Chapter 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
Clayton State University’s core mission is to
prepare students to succeed in the
workplace 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 2001 the University enrolled 4,675 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:
· Communication and Media Studies (B.A.) Clayton State’s
newest program provides students with a theoretical understanding of
communication and with practical skills in professional writing and speaking.
· Psychology and
Human Services (B.S.) This program prepares 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.D.H., 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.
· Applied Biology
(B.S.) The Applied Biology major covers several biology careers and also
provides pre-professional preparation in medicine, dentistry, veterinary
medicine, and physical therapy.
· 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.A. and
B.M.) Clayton State offers a
B.A. in music for more general interests and a B.M. with major programs in
performance and composition.
· 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.
<<Back to Top
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:
· developing effective communication including broad and technologically sophisticated access to information
· recognizing and responding to the increasingly global context of contemporary life
· promoting community-based, experiential learning to create durable and meaningful connections between education and all other aspects of life
· focusing on continuous education and growth as a result of ongoing assessment of learning
· understanding and developing a facility with the power and limitations of modern technology.
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.
As a
metropolitan institution, Clayton State provides an array of student services
designed to meet the varied needs of students of differing ages and
interests. Opportunities for leadership
development are provided through an honors program, a wide range of student
organizations, and an active Student Government Association. Cultural and educational enhancements are
offered to students and the community through the widely recognized Lyceum and
Spivey Hall programming.
· Cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in the
faculty, staff, and student body,
supported by practices and programs that
embody the ideals of an open, democratic, and global
society.
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.
· Technology to advance educational purposes, including
instructional technology, student support services, and distance education.
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.
· Collaborative relationships with other University
System institutions, state agencies, local schools and technical institutes,
and business and industry, sharing physical, human, information, and other
resources to expand and enhance programs and services available to the citizens
of Georgia.
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.
· A commitment to excellence and responsiveness within a
scope of influence defined by the needs of an area of the state, and by
particularly outstanding programs or distinctive characteristics that have a
magnet effect throughout the region or state.
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 commitment to a teaching/learning environment, both
inside and outside the classroom, that sustains instructional excellence,
serves a diverse and college-prepared student body, promotes high levels of
student achievement, offers academic assistance, and provides developmental
studies programs for a limited student cohort.
As a
community-based institution, Clayton State is committed to serving young
learners and life-long learners alike.
Flexible hours, multiple instructional sites, and distance learning
promote access within the context of admission standards that promote
excellence. A leader in the assessment
of student learning outcomes, Clayton State uses individual assessment results
for placement and feedback and draws on aggregate results to inform program
improvement.
· 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
<<Back to Top
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.
<<Back to Top
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 Schwietzer Memorial Organ with its tasteful, yet ornate
casework is the focal point of this hall.
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.
<<Back to Top
Clayton State University is dedicated to serving the educational and cultural needs of
Atlanta’s Southern Crescent. As an institution of the University System of
Georgia, the University shares with its sister institutions the philosophy that
such service extends beyond purely academic offerings to the special
educational and cultural needs of the community itself, especially through
continuing education for adults. It is the mission of Continuing Education and
Community Outreach to provide for adults high-quality learning experiences
which are affordable and accessible. Through the educational resources of the
University, Continuing Education and Community Outreach works with community
organizations and area businesses to foster economic development and improve
the quality of life. Clayton State University contributes most significantly to economic growth by
educating the area’s work force. The
University has demonstrated this commitment by training Georgia workers from
more than 1,000 companies, both large and small, during the past four years.
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.
<<Back to Top