From Junior College to University: A History of Pointe State College

The story of Pointe State College is one of evolution and growth, reflecting the changing needs of its students and the surrounding community. From its humble beginnings as a two-year college to its current status as a comprehensive state university, Pointe State College has consistently adapted and expanded its mission.

The Early Years: Macon Junior College

Pointe State College traces its roots back to 1965, when the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents recognized the need for a public two-year college to serve several counties, including Bibb, Houston, and Peach. This decision led to the creation of Macon Junior College, which opened its doors in the fall of 1968 as the twenty-fifth institution in the University System of Georgia. The establishment of the college was made possible by the voters of Bibb County, who approved a bond issue to fund the project. A 168-acre site was selected in West Macon.

In 1970, Macon Junior College expanded its reach by establishing the Robins Resident Center at Robins Air Force Base, catering to civilian and military personnel stationed there.

Transition to Macon State College

A significant milestone in the college's history occurred in June 1987, when the Board of Regents approved a name change to Macon College. This change reflected the college's expanding role and curriculum.

The mission of the College expanded in 1996 to include technological and professional programs at the baccalaureate level, and the institution was officially renamed Macon State College the following year. The first baccalaureate class graduated in May 1999 with degrees in Information Technology, Health Information Management, and Health Services Administration. The number of bachelor’s degrees the College offered grew steadily and drove dramatic enrollment increases.

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In 2003, Macon State established the Warner Robins campus on Watson Boulevard. In 2007, the College underwent a major academic reorganization from divisions into schools, and in 2010, it became a residential college through the acquisition of the apartments now known as University Pointe. By 2012, Macon State offered 18 bachelor’s degrees with 33 majors and concentrations. Between 1999 and 2012, it awarded more than 3,000 bachelor’s degrees to its students.

The Merger and Creation of Middle Georgia State University

The landscape of higher education in Middle Georgia underwent a transformation with the consolidation of Macon State College and Middle Georgia College. Middle Georgia State University is a public university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia, United States. It is part of the University System of Georgia and offers programs to students on five campuses in Middle Georgia and online. The institution, originally known as Middle Georgia State College, was founded in 2013 through the merger of Middle Georgia College and Macon State College. Through these legacy institutions, Middle Georgia State University traces its history to 1884. Middle Georgia College opened a Dublin Campus in 1984.

The institution's beginnings date to the establishment of New Ebenezer College, which occupied the site of the current Cochran Campus. New Ebenezer was established in 1884 by the New Ebenezer Baptist Association, which was composed largely of Baptist churches in Pulaski, Dodge, Laurens, and Telfair counties of Middle Georgia. The first building on the campus was completed in 1886, and classes were first held in 1887 with approximately 100 students. The college's building served as a high school for the city of Cochran until 1913, when the high school moved. In 1919, the Georgia State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts (a division of the University of Georgia) opened a branch dedicated to serving the needs of the 12th Congressional District in the building formerly used by New Ebenezer College. In 1927, the school's name was changed to Middle Georgia Agricultural and Mechanical Junior College, though it remained a branch of the state agricultural school.

Middle Georgia College was made an independent institution in 1931 when it was created as one of the original units of the newly created University System of Georgia. In 1964, Dr. Louis C. Alderman Jr. became president and served 23 years, the longest term of any president of the college. Many new buildings as well as renovations of existing facilities marked his tenure in growing the college's reputation, academic excellence, campus beauty, and athletic programs. In 1968, Macon Junior College was established on the western side of Macon, Georgia.

From 2011 to 2015, the two institutions went through dramatic change, beginning in June 2011 when Dr. Six months later, in January 2012, the Board of Regents set in motion the consolidation of Macon State College with Middle Georgia College. In May, the Regents decided on a name for the new institution-Middle Georgia State College-and also laid out a path for elevating the consolidated institution to university status after a review process. Allbritten left the presidency after only one year. In July 2012, he was replaced by Dr. John Black, who had retired as president emeritus of East Georgia State College. Black became interim president of Macon State, while Dr. In the fall of 2012, students at the two colleges selected a new mascot to replace the "Blue Storm" (of Macon State) and the "Warriors" (of Middle Georgia). More than 1,000 students on the campuses of the two legacy institutions voted to select Knights as the new mascot. Students also selected new school colors of purple, black and silver, and they voted among several choices on the design of the new mascot. The new mascot and color selections were at least partially influenced by the two institutions' previous identities. The Blue Storm was depicted as a horse in clouds, while the Warriors were fighting humans. Some students saw the "knight," an armor-wearing fighting soldier often depicted as riding a horse, as a combination of the two former mascots. Selection of the new colors was similarly influenced by the past. The Blue Storm colors were blue and gold; the Warrior colors were red and black. The combination of blue and red form purple, a regal color often worn by knights.

