UWG News Archive

Renovations approved for Newnan center

February 6, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - Bids have been approved for renovations to one of the buildings on the campus of the University of West Georgia’s Newnan Center in Newnan. Once the work is completed, the Newnan Center will offer more classes and be able to serve more students.

The Newnan Center is housed in three buildings on 14 acres that formerly comprised Georgia Power Company’s Shenandoah Environment Education Center. Renovations are being made to the Block House, a 2,500-square-foot block building in the rear of the complex, which previously housed the control center for Georgia Power’s solar research program.

The renovations will provide UWG’s Newnan students with a state-of-the-art multimedia facility for graduate studies in the College of Education. Plans call for a 49-seat classroom and accommodations for a 15-seat GSAMS classroom. GSAMS is a statewide two-way videoconferencing system that is used for distance education.

Currently, more than 600 students attend the Newnan Center, which offers two-year master’s programs in early childhood education, special education, middle grades education and education leadership. In addition, it conducts Master of Public Administration courses and selected courses from the core curriculum.

The $194,000 renovation project is proceeding under the authority of the Coweta County Board of Commissioners, which bought the facility from Georgia Power in 1998 and now leases it to UWG for $1 per month. The University will reimburse the county for the project through increased lease payments over the remainder of this fiscal year, beginning with a 25 percent up-front payment.

Under a contract arrangement with the county, the entire campus and its facilities will belong to the University System of Georgia at the end of the 10-year lease agreement.

UWG will spend about $100,000 to equip the Block House with the latest in classroom technology, including computer laptops, plasma screens and GSAMS videoconferencing technology. Plans for the future also call for renovating one of the other two buildings, the Butler Building, to house an expanded continuing education program.

Construction on the Block House is expected to be completed in time for the 2003 summer semester, according to Dr. Donald Wagner, director of special programs and dean of the Honors College.

-30-