From the Editors

It is a well-known fact that we attend the only public liberal arts university in Georgia.
Georgia College & State University is by far one of the most unique campuses within the state of Georgia.
After this university accepted its new mission, GC&SU began to transform from a regional university to the only public liberal arts university in Georgia.
When I first arrived here during the fall of 1998, the liberal arts mission was just introduced and changes were being made.
I can remember that the term “Public Liberal Arts University ” was everywhere on campus.
Now, after over three years of the new mission, does anyone really know what it means to receive a liberal arts education, or is it just a coined term?
In my eyes, I think that a public liberal arts university is an institution that provides its students with a community that offers a variety of opportunities.
I think that a liberal arts university offers activities and organizations for its students that add value to their degrees and offer skills which can not be acquired inside a classroom.
I can speak first hand by saying that this university offers programs that add to the value of obtaining the liberal arts experience.
For example, I have been given the opportunity to become a part of the Georgia Educational Mentorship program.
The GEM program is a pilot program that began this spring. Headed up by Dr. Robin O. Harris, this program involves members of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce who mentor to GC&SU students.
My personal mentor is Neely Young, the Editor/Publisher of Georgia Trend Magazine. In a conversation with Young, he stated that experience is the key to success.
I was very assured about my experience after hearing that statement from a professional who has been in his field for over 30 years.
I think that experience includes everything that has been learned throughout our college life on and off campus. Not to say that education is not important, but that education is not the only thing.
Although we may be attending a rather small university, the opportunities offered here are endless.
We have a chance to beapart of almost any organization on campus. We have a chance to gain experience and skills outside of the classroom that are valued as much as an education.
Because we are students attending the only public liberal arts university in Georgia, we have the opportunity to leave here on graduation day as well-rounded individuas.

Joffery A. Blair

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 22 2002. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry