News from	Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30, 2802 Moore Hwy Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5051 mchason@abac.edu

For IMMEDIATE Release July 1, 2009

BRIDGES BEGINS FOURTH YEAR AS ABAC PRESIDENT

TIFTON—As he begins his fourth year as president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Dr. David Bridges believes the mold for a four-year college has been cast. Now it’s time for ABAC to begin filling in that mold with more quality academic programs and students.

“We have moved into the era of a State College,” Bridges said in a television interview which airs July 1-15 on cable outlets in Tifton, Thomasville, and Moultrie. “We are a four-year college. Now the task in front of us is to build the programs.”

Bridges became the 10th president in the history of ABAC on July 1, 2006. He is the only ABAC president to have actually been a student at the college (Class of 1978). The Parrott native has seen many changes at ABAC since he took over as the chief executive.

“We have taken a series of steps to change the academic environment of ABAC,” Bridges said. “First, we restructured the college administration by naming four vice-presidents. Then on April 1, we created six schools of study. These are things that are really going to make a difference in the way people look at ABAC in the long run.”

Attracting academically talented students to ABAC is one of challenges Bridges sees for the upcoming year.

“The process of recruiting students is going to be much different in the future,” Bridges said. “We see a lot of situations where families are sending students to college for the first time. Many of them are not prepared culturally or financially for this big step.

“We are in a climate where the academically prepared students will not just show up. We must play to the strengths we have. Our motto is ‘Georgia’s State College of Choice.’ We want students who choose to be here.”

Bridges said dealing with the budget cuts that have plagued all state agencies during the past year was “one of the most difficult parts of being president.

“There is no pat answer to solving the budget,” Bridges said. “The financial situation is always changing. My guess is that we’re looking at a budget deficit of somewhere around $2.5 million. We have trimmed and trimmed, and then trimmed some more.”

Bridges said he was proud of the way that ABAC faculty, staff and administrators had responded to the reduced budget. Several administrators including Bridges will be teaching classes this fall.

He hopes the fall will also bring some construction fences around the three original campus buildings of Tift, Lewis, and Herring halls as that rehabilitation project commences.

“We are on track and moving forward with that project,” Bridges said. “That is the face of ABAC.”

Bridges seems eager for the challenges ahead.

“Being president of ABAC is a great job,” Bridges said. “The long hours don’t bother me. What keeps you going is when some student or some alumnus says they really like something we’re doing.”

The deadline for applications for the fall term is Aug. 1. The fall semester begins Aug. 17.

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