Page 7 - Laker Connection Fall 2009

fields as computers, avionics, electron- ics, and aviation maintenance.
No sooner had CJC opened in 1969 than students, faculty, and local residents began to ask when the Col- lege would “go four year.” After Kenne- saw began offering bachelor’s degrees in the fall of 1978, the pressure for Clay- ton to do the same for the south metro area intensified. Meanwhile, Georgia Southern and Valdosta State were pressing for university status. Worried about the potential costs of these and other possible institutional elevations, the Board of Regents conducted stud- ies until the mid 1980s. In 1985, thanks in part to Starr and Lee, the Board au- thorized four-year degrees and a new name – Clayton State College. At first, CSC’s baccalaureate degree programs
Studies eventually provided the step- ping stone for today’s wide-range of programs.
At the same time that Clayton State was making its transi-
tion to four-year status,
the College launched
another major initiative
-- the development of
an outcome-focused, assessment-based cur-
riculum. With a boost
from grant funding by
the Foundation for the
Improvement of Post-
Secondary Education,
CSC’s faculty became
a national leader in identifying specific learning outcomes and establishing cri- teria by which student achievement of these outcomes could be assessed in general education and major fields.
No one thing did more to enhance Clayton State’s visibility than the open- ing of Spivey Hall in 1991. The world- class recital hall was made possible by the generous contribution of dentist and real estate developer Walter Spivey and his musician wife Emilie. [See the article on Spivey Hall.] The establish- ment of intercollegiate athletics also raised Clayton State’s public visibility and helped create a campus identity for students. [See the article on athletics.]
Gradually, the School of Business added more majors and nursing in- troduced a basic licensure program
in addition to its RN completion degree program. Of particular in- terest to President Downs during
the years shortly before his retire- ment was the development of Clay- ton’s innovative field-based middle-level education program, which the faculty designed with assistance of a large grant from the Bell South Founda- tion. Downs was also a strong ad- vocate for continuing education programming and the building
Dental hygiene student Kitty Boe of Doraville poses at the site of the Classroom Building construction (The Atlanta Journal, June 27, 1973).
that now bears his name is testimony to that commitment.
In 1994 Downs retired after leading the College for its first 25 years. A hands-on, detail-oriented administrator, Downs liter- ally brought the campus up from the ground and walked the construction sites regularly to make sure that crews saved as many trees as possible. He also hired the original faculty and staff; presided over the transition to four- year status; launched athlet- ics; and, most importantly, laid the foundation for the future. [See
the article by Downs.]
In 1994, Rick Skinner set out to put
his mark on the institution. He intended to accelerate the development of new bachelor’s degree programs, expand enrollment, and acquire “university”
The Classroom Building, (now named the Arts & Sciences Building) was the seventh building constructed and opened in 1974. Founding president Dr. Harry S. Downs envisioned the building as a place to offer
career programs in art related fields. Arts & Sci-
ences now houses baccalaureate and
graduate level courses focused on preparing
graduates not only for the workplace, but also for entering graduate level programming.
FALL 2009 3
Clayton State College: From 1986 to 1996
were confined to business and nursing. The development of the multi-discipli- nary bachelor’s degree in Integrative
Clayton State Boulevard, the main thoroughfare into campus, opened on August 16, 1993. While the original campus en- trance from Harper Drive caused poor traffic ac- cess, the new entrance created a direct route from Jonesboro Road to the center of campus.
BUILDING A FUTURE
PAVING THE WAY