Truett-McConnell expands with $3.7 million gift
News February 21, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett-McConnell University (TMU), a private, Christian, coeducational liberal arts college, has continued its expansion at an accelerated pace, thanks to a $3.7 million gift from the Mildred Ruth Brown estate.
Approximately $1.7 million will be used to purchase two facilities at 529 Kytle Street and 49 Dixon Drive from the Cleveland Worship Center. TMU entered into a lease/purchase agreement to acquire the two facilities in 2016, but thanks to the Brown endowment, the school was able to complete the purchase a year earlier.
The balance (approximately $2 million) will be set aside as the lead gift for the new Brown Hall Academic Building. The new academic facility will be approximately 30,000-square feet and will house classrooms, lecture halls, a psychology lab, offices, tutoring rooms and study carousels.
TMU will officially begin fundraising efforts for the remaining portion of the $5 million Academic Building this summer.
Additionally, TMU purchased two of the remaining Heritage Condominiums, which are contiguous to TMU property. “This latest purchase brings the purchase of the Heritage Condominiums to completion,” stated Dr. Emir Caner, president of the university.
The Heritage Condominiums will now provide housing to 56 students, allowing for continued growth in both undergraduate and graduate student populations.
The expansion of TMU facilities is a continuation of the growth pattern that has occurred over the past ten years, including an increase from 461 students to over 2,600 undergraduate, graduate, online and dual-enrollment students. In addition, the university now offers 30 bachelor degree programs and five graduate degrees in the areas of biology, counseling, education, business and theology.
To learn more about degree programs at TMU or to support funding for the new Brown Hall Academic Building, visit truett.edu.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Busy agenda set for Monday’s BOC work session
News October 27, 2019
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Monday’s White County Board of Commissioners work session could be a lengthy one with 18 items — including eight zoning issue — on the agenda. The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Work sessions are for commissioners to discuss items they will vote on during regular voting sessions.
Five of the zoning requests are for the purpose of operating as short-term rental units. One proposed use is for operation of a wedding/tourism event center.
Commissioners also will address two requests for county property to be annexed into city limits. One of those is located at 1847 Hwy. 129 in Cleveland. The other is 52 Comer Circle (South Main Street) in Helen.
A representative from Truett McConnell University will appear before the Board to request a revenue bond issuance through the White County Development Authority.
2020 being an election year, commissioners will discuss the administration of next year’s elections.
Other items to be considered, include:
A surplus resolution for disposal of obsolete public safety equipment:
Bids received for two certificates of deposit currently held at United Community Bank;
Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget amendments;
2020 Board appointments to the Board of Assessors, Building Authority, Planning Commission, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Kemp Bus Tour stops at Truett McConnell Tuesday
News, Politics October 30, 2018
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp’s “Road to Victory” bus tour visited the campus of Truett McConnell University, a Christian liberal arts and sciences school in the foothills of the north Georgia mountains, Tuesday morning.
Following morning chapel service led by Anthony George, senior associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Atlanta, in the beautiful George Blaurock Student Wellness Center, Kemp briefly addressed students and staff and delivered a message of faith and hope.
The Republican candidate for governor said, “I know God has a plan for our family and I’m just here living It out. We’re going to know shortly what that plan is and we’re trusting in the Lord every single day. That is giving me a lot of peace in my heart. Its people of faith – in a lot of ways – this campaign is about.”
Kemp said he was encouraged to see how many young people are interested in the campaign.
“I’m optimistic that we see a lot of young people all over our state that are interested in who their leaders are going to be. They want good government. They want to have good opportunities and that’s why I’m running, so my kids and you all and your kids, one day, will have all the same opportunities that I have had.”
Many government heavy-hitters at both the state and local level were on hand to show their support for Kemp, who will face Democrat Stacey Abrams and Libertarian Ted Metz in next Tuesday’s election.
Governor Nathan Deal told attendees he is aware that politics has a bad rap but he said, “The truth of the matter is our great nation is based on the idea we are not just a democracy. We are a republic in which people have the right to elect their leaders. If those leaders do not reflect the moral values that our nation should have, our nation will not remain strong.”
Other leaders who visited with Kemp included, Congressman Doug Collins, State Senator Steve Gooch and White County commissioners Travis Turner, Terry Goodger and Edwin Nix.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. FYN attracts 300,000+ page views per month, 3.5 million impressions per month and approximately 15,000 viewers per week on FYNTV.com and up to 60,000 Facebook page reach. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
More school closings announced for today
News January 8, 2018
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Expected icy road conditions have led to more school closings today.
