August 13, 2009

Atlanta Ranks 4th in Preparing Tomorrow's Theologians
The Atlanta area is a national leader in preparing tomorrow's theologians and clergy. Each year hundreds earn advanced degrees from metro Atlanta institutions, including ARCHE members Columbia Theological Seminary, Emory University, Interdenominational Theological Center and Mercer University. The region ranks 4th among the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas in graduate degrees awarded in theology and religious vocations, topped only by Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Full feature story from ARCHE >

ITC President Confirmed as Ambassador to African Union
Michael A. Battle, president of the Interdenominational Theological Center since 2003, is leaving ITC to become the U.S. Ambassador to the African Union. The organization, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, integrates the political interests of 53 African nations. The U.S.Senate confirmed the appointment after Battle's adress to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (PDF). He will be sworn in next week.  More (PDF) > 

GGC Builds Student Center, Residence Halls, Library
Georgia Gwinnett College has broken ground on its third new building since November: a new student center that will open fall 2010. The $17 million, 77,000-square-foot LEED Silver building will house the college's first dining hall and a bookstore. Earlier in July, the college began a $60 million construction project for five residence halls with 1,029 beds, which will also open in the fall, transforming GGC into a residential, 24-hour campus. Georgia Gwinnett plans to house 2,500 students eventually. A new library is scheduled to open next summer.

Welcome to Oglethorpe
Oglethorpe University is preparing to welcome students to campus next weekend with a day of service at Historic Oakland Cemetery, a greeting at Coca-Cola headquarters, a show at Dad's Garage theater and a celebration with the University's NCAA championship golf team. Oglethorpe expects fall enrollment to meet or exceed the size of last fall's freshman class – its largest ever – and more students will be living on campus than ever before. Freshman applications were up 15 percent over last year and up 230 percent since 2005.

Leverage Universities for Growth of Georgia
"America's most successful communities have come to rely heavily on their universities and colleges to sustain economic and social progress," writes Emory University President and ARCHE Past Chair Jim Wagner in today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Read the full article >

Brenau Early College: A Natural Transition 
Brenau University is capitalizing on its on-campus prep school by formalizing an early college program for girls in its Brenau Academy. Academy students can now graduate with both a high school diploma and enough credits for a two-year college degree from the University. The shortcut through high school and college could save students thousands of dollars in tuition. Brenau Academy, which spans grades 9 through 12, is one of only two all-girl college-prep boarding programs associated with a college in the United States. More >

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Photo credits: Brenau University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Interdenominational Theological Center, Oglethorpe University, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia