News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-4781 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE JANUARY 2, 2007

A YEAR OF FIRSTS FOR ABAC IN 2006

TIFTON - It was a year of firsts, a year of growth, and a year of change for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 2006. The college gained a new president, State College status as an institution, and continued its unprecedented enrollment growth.

On May 16, ABAC received approval from the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents for State College status. That status allows the college to continue to offer its traditional two-year degrees but also opens the door to four-year degree programs.

Pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, ABAC hopes to offer a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S) degree in turfgrass and golf course management and a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in diversified agriculture beginning with the spring term of 2008.

       On July 1, Dr. David C. Bridges took the helm of ABAC to serve as its 10^th president. He is the first ABAC alumnus to serve as president of the college. A native of Parrott and a member of the ABAC Class of 1978, Bridges will guide the institution through its 100^th birthday celebration, which begins on March 30, 2007.

Solving the nursing shortage in South Georgia got a much needed shot in the arm at ABAC with the grand opening of the Health Sciences building on Sept. 20. The $7.2 million, 41,424 square foot building serves two functions at the college. The building is the site for classrooms and clinical labs for nursing students and houses the student health center for the entire campus.

Bridges and ABAC Foundation Board Chair Ruth Raines set off a small charge of dynamite to signal the groundbreaking for the $17 million freshman housing complex called ABAC Lakeside on Oct. 23. The complex will feature suites with single and double occupancy rooms for 489 ABAC freshmen during the 2007 fall term.

The ABAC Lakeside suites will have a bedroom, bathroom, and a kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator, and sink. ABAC Lakeside will be the first housing at the college devoted entirely to freshmen.

ABAC made history during the fall term by reaching an all-time record enrollment of 3, 574 students. The enrollment included students from 153 of Georgia’s 159 counties, 11 other states, and 10 countries. Female students made up 55 percent of the ABAC student body, many of them enrolling 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.

On Nov. 30, thirty soccer balls dropped 300 feet from a hovering helicopter to the earth below to signal the beginning of construction on the new $1 million ABAC soccer complex. The complex will include an intramural softball field, a recreation field which can be used for flag football, a walking track, and the intercollegiate soccer field.

The field will serve as a home for ABAC’s first ever women’s soccer team, which began play during the fall semester. Under the direction of Coach Jimmy Ballenger, the Fillies delighted a solid fan base with a record of 9-5-1. All home games were played at the E.B. Hamilton Complex.

Orientation for the spring semester at ABAC is Jan. 4. Classes for spring term begin on Jan. 8.

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