GENERAL INFORMATION
Clayton State University ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Clayton State University’s core mission is to "prepare students to succeed in the world of work in the
21st Century." This is
accomplished by providing "career-oriented education with a solid liberal arts
foundation."
During
more than 30 years of service to south metropolitan Atlanta, Clayton State University (Clayton State University) has effectively responded to the needs of its community. In the fall of 2000 the University enrolled over
4,500 students in credit programs. Thousands
more attended non-credit classes through the Continuing Education Center. In all cases, the University is dedicated to
helping students develop into capable, productive citizens through its baccalaureate
degree, associate degree, certificate, and continuing education programs.
The
foundation for all degree programs is a strong general education curriculum designed to
enable students to develop communication and critical thinking skills and to acquire the
broad and varied perspectives essential for understanding today’s world. Central to the general education program and to
major programs is an emphasis on the assessment of each student’s progress toward the
desired learning outcomes.
Clayton State is committed to using up-to-date information technology to enhance
student learning. Accordingly, in 1998 Clayton State University
became one of the first universities in the nation to require that all of its students be
equipped with notebook computers. This
"Information Technology Project" continues in modified form as the University
enters the 21st Century.
The
University offers baccalaureate degrees in the following areas:
· Psychology and Human
Services (B.S.) This is our newest program.
It will prepare graduates for employment in public, non-profit, and private agencies.
· Business (B.B.A.) Majors include Accounting, Management, Marketing,
and General Business.
· Nursing, Dental Hygiene,
and Health Care Management/ Administration (B.S.N., B.S., or B.A.S.)
Each of these has two
approaches:
>> option for new
students who are not yet R.N.'s or hygienists or
administrators
>> option for R.N.'s
or hygienists or allied health specialists
who already hold a career
associate degree
· Science fields (B.S.) The
Applied Biology major covers several biology careers and also provides pre-medical
preparation.
· Integrative Studies (B.A.
or B.S.) This degree includes pre-law, general liberal arts, and various interdisciplinary
options.
· Information Technology
(B.I.T.) Students start with a
certificate and cover such topics as programming languages, software development, web page
production, database management, and e-commerce security.
· Managerial options for
those who hold technical associate degrees (B.A.S.) The
B.A.S. is for advancement-minded professionals holding associate degrees in such technical
fields as office administration, electronics, paralegal, computer technology, and many
others.
· Teacher Education (B.A.) Clayton State University prepares graduates for certification in the
middle grades (4 – 8).
· Music (B.M.) Clayton State University offers music major programs in performance
and composition. (A B.A. in music for more
general interests is under development.)
· Other fields (A.A. and A.S.) Students can start at Clayton State and take the
first two years of many other baccalaureate programs including teacher education other
than middle grades, liberal arts disciplines such as communications, and science and
math-related disciplines such as chemistry and engineering.
These
baccalaureate degree programs are designed to develop graduates who have the abilities and
knowledge essential to successful career performance.
The University provides career guidance services and strongly encourages students
to acquire work experiences before graduation.
Clayton State University also offers its students a variety of career associate degree and certificate programs.
Students
admitted to the University are eligible to accelerate their studies through examination
and by experience. Advanced high school
students are encouraged to begin their first year of college work while completing high
school through the Freshman Scholar Program.
In
addition, the University offers a Learning Support Program for students whose academic
records indicate that they are not yet prepared to do college-level work and for students
returning to an academic atmosphere who require a review of basic academic skills.
Clayton State University has a demonstrated commitment of service to its community
and region—particularly the Southern Crescent of metropolitan Atlanta. Bringing educational opportunities to the citizens
and businesses of the Southern Crescent to contribute to the region’s future
development is central to the University’s mission and aspirations.
As
Georgia’s only university that also houses a regional technical institute, Clayton
State is a unique institution. This status
enables the University to serve as a practical bridge between Georgia’s two systems
of post-secondary education and between the liberal arts and specialized career/vocational
education.
Clayton State University’s core mission is to provide superior career-oriented
studies that will prepare students to succeed in the world of work in the 21st Century
and to provide services and continuing education that will assist the Southern Crescent
and the state in improving the quality of life for residents. In approaching this mission, the University
incorporates five common elements in all of its programs and services:
As
a senior institution of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State shares
characteristics with all of its sister institutions and with the state universities in
particular. The portions of the mission
common to Board of Regents institutions in the state university sector are indicated in
the italicized portion of each bullet. Clayton State University's
unique characteristics and its five common thematic elements are reflected below in the
regular print portion of each bullet:
·
A supportive
campus climate, necessary services, and leadership and development opportunities, all to
educate the whole person and meet the needs of students, faculty and staff.
Clayton State particularly values ethnic and racial diversity. The University has the highest percentage of
minority enrollment of any institution in the University System of Georgia except for the
historically black universities and is experiencing growth in its international student
population. Clayton State University is committed to highlighting global contexts throughout its programs and
services.
Clayton
State is dedicated to placing a major emphasis on technologically advanced access to
information and to ensuring that all students acquire a working familiarity with the
uses, limitations, and ethical implications of modern informational technology.
A
pioneer in cooperation with the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education,
Clayton State has advanced this relationship to the baccalaureate level through the
Bachelor of Applied Science degree program. The
University has also been a leader in building partnerships with local school systems to
train teachers and to raise the educational aspirations of school children. An emphasis on community-based experiential
learning strengthens the connection between formal education and life.
