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 JULY 24, 2008

Deadline for ABAC Applications August 5

TIFTON--The deadline for applications for the fall semester at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) is Aug. 5. Classes for the fall term begin August 18.

ABAC will begin fall classes for the first time ever with two bachelor’s degrees of its own in place, diversified agriculture and turfgrass and golf course management. Classes for the two Bachelor of Applied Science degrees first began in January during the spring term.

As a State College of the University System of Georgia, ABAC offers both associate degrees and bachelor’s degrees in 55 areas of study. Two other bachelor’s degrees will be offered this fall on the ABAC campus in a coordinated effort with Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW).

ABAC and GSW will offer a Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Resource Management with concentrations in Agribusiness, Forestry and Wildlife Business, Bioenergy and Renewable Resource Business and Turfgrass Business.

“All our surveys indicated that a four-year education degree in Tifton would attract a large number of students,” ABAC President David Bridges said. “We need more school teachers in Georgia.

“The business degree represents one more way that ABAC is expanding its scope as we enter our second century of service. The combination of agriculture and forestry is still Georgia’s biggest business by far. But the business has changed. That’s where resource management will come into play.”

Classes in the joint bachelor’s degree programs will be available during the day and evening. GSW will also continue to offer bachelor’s degrees in accounting and management at night on the ABAC campus.

Bridges said ABAC will continue to celebrate its 100th birthday through Dec. 31 but that the college is already well into a comprehensive Second Century Plan which includes strategies to move the college forward during its second 100 years.

Bridges said there are rooms still available for freshman at ABAC Lakeside, the brand new 489-bed complex which opened last fall on the north shore of Lake Baldwin.

“I believe we have the best student housing of any college our size in Georgia,” Bridges said. “Every place we have for students to live is basically new.”

Over 1,300 ABAC students live in either ABAC Lakeside or the 835-bed ABAC Place, where each student has a private bedroom.

Prospective students who need more information on the fall semester can contact the admissions office at (229) 391-5004 or visit the ABAC web site at www.abac.edu.

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