GC&SU and MSC form partnership

Georgia College & State University and Macon State College have entered a partnership designed to enhance business programs at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins.
Under the agreement, GC&SU will transfer some of its undergraduate business programs to Macon State so the Milledgeville-based university can concentrate on providing improved graduate level business programs.
“Both colleges benefit from this, by being able to concentrate, and not duplicate, resources,” Pella Murphy, associate director of the Warner Robins campus, said. “GC&SU can concentrate their efforts on the Robins Graduate programs and MSC can garner their resources to expand their business programs.”
Macon State will then introduce a bachelor of science degree in business that will feature a traditional foundation in business theory and practice supported by a unique concentration in information technology.
“There is not a formal partnership with Macon State College per se, but there is a very collaborative, close working relationship between the schools regarding the transition of the undergraduate BBA program in Warner Robins,” Glenn Easterly, director of GC&SU programs, said. “The collaboration involves multiple levels including: 1) the macro level policy agreements regarding overall objectives; 2) transient/transfer class liberalization; 3) course equivalency agreements; 4) collaboration on future course offerings to try and avoid duplication where it makes sense; and 5) general tactical level coordination on many of the details necessary for both schools to effectively manage the transition. The goal of both schools has been, and continues to be, to find the best way possible to serve the students during this transition, while also efficiently using state resources.”
Both institutions have offered degree opportunities at the Base since 1970, when the University System of Georgia established the Robins Resident Center.
“The transition will be gradual, with GC&SU not admitting new students into the undergraduate business program at Robins after Summer ’04,” Murphy said.
Beginning in January 2004, GC&SU and MSC will have advisers for students at the Robins Resident Center to help students plan the best possible path for completing their undergraduate business degree.
“Both schools are certainly appreciative of each other’s level of cooperation and support. This working relationship can also carry over to other areas of intersection between the two schools that can certainly help serve the best interest of our student and stakeholder constituencies,” Easterly said.

Beginning Fall 2004, Macon State will serve all students seeking a bachelor’s degree in business on Robins Airforce base. GC&SU will not accept new undergraduate business students at Robins AFB.
Since 1997, MSC has offered bachelor of science degrees designed to fill professional workforce needs in Central Georgia. MSC continues to offer more than 30 associate degree programs of recognized quality.
“The partnership is a win/win/win for all parties. The area will continue to be served by a high quality business program from the university system,” Murphy said. “GC&SU can concentrate resources on their Robins graduate programs and MSC can expand offerings for its innovative business degree.”
This fall, MSC opened a permanent Warner Robins campus one half mile from the main gate of Robins Air Force Base with an initial enrollment of 1,500 students. The faculty and facilities at Robins Airforce Base provide additional support for MSC’s undergraduate programs.
“The university system encourages collaboration between schools. This is another example of collaboration making good economic sense,” Murphy said.
GC&SU will continue to offer the master of business administration, the master of public administration and the master of science in logistics management at Robins and other graduate and professional programs in Macon.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 30 2004. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry