Page 22 - Laker Connection Fall 2013

CampusUpdate
Georgia Legislature Approves
Funding for Science Building
A project a decade in the making, and one that will help make generations of Clayton State University students’ dreams real, came one step closer to fulfillment when the Georgia General Assembly approved the state’s FY 2014 budget for the University System of Georgia, a budget that included approval of the bonds needed to fund a $19.8 million science building for Clayton State University.
Additional labs and classroom space for the natural sciences have been a need for Clayton State since the University has expanded from 4,675 students in 2001 to more than 7000 students currently. Indeed, given the science course and lab requirements in the core curriculum, the lack of a dedicated science building has limited the University’s enrollment, in effect limiting the number of students who can make their dreams real.
In addition to meeting the needs of the University, the new science building will also help the University meet critical needs in several fields in Atlanta’s Southern Cres- cent; notably in nursing, healthcare managers for Southern Crescent medical facilities, science educators, and entrepreneurs in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines.
“Governor Deal and his staff deserve the credit for their efforts and leadership to include the building in the FY14 budget,” says Clayton State President Dr. Thomas Hynes. “It was truly a bipartisan effort in both chambers that secured funding.”
Clayton State Launches
New Minor in Corporate Communication
The Department of Visual and Performing Arts new program in corporate communi- cation officially began this fall semester. The new minor offers courses in areas includ- ing advertising, public relations, and crisis communication.
Offered by the Communication and Media Studies Program, the minor in corporate communication will offer a total of seven new courses, including introduction to public relations, introduction to advertising, principles of project management, crisis and change communication, digital imaging, media industries, and communication tech- nologies.
Chinnan Community
Endowment
As a result of their
commitment to the
international per-
spective and higher
education, and in
recognition of the
importance of be-
coming leaders in
both the global and
local communities,
Lata and Manjeet
Chinnan have created the Chinnan Family Community Endowment at Clayton State Uni- versity. In addition to this generous commit- ment, the Chinnans have also pledged to match any gift made to this endowment up to $125,000... essentially doubling all gifts made to support the endowment to a level of a quar- ter of a million dollars.
Like Clayton State, the Chinnans have a commitment to the global and local communi- ties. With a lifelong international perspective, the Chinnans value the richness of experience gained from a global experience. As a long- time business leader in Clayton County, Lata Chinnan also understands the importance of engaging in your community and recognizes the power that coming together as a commu- nity can have to accomplish great things. Pro- fessor Manjeet Chinnan brings an educational perspective having worked in academia his en- tire career. For him, the community engage- ment also brings the opportunity for professional development for faculty, staff, and students.
Once established, the endowment will provide scholarships for Clayton State students who have an interest in being exposed to a global perspective through study abroad pro- grams. It will also allow scholars from India to enrich their educational or professional expe- rience at Clayton State. The endowment will also allow opportunities for faculty and staff to benefit from Rotary membership and programs such as Leadership Clayton.
.
Manjeet and Lata Chinnan
20 THE LAKER CONNECTION