Features
Georgia Southwestern sees highest enrollment in school history, among USG’s top increases for Fall 2020
GSW’s Fall 2020 total enrollment is the highest since the institution’s founding in 1906 with 3,162 students. This is a 7.2 percent increase from Fall 2019, as reported by the University System of Georgia (USG) today.
“GSW’s upward enrollment trend continued for Fall 2020, bringing us to the highest ever enrollment in the school’s history,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “The entire campus is focused on ensuring student success, enhancing the overall campus experience, providing programs relevant to our economy, and graduating more students who will make a real impact in our region’s workforce.”
Georgia Southwestern was among the USG’s top five increases across the system’s 26 institutions and the second highest in state universities. Overall, Georgia’s state universities saw an increase in enrollment at an average of 2.3 percent.
In addition to the overall increase, GSW also saw huge gains in freshmen, graduate and dual-enrolled students. Over 600 students represent GSW’s largest freshman class, and graduate enrollment jumped from 139 students in 2014 to 528 students in 2020 growing by 279%. Another positive demographic trend is the increase among Hispanic, Asian and African American students.
Read more about GSW’s enrollment growth here.
GSW announces strengthened partnership with Rosalynn Carter Institute
GSW recently announced that the Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI) will transition from a unit to an affiliate of the institution. This move will keep the RCI physically on campus, while allowing the organization to expand its profile serving the more than 53 million caregivers nationwide.
At the same time, the RCI is also moving to strengthen its mission to place the unpaid caregiver at the center of its work by changing its name to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, a small shift with a significant meaning.
“This is an exciting time for the Rosalynn Carter Institute,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “Former First Lady and GSW alumna Rosalynn Carter is an important member of our University community, and we are happy to be a part of her efforts to reach more caregivers across the country. The RCI’s success reflects our work together, and we look forward to being a part of its continued growth.”
Learn more about the RCI and the transition here.
Kappa Sigma brothers at GSW shave heads to raise money for local woman battling breast cancer
The Kappa Sigma fraternity at Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) hosted their annual Shave to Save event on Thursday, October 29, 2020 where brothers and pledges shaved their heads in order to raise money during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
All proceeds will be donated to Angela Smith, a GSW employee and Americus Rotary Club president, who is a breast cancer survivor.
“I am completely overwhelmed, humbled and honored to be named this year’s recipient of the Kappa Sigma Shave to Save event,” said Smith. “I have asked that any money raised go to the Phoebe Sumter Foundation and allocated to Phoebe Sumter Medical Center’s Oncology Clinic. I am so touched by this gesture from the young men of the Kappa Kappa Chapter of Kappa Sigma at GSW and hope others will consider supporting them in their fundraising efforts.”
Read more here.