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Forward from the President

That simple truth lies at the heart of this Campus Master Plan for our Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses – two critical campuses within our Power of Five. From the very beginning in 1873, the University of North Georgia – The Military College of Georgia has always been defined not just by where we are, but by who we are becoming — a community of learners, leaders, and servants who translate purpose into action and service into impact.

This plan is more than a blueprint for new construction. It is a roadmap for transformation and growth, aligning our physical spaces with the mission and momentum that define ÌìÃÀÉçÇø today, and more importantly, the ÌìÃÀÉçÇø of tomorrow – a university destined to be the most innovative, dynamic, legacy-making university in America.  This plan envisions campuses that reflect our enduring values of excellence, integrity, engagement, and service, while preparing us for the opportunities and responsibilities of the decades ahead.

Across our Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses, this plan provides a vision for how we will:

• Preserve the historic character that anchors our identity;
• Expand capacity for innovation in leadership, STEM, health sciences, education, business, national security, and the arts;
• Continue to deliver on our sacred role as guardians of America’s Corps;
• Build an unparalleled engagement platform through Nighthawk Athletics;
• Strengthen connections between campus and community through our belief that the community is our classroom; and
• Create environments that inspire students, faculty, and staff to lead with courage, skill, and resolve.

These are not just facilities — they are foundations for purpose. Every classroom, lab, residence hall, and open space we build represents an investment in people: in the students who will discover their calling here, in the faculty and staff who guide them, and in the communities, we serve across Georgia and America.

As we move Bold Forward, this plan ensures that our built environment will continue to shape the leaders who shape our world. It honors the legacy of those who came before us and sets the stage for generations yet to come — leaders of character, ready to serve others and to face what comes next.

Thank you to the many faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders, and partners who contributed their ideas, insights, and creativity to this planning process. Together, we are building more than campuses — we are building the future of the University of North Georgia and the ‘place’ that delivers a university that doesn’t exist.

Bold Forward!

Michael P. Shannon, Ph.D.
President, University of North Georgia – The Military College of Georgia