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Facility to Support Needs of Army ROTC Program
UNG photo
In an effort to meet the needs of a growing regional university, construction crews are building a convocation center on the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus.
By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
In an effort to meet the needs of a growing regional university, construction crews are building a convocation center on the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus. The new facility will replace the smaller, outdated Memorial Hall as the university’s primary event center. “UNG’s Memorial Hall was constructed in 1960 with a fixed-seating capacity of 1,049,” said Kate Maine, UNG associate vice president of university relations. “At that time, enrollment at UNG’s Dahlonega campus was only 794 students. Today, UNG serves a growing enrollment of more than 18,000 students across five campuses, and is one of the state’s largest public universities. Enrollment on UNG’s Dahlonega campus alone has increased to more than 7,000 students.” The University of North Georgia was formed through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University
and Gainesville State College, two of the top-performing schools in the university system of Georgia. The transition in 2013 has resulted in a significantly larger student population and increased need for large-scale space for academic, athletic and student life events. Maine said throughout the school, anticipation is high regarding the new project. “Students are excited about opportunities the new convocation center will bring. With spaces for large-scale student events currently very limited, the convocation center will become the new focal point for student life at UNG.” The university carries the distinction of The Military College of Georgia, with its Army ROTC program attracting students from across the country. The new convocation center will have special significance for those enrolled in the Georgia Army National Guard detachment on UNG’s Dahlonega campus. “In addition to supporting the needs of typical universities, this new facility is critical to UNG’s role as one of only six senior military colleges in the United States,” said Maine.
“UNG’s Corps of Cadets is composed of nearly 750 students, and there are more than 150 active students in the Georgia Army National Guard detachment on UNG’s Dahlonega campus. These groups need expanded space to meet their training and assembly needs.” The structure also will be helpful in recruiting potential students to the university. “Most universities around the state already have similar facilities, so this new convocation center is a long overdue addition to UNG’s Dahlonega Campus. We anticipate that it will draw visitors from around the country to various events, and that it will become a signature facility for the campus and the community,” Maine said. In June 2016, UNG broke ground on the event center, with site work beginning in October. “We’re really excited about the new convocation center for UNG, as it will be a transformational facility for UNG,” said Mac McConnell, UNG’s senior vice president of busisee UNG page 2