University of North Georgia: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of North Georgia (UNG) stands as a public senior military university with a rich history and a commitment to developing leaders for a diverse and global society. With the motto "Truth and Wisdom," UNG is dedicated to providing a culture of academic excellence in a student-focused environment. This article provides an overview of UNG, covering its history, campuses, academics, student life, traditions, and more.

Historical Background

UNG was officially established on January 8, 2013, through the consolidation of North Georgia College & State University (founded in 1873) and Gainesville State College (founded in 1964). This merger created a comprehensive institution with a broad range of academic programs and a strong regional presence.

North Georgia College & State University

North Georgia College & State University began its journey in 1873 as North Georgia Agricultural College, an offsite branch of the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Mechanical. The establishment was made possible through funds from the Morrill Act. Congressman William Pierce Price played a crucial role in persuading UGA officials to establish this branch in Dahlonega, his birthplace and home. The college was housed in the former Dahlonega Mint building, which had been shut down during the Civil War.

In 1876, the college gained the power to grant degrees, and the first graduating class received their degrees in 1879. While a military presence was always part of the college due to land-grant schools being required to teach military tactics, it was the National Defense Act of 1916 that truly solidified the military programs through the creation of the ROTC.

The institution's name evolved over time, becoming North Georgia College in 1929 when the "Agricultural" designation was dropped. By 1932, it was reduced to a two-year junior college. World War II brought a decline in enrollment as male students joined the war effort. However, the establishment of an Army Specialized Training Program at the college to train junior officers helped to reverse this trend. After the war, the college experienced significant growth as servicemen and veterans used their GI bill benefits to pursue education. By 1946, it was reinstated as a four-year college.

Gainesville State College

Gainesville Junior College was founded in Oakwood, Georgia, in 1964 and began holding classes in 1966. Initially a two-year college with an open-access mission, it accepted all applicants with a high school diploma. Over time, the school expanded, opening branch campuses in Watkinsville and Cumming. The Cumming campus was a joint venture with North Georgia College and State University, called University Center 400, which opened in August 2012 and was renamed Cumming Campus in January 2013 upon consolidation. Gainesville Junior College eventually became Gainesville College and then Gainesville State College.

Campuses

The University of North Georgia operates across five campuses: Dahlonega, Oakwood (Gainesville), Watkinsville (Oconee), Cumming, and Blue Ridge. Each campus offers unique features and caters to different academic and community needs.

Dahlonega Campus

The Dahlonega campus, formerly the site of North Georgia College & State University, is home to the oldest surviving structure, Price Memorial Hall, constructed in 1879 on the former site of the Dahlonega Mint. The gold-leafed steeple of Price Memorial Hall remains a striking feature of the UNG skyline. The campus is largely developed around the William J. Livsey Drill Field, commonly known as "the Drill Field."

Gainesville Campus

The Gainesville campus, formerly Gainesville State College, is located within the city limits of Oakwood. While it retains its association with "Gainesville," it does not have on-campus dormitories. However, student-friendly apartments and townhomes are available adjacent to the campus. The oldest degree program on the Gainesville campus is the Environmental Spatial Analysis (B.S.) degree in the Institute for Environmental & Spatial Analysis.

Cumming Campus

An academic facility in Cumming, GA, was opened on GA 400 in 2012. The campus was originally established in 2003 as part of Gainesville State College.

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Oconee Campus

The Oconee campus is a non-residential campus primarily serving students in the Athens and Watkinsville area.

Blue Ridge Campus

The Blue Ridge campus is UNG's newest location, expanding the university's reach into the northern part of Georgia.

Academics

UNG offers a wide array of academic programs, with 129 associate and baccalaureate degrees, as well as pre-professional and certificate programs for undergraduates. For graduate students, the university provides thirteen master's degree programs and one doctoral program.

As a state-designated leadership institution, UNG is the only university in Georgia to offer a minor in leadership. The school is also a flagship ROTC Center in Chinese, aimed at helping cadets become proficient in Chinese language and culture.

The Dahlonega campus focuses on baccalaureate and graduate programs and is the only campus that offers pre-professional programs. The Gainesville Campus offers a smaller number of baccalaureate programs, mostly in education or business, while associate degrees are available at both the Gainesville and Oconee campuses.

