Clayton State Celebrates 40th Anniversary on Sept. 30

Clayton State University first opened its doors to students on Sept. 30, 1969. Richard Nixon was in the White House. The Braves were in first place. And Dr. Harry S. Downs was in the president’s office of the newest unit of the University System of Georgia USG).

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of that historic occasion, Clayton State faculty, staff and students will gather in the University quad on Wednesday, Sept. 30 for the annual Hot Dog Rally of the Faculty/Staff Fund Drive.

The Hot Dog Rally, featuring hot dogs, chips and drinks for all plus music, Clayton State trivia and door prizes, will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. behind the James M. Baker Center.

The Annual Faculty/Staff Fund Drive, this year entitled “Give a Little, Get a Latte,” began on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, and will run through Oct. 9, 2009.

Clayton State has a tradition of extraordinary support for the work of the University through thoughtful giving. As has been the case over the years, nearly 100 percent of the faculty and staff participate in the annual Faculty/Staff Fund Drive. This outstanding accomplishment sends a powerful message — that the faculty and staff believe in Clayton State and support its mission of student, faculty and staff learning.

Clayton Junior College first welcomed 942 students in 1969. Since Downs opened Clayton State as a junior college, there have been two more presidents, two interim presidents, and three name changes. Four-year status – as Clayton State College – was granted by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 1986, and University status – as Clayton College & State University – in 1996. The present name was adopted in May 2005.

When Downs retired in January 1994, Dr. Richard A. Skinner became president. When Skinner left in July 1999 to head up the USG’s Georgia GLOBE initiative, Michael F. Vollmer stepped in as interim president for a year, after which Dr. Thomas K. Harden served as the University’s third president from July 2000 to June 2009. After Harden was appointed chancellor of the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, Dr. Thomas J. “Tim” Hynes, Jr., was named interim president, starting in May 2009. Hynes will preside at Wednesday’s event.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
---
Community News You Can Use
Follow us on Twitter: @gafrontpage
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
www.PoliticalPotluck.com
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
---