Given
the proximity of Hartsfield International Airport and the rapid development of the
Interstate 75 corridor, the region is poised on the threshold of dramatic change. Clayton State has a special role to play in
helping to ensure that the economic and cultural development of its region keeps pace with
other areas of metropolitan Atlanta. The
internationally acclaimed Spivey Hall concert facility and the support provided by the
Spivey Foundation positions the University for national excellence in music education.
· A high-quality general education program supporting a variety of disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and professional academic programming at the baccalaureate level, with selected master’s and educational specialist degrees, and selected associate degree programs based on area need and/or institutional collaborations.
Defining general education outcomes and explicitly focusing curricula to
achieve them has been a hallmark of Clayton State, and the University aspires to continued
leadership in this domain. At Clayton State,
students will find career-oriented education with a solid liberal arts foundation. Associate and baccalaureate majors, including
integrated and interdisciplinary programming, focus on clearly defined student learning
outcomes. Graduate programming will be
undertaken by the University in collaboration with other institutions as community needs
dictate.
·
A commitment to
public service, continuing education, technical assistance, and economic development
activities that address the needs, improve the quality of life, and raise the educational
level within the University’s scope of influence.
Clayton State University provides a strong resource for the Southern Crescent in
these areas through its varied educational programming.
The University’s continuing education and community services program is one
of the state’s largest and provides direct educational and technical support to the
economic development of the communities served. In
addition, Spivey Hall’s outreach programs serve the cultural needs of the community
and develop future audiences.
·
A commitment to
scholarly and creative work to enhance instructional effectiveness and to encourage
faculty scholarly pursuits, and a commitment to applied research in selected areas of
institutional strength and area need.
The University is committed to a continuing investment in its faculty
development program, which is specifically designed to enhance areas such as the use of
instructional technology and applied research to benefit the campus and community.
Clayton State University is a unit of the University System of Georgia; therefore,
credits earned within College Transfer Programs at the University are accepted by all
other units of the University System.
Clayton State University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097:
Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award the associate degree and the baccalaureate degree.
The
University also is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the Georgia Board
of Nursing, and the National League for Nursing.
The
University’s teacher preparation program is approved by the Georgia Professional
Standards Commission and is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of
Teacher Education.
The
University has been approved for the following state and federal programs:
Veterans Administration
Benefits
Federal College Work
Study Program
Regents’ Scholarships
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Nursing Loans
Georgia Vocational
Rehabilitation Grants
Federal Guaranteed
Student Loans
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grants
Georgia Student
Incentive Grants
Postsecondary Option
Program
HOPE Grant
Membership
in the Clayton State University Alumni Association is open to all former
students of the institution. Faculty, staff,
current students, and other friends of the University are also invited to participate in
many activities of the Alumni Association.
The
Alumni Association provides opportunities for former students to be of service to and
involved with the University in several ways. The
alumni organization schedules various on- and off-campus events throughout the year.
For
more information about Alumni Association membership and programs, please call the Office
of Alumni Relations at 770-961-3580, or go to www.clayton.edu.
Nestled lakeside on the campus of Clayton State University is Spivey Hall, an elegant world-class 400-seat concert hall with incomparable acoustics. Presenting renowned musicians through superior classical and jazz music series as well as a series of student performances and community ensembles has earned Spivey Hall widespread recognition from artists, media, and audiences, both nationally and internationally.
Spivey Hall is also the primary performance space for the Clayton State University Music Department, which presents an extensive series of student and faculty recitals, musical theatre productions, and opera.
National Public Radio’s "Performance Today" broadcasts more concerts recordings from Spivey Hall than any other hall in America. Superb acoustics have also made Spivey Hall the choice location for full-scale recording projects by major artists in the classical music genre. Dedicated in May 1992, Spivey Hall’s 79-rank Albert Schweitzer Memorial Organ with its tasteful, yet ornate casework is the focal point of this hall. The 2001-2002 season marks the ten year celebration of the Ruffatti organ.
In addition, to Spivey Hall's extensive concert-series, the Spivey Hall Education Committee’s award-winning education programs serve metropolitan Atlanta area schools. This collaboration between a performance venue and numerous area school systems has produced the Student Concert Series, Spivey Hall Children’s Choir, Master Classes, Spivey Hall Choral Workshop and Chamber Orchestra Worship, and Teacher Staff Development Programs.
Continuing
Education and Community Outreach is housed in the three-story, 48,000-square-foot Harry S.
Downs Center for Continuing Education on the picturesque southwest bank of the
University's 12-acre lake. This facility supports the Continuing Education Program with a
number of features that benefit area businesses and industries. These include
state-of-the-art computer labs, seminar rooms, a large multi-purpose room, and a specially
designed conference room where area businesses can hold board meetings. This facility also
contains a three-story atrium for dining and receptions and a full-service kitchen.
The
staff in Continuing Education are always eager to discuss with individuals or community
groups some of the special educational and cultural needs which may be met through the
resources of Clayton State University, through the resources of another
institution, through the University System or Georgia, or through institutional
cooperation. More than 18,000 persons
participate in continuing education courses offered through Continuing Education and
Community Outreach annually.
For
information about enrolling in Continuing Education courses and activities, please do one
of the following:
· visit the Harry S. Downs Continuing
Education Center on the main campus of Clayton State University in Morrow,
· see the Clayton State University Continuing Education
newsletter which is mailed several times each year to thousands of metro area homes,
· go to the Clayton State University homepage, www.clayton.edu, and
click on "Continuing Education", and/or
· call 770-961-3550.