About Progress 2016
The titles and rankings seem to come in droves each year.
From health and wealth to education and youth, most Forsyth residents know the county is at the forefront of north Georgia and the state in various factors that help shape quality of life.
These factors — which residents embrace and have come to expect — carry their share of numbers. Indeed, politicians and others are fond of touting such statistics.
With that in mind, the staff of the Forsyth County News contacted government and school officials, business owners and public safety personnel to compile some interesting and easy-to-read figures from the past year.
University of North Georgia by the numbers
923 – Fall 2015 enrollment at Cumming campus
17,289 – Fall 2015 total enrollment
* For more information on the University of North Georgia, CLICK HERE.
To read the entire Progress 2016 edition, click here.
Located in Forsyth County, a hub for global commerce and international trade, University of North Georgia's Cumming campus produces leaders able to compete in a global economy.
Students have easy access to the wide range of amenities that living close to a big city provides, while studying in a smaller campus environment.
This campus is particularly convenient for students interested in dual-enrollment, as well as for adult-learners looking to begin a new degree program.
The dual enrollment program for high school students at UNG's Cumming campus, known as Move on When Ready, has tripled in size since the campus opened in 2012. It topped more than 150 students this fall.
"Our Cumming campus is a tremendous example of collaboration between the University System of Georgia, government officials and community leaders to expand opportunities for higher education in this region," said UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs.
"The campus represents the culmination of many years of effort with the city of Cumming and various Forsyth County civic leaders to bring a university presence to the area. The combination of price, functionality, attractiveness and partner collaboration has established a new template for how to provide higher education in areas that are underserved."
The state's Move on When Ready program allows high school students to earn both high school and college credit by taking college courses.
A high school student who begins taking courses in his or her junior year could enter college as a sophomore, saving a year of time and college tuition.
Jason Pruitt, executive director of the Cumming campus, has watched the program grow from 44 students in 2012 to more than 150 students in 2015.
In addition to dual enrollment, two UNG graduate programs are also based on the Cumming campus: the Cottrell MBA program and the master of arts in teaching.
Due to program and enrollment growth of the MBA program and continuing education and professional development courses, UNG leases 10,000 square feet of space in Cumming City Hall.
"The Cottrell MBA program is designed for working professionals seeking to enhance their career opportunities," said Donna Mayo, dean of the Mike Cottrell College of Business.
"By moving the MBA program to the Cumming City Hall location, it allows us to be in a very professional setting with closer access to businesses in the surrounding area."
The space that the MBA and Continuing Education programs vacated on campus is being developed into a Student Resource Center that will house academic advising and writing and math tutoring labs.
"We are also adding a geology lab this summer and will be offering geology, geography and GIS courses for the first time this fall," Pruitt said.
To maintain add strengthen community engagement UNG Cumming has also formed a campus community leadership council that works closely with university leaders to focus on a number of initiatives centered around the themes of workforce readiness, access to education, and partnerships and collaborations.
The UNG Cumming Campus Community Leadership Council includes leaders from the Forsyth County commission, Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, Northside Hospital-Forsyth, Georgia Power, Forsyth County Schools, Siemens, several state representatives and the mayor of Cumming.
With more than 17,000 students across its five campuses — Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville and Oconee County — UNG is one of the largest public universities in the state.
It offers more than 100 programs of study including certificates, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as professional doctoral programs.
UNG was ranked 16th among public regional universities in the South in U.S. News & World Report's 2016 edition of Best Colleges.
UNG is one of six senior military colleges in the United States and is designated as a University System of Georgia leadership institution and as The Military College of Georgia.