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UNG's Distance Education & Technology Integration (DETI) program is staffed by sixteen members across Administration, Student Success, Instructional Design, and Technology Integration departments, along with numerous professors who teach the classes.

UNG also provides professional and continuing education courses, including leadership development, photography classes, computer training, English and foreign language classes, travel, and industry certifications. These courses are designed to support job growth and recruitment for individuals and businesses. Courses are available at all UNG campuses for a fee, and thousands of online classes are also available.

Student Life

Student life at UNG varies between campuses, particularly between the Dahlonega and Gainesville campuses, due to differences in student housing accommodations. Out of the 7,541 undergraduate students attending the Dahlonega campus, 36% live in college-owned housing. Approximately 32% of students at the Gainesville and Oconee campuses are from the counties in which the campus is located (Hall and Oconee counties).

UNG has numerous clubs and organizations on the Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee campuses. As of 2019, 5% of men undergraduate students and 10% of women undergraduate students are active members of fraternities and sororities. The Greek community is governed by the Interfraternity Council (males), the Panhellenic Council (females), and the Unified Greek Council (gender inclusive).

Traditions

UNG has several notable traditions that contribute to its unique identity:

The North Georgia Arch: Located at the campus entrance near Dahlonega's town square, the Arch was built by the Class of 1951 to commemorate classmates who died in the Korean War. Freshmen are traditionally not to walk through the larger archway.
The Drill Field: Located in the heart of the Dahlonega campus, the Drill Field is the parade ground for the UNG Corps of Cadets and is used for drills and ceremonies. It is also used for recreational activities, though the activities of the Corps take precedence.
Memorial Wall: Located in front of the Memorial Hall Gymnasium, the wall was built in 1983 to honor UNG students and alumni who died while in military service.
Retreat Triangle: Located near the Drill Field, Student Center South, and Dunlap Hall.
Cannon: for more than 50 years. The cannon has been restored by the North Georgia Parents Association.

Global Engagement

UNG is committed to global engagement through various programs and initiatives:

International Student and Scholar Services: The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) assists international students, scholars, and faculty with transitioning to the United States.
Military International Programs: UNG partners with US Army Cadet Command to send Cadets from schools throughout the United States to a foreign country. This led to the creation of the Cadet English Language Training Team (CELTT), which arranges for cadets to assist in teaching English to foreign military counterparts.
Federal Service Language Academy (FSLA): The FSLA is a summer program for high school students interested in federal service careers and strategic foreign languages. Students can study Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, Korean, German, or Portuguese and hear from speakers from agencies such as the DEA, FBI, State Department, and Peace Corps.
International Partnerships: The Center for Global Engagement has established relationships with a growing number of universities worldwide.

Student Housing

The Dahlonega campus offers six residence halls: Donovan Hall, Lewis Hall, Lewis Annex, North Georgia Suites, The Commons, and Owen Hall. These halls offer a variety of housing styles, including traditional double-occupancy rooms, suite-style rooms, and apartment-style rooms.

Students may live off-campus if they commute daily from the legal residence of parents or grandparents within fifty miles of campus, if they are married or divorced, if they are 21 years of age or older, or if they have completed 60 credit hours.

Military Programs

The Army ROTC program has been active on the Dahlonega campus since 1916 and began giving its graduates commissions in the Army or Army Reserve shortly after World War II.

The Blue Ridge Rifles drill platoon unit was formed at North Georgia College in 1950 as the Honor Platoon, and took the name Blue Ridge Rifles in 1958. In 1971, the Blue Ridge Rifles won first place in the East Tennessee State University Drill Meet.

The Golden Eagle Band, formed as a component of the Corps in 1873, is the university's sole marching band. It performs at UNG Corps of Cadets functions and represents the Corps in parades. Every spring, the band tours the Southeastern United States.

Athletics

The North Georgia (UNG) athletic teams are known as the Nighthawks. UNG is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) since the 2005â06 academic year. Its rifle team competes in the Southern Conference (SoCon) in the NCAA Division I ranks.

Rankings and Recognition

University of North Georgia is a public institution that was founded in 1873. In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of North Georgia is ranked No. #49 in Regional Universities South. It's also ranked No. #18 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

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