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The University of North Georgia's (¹û¶³´«Ã½) Cumming Campus hosted its inaugural Backyard Bash May 11. In addition to showcasing the impact of the campus, the event offered a chance for community members to see progress on the 27,300-square-foot campus expansion, which is set to be complete in time for the fall 2024 semester.

The new space will allow for the addition of bachelor's degrees in Cumming and provide a capacity for future enrollment of 2,200 students, particularly in health care and technology-centric programs in demand along the growing Ga. 400 corridor.

"I see such a robust future for this campus," ¹û¶³´«Ã½ President Bonita Jacobs said. "Our new course offerings will make us a destination university for this community."

It was also the latest event in ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s Sesquicentennial Celebration. By celebrating ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s legacy of scholarship, leadership and service, the Sesquicentennial serves as an opportunity to honor the university's heritage, celebrate its present achievements, and focus on where it will lead next.

Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Ken Crowe, executive director of the Cumming Campus, provided an update on the expansion of the campus. They pointed to the addition of bachelor's degrees in elementary and special education, management, computer science, and international affairs with a European concentration as a game-changer.

I see such a robust future for this campus. Our new course offerings will make us a destination university for this community.

Dr. Bonita C. Jacobs

¹û¶³´«Ã½ president

"We're growing this campus," Crowe said. "We're looking forward to what the future holds."

Crowe and the Cumming Campus faculty and staff also recognized Jacobs ahead of her retirement at the end of June, giving her a signed photo of the Cumming Campus. Jacobs has served as president for 12 years.

Noah Bryant, a May 2021 graduate with a degree in history, shared with the attendees how his ¹û¶³´«Ã½ journey began at the Cumming Campus and ended with him winning a Fulbright scholarship to earn a master's degree in Wales. He recalled that even after moving to ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s Gainesville Campus to complete his degree, he still served as a Supplemental Instruction facilitator at the Cumming Campus.

"This campus represents community," Bryant said. "I really fell in love with this campus."

State Rep. Carter Barrett and Forsyth County Solicitor General Bill Finch, '88, attended the event and praised ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s leadership and service to the county. Barrett said ¹û¶³´«Ã½'s presence in his community was one of the reasons he sought to serve on the Georgia House Higher Education Committee in his first term, and Finch praised the mentors who helped shape his path as a cadet while also pointing to the vital role ¹û¶³´«Ã½ plays today.