Governor’s vision for Whitfield, Murray showing progress
With an anticipated grand opening coming in 2019, the 80,000-square foot facility that is being constructed on the Whitfield Murray Campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College is showing signification growth.
Dr. Ginger Mathis, GNTC Associate Vice President of Special Projects on the Phase II Construction Site at the college’s Whitfield Murray Campus, took a tour of the site March 9. “Everything is looking great on the site,” said Mathis. “I think everyone, students, faculty, and staff included, is really starting to get excited about what’s next for the campus. The programs that will be in place when the doors open will be very reflective of the needs of this community.”
Most of the students at GNTC’s Whitfield Murray Campus call Murray or Whitfield county home. Upon completion, the newly-expanded campus will be able to accommodate up to 4,000 students. Not only is GNTC expecting traditional students to attend the new campus, but also dual enrollment students from area high schools. Georgia Northwestern currently is ranked first in Georgia in number of dual-enrolled students attending.
Another big part of student enrollment numbers is expected to come from those wishing to grow within area industry. The flooring industry in Northwestern Georgia is one of the largest flooring centers in the world. Flooring companies in the Dalton, Georgia area and GNTC have been in talks throughout the process about what programs the college should have in order to best help the current employees and those yet to come.
In summer of 2017, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, along with officials from across Northwest Georgia, announced at the groundbreaking how the expansion of the Dalton, Georgia-based campus was an important part of his growth plan for the Peach State. Costing more than 27-million dollars to complete the project, Georgia Northwestern administrators hope to see classes begin there by the fall semester of 2019.
The Whitfield Murray Campus of GNTC first opened eight years ago in 2010. When the doors first opened, the college operated out of part of the existing Northwest Georgia College and Career Academy facilities in Whitfield County, Georgia. However, after quickly outgrowing the space, they moved into their own facility on the grounds a short time later.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of Northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma, or a certificate in business, health, industrial, or public service career paths. This past year, 16,402 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. With an annual credit enrollment of 7,750 students, GNTC is the largest college in Northwest Georgia. GNTC has an additional enrollment of 8,652 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training, and Georgia Quick Start. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Institution.
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Don Foley
Assistant Director, Marketing and PR
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