UGA Tifton records highest enrollment ever

TIFTON — The University of Georgia Tifton Campus recorded its highest enrollment ever this fall semester with 82 students, said Jason Peake, director of academic programs at UGA Tifton.

“Increased enrollment is not our primary goal for UGA Tifton, but it is rewarding to see,” Peake said. “Growth in student enrollment is a reflection of the quality that UGA Tifton brings to south Georgia; students want the prestige and recognition that comes from earning a UGA degree. I anticipate that our enrollment will continue to grow as we increase opportunities for rural south Georgia.”

Small class sizes are a major benefit for students at the Tifton Campus, part of UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Students receive one-on-one training from their professors that they might not have the chance to experience at other schools.

Though students are not located in Athens, they still receive the same UGA rigor and education in Tifton. They also get to experience the “student life” aspect of being at UGA. During the first week of school, students were treated to Welcome Week on campus. Each night, an activity was set up for the students, including movie and board game nights, and cookouts.

Peake said this semester will include multiple events for students to attend and showcase their work while interacting with other students and professionals in the agriculture industry.

“There are always opportunities for students to engage at Sunbelt Ag Expo, the Georgia National Fair and the National FFA Convention, and there are several research conferences where we have students attending and presenting their research,” Peake said. “There are also Wednesday Workshops, a series of workshops we conduct every three weeks for students to have additional leadership and learning opportunities outside of the classroom.”

UGA Tifton has offered academic programs since 2004. With a 98 percent graduation rate, programs have been successful, according to Peake.

UGA Tifton’s academic program is also experiencing a new look this year. For the first time, a faculty member from outside CAES, Katherine Melcher, is teaching a course on campus. She is teaching “Sustainable Site Design and Edible Landscapes,” a class designed to engage students in sustainable energy topics and the Future Farmstead. Also, UGA’s faculty members are offering transfer odyssey courses, which should help in producing well-rounded students.

“Transfer odyssey courses are fun, experiential learning courses with a high level of student engagement where faculty member-student interaction is an important aspect. These faculty members teach because they have a love of the topic; they have a real passion for it,” Peake said.

While UGA Tifton has added new aspects of campus life, both social and academic, some students, like Christina Garner, have one main goal this semester.

“I really want to be successful in my classes this semester so that I can be even more successful next semester and graduate in May,” said Garner, an agricultural education major.

Kyle Dawson is an intern with the UGA Tifton Campus.