Included in this Issue

• Thank you for joining
  A welcome from President Dorothy Leland. more...
  
  
• New MembersGCSU welcomes new members to our Parents and Families Association including this year's chair, Mrs. Debbie Callas. more...
  
  
• GCSU moves up to third in state SAT scores
  Increases in SAT scores among first-time freshmen entering Georgia College & State University have brought the university's composite score ranking into the top three among all of the schools in the University System of Georgia. more...
  
  
• Office of Admissions completes Early Action
  A total of 610 students were admitted through Early Action which is a 20% increase over Fall 2006. more...
  
  
• Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Student Success
  What resolutions top the list for our university students and are they really any different from resolutions made 50 years ago? more...

Newsletter 001 | Spring 2007
www.gcsu.edu/parents 

   Thank you for joining GCSU's Parents and Families Association [top]
    From President Dorothy Leland

It is a pleasure to extend my welcome to readers of the Families and Parents Association newsletter. Colleges and universities know that students who have the support of families and parents in their educational endeavors are more likely to succeed. Therefore, you are among our most important partners in providing an environment where students may succeed and grow academically and personally. I have enjoyed meeting many of you personally and look forward to meeting others as opportunities arise.

Georgia College is increasingly recognized as a public liberal arts university offering the kind of educational experience usually found in exemplary private colleges. Part of our mission, in providing this kind of undergraduate education, is to keep Georgia's best and brightest students in the state and to produce graduates who are equipped for positions of leadership in a global society.

I am pleased that we have students who are taking responsibility for their own learning: participating in group projects; in research and the creative arts; leading complex projects in student organizations; serving people in our community who need a helping hand; taking part in residential learning communities; breaking new ground in using technology in learning; and benefiting from the many cultural and recreational opportunities that are available in the Milledgeville area. It is also gratifying that the qualifications of our entering students continue to rise. This fall we admitted a freshman class whose SAT average places us third out of 35 institutions in the University System of Georgia, surpassed only by Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

I am also impressed in the qualities I observe in our faculty and staff. Both groups have chosen to work in an educational environment that values personal interactions with students. Faculty collaborate with students in many valuable out-of-class experiences ranging from research and creative arts projects to field work and community engagement. Staff members understand that their willingness to help, a few kind words, and service that goes beyond the ordinary make the difference between a routine educational environment and an extraordinary one.

For me, all of this adds up to an institution providing an exemplary undergraduate education. As you read this, we will have just begun the new calendar year. May each of our students find in Georgia College the home away from home that pushes them to develop habits of mind that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Very sincerely yours,

Dorothy Leland
President

   GCSU would like to welcome the new members of our
   Parents and Families Association [top]

Aleksa-Parr, Barb - Decatur, Ga.
Ashe, Steven & Ellen - Evans, Ga.
Bishop, Hilda - Duluth, Ga.
Brown, Boley & Cynthia - LaGrange, Ga.
Burdett, Darlene - Loganville, Ga.
Burkard, Eric - Alpharetta, Ga.
Callas, Chris & Debbie** - Roswell, Ga.
Camp, Leonard - Norcross, Ga.
Camp, Jenny - Norcross, Ga.
Danish, Bill & Anne - Roswell, Ga.
Dillon, Linda* - Sharpsburg, Ga.
Duckworth, Adam - Kennesaw, Ga.
Forsyth, Steven & Bridget* - Peachtree City, Ga.
Gaylor, Donna - McDonough, Ga.
Gernazian, Mark & Valerie - Alpharetta, Ga.
Hamilton, Camille - Loganville, Ga.
Henry, Don & Fran - Atlanta, Ga.
Hercules, Allen & Jane - Lawrenceville, Ga.
Herzer, Kitty - Loganville, Ga.
Hillard, Meri Beth - Albany, Ga.
Jones, Stephen & Laura - Peachtree City, Ga.
Kersey, Laurie - Calhoun, Ga.
Lingenfelter, Judy - Nicholls, Ga.
Maddox, Susan H. - Evans, Ga.
Mason, Mike & Debbie - Norcross, Ga.
Moody, Steve & Pat* - Jackson, Ga.
Morgan, Kathi D.* - Danielsville, Ga.
Newby, Terry & Connie - Kennesaw, Ga.
Nix, Don & Cheri - Norcross, Ga.
Patterson, John & Sonya - Monroe, Ga.
Payne, Britt & Karin - Lilburn, Ga.
Pierce, Robin* - Kathleen, Ga.
Pound, Crawford & Debbie - Marietta, Ga.
Quas, Lauren* - Marietta, Ga.
Quinn, Linda* - Canton, Ga.
Richards, Garey & Sandra - Snellville, Ga.
Rivera, Nancy* - Acworth, Ga.
Rivera, Osvaldo - Detroit, Mi.
Rogers, Phillip D.* - Peachtree City, Ga.
Samaha, Gary & Katy - Acworth, Ga.
Server, Mike & Mary Jane - Tyrone, Ga.
Slatton, Becky - Hiram, Ga.
Smith, Donna - LaGrange, Ga.
Spencer, Bill & Cath - Lilburn, Ga.
Sprinkle, Bonnie* - Buford, Ga.
Stiles, Greg & Lynn - Alpharetta, Ga.
Swan, Dawn - Thomson, Ga.
Tyler, Doug & Juanita - Norcross, Ga.
Walsh, Ann - Kennesaw, Ga.
Watson, Michael & Charise - Lawrenceville, Ga.
Wilson, Richard - Dunwoody, Ga.
*Members of the Planning Committee
**Chair of the Planning Committee

