University of North Georgia: A Legacy of Leadership and Academic Excellence

The University of North Georgia (UNG) stands as a public institution within the University System of Georgia, boasting a rich history and a commitment to developing leaders. Established on January 8, 2013, through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University (founded in 1873) and Gainesville State College (founded in 1964), UNG carries forward a legacy of academic rigor and service. With nearly 20,000 students across its multiple campuses, UNG is the sixth-largest public university in Georgia.

A Foundation Built on History

UNG's roots trace back to North Georgia Agricultural College, established in 1873 as an offsite branch of the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Mechanical, funded by the Morrill Act. Congressman William Pierce Price played a pivotal role in establishing the college in Dahlonega, utilizing funds to create a branch of the newly formed college in his hometown. The college occupied the former Dahlonega Mint building, which had been closed during the Civil War.

In 1876, the college gained the authority to grant degrees, and the first graduating class received their diplomas in 1879. While military tactics were always part of the curriculum due to the land-grant status, the military programs gained prominence during World War I. The National Defense Act of 1916, which established the ROTC, further solidified the military presence on campus.

The institution underwent a name change in 1929, becoming North Georgia College. However, in 1932, it was reduced to a two-year junior college. World War II led to a decline in enrollment as male students joined the war effort. To address this, an Army Specialized Training Program was implemented to train junior officers. After the war, the college experienced growth as veterans utilized their G.I. Bill benefits. By 1946, the college was reinstated as a four-year institution.

Meanwhile, Gainesville Junior College was founded in Oakwood, Georgia, in 1964, commencing classes in 1966. Initially a two-year college with an open-access mission, it expanded over time, opening branch campuses in Watkinsville and Cumming. The Cumming campus was a joint venture with North Georgia College and State University, known as University Center 400, which opened in August 2012 and was later renamed Cumming Campus in January 2013 upon consolidation. The school evolved into Gainesville College and then Gainesville State College.

Campuses Across North Georgia

UNG operates across five campuses: Dahlonega, Gainesville (Oakwood), Oconee (Watkinsville), Cumming, and Blue Ridge, each offering distinct academic environments.

Dahlonega Campus

The Dahlonega campus, formerly North Georgia College & State University, is home to Price Memorial Hall, constructed in 1879 on the site of the former Dahlonega Mint. The gold-leafed steeple of Price Memorial Hall is a prominent landmark. The campus is centered around the William J. Livsey Drill Field, the parade ground for the UNG Corps of Cadets.

Gainesville Campus

The Gainesville campus, formerly Gainesville State College, is located in Oakwood. While it lacks on-campus dormitories, student-friendly apartments and townhomes are located nearby. The Environmental Spatial Analysis (B.S.) degree in the Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis is the oldest degree program on this campus.

Cumming Campus

The Cumming campus, established in 2012, aims to provide higher education access to local residents in an underserved area.

Oconee Campus

The Oconee campus, established in 2003, primarily serves students in the Athens and Watkinsville area.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Blue Ridge Campus

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Academics and Programs

UNG offers a wide array of academic programs, with over one hundred bachelor's and associate degrees, thirteen master's degrees, and one doctoral degree across its five colleges. UNG is the only university in Georgia to offer a minor in leadership. The school is also a flagship ROTC Center in Chinese.

The Dahlonega campus emphasizes baccalaureate and graduate programs and offers pre-professional programs. The Gainesville Campus offers a smaller selection of baccalaureate programs, primarily in education and business, while associate degrees are available at both the Gainesville and Oconee campuses.

Honors Program

UNG's Honors Program, with locations on both the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses, fosters a supportive community for academically motivated students. Freshmen in the program experience a redesigned introductory course focused on research skills to prepare them for graduate school. The Gainesville campus program emphasizes community-based research, connecting students' majors with community issues. The Dahlonega program also features a mentorship program.

Distance Education & Technology Integration (DETI)

UNG's Distance Education & Technology Integration (DETI) program is staffed by sixteen members across various departments and numerous professors who teach online classes.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Professional and Continuing Education

UNG provides professional and continuing education courses for individuals and businesses, covering topics such as leadership development, photography, computer training, and foreign languages. These courses are available at any UNG campus or online.

Event Accommodations

UNG offers facilities for corporate events, meetings, conferences, and camps, including conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms, dining, wireless internet, and parking.

Student Life

Student life at UNG varies across campuses, particularly between the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses. The Dahlonega campus offers college-owned housing for 36% of its undergraduate students.

UNG has numerous clubs and organizations on its campuses. Greek life is present, with 5% of men and 10% of women undergraduate students participating in fraternities and sororities.

Traditions

Several traditions are upheld at UNG:

The Arch: Located at the Dahlonega campus entrance, the Arch was built by the Class of 1951 to honor classmates who died in the Korean War. Freshmen are not to walk through the larger archway.
Retreat: Cadets stand at attention and salute the flag while civilians stop, remove their hats, face the flag, and place their right hand over their hearts to indicate the end of the day.
Drill Field: Located in the heart of the Dahlonega campus, the Drill Field serves as the parade ground for the UNG Corps of Cadets and is used for drills, ceremonies, and recreational activities.
Memorial Wall: Built in 1983 in front of the Memorial Hall Gymnasium, the wall honors UNG students and alumni who died while in military service.
Retreat Triangle: The triangle is located near the Drill Field, Student Center South, and Dunlap Hall.

