Georgia Highlands College will close its Douglas County campus at the end of the spring semester, citing an enrollment decline that has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The college has worked out a partnership with the University of West Georgia for students interested in continuing their studies and completing their degrees at its campus in Douglasville. The two campuses are about 7 miles from each other and officials from both schools said they offer many similar courses.
“It’s important for our students to know that we are going to take care of them,” Georgia Highlands College interim President Dana Nichols said in a joint interview with West Georgia’s president, Brendan Kelly.
Enrollment at the Douglas County campus has declined significantly in recent years. At its peak a few years ago, there were about 500 students on that campus. About 130 students are currently enrolled there this semester. The campus opened in 2010.
The college’s total enrollment declined last year from nearly 6,200 to less than 5,700 students, state data shows. Georgia Highlands has campuses in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta and Dallas, and Nichols said “while we did see some decline on all of our campuses, for one reason or another it seemed to really hit Douglas the hardest.”
Nichols said there are no plans to close or reduce services at the other campuses nor eliminate any faculty positions.
Kelly believes the university is poised to serve those students as the school grows its presence in Douglasville. West Georgia, which has more than 13,000 students, is reviewing what additional services it may have to add. Kelly said the university will have sessions with prospective students to determine their academic future at West Georgia.
“We want to make sure they maximize the credits they’re earning in the courses that they’re taking towards the goal of graduation,” he said.
