GMC News

Georgia Military College Celebrates Grand Opening of Campus in Fayetteville, Georgia

Georgia Military College celebrated the grand opening of its newest campus on August 20, in Fayetteville, Ga., just ten months after breaking ground in October, 2014. “GMC extends its heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Fayetteville, Fayette County and the surrounding area for the very warm reception they’ve extended to GMC. Thanks to a tremendous amount of hard work from many stakeholders, GMC Fayetteville is now ready to support the educational needs of this area’s growing workforce,” said Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, GMC president. “Fall classes are already underway, with the number of students and enrolled credit hours far exceeding our expectations. We’re delighted by the enthusiastic response of the Fayetteville community.”

More than 100 invited guests attended the event, which included an inaugural flag raising and a tribute to prominent Fayette County leaders and entrepreneurs with a legacy of, and lifelong commitment to, faithful stewardship, community service, and educating and developing tomorrow’s servant leaders. Additionally, there were remarks from school and community officials, as well as guided tours of the facility.

Fayetteville Mayor Greg Clifton spoke during the ceremony, saying, “One of my goals when I was first elected Mayor was to either start or recruit a college founded on high moral principles to Fayetteville and I am thrilled to see that goal come to fruition during my first term!  I thank GMC for your commitment to moral and academic excellence and I bid you a very hearty welcome to Fayetteville.  We’re glad you are here!”

With construction completed mid-July, nearly 300 enrolled students began classes at GMC Fayetteville on August 3rd, with another 400 students in the application pipeline. GMC Fayetteville also has 65 dual-enrollment students who are jump-starting their college coursework while in high school. 

Once the campus’ enrollment grows to 500 – which is expected within four years – GMC plans to launch a ‘phase two’ campus expansion. Currently, the school has a staff of 11, plus 24 adjunct faculty, with plans to add additional full-time faculty in the near future. 

The Fayetteville campus is GMC’s tenth campus in the state, with more than 25,500 square feet of space. The facility includes: nine classrooms; biology and chemistry labs; a media center; a book store;  two conference rooms; a student lounge with café; student support services area, complete with business, financial aid, and admissions offices; an area for standardized testing; and 12 offices for faculty and staff.

Located at the intersection of South Sandy Creek Road and Veterans Parkway in the western part of Fayetteville, GMC Fayetteville offers all 27 two-year degree programs available across the GMC system. In addition, the school expects to offer the Bachelor of Applied Science degree and will explore the possibility of providing offerings in allied health and film technology/media production, in the 2016-17 school year.

“Our vision at GMC-Fayetteville is to provide and promote a values-based academic center of excellence that serves the community and prepares all college and career-ready students to succeed in a competitive global society. We want to ensure they can start here and go anywhere!” said Brigadier General (Ret.) Scott F. “Rock” Donahue, executive director, GMC Fayetteville. “Embracing the experience here and receiving a degree from GMC, our graduates are equipped for selfless and honorable service, whether it involves continuing their education at one of the 41 colleges and universities with which GMC has a standing articulation agreement, joining the workforce, or entering the military.”

The Fayetteville facility’s architecture reflects the striking signature gothic style of the main GMC campus in Milledgeville. Inside, the modernized facility is completely wireless, equipped with contemporary furnishings and leading edge technology to optimize collaboration and active learning.

School officials chose West Fayetteville as the home of their new campus based on the already-established business market in the area, including Piedmont Fayette Hospital, with more than 1,000 employees, and Pinewood Atlanta Studios, a multimillion-dollar, full service film and entertainment studio established in early 2014.

Group VI Development, joined by Halbert Development and Foley Design Associates Architects, Inc., completed Fayetteville’s only postsecondary educational facility in nine months. “We simply wouldn’t be here today without the selfless dedication of the general contractor, subcontractors, and a tireless professional workforce – and, of course, the tremendous support of the Fayetteville community, local officials, the Pinewood Atlanta Studios Production Centre vendor family and Piedmont Fayette Hospital,” said General Donahue. “Together with our students, we’ve all become a part of something very special that’s now a part of the rich legacy of Georgia Military College.”

View additional photos here:  https://gmcpr.smugmug.com/20152016/GMC-Fayetteville-Grand-Opening/

About Georgia Military College
Georgia Military College is a two-year, public college with campuses in Milledgeville, Augusta, Fairburn, Fayetteville, Warner Robins, Valdosta and Columbus, extension centers in Madison, Sandersville, and Stone Mountain, and an online campus program. Its annual enrollment includes more than 12,000 junior college students at these locations, plus 250 junior college cadets and 560 prep school students at their Milledgeville campus.
For more information about GMC, please visit www.gmc.edu or call 478-387-4846.