Center for Global Engagement (CGE)

The CGE supports international students, scholars, and faculty transitioning to the United States. It also facilitates military international programs, such as the Cadet English Language Training Team (CELTT), which sends cadets overseas to teach English to foreign military counterparts. The Federal Service Language Academy (FSLA) is a summer program for high school students interested in federal service careers and strategic foreign languages. The CGE has partnerships with universities worldwide.

Residence Halls

The Dahlonega campus offers six residence halls: Donovan Hall, Lewis Hall, Lewis Annex, North Georgia Suites, The Commons, and Owen Hall, each with different housing styles.

Military Tradition

The Army ROTC program has been active on the Dahlonega campus since 1916. The Blue Ridge Rifles drill platoon unit was formed in 1950. The Golden Eagle Band, formed in 1873, performs at UNG Corps of Cadets functions and represents the Corps in parades.

Athletics

The University of North Georgia's athletic teams are known as the Nighthawks. UNG is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC), while its rifle team competes in the Southern Conference (SoCon) in the NCAA Division I ranks.

Notable Alumni

The University of North Georgia boasts a distinguished list of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields, including military service, politics, arts, and academia. Here are some notable alumni:

General Courtney H. Hodges: Attended North Georgia Agricultural College before transferring to West Point. Rose from private to 4-star general. Commanded 1st Army, then 12th Army Group in WWII.
Major General David L. Grange: Served with the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. Later assigned to Delta Force, commanding a squadron during the invasion of Grenada and was deputy commander during the Gulf War.
Brigadier General Hughes L. Ash: Graduated from North Georgia College in 1932. Served in Europe in WWII; the Pentagon; Korea; Ft. Knox; Naval War College; Ft. Leavenworth; Canada; Navada Test Site; Iran; and Ft. Monroe.
Brigadier General Fred W. Franks: Graduated from North Georgia College in 1936. Landed with initial assault forces on D-Day June 6th at Utah Beach.
Major General George M. Johnson: Participated in seven major campaigns as a pilot in WWII.
Major General Edward M. Fickett: Served as a commander of the 344th Bombardment Squadron equipped with B-29 aircraft in Japan.
Vice Admiral Robert H. Scarborough: Graduated from the Merchant Marine Academy in 1944. Entered the Coast Guard after four years in the Navy and Merchant Marine.
Brigadier General Thomas N. Griffin: Attended North Georgia College before transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology. Served for over 30 years in the USAF and Georgia Air National Guard.
Brigadier General Alton H. Ruffin:
Brigadier General Ben L. Patterson: Graduated from North Georgia College. Was a first lieutenant in the occupation of Germany.
Major General Emory C. Turner: Attended North Georgia College and transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology. Retired as a Major General from the U. S. Army with 33 years of service.
Brigadier General Ben L. Williams: Commanded the 158th Fighter Squadron in Savannah. In 1973, commanded 116th Tactical Fighter Wing at Dobbins AFB. In 1983, became Commanding General of the Georgia Air National Guard.
Brigadier General James (Jimmy) M. Cureton: Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned active duty in 1951.
General William J. Livsey: Commissioned infantry in 1952 from North Georgia College. Commanded an infantry battalion in the Vietnam War.
General Houser: Attended NGC in 1952-1953 and graduated from West Point Class in 1957. Awarded the silver star in Vietnam in 1967.
Major General Thurman E. Anderson:
Brigadier General Grail L. Kessler: Commissioned Army from North Georgia College in 1953. Served two years with the 11th ACR in Vietnam.
Brigadier General Josiah Bunting: Graduated cum laude from North Georgia College in 1954. Completed his career as Commander of the White House Communications Agency.
Rear Admiral Bobby C. Lee: Entered the Navy as a Naval Aviation Cadet after completing two years at the University of North Georgia. Shot down a North Vietnamese MIG 17 in May 1967.
Brigadier General John E. Johnston: Retired United States Army brigadier general.
Lieutenant General Burton D. Patrick: Served two combat tours in Vietnam and earned the silver star and four bronze stars, two for valor.
Brigadier General William V. Rice:
Major General Jere H. Akin: Last assignments included Assistant Commandant of the United States Army Quartermaster School.
Brigadier General William K. Diehl: Former principal of North Gwinnett High School. Served in the Georgia Army National Guard from 1949 through 1991.
Major General James A. Guest: His major assignments included command of the 5th Special Force Group, command of the John F. Special Operations Command.
Major General Edison E. Scholes: Served in Infantry, Airborne, Special Forces, and Ranger units, including four combat tours in three conflicts.
Major General Jack C. Wheeler: Commanded the United States Army Recruiting Command for over four years, including the Desert Shield and Desert Storm period.
Major General James E. Livingston: Earned the Medal of Honor as commander of a Marine company in Vietnam.
Shawn Mullins: American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music.
Janisse Ray: Author of "Ecology of a Cracker Childhood," which won the American Book Award, the Southern Book Critics Circle Award and the Southern Environmental Law Center Award for Outstanding Writing on the Southern environment.

Other notable alumni include those recognized through various awards and halls of fame, such as the Alumni Hall of Fame, the Board of Trustees Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, and the Young Alumni Award.

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