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The Board of Regents voted to make the consolidation official, effective immediately, on Jan. 8, 2013. Black was re-appointed as interim president of the new institution, Middle Georgia State College. His term ended in December 2013, and Dr. In March 2015, the Board of Regents approved the elevation of Middle Georgia State to state university status, which took place on July 1, 2015, thus becoming Middle Georgia State University.

Academic Programs and Schools

Middle Georgia State University offers a wide array of academic programs across its various schools. These include the School of Arts & Letters, the School of Aviation, the School of Business, the School of Computing, the School of Education & Behavioral Sciences, and the School of Health & Natural Sciences.

The School of Arts & Letters encompasses departments such as English, History, and Media, Culture, & the Arts. The School of Aviation is the only one in the University System of Georgia that includes flight training and airport management programs and is located adjacent to the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport. Programs include Aviation Maintenance and Structural Technology and Aviation Science and Management. The School of Business offers programs such as Health Services Administration. The School of Computing includes the Department of Information Technology and Mathematics and Statistics. The School of Education & Behavioral Sciences includes the Department of Psychology and Criminal Justice and the Department of Teacher Education and Social Work. The School of Health & Natural Sciences includes the Department of Natural Sciences, Nursing, Rehabilitation Science, and Respiratory Therapy.

Middle Georgia State University has also expanded its offerings to include graduate programs, such as the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and the Master of Science in Management (MSM). Furthermore, the university has introduced its first doctoral degree, signifying its commitment to advanced research and scholarship.

Campus Life and Resources

Middle Georgia State University provides a comprehensive campus life experience with various resources and facilities for its students.

Campus Locations

The university has five campuses: Macon, Cochran, Dublin, Eastman, and Warner Robins.

Route 80 (Eisenhower Parkway). It was the original main campus of Macon State College. The campus has more than a dozen major buildings and a scenic lake. A new recreation and wellness facility, which includes state-of-the-art fitness equipment and a lazy river, opened in the spring of 2014.
This historic campus of 182 acres (0.74 km2) dates back to 1884 and is shaded, scenic, and traditional, with a lake and stately white-columned classroom buildings. This was the original main campus of Middle Georgia College. The newest club sport at MGA, club equestrian, holds their practices at the Middle Georgia Equestrian Center in Cochran. Students from all five campuses are encouraged to participate.
The 49-acre (0.20 km2) Dublin Campus is the healthcare degree program hub. The campus includes a library, classrooms, computer labs, and an annex.
The 22-acre (89,000 m2) Eastman Campus is home to the university's School of Aviation. It is the only campus in the University System of Georgia that includes flight training and airport management programs, and is adjacent to the Heart of Georgia Regional Airport.
The 72-acre (0.29 km2) Warner Robins Campus is located one-half mile west of the main gate of Robins Air Force Base. Three academic buildings are now in place: Thomas Hall, the Academic Services Building, and Oak Hall. The campus facilities include a bookstore, recreation/fitness center, and cafe. The campus is situated adjacent to the Nola Brantley Memorial Library.

Student Life and Activities

Students have the opportunity to study abroad through the University System's European Council, which seeks to foster greater understanding and appreciation of the cultures and societies of Europe. The EC sponsors summer study abroad programs for USG students and transients at seven locations in Europe that last 2-5 weeks. The Honors Program at Middle Georgia State is designed to help academically advanced undergraduate students develop their potential through challenging educational activities. Its main goal is to encourage these students in individual, rational, and creative thinking and better prepare them for graduate school.

