incrediblethe

storyof Georgia Gwinnett College

20052015President’s Report

We did it, even when we were told it couldn’t be done.In a decade, we built a modern, 21st Century campus with tradi-

tions for the ages and time-honored values. We designed an afford-able, conveniently located, four-year college to meet the expanding economic development needs of Georgia’s northeast region.

In 2005, the dream of Gwinnett County and local community leaders was realized with the founding of Georgia Gwinnett College – the first new, four-year, public college in Georgia in more than 100 years. The county provided the University System of Georgia 160 acres specifically to enact that dream.

We established that the college would be a wellspring of educational innovation, hallmarked by student engagement and mentorship. We have created a campus with modern conveniences and a dynamic, well-educated faculty who are here to teach, challenge and inspire. We gear programs toward first generation students, knowing that nearly half of our students are the first in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree. More importantly, we don’t just talk about it, we do it in record time! Every building we design, every sidewalk we fashion, every desk we place is for the students,

about the students and with the students in mind.In less than 10 years, GGC has granted degrees to more than

3,000 women and men. All the while, GGC has received accolades for its diversity, military friendliness, affordability and much more. By treating our students as the single most important investment, we transform lives, families and communities.

As the world changes, so must higher education: how we teach, how we learn, how we educate an entire generation who will lead this world into the 22nd Century.

I encourage you to read this report in detail and ponder just what can be accomplished when an entire community bands together to improve its quality of life.

Our critics said it couldn’t be done. They called us an experiment. But today, only 10 years later, they call us amazing ... transformative ... game changing.

Go Grizzlies!

Stanley C. “Staś” Preczewski, Ph.D.President

They call us

Game Changing because of what we’ve done in only 10 years

Student engagement defines our culture With everything new that we do, we ask ourselves, “Will this idea

support student engagement and success?”

Faculty teach, mentor and innovateFaculty are recruited, evaluated and rewarded based on their ability to

effectively engage students.

To enhance communication, each faculty member is issued a smart phone.

They provide their numbers on every syllabus instead of offering ill-timed

traditional office hours. Students may contact faculty with questions by

phone, e-mail or text, and faculty are expected to respond promptly. Our

faculty are routinely seen engaging with students in dining and study areas.

Faculty are encouraged to develop new and more effective instructional

methods and to creatively engage their students, especially with opportunities

outside the traditional classroom. Already, several faculty members and

teams have won significant recognition for creating new technologies and

approaches. Often, innovations involve student team members.

We are proactiveWe meet students where they are. If they need more support, faculty spend

extra instructional time with them or refer them to a variety of tutoring or

other support services. If they need more challenge, we have that covered,

too, in our Honors Program.

We see education as a team effort. Students must do their part, but we must

do our part, as well. Our faculty not only encourage students to challenge

themselves, they reach out to those who are struggling. In addition to personal

attention, words of encouragement or experienced advice can make all the

difference between a student graduating or dropping out of school.

Every student matters – individually.

RESULTS GGC’s students have consistently given the college high scores in the National Survey on Student Engagement (NSSE). GGC’s seniors score the college above the national NSSE averages in all performance indicators and above the University System of Georgia’s averages when it participated in 2014. GGC frequently scores in the nation’s top 10 percent in several key indicators.

As an innovative model for 21st Century higher education and an access institution, GGC literally was built from the ground up for individual student success – no matter the level of academic preparation, learning style, work schedule or financial barrier.

everythingSUPPORTSOUR MODEL

“I planned to drop out.”Financial struggles caused Candice Coulter’s

family to move frequently. After attending 13 schools and experiencing so much instability, she lost interest in learning. Her mother encouraged her to enroll at GGC, where a professor’s mentorship stopped Candice from dropping out. She not only rediscovered her passion for learning, she became an influential student leader. The first member of her family to graduate from college, Candice, class of 2015, is serving in the Peace Corps and plans to use her bachelor’s degree in biology to pursue a career in research. Her college success inspired six other family members to enroll at Georgia Gwinnett.

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Students came by the thousandsThe highly-populated local community quickly responded

to the college’s presence. It is now one of the largest colleges

in the University System of Georgia and the Atlanta area. This

scale of growth is only possible when students are satisfied with

the quality and price of their education.

We needed a full-service, residential campus – fast

Building the campus was a team effort. We worked closely

with the University System of Georgia and elected officials to

construct campus facilities in sync with GGC’s rapid enrollment

growth. Some facilities were provided with assistance from

the GGC Foundation or through low-cost leases with the

City of Lawrenceville and local businesses.

Each facility is designed with student success in mind,

from the campus-wide availability of power and Wi-Fi

for laptops, to the many study and gathering places

for individual or group work, to smart classroom

technologies and purposefully small classrooms.

Sustainability and energy efficiency are constant

considerations.

Smart, creative design provides a campus as

beautiful as it is user-friendly and efficient.

We hired the best and brightest faculty and

staff who are dedicated to the college’s mission

and vision.

WE STRATEGICALLY PLANNED FOR

From the beginning, GGC has had a precise mission and an equally precise plan for achieving that mission – strategically allocating resources to support each phase of planned growth and development as an institution, always with our emphasis on facilitating student success.

explosive growth

RESULTS Since 2006, GGC has added about 1.2 million sq. ft. through public and private investments of nearly $300 million. GGC has grown from zero to almost 12,000 students in only 10 years. GGC has 1,154 faculty and staff, and a student:faculty ratio of 18:1. The Library and Learning Center is LEED Gold-certified (environmentally friendly) and the Student Center earned Silver. GGC has received a High Performance Health Schools Award and a Georgia Energy Challenge Certificate of Achievement.

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2006

1300011468

108289719*9397

7742

5380

29471563

788118

*Growth purposefully paused to allow completion of additional facility capacity.

Student Headcount Fall 2006-2016

proj

ecte

d

2

explosive growth

Reducing financial barriers is important for GGC studentsAbout 92 percent of our students qualify for federal financial aid. Most students work at least part-time

to support themselves and their families – many work full-time or more than one job. For 2015-2016, tuition and fees total less than $5,500 annually. This prices a bachelor’s degree at less than $22,000 for commuter students. Still, some students face having to drop out of college because they fall short of affording their GGC expenses – even by amounts as small at $20. A donor-supported emergency fund fills such gaps so these students can stay in school and achieve their dreams.

We keep costs lowGGC has a flattened organizational structure without academic departments. We outsource

auxiliary services in a competitive bid process. We designed our facilities for maximum efficiency. From LED lighting to drought-resistant landscaping, sustainability strategies support cost control. We constantly look for creative ways to achieve efficiencies.

GGC provides a complete college experience In addition to the personal attention students receive from faculty mentors, students may

enhance their education through internships, scholarly activities/competitions, study abroad programs and an Honors Program. We even offer under-graduate research opportunities to students at all levels, not just juniors and seniors.

We have more than 110 student organi-zations and honor societies, which provide social, service and professional activities for holistic personal development. Championship intercollegiate, intramural and club sports offer students of all capabilities the chance to com-pete in team athletics. An active events calen-dar ensures a vibrant campus community.

GGC FUSES affordability WITH high-quality

Our students receive a private education at a public price.

RESULTS In-state tuition is $128.13/credit hour, capped at $1,922/semester for full-time students taking 15 hours or more. GGC is cited as having the 5th lowest student debt in the Southern region – U.S. News & World Report 2016 College Compass. It is one of the least expensive public colleges in Georgia. GGC enjoys the highest space utilization rate in the University System of Georgia.

“Family illness inspired my interest in nursing.”

Seth Elam, class of 2017, worked in the renewable energy sector before pursuing his passion of caring for oth-ers by enrolling in GGC’s new bachelor’s degree program in nursing. This U.S. Navy veteran is a member of the GGC Honors Program and a charter member of the Four Pillar Society.

3

Our student body• Most students commute from Gwinnett and surrounding counties. Almost 800 live on campus.

• About 68 percent hail from Gwinnett County, Georgia’s second most populous county at 880,000 residents.

• Almost half of GGC graduates are the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree.

• About 40 percent of incoming freshmen must take at least one learning support course to bring their

academic performance to college level in English or math, while nearly 300 enter into a robust Honors Progam.

• About 85 percent are of traditional college age.

• Almost 360 are dual-enrolled with local high schools.

• GGC’s students represent 33 states and 120 nations.

• Almost 1,200 are international students.

• About 19 percent are honors students.

• GGC students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in

15 programs and 40 concentrations.

Race/ethnicityGGC is the most ethnically diverse Southern

regional college, both public and private, per

U.S. News & World Report College Compass (2015, 2016).

The following chart is based on fall 2015 enrollment.

GGC’s student population reflects the diversity of the northeastern Atlanta metropolitan region. The college’s accessibility, affordability and location generate a unique student body.

