News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE OCTOBER 31, 2006

ABAC RECORD ENROLLMENT AT 3,574 FOR FALL TERM

TIFTON—Official numbers show Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College has the largest enrollment in its 98-year history with 3,574 students for the 2006 fall semester. Registrar and Director of Admissions Beth Saxon said the enrollment figure represents a 4.4 percent increase over the 3,423 students who attended ABAC last fall.

“This is just another tremendous accomplishment in a year of accomplishments,” ABAC President David Bridges said. “My goals have been the same since I took this office on July 1—excellence in everything we do and sustainable growth. This enrollment figure reflects both of those goals.”

The enrollment includes students from 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties, 11 other states, and 10 countries. Female students make up 55 percent of the ABAC student body, many of them enrolled in the very popular nursing program, which is the largest single major at the college. The Division of Agriculture and Forest Resources is the largest division of study with programs ranging from golf club management to wildlife.

Bridges expects the enrollment to continue to climb while ABAC begins a transition phase before offering four-year degrees as a part of its new State College status in the University System of Georgia.

“Pending accreditation, we hope to have these four-year degrees up and running at least by January of 2008,” Bridges said. “Between now and that time, we’ll make sure students who want to get those degrees have the necessary course work to enter the programs.”

ABAC plans to offer Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Diversified Agriculture and Turfgrass Management while continuing to make available its 55 two-year programs of study. Those programs include 40 degrees designed to transfer to senior colleges and universities and 15 majors which allow students to immediately enter the job market after graduation.

“Thanks to that construction going on over at the lake, we should have plenty of space for students who want to live on campus next year,” Bridges said.

The college had a groundbreaking explosion for the new ABAC Foundation-sponsored freshman housing complex called ABAC Lakeside on Oct. 23. Located on the north shore of Lake Baldwin, the freshman suites will provide beds for 489 students to complement the 835-bed ABAC Place apartments. Once the project is completed on Aug. 1, 2007, ABAC will be able to house more students than at any other point in its history.

Classes for the ABAC fall term end Dec. 8. Spring semester classes begin Jan. 8, 2007.

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