MGA looks for partnerships in Perry

PERRY, Ga. — Members of the Perry Chamber of Commerce gathered together for some betterment Wednesday, as they attended the chamber’s new ongoing series: Business at Breakfast. This time they heard from Middle Georgia State University leadership on how they’re working to help the business community.

Business at Breakfast is an event meant to ensure local businesses informed of what is happening in their communities, and provide them with opportunities to grow — MGA offered businesses just that.

“Middle Georgia, as you know, is in five different communities; the university is based across 168 miles of the rich soil of central Georgia,” Blake said. “That is a marvelous opportunity for us as educators, and I believe and hope, for the community to take advantage of an access university.”

According to Blake, Middle Georgia State offers a high-quality education at a much cheaper rate than most universities nearby; MGA has the cheapest tuition rate for a university in the state of Georgia, and third in the southeast United States.

As the university has grown, they’ve been able to give each of their campuses focused definition around community partnerships. In doing so, the Warner Robins campus has become a “center for innovation and entrepreneurship” — a bridge that will allow the university to act as a connecting point for businesses in the community, and assist them in their growth and development. Later this year, the campus will also debut a dual-enrollment program for “high achieving students,” and a new degree in computer science.

“We now have a clear sense of how our mission is around supporting employment for individuals and making sure the community is there to thrive with that,” Blake said. “Your public university is a wonderful asset to the community. I believe that, it’s why I get up each day, it’s the finest place I’ve ever worked at in my now increasingly long career, and I hope to do it a bit longer.”

Enrollment Management Vice President Stephen Shultheis was the next to speak, during which time he shared a number of facts on MGA’s enrollment, and how it impacts the community.

According to Shultheis, MGA:

– Is graduating 700 students a year on average. 80% of those graduates live and work in the region after their time in school.

– Is the highest in the university system for new growth in graduate enrollment — their master’s and doctoral programs are expanding.

– Is one of the highest in new undergraduate enrollment, be it traditional freshman or non-traditional students.

– Has seen expanding retention rate. More students are beginning and finishing their education at MGA, leading to a 7% increase in their retention.

– Has the fourth highest non-traditional student enrollment in the state.

“When you think of your hiring needs, I’m sure you’re thinking that having some credential would be beneficial, whether it’s a certificate, associate or bachelor degrees,” Shultheis said. “We’re also helping students start off in high school with their dual-enrollment credits, and we’re talking about how we can work with counties and school systems to increase the number of freshman coming in.”

Enrollment Management Assistant Vice President Melinda Robinson-Moffett spoke next, identifying partnership opportunities for local businesses.

“It is no secret that we have existed to support businesses, but also to get enrollment,” Robinson-Moffett said. “Think about the five campuses we have, the regional impact of 8,000 students from 145 counties. We’re talking about 43,000 alumni, $268 million of economic impact.

“We’re Georgia’s most affordable public university, we’re saying that, it’s not a secret. With that being the case, this office is made to do some amazing things for you.”

Robinson offered local businesses opportunities in assisted staffing, free programs for assistance like career fairs and Handshake, training and visibility.

Representatives from the university stayed and spoke with members of the chamber as they asked questions. For more information of Middle Georgia State, visit their website at www.mga.edu. For more information on their strategic partnerships, visit www.mga.edu/strategic-partnerships.

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