“She said I shouldn’t try to go to college.”Homero Gonzalez, class of 2011, was told by a school advisor that because English was not his first language, college was not a

realistic goal and he should instead pursue a trade. Refusing to limit his potential, he enrolled at GGC, where our Student Success courses helped him achieve fluency in English. He served as an active campus leader and started a reading program in his community while earning a bachelor’s degree in business. Today, he holds eight Emmy Awards for television news production and marketing.

• White 35.6%

• Black 32.6%

• Hispanic 17%

• Asian 10%

• Multi-Ethnic 4%

• Unknown 1%

• American Indian/Alaskan Native <1%

• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

4

Students of all levels benefit from tutoring. In addition to faculty mentoring, more than 40 percent of all students take advantage of tutoring services. Several hundred benefit from intrusive advising.

Our student support resourcesThe Academic Enhancement Center (AEC) uses

innovative methods and technology to provide effective and

engaging tutorial experiences, along with academic and study

skills development. The AEC helps students become more

confident, efficient and successful learners, which supports

retention, progression and graduation rates.

• Staff includes 30 full- and part-time professional tutors,

10 peer tutors, 12 student assistants and 55 faculty volunteer

tutors. Both AEC locations are open 63 hours per week.

• Almost 18,000 student visits, 2014-15

• 300 students supported by “Tutors in the Classroom”

• 200 use the AEC’s online tutoring service

• Mobile tutors provide service in various locations.

• The AEC averages about 50 interactive workshops a

semester, reaching almost 400 students with a broad range

of topics. The AEC also provides topic-specific in-class

workshops when requested by faculty.

The Mentoring and Advising Center (MAC) serves

students identified as being at the highest risk for dropping out

or who have been placed on academic suspension. Practicing

intrusive advising, the center helps students with academic

success planning and targeted skills development.

• Almost 900 at-risk students served, fall 2015

• Almost 90 percent returned for spring semester

• About 60 percent returned the following fall

• Of students on academic suspension, the center averages

helping about 60 percent achieve eligibility to re-enroll the

following semester.

The Center for Teaching Excellence helps GGC faculty

enhance their skills by providing a wide variety of programs

promoting design and implementation of creative learning

environments, effective teaching practices, instructional

experimentation and student engagement – all of which ultimately

benefit students and enrich their educational experience.

RESULTS GGC’s average retention rate is nearly 70 percent, surpassing Georgia’s state colleges at 63.3 percent and comparable with its state universities’ average of 67.6 percent over the 2007-2014 period. This rate approaches 80 percent when transfers to other University System of Georgia institutions are included.

“We’re about students. There’s no

school in our system that exemplifies

that goal better than Georgia Gwinnett ...

The university system is very proud

that we have a school like GGC amongst

our institutions ... GGC is a great

steward of the resources that the state

has provided to them and utilizes them

more effectively and more efficiently

than any school in our system.” - Hank Huckaby, Chancellor

University System of Georgia

5

Our model worksDespite serving a population including students who require

more assistance, GGC is achieving remarkable results with its

innovative model. Student engagement directly impacts reten-

tion, progression and graduation (RPG) rates – key performance

measures for colleges and universities. Our dedication to student

engagement and success has led to impressive RPG rates, un-

heard of among access institutions and on par with admissions-

selective universities.

Our model is self-sustainingMany U.S. states now use RPG rates in determining fund-

ing levels for public institutions. Improved student engagement

therefore leads to increased funding. Georgia Gwinnett’s ap-

proach and results position the college to do well with national

trends tying fiscal allocations to institutional RPG.

This model creates a cycle of success through which the college

is rewarded with increased resources for doing its job well. Those

resources are then reinvested in ways that further enhance student

engagement and success. Supported by a stable mission, vision

and culture, this model is self-sustaining and perpetuating.

GGC’s model also contributes significantly to Governor

Nathan Deal’s Complete College Georgia initiative, which aims

to rapidly increase the proportion of Georgia citizens with a

certificate or college degree.

Our model’s success is more than dataWhile objective evidence demonstrates that GGC delivers on

its promises, its outstanding performance is a testament to the

dedication of our faculty to our students and to the college’s

mission and vision.

The true measure of Georgia Gwinnett’s success lies in the

stories of the students who found success at GGC despite their

challenges and because of our model.

GGC truly is transforming lives, families and communities.

Powered by a proven, self-perpetuating model and supported by enthusiastic partners, Georgia Gwinnett College is prepared to continue its record of success well into the future.

