Article By: Clark Leonard
The Georgia General Assembly included $7 million in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for construction of the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Military Science Center, adding to $1.3 million in the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 Budget for design.
State Sen. Steve Gooch presented the UNG Foundation with a ceremonial $8.3 million check for the state funds, which supplement $5 million in private donations for the project, at the June 1 UNG Foundation Board of Trustees meeting.
Gooch praised Gov. Brian Kemp, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue and his legislative colleagues for supporting the state funding.
"As an alumnus and longtime supporter, I am proud to play a role in delivering this funding as the institution makes its first step to replace the current outdated and undersized military science facility," Gooch said. "I cannot understate the significance of the selfless giving by friends and alumni of the university totaling $5 million that matched this state funding to complete Phase 1 of this project."
The Military Science Center will provide modern, technology-enabled classrooms sufficient for teaching 850-1,000 cadets. It is the first of four planned facilities necessary to modernize and consolidate the support functions of UNG's Corps of Cadets.
I am excited for the first step in this transformational undertaking, as the final product will provide the Corps of Cadets the technology and supporting infrastructure to continue the world-class training of our state and nation's military leaders for generations to come.
State Sen. Steve Gooch
Senate majority leader and UNG alumnus
"We are grateful for this valuable support from Gov. Kemp, Sen. Gooch and the Georgia General Assembly in supporting us as we educate and prepare future military leaders," UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs said. "Their efforts will allow us to provide the best education possible for our cadets."
The construction project is driven by the growth of the Corps of Cadets over the years, projected growth to meet U.S. Army and Georgia Army National Guard officer commissioning requirements, and to continuously improve the military leadership development of UNG's cadets.
The project will improve the academic atmosphere and provide enhanced headquarters for the corps, bolstering the abilities of instructors to keep pace with evolving instructional methods.
"The UNG Military Science Center project will allow the cadets to expand their potential, now and for years to come," retired Col. Joseph Matthews, UNG commandant of cadets, said. "The vision for the updated facility includes space that will be on par with the caliber of leadership instruction this institution provides, flexibility to adapt to changing teaching pedagogies, increased student collaborative spaces, and proper classroom utilization for the robust education offerings UNG provides."
This new building will be a two-story, freestanding structure adjacent to the existing Pennington Military Leadership Center. At approximately 22,500 square feet, this facility will be composed primarily of academic space including classrooms, computer labs and offices. The academic space will include a large classroom that will accommodate 100 cadets. It is designed to be reconfigured to accommodate various events and auditorium-style presentations.
"I am excited for the first step in this transformational undertaking, as the final product will provide the Corps of Cadets the technology and supporting infrastructure to continue the world-class training of our state and nation's military leaders for generations to come," Gooch said.
