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economic impact of $250 million, according to • More private dollars to support the work of
recent assessments. MGA are arriving through fundraising cam-
paigns conducted through Middle Georgia State
• Enrollment, both in headcount and credit-hour University Foundation. The 2018 “Annual Fund”
production, grew by 6 percentage points in fall campaign exceeded its goal of $875,000, and a
2018, the second highest percentage growth in more comprehensive and longer-term “Great-
the University System. Fall 2018 enrollment hit ness Campaign” is underway.
about 7,800 students, the largest enrollment
since 2014. • MGA’s strong reputation and brand reputation
is catching the attention of those in the region as
• Enrollment for the current semester, spring well as the state. MGA is aiming to increase the
2019, beat MGA’s target goal and represents presence of its aviation programs and is well on
the third consecutive semester of enrollment its way as the School of Aviation is one of only
growth. “Three is not a blip, it is a trend,” Blake eight schools nationwide recently selected to
said. participate in the Delta Propel program to train
more pilots for the airline.
• The number of students living on MGA’s
campuses increased by more than 15 percent The real measure of MGA’s work, Blake said,
in fall 2018. A new residence hall, housing 300 is the students.
students, is on track to open on the Macon “Every day, especially on the stressful days, I
Campus in fall 2020. Meanwhile, MGA is serving urge you to look around at the students on our
a growing number of students online, offering campuses,” he told the audience. “They are amaz-
degree programs that can be earned partially or ing people and they inspire us. They put their
fully online. trust in us. They balance their degree demands
with many other necessities and commitments.
• Nearly 700 students, a record number, are pursu- They are not wealthy elites. They are building
ing research opportunities with faculty mentors. greatness in their lives and in our University.”
As Middle Georgia State continues to move
• MGA launched a comprehensive strategic plan forward, Blake urged the University commu-
called “Elevating Middle Georgia” in summer nity to think of recent successes as steps to even
2018 that calls for “purposeful” enrollment, clear greater progress over the next few years. “We have
student success, and sharing of a built culture. the map and the means for realizing that dream,”
The plan drives the University’s overall vision. he said. Let’s turn the dream “into a powerful
reality for the benefit of the people of Middle
• A new level of collaboration between MGA’s Georgia.” ■
academic and enrollment operations has been
a game changer, the president said. Working Read the full text of Blake’s
more closely together helps the University not “State of the University” address at
only enroll more students, but helps ensure that
more of them make ongoing progress toward www.mga.edu/sotu
their degrees and graduate within a reasonable
amount of time.
Spring 2019 MGA TODAY 21