TransformingLIVES ... FAMILIES ... COMMUNITIES

PEER INSTITUTIONS GGC is unique and has no peer or aspirational groups in North America. While some institutions share several character-istics, key differences in other areas make direct comparisons impractical. GGC is the nation’s only public, access, urban, primarily nonresidential, primarily bachelor’s degree-granting institution of its size, with at least 70 percent full-time students, a high number of transfers in, and balanced arts and sciences programs but without graduate programs.

GGCStudent SuccessA Partnership Model

STABLE VISION, MISSION & CULTURE

ExceptionallyEngaged Students

CommittedCommunity

ImprovedRPG Metrics

IncreasedResources

Reinvestments

Innova

tive, Intrusive

Supportive,

Funding Environment

Inspiring Climate

Engag

ement Methods

Performance-Based

6

Grizzly Athletics Complex* l s

Residence Life l s Classrooms l n

Administration nAllied Health & Sciences l n

Parking Deck* l s

Warehouse+ n

Student ServicesOne-Stop-Shop n s

Wellness & Recreation Center* s

Faculty Offices s

Library & Learning Center l n

ClassroomsF

Student Center* l sIntramural Fields l s

Our Campus

*Student-fee funded +Originally owned by GGC Foundation F Leased from other GGC Foundation also owns the Tennis Center and a parking area, both located outside of the map area shown.

Few people have the opportunity to be part of a permanent legacy that forever changes the economic future and quality of life for their community, state and nation. Fewer still can say they accomplished this by literally building a college. With tremendous teamwork between community, local business and civic leaders, the state legislature and the University System of Georgia, GGC’s founders have done just that.

Decades ago Gwinnett had the vision. In 2005, it became a reality and the Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation has played an important role in developing the physical footprint of the college. Critical funding was needed to transform a kudzu-filled plot of land into a full-service, state-of-the art campus. The State of Georgia provided approximately $85 million, with the Foundation funding an additional $180 million through strategic private support and investments. Nearly 12,000 students now benefit from a campus built just for them.

On behalf of the GGC Foundation, I want to express our deepest gratitude for our donors and advocates, past and present, who have supported the college from its inception. The list of visionaries who invested in this unprecedented endeavor is long and your generosity is making an immeasurable difference in students’ lives for generations to come. We have accomplished many things in 10 short years, but our important work continues.

In coordination with the college’s shift from its initial construction and devel-opment phase, we are turning our attention toward supporting its efforts to enhance the student engagement experience.

Engaged students graduate. Graduates are better equipped to become contributing citizens and leaders. With 68 percent of our students hailing from Gwinnett, graduates are now proving the success of both our college and community, across the state, region and beyond. GGC rapidly is becoming an engine of student engagement and success. The Foundation’s mission is to support these evolving student engagement programs, but advancement in this area will require a broad and diverse range of resources, largely from private support. Georgia Gwinnett College and the Foundation are committed to meeting these challenges and look to you for continued philanthropic support. Together we will create new opportunities to inspire the next generation of leaders.

The institution has affected so many in its first 10 years – imagine, just imagine, what we will accomplish in the decades to come. Georgia Gwinnett College – an incredible story indeed.

Thomas P. HughesChair, Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation

GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE FOUNDATION

A VISION ACHIEVED

s Leased from GGC Foundationn State-owned propertyl New construction

7

Consolidated Statement of GGC Foundation ActivitiesFor the Year Ended June 30, 2015

SUPPORT AND REVENUE Total support and revenue ......................................................$13,411,315 OPERATING EXPENSES Total operating expenses .............................................................$998,952 OCCUPANCY EXPENSES Total occupancy expenses ..................................................... $10,532,516 Total expenses ........................................................................$11,531,468 Change in net assets .....................................................................$1,879,847 Net assets, June 30, 2014 ............................................................ ($1,601,923)Net assets, June 30, 2015 ................................................................$277,924

Consolidated Statement of Financial PositionFor the Year Ended June 30, 2015

ASSETS

Total assets ........................................................................$181,288,994 LIABILITIES

Total liabilities ........................................................................$181,011,070 NET ASSETS

Total net assets ............................................................................$277,924 Total liabilities and net assets .............................................. $181,288,994

The Endowment – Past Five Years

Endowed ScholarshipsAndersen Family ScholarshipLee and Marshall Boutwell Veterans ScholarshipDaniel J. Kaufman ScholarshipLawrenceville Police ScholarshipElridge W. McMillan Regents ScholarshipMilton M. Ratner Foundation ScholarshipLinda Shumate Endowed ScholarshipCarl D. White, Sr. Scholarship

