Awards since 2003.
• The Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Gardens include a Native Plant Garden and the Ferns of the World Garden, which contains more species of ferns than any other garden in the nation. Discussions about plants, garden walks and special sales are open to the public.
• Georgia Perimeter College’s Dunwoody Campus is home to an observatory that is available for public use.
• GPC is home to the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.
• In early 2010, Georgia Perimeter College opened the Atlanta Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning on its Clarkston Campus. The center works to enhance student learning by providing opportunities for students to apply what they learn into the classroom to real-life situations. Through such activities, the will work to enhance the economic, social and cultural vitality of GPC’s communities, while offering students, faculty, educators and community members the training, tools and support they need to get engaged and make a difference.
• Georgia Perimeter College is home to The Southern Academy for Literary Arts & Scholarly Research, which celebrates literature and scholarship and works to host an assortment of visiting writers who engage students, faculty, and staff.
• Georgia Perimeter College’s Fine Arts program presents plays, art exhibits and musical performances that are open to the public. The 2009–2010 season included more than 100 events.
is the nationally recognized literary magazine published by the college. Teresa Weaver of Atlanta Magazine described it as a "fine literary journal". The Chattahoochee Review literary magazine, which has received attention as a journal of Southern literature, featuring such writers as James Dickey, has expanded its scope to include international works.
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
. In May 2011, the state Board of Regents approved two bachelor's programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Sign Language Interpreting and a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics. GPC serves metro Atlanta with multiple campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
locations and offers 40+ programs of study, including Nursing, Business Administration, Education, Dental Hygiene, Criminal Justice and Sign Language Interpreting.
The institution was founded by the Gabe County Board of Education as DeKalb College in 1958 and offered its first classes in Clarkston
Clarkston, Georgia
Clarkston is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 7,554 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the central campus of Georgia Perimeter College....
, Georgia, in 1964. Its service area grew as new campuses opened and students came to the college from throughout the metro area. In 1997, DeKalb College was renamed Georgia Perimeter College.
Facts and figures
• Georgia Perimeter College is the largest two-year college and the third-largest institution in the University System of GeorgiaUniversity System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
, with more than 25,500 students enrolled. GPC’s online program is the largest in the state university system, serving more than 9,000 students.
• Georgia Perimeter transfers almost 3,000 students annually to bachelor’s degree programs within the University System of Georgia, accounting for one-fifth of all transfers within the university system. To allow students seamless transfers to four-year institutions of their choice, Georgia Perimeter has pioneered a Transfer Admission Guarantee
Transfer Admission Guarantee
A Transfer Admission Guarantee is a program that offers students from a community college guaranteed admissions to several colleges and universities. The writing of a TAG contract enables qualified students to be guaranteed admissions one year prior to transfer...
(TAG) program, signing more than 40 TAG agreements with in-state, out-of-state, public and private four-year colleges and universities.
• More than one-third of Georgia Perimeter College’s faculty members have earned their doctorate, although this statistic does not include the numerous part time instructors. GPC has had more Governor's Teaching Fellows than any other institution in Georgia, 40 since 1996. More than 46 GPC faculty members have received National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Teaching Excellence Awards since 2003.
• The Georgia Perimeter College Botanical Gardens include a Native Plant Garden and the Ferns of the World Garden, which contains more species of ferns than any other garden in the nation. Discussions about plants, garden walks and special sales are open to the public.
• Georgia Perimeter College’s Dunwoody Campus is home to an observatory that is available for public use.
• GPC is home to the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.
• In early 2010, Georgia Perimeter College opened the Atlanta Center for Civic Engagement & Service Learning on its Clarkston Campus. The center works to enhance student learning by providing opportunities for students to apply what they learn into the classroom to real-life situations. Through such activities, the will work to enhance the economic, social and cultural vitality of GPC’s communities, while offering students, faculty, educators and community members the training, tools and support they need to get engaged and make a difference.
• Georgia Perimeter College is home to The Southern Academy for Literary Arts & Scholarly Research, which celebrates literature and scholarship and works to host an assortment of visiting writers who engage students, faculty, and staff.
• Georgia Perimeter College’s Fine Arts program presents plays, art exhibits and musical performances that are open to the public. The 2009–2010 season included more than 100 events.
Locations
- Three in DeKalb County:
- Clarkston Campus (formerly known as "Central Campus"), in an unincorporated area south of ClarkstonClarkston, GeorgiaClarkston is a city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The population was 7,554 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the central campus of Georgia Perimeter College....
, is the original campus. - Decatur Campus (formerly known as "South Campus"), in an unincorporated area south of DecaturDecatur, GeorgiaDecatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
. - Dunwoody Campus (formerly known as "North Campus"), City of DunwoodyDunwoody, GeorgiaDunwoody is a city located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody became incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008...
- Clarkston Campus (formerly known as "Central Campus"), in an unincorporated area south of Clarkston
- Newton CountyNewton County, GeorgiaNewton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 62,001. The 2010 Census showed a population of 99,958. The county seat is Covington....
: Newton Campus, in an unincorporated area, south of I-20 and east of Covington. - Fulton CountyFulton County, GeorgiaFulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
: Alpharetta Center in the City of AlpharettaAlpharetta, Georgia-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
in north Fulton County.
Notable alumni
- Ron BlombergRon BlombergRonald Mark Blomberg , nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder...
, baseball player for the New York Yankees - Joshilyn Jackson, Bestselling Author, Gods in Alabama and Backseat Saints
- Brianna Jenkins, Chef, Business Owner and contestant on The Next Food Network Star
- Jerry S. Wilson, Senior Vice President of Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
and Bestselling Author of Managing Brand You - Thomas Brown, Sheriff of DeKalb County, GeorgiaDeKalb County, GeorgiaDeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
- Ginny Lipke, international Disease Prevention for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Marlon Byrd, baseball play er for the Chicago Cubs
- Howard Mosby, House of Representatives, Georgia
- Robert Lanoue, Actor, Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Literary magazine
The Chattahoochee ReviewChattahoochee Review
The Chattahoochee Review is a literary journal published at Georgia Perimeter College. It is widely regarded as one of the leading voices in Southern fiction and was recognized for its legacy with the State of Georgia's "Medal in the Humanities" in 2003...
is the nationally recognized literary magazine published by the college. Teresa Weaver of Atlanta Magazine described it as a "fine literary journal". The Chattahoochee Review literary magazine, which has received attention as a journal of Southern literature, featuring such writers as James Dickey, has expanded its scope to include international works.