Georgia College history

1892In 1892, chemistry professor and alumnus Charles Herty organized and coached UGA’s first intercollegiate football team.

1918In 1918, UGA admitted women as students for the first time.

As area gold mining resources were depleted and agricultural education was assumed by other state institutions, the mission of North Georgia Agricultural College evolved into one emphasizing arts and sciences and was renamed as North Georgia College in the summer of 1929.

Along with these changes, the college changed its name for the first time to Georgia State College for Women (GSCW). In 1932, the college became part of the University System of Georgia.

1942In 1942, UGA won its first footbal national championship , although the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes both claimed titles this year.

In an effort to increase enrollment, the college began its first graduate program in 1959 when the Master of Education degree was offered to students.

1961In 1961, Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes enrolled as the first African American students at UGA. Mary Frances Early soon joined them when she enrolled as the university’s first African American graduate student and became the first to receive a UGA degree.

Founded originally as Gainesville Junior College in March 1964, the college was the result of visionary community leaders who sought to fill a need for accessible, quality higher education for Northeast Georgians.

In 1966, Gainesville Junior College moved to its permanent campus.

However, in 1967, the University System Chancellor announced that the college would begin admitting male students, and the name was changed again to Georgia College at Milledgeville.

In August 1996, the Board of Regents approved a change of name to Georgia College & State University, and a new mission as Georgia's Public Liberal Arts University.

In 1998, the college adopted a new logo that replaced the anchor previously used to represent the college with a symbolic bell tower that greeted students as they entered campus.

In 2003, the college expanded to include the Oconee Campus in Watkinsville, Ga., where enrollment grew quickly.

In 2005, the institution's name changed to Gainesville State College, reflecting the growth of four-year degree programs within the college.

2008 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

2011 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

In August 2015, UNG opened an additional campus in Blue Ridge, Georgia, to serve students in the northernmost region of the state.

One of UGA’s newest traditions, ‘Light up Sanford’ began in the 2016 football season.