White County School Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson announced Sunday that schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, for students and staff due to the Winter Weather Advisory and threat of freezing rain. School will be closed for students and staff.
Lumpkin County schools will be closed Monday, Jan. 8, due to the threat of icy conditions. However, 12-month employees should report if it is safe to do so.
Dawson County schools will also be closed. However, 12-month staff should report when conditions are safe to do so.
Truett-McConnell University classes are delayed until 10 a.m. Monday.
All University of North Georgia campuses are delayed until 1 p.m. Monday
Watch for FYN updates throughout the day.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
County Officials Attend Sunday Briefing on Irma; Supt. Announces Schools Will Close Monday
News September 10, 2017
CLEVELAND, Ga. – A tropical storm watch is in effect for most of north Georgia, including White County for the next 48 hours.
The track of the storm shifted farther west Saturday evening but a noon briefing Sunday at the White County Emergency Operation Center indicated that the county is still very much under the gun and could receive up to seven inches of rain, sustained winds of 50 miles per hour and gusts up to 70 mph when tropical storm conditions begin arriving early Monday morning.
White County School Superintendent Jeff Wilson attended the meeting Sunday and, following a discussion with school superintendents from surrounding counties, announced that all White County public schools will be closed on Monday. A decision about Tuesday closing will be made early Monday morning.
Other area school closings include Lumpkin County, Habersham County, the University of North Georgia, Truett McConnell University and Piedmont College.
Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com
Gas Leak Forces Evacuation at Truett-McConnell
News September 7, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Students and faculty had to be evacuated today from the Merritt Building on the campus of Truett-McConnell University due to a natural gas leak in the science lab.
Units from the Cleveland Fire Department responded, shut of the gas and secured the building. Cleveland Fire Chief Ricky Pruitt said gas had been shut off in the building for about two years and the leak was detected when it was turned back on Wednesday.
Pruitt said fans were set up to assist ventilation in the building and there were no injuries.
State Senate Candidate Addresses White County Republicans
News August 16, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. – Annette Davis Jackson, the keynote speaker at Monday’s White County Republican Party meeting, discussed the importance of outreach, especially in the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking at the Nix Student Center on the Truett McConnell University campus, Nix, an African American Republican candidate for Georgia Senate District 55, encouraged Republicans to reach out to Hispanics, the African American community, millennials and disgruntled “Never Trump” Republicans to cultivate votes and help Donald Trumpdefeat Hillary Clinton in November.
“We’re fighting for the face of America.” Jackson said, adding that those groups have more common values than they may realize. “African Americans have been hoodwinked by the Democrat Party. Motivate them to get informed.”
Jackson said a strong outreach program would incorporate many forms of communication such as social media, face to face conversations and signage. She also encouraged Republicans to host a showing of the Dinesh D’Souza film “Hillary’s America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party.” The film defines the Democrat Party as a cynical, criminal enterprise intent on stealing America and Hillary Clinton as a career politician unremarkable in anything but her avarice.
White County Republicans discussed the possibility of showing the film at Freedom Park, White County High School or the Truett McConnell gymnasium.
Truett McConnell Nursing Program Receives Full Accreditation
News June 4, 2016
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Truett McConnell University’s (TMU) Division of Nursing has received full accreditation for its nursing program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Celeste Dunnington, RN, MSN, and Chair of TMU’s Division of Nursing said, “CCNE accreditation signifies our program is a nationally-accredited program, opens opportunities for our graduates, and affirms our mission here in the Division of Nursing.”
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, CCNE is a national accreditation agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency programs in nursing. CCNE also supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and nurse residency programs.
“This achievement has been a team effort and words cannot begin to express the Division of Nursing and my gratitude to all of those who have assisted,” Dunnington said.
“This national accreditation for our nursing program opens even more doors for even more students and evidences, again, the blessings of God on TMU,” said Dr. Brad Reynolds, TMU Vice President for Academic Services. “We are especially grateful for the countless hours our nursing faculty and staff put into this labor of love.”
In addition to the CCNE accreditation, the TMU Division of Nursing received a
grant which funded a new female simulation mannequin and will help furnish the future expansion of lab space. These advancements will provide excellent training and knowledge for students preparing to enter the nursing field.