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 23, 2008

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM CHANCELLOR PREDICTS MORE GROWTH FOR ABAC

TIFTON - University System of Georgia Chancellor Erroll B. Davis, Jr., predicts continued growth for Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College as the college celebrates its 100^th birthday and prepares for its second century of service.

Davis recently met with ABAC President David Bridges as well as with members of the faculty, staff, and administration. He also conducted an information gathering session with ABAC student leaders.

“ABAC is well known in this state, top to bottom, East to West,” Davis said. “We want students to continue to think about ABAC first. Our strategic plan calls for the state to continue to invest in institutions such as this one.”

Davis said he makes trips to University System campuses at least three times per month. He was earlier scheduled to visit ABAC in December but moved the visit to January so that classes would be in session during his time at the college.

His last visit to ABAC was for the inauguration of Bridges in 2006.

“David is an excellent leader,” Davis said. “He is a great planner.”

Davis said the University System expects to enroll 100,000 more students by the year 2020. He believes ABAC will play a huge role in accommodating those students.

“We want to make an access institution like ABAC a first choice for students,” Davis said. “The research shows that students who enter the System through access institutions actually do better in their junior and senior level classes.”

Davis spoke to a group of alumni, community leaders and Foundation Board members at a luncheon in the Grand Lobby of the new $17 million ABAC Lakeside housing complex.

“This facility filled up instantly,” Davis said. “You are making ABAC a destination of choice. You’re doing all the right things.”

One of the goals of the Second Century Plan introduced by Bridges at the November Town Hall meeting is to make ABAC “Georgia’s State College of Choice.”

In a meeting with Davis in Evans Hall, Bridges outlined the key points of the Second Century Plan.

“We expect ABAC to grow substantially in years to come,” Davis said. “As a System, we want to continue to focus on affordability and accessibility. We want to make it a more cost effective System.”

Davis said the results of the University System efforts are shown every day in the many alumni of System institutions across the state.

“We are transforming lives,” Davis said. “That’s a wonderful thing.”

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