Athletics

The Middle Georgia State athletic teams are called the Knights. The university is a member of the NCAA, primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference (provisional status of the NCAA starting fall 2025) since the 2025-26 academic year. In the fall of 2012, students at the two colleges selected a new mascot to replace the Blue Storm (of Macon State) and the Warriors (of Middle Georgia). More than 1,000 students on the campuses of the two legacy institutions voted to select Knights as the new mascot. Students also selected new school colors of purple, black and silver, and they voted among several choices on the design of the new mascot. The new mascot and color selections were at least partially influenced by the two institutions' previous identities. The Blue Storm was depicted as a horse in clouds, while the Warriors were fighting humans. Some students saw the "knight," an armor-wearing fighting soldier often depicted as riding a horse, as a combination of the two former mascots. Selection of the new colors was similarly influenced by the past. The Blue Storm colors were blue and gold; the Warrior colors were red and black. The combination of blue and red form purple, a regal color often worn by knights. The Middle Georgia baseball program is one of the winningest programs in the United States, with an overall record of 2140-714 since 1967. There have been 136 players from Middle Georgia drafted in the MLB Draft, which ranks third among all colleges & universities in Georgia-only Georgia & Georgia Tech have had more.

Additional Programs and Resources

The university also operates the Georgia Academy (formerly known as GAMES), a two-year non-residential/commuter Dual Enrollment program that prepares high school students for the academic rigor of higher education - specializing in a STEM discipline.

The "Future U" Renovation and Expansion Project

Addressing the evolving needs of its student body, Pointe State College is currently undertaking a significant renovation and expansion project of the University Student Union (USU), dubbed "The Future U." This $315 million project aims to transform the USU into a dynamic, student-centered space that meets the needs of future generations. The renovation will include consolidating Basic Needs, Student Activities, and student resource centers, as well as adding a large wellness center, a new dining plaza, and doubling the size of the ballroom.

The inside of the USU will be completely renovated, with new partitions, ceilings, flooring, and lighting fixtures. Upgrades will also address seismic issues, waterproofing, Wi-Fi, and the HVAC system. The University Dining Plaza (UDP) will be replaced with a two-story addition featuring a new ballroom and food hall. The ground floor will include a 900-person lecture-seating and 500-person round-table seating ballroom facility, breakout meeting rooms, and pre-function space. Nine different food vendors will move in, with an emphasis on variety, affordability, and healthy options.

The Friendship Walk Stairs will undergo a renovation to offer enhanced ADA pathways, ensuring a more accessible and inclusive connection between lower and upper campus. The Doctors Sabira & Nasir Tejani Wellness Center will include a holistic therapy/coaching room, a multiuse functional space, a calming room focused on stress reduction, a wellness lounge with massage chairs, and mindfulness spaces or pods. The center will also provide a collaborative space for a Student Health Services CARES resource office, as well as 7,500 square feet of outdoor garden space featuring spaces for yoga, reflection, outdoor instruction, and community-building activities.

The Laurén Chalmers ’83 Beach Pantry and ASI Beach Kitchen programs, along with the Basic Needs offices, will move upstairs, where the ballroom is currently located, and will expand. The Office of Belonging and Inclusion will move from its current location on the ground floor of FO3 into the new USU. Student resource centers will move from FO4 to the new USU, making them more centrally located and accessible. The Career Development Center will have a new satellite work development center strategically located along a major student pedestrian pathway.

The Esports game room will expand for collegiate and academic partnerships; the bowling alley will be preserved; a new 22 West Media space will be created. The auditorium will get accessibility upgrades, seating replacement, and lighting and AV upgrades. The escalator will be replaced with four “machine room-less” elevators.

The contractor-architect team is pursuing LEED v4 new construction gold certification. The design will incorporate an array of sustainable strategies, including multiple solar panels for solar energy, carbon reduction throughout the renovation, and reuse of the existing building. Decorating the renovated grounds will be pollinator gardens with native plants, and signage to educate students about the various sustainable features within the building and site.

Temporary Relocations

During the USU’s closure for renovation, ASI will temporarily relocate key campus resources, services, and dining options to ensure continued support and service to the community. Meeting and event spaces will be relocated to The Pointe, PH1-4 classrooms, Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center, and other campus-wide reservable spaces throughout campus. ASI departments will be relocated to the University Bookstore, Student Recreation & Wellness Center (SRWC), and Peterson Hall 1 (PH1). State-side services and offices will be relocated to PH1. ASI administration will be relocated to Faculty Offices 5 (FO5). ASI Laurén Chalmers '83 Beach Pantry will be relocated to Student Health Services (SHS). The Esports Lounge will be relocated to the University Library. Food service options will also be relocated throughout campus.

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