HISTORICAL TIMELINE

1970. The College was established Regents of the University System of Georgia with an agreement between through the authorization of the Board of the local community and the Board.

1971. Decatur County residents approved a $2 million bond issue to finance the College's construction.

1972. The founding president, Dr. Edward D. Mobley, was appointed. Construction of the first five buildings began.

1973. Bainbridge College opened its doors to a charter class of 217 students. Two major academic units, a Division of Vocational/Technical Education and Department of Developmental Studies, were added later to the College.

1974. The College held its first formal Graduation. A total of 42 degrees and certificates were conferred.

1975. Original accreditation was received from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

1978. Construction began on a $1.6 million Vocational/Technical facility which now houses ten vocational programs.

1980. The College occupied the newly completed Vocational/Technical facility.

1984. The Continuing Education Department was relocated to the remodeled Physical Education Building, now called the Continuing Education Center, and the Department began offering upper division and graduate programs in cooperation with Valdosta State University and Albany State University.

1987. The Board of Regents removed the word "Junior" from the names of all two-year colleges of the University System of Georgia

1988. The Board of Regents approved the waiver of out-of-state tuition for counties in other states which adjoin Georgia counties where University System of Georgia institutions are located.

1990. The Vocational/Technical Division was designated the Division of Technical Studies in recognition of the growing complexity and sophistication of its course offerings, and reaffirmation of accreditation was granted.

1992. Fall quarter enrollment at the College increased to more than 1,000 students; additional new business, medical, service, and technology programs were added through a cooperative program with Thomas Technical Institute.

1993. Bainbridge College celebrated its twentieth year of service to southwest Georgia.

1994. The College converted a modular building, the Oak Center, into a new art studio and classroom and began refurbishing a second modular building, the Pine Center, for noncredit use. The College completed the installation of the fiber optics network to expand the opportunities of faculty, staff, and students to participate in a worldwide information exchange via the campus computer network.

1995. The College constructed a 2,000 square foot stage on campus for outdoor productions and renovated the old bookstore for Financial Aid Offices.

1996. The College erected a modular building to house the Southwest Georgia Youth Science and Technology Center to provide programs and resources which promote interest and enthusiasm in science, mathematics, and technology among elementary and middle school students and teachers.

1997. The College completed construction for the Maple Center, a new modular building, which houses two interactive distance learning classrooms and an office wing for technical support personnel; additional new business, medical, service, and technology programs were added through a cooperative program with Albany Technical Institute.

1998. In the Fall the University System of Georgia converted from the quarter to the semester system

1999. The Board of Regents and the University System of Georgia Chancellor Stephen Portch named Dr. Clifford Brock as the second president of Bainbridge College.

2000. BC raised $1.3 million toward the cost of the proposed River Regional Center.

2002. Groundbreaking for new Bookstore.

2003. Bainbridge College celebrates its 30 th anniversary.

2004. Bainbridge College is third in the state with the highest growth in semester credit hours among community colleges in Georgia.

2005. Veteran University System administrator Sherman R. Day became Interim President in February. Thomas A. Wilkerson was elected president at the May 2005 meeting of the Board of Regents. Dr. Wilkerson, a 30-year veteran of the University System, assumed office on July 1, 2005.