This year's Chair of the Parents and Families Association is Mrs. Debbie Callas of Roswell, Ga. Mrs. Callas is the mother of Greg Callas who is a freshman recently accepted to the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business at Georgia College. Debbie is a freelance Interior Designer and her husband, Chris, is the owner of Q Care Carpet & Upholstery. Debbie is a member of St. Peter Chanel Catholic church and a volunteer with Blessed Trinity High School and various community booster clubs. She joined the Parents and Families Association to become a part of an organization that would allow her to communicate with other parents. She has a list of ideas and can't wait to hear yours.

Join us in welcoming our 2007 Chair, Mrs. Debbie Callas.

   GCSU moves up to third in state SAT scores [top]

Increases in SAT scores among first-time freshmen entering Georgia College & State University have brought the university's composite score ranking into the top three among all of the schools in the University System of Georgia.

The figures, recently released by the system, show Georgia College's combined verbal and math SAT's at a level of 1,124. Only Georgia Tech with an average score of 1,329 and the University of Georgia with an average score of 1,222 ranked higher than GCSU.

"This is just one indicator among several that shows we are indeed recruiting some of Georgia's best and brightest students," said Paul Jones, Vice President for Institutional Research and Enrollment Management at GCSU.

"Given our holistic approach to admissions, Georgia College is not only able to focus on the scholastic quality of its students, but also their personal attributes and characteristics. This gives us the ability to go beyond academic transcripts and recognize special talents that might come through the essays or portfolios students also submit."

The latest SAT scores posted by Georgia College continue the upward trend that has been in place for a decade. Since 1996, SAT scores at GCSU have increased by a total of 175 points.

"This is great news for GCSU and the State of Georgia," stated GCSU President Dorothy Leland. "We're not only pleased test scores are up, but we also continue to be encouraged by the increased retention rates and the number of HOPE Scholars we have been able to keep in the State of Georgia."

Leland said the latest report on SAT scores reaffirms that GCSU's mission to serve as Georgia's public liberal arts university has truly resonated with students and families. The university currently serves more than 5,100 undergraduates and 900 graduates.

"Students with these SAT scores have many choices, so it's clear that Georgia College is being recognized for its academic excellence, private school atmosphere and public university price tag," Leland added.

The 2006 scores at Georgia College moved the university up from its fourth place position last year, when it trailed Southern Polytechnic State University.

For more information, contact Paul Jones, Vice President for Institutional Research and Enrollment Management at Georgia College, (478) 445-6283.

Table 1. Five year trends of Georgia College's combined verbal and math SAT.

