IMMEDIATE JANUARY 15, 2004

ABAC HEALTH SCIENCES BUILDING IN GOVERNOR’S RECOMMENDATION

TIFTON--A new $7.8 million Health Sciences building at Abraham Baldwin College took another step toward reality when Governor Sonny Perdue announced that it was a part of the construction funding he is recommending for the University System of Georgia for the 2004-2005 budget year.

“This is the news we have been waiting for,” an obviously elated ABAC President Mike Vollmer said. “Nursing is now the single largest major at our college, and these students deserve some first class attention in a brand new building.”

Vollmer said the 41,424 square foot building is listed on the minor projects list of the University System, a list that contains projects that cost $5 million or under. Vollmer said the remainder of the cost of the project will be covered by private funding.

“I want to thank the Governor and all our local legislative delegation for sticking with us on this project,” Vollmer said. “We’re basically operating a program with around 800 students in two ranch style houses and the hallway of a building we plan to tear down.”

Vollmer said the new building will be located on the existing site of Creswell Hall and the Moore Building. Administrative offices for Nursing and Health Services Division Chair Wanda Golden and her faculty and staff will move from Gaines Hall into the new building.

“This building will give us space for our students that we just don’t have right now,” Golden said. “It will also enable us to offer new programs for the community in health-related fields that we haven’t offered because of our space situation.”

Eight classrooms will be in the new building, including two that seat 100 students each. Four general labs are included in the plans as well as three small specialty labs. The ABAC Health Center will also be located in the facility.

“By having the Health Center in the building, we can increase the services we offer to our students here on campus,” Golden said.

ABAC is in the midst of a building boom. The $7.1 million Ag Sciences Building grand opening will be held Jan. 27 at 2 p.m., and the first 200 rooms of the $32 million ABAC Place apartments project opened on Jan. 9. The college is also about to begin the second phase of the $1.5 million Pedestrian Mall, a brick walkway through the center of campus which links the Donaldson Dining Hall with the new Ag Sciences Building.

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