Annual ScholarshipsAntonio Damián ScholarshipGeorgia Beer Wholesalers Association ScholarshipGeorgia Gwinnett College Nursing ScholarshipGeorgia Gwinnett College ScholarshipGwinnett Clean and Beautiful ScholarshipGwinnett County Bar Association ScholarshipKaiser Permanente of Georgia Nursing ScholarshipLois & Lucy Lampkin Foundation Nursing ScholarshipPeach State Federal Credit Union ScholarshipClyde and Sandra Strickland Health Sciences ScholarshipClyde and Sandra Strickland Business ScholarshipUniversity System of Georgia Foundation Scholarship in honor of Regent Richard L. TuckerUniversity System of Georgia Foundation Scholarship in honor of SunTrustWine and Spirits Wholesalers of Georgia Scholarship

$0

$200,000

$400,000

$800,000

$900,000

$1,000,000

FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15

$337

,999

$371

,284 $5

76,5

05

$865

,277 $9

01,8

53

Grants and ScholarshipsSummary of private support. Graph reflects expenditures.

2014-15

2012-13

2013-14

2011-12

2010-11

2009-10

2008-09

2007-08

2006-07 $41,244

$186,725

$123,582

$60,580

$124,562

$385,723

$658,296

$541,552

$210,484

8

Board of Trustees Chair Thomas P. Hughes Hughes Investment Properties, LLCVice ChairStanley C. “Staś” Preczewski Georgia Gwinnett CollegeSecretary/TreasurerBartow Morgan, Jr. BrandBankPresident Lori M. Buckheister Georgia Gwinnett College TrusteesThomas J. AndersenAndersen, Tate & Carr PC Marsha Anderson Bomar Stantec ConsultingDavid J. BowenHome South Communities, LLC C. Norwood Davis12Stone ChurchRonald H. GarrardGarrard GroupGregory W. HayesMoore Stephens Tiller, LLCTerri E. Jondahl CAB, IncorporatedWayne H. Mason Mason Family Management Co. LLCChad C. MillerMiller Realty Solutions, LLCD. Alan NajjarSmith & Howard PCJose R. PerezTarget Market TrendsWilliam E. RussellRussell Landscape Group, Inc. Greg D. ShumateBrandMortgage Group, LLCDebra Smithart-Oglesby O/S PartnersJohn D. Stephens Stephens Industries LPW. Gordon Tanner, Jr., MDGastroenterology Specialists of GwinnettT. Michael TennantAlston & Bird LLPRichard L. Tucker Arlington Capital, LLCGlenn S. White Retired, United Community BanksConnie C. WigginsGwinnett Clean & BeautifulPhilip R. WolfeGwinnett Medical Center

The military always has been important

to Lee and Marshall Boutwell.

The couple of 47 years met in high

school in Havelock, N.C., home to Cherry

Point Marine Corps Air Station. Their fa-

thers were both officers and their mothers

were best friends. An aviator in the U.S.

Army, Marshall earned several medals in-

cluding the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and

Distinguished Flying Cross for his service

in Vietnam. Several of their relatives also

served in the military.

Equally important to them is commu-

nity service, both personally and profes-

sionally. As president/CEO of Peach State

Federal Credit Union for more than 20

years, Marshall has led the organization in

its own philanthropy. Lee recently retired

after 22 years at another credit union.

“I believe in leading by example and

hope that others will follow,” said Marshall.

Uniting their two passions, the couple

established The Lee and Marshall Boutwell

Veterans Scholarship Fund in 2015. The

fund supports full-time students who main-

tain a GPA above 2.0. Preference is given for

demonstrated financial need and affilia-

tion with the U.S. military, prioritized first

for service-wounded/disabled veterans,

veterans with combat service, any veteran

or dependent children of veterans.

The scholarship’s first recipient, David

Hollifield, is a senior majoring in criminal

justice and a veteran of Operation Endur-

ing Freedom in Afghanistan. Hollifield

said in a letter to the Boutwells, “From the

little I know about you, I can confidently

assume that you have a big heart, not only

for veterans but for students in general and

the community you live in, as well.”

“No words could ring more true of

Lee and Marshall,” said GGC President

“Stas” Preczewski. “We are honored that

they include GGC in their legacy by per-

manently providing support for veteran

students and their families.”

Boutwells establish personal legacy supporting military students

Lee and Marshall Boutwell pause for a portrait with their dogs, Godzilla and Daisy.

the game...

Office of Public Relations1000 University Center LaneLawrenceville, Georgia 30043

Georgia Gwinnett College is an accredited access institution offering targeted baccalaureate degrees meeting the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. Visit www.ggc.edu.

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