2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
1055	1062	1088	1116	1120	1124

   Office of Admissions completes "Early Action" [top]
    By Mike Augustine, Director of Admission

As Fall Semester raced to an end, the GCSU Admissions staff also raced to fill their holiday sleigh with gifts eagerly awaited by high school seniors - Early Action acceptance packages. "Early Action" is the first round of admission decisions, and the 2007 fall application season saw an 11% increase in applications over last year's total of 1906. A total of 610 students were admitted through Early Action which is a 20% increase over Fall 2006. The standards are typically set higher for this initial round of decisions. So, along the same lines of the news about GCSU's climb in SAT rankings (refer to adjacent article about SAT press release), these upward Early Action trends continue to demonstrate the increasing quality of students that are applying to Georgia College. The average SAT ("old scale" - critical reading and math subscores only) for our Fall 2007 freshmen admitted to date is 1164 and their academic GPA is currently holding at 3.51.

A majority of our applicants tend to apply because they hear about the advantages and value of GCSU from our current students and parents. If you happen to know current high school students, or college transfer students, that you believe would be an asset to the academic community of Georgia College and benefit from our liberal arts environment, be sure to encourage them to explore GCSU. Admissions information is available online at www.gcsu.edu/admissions or by contacting an admissions representative at (478) 445-1283.

New Faces in Enrollment Management and the Office of Admissions

Enrollment Management would like to introduce Mr. Javier Francisco as our new Associate Director of Enrollment Management. Javier will help coordinate recruitment efforts for Hispanic and Latino students, and will also be responsible for developing retention programs. Javier grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he pursued an Interdisciplinary Studies major which focused on Ethnic Studies, Film Studies and Visual Studies. He later did graduate work at UC San Diego. Since moving to Georgia, Javier gained four years experience as a social worker case manager and has also taught IDST courses here at GCSU as an adjunct instructor. Javier's office is located in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, 152 MSU, and his telephone number is 445-1991. His e-mail is javier.francisco@gcsu.edu.


The Office of Admissions is pleased to welcome Mr. Matt Mize to our team as our new Assistant Director of Admissions. Matt's responsibilities will focus on Transfer student recruitment and admission. Originally from Lavonia, Ga. Matt first attended Gainesville State College and then transferred to GCSU where he earned a bachelors degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. Matt is currently working on his MPA degree. You may have first met Matt as our graduate assistant at the GCSU Welcome Center for Fall semester 2006. Matt's office is located off the lobby of 108 Parks Hall. His number is 445-5995 and his e-mail address is matthew.mize@gcsu.edu.

   Center for Student Success Top Ten New Year's Resolutions [top]
    By Shaina McGill, Senior Director Center for Student Success

Each January we enter the New Year with resolutions for change; a promise to ourselves for healthier lifestyles, increased fiscal responsibility and better time management. In fact, the top ten New Year's Resolutions haven't changed over the last fifty years. But, what resolutions top the list for our university students and are they really any different?

With fall semester behind them, many students are now taking "stock" and making the appropriate moves to ensure an academically successful future. Georgia College offers a wealth of campus services designed to assist our students as they strive for success.

The Learning Center is centrally located in Arts & Sciences 256. This wonderfully renovated facility is the home to 10 peer tutors, two graduate assistants and a small computer lab. The Center offers ongoing drop-in academic support for all Core Math and Science courses as well as Economics. Computers are equipped with tutorial programs for Chemistry, Biology and Math for those who are visual learners.

Students seeking assistance with their writing tasks may visit the Writing Center in 209 Lanier Hall. Writing Center consultants will help students in all stages of the writing process, from theme development to final completion of a paper. In addition, peer consultants are available in the residence halls during the evening hours.

When students begin the process of career planning, GCSU has two wonderful resources located close by. University Career Services is located in 232 Lanier Hall and assists students with resume development, interviewing skills, job search strategies, internships and employment opportunities. For students who are unsure about their career choices, Counseling Services in 122 Lanier Hall offers assessment tools to assist students on their quest to find that "perfect" career. They also work with students in the areas of time management, test anxiety, study skills and adjusting to college life.

The University Advising Center in 227 Lanier Hall serves as a "one-stop shop" for student's university-wide. The Center provides advising support for students that are undecided about their academic major, students that need assistance gaining entrance to cohort programs and students experiencing academic difficulty. In addition, the Center serves as a referral source for the myriad of academic and student success services on Campus.

Please encourage your student to take advantage of all that is available to support their academic success at Georgia College & State University.