The word of

the week at Georgia Military College in Union City is reason. Students

and faculty at the community college are challenged to use the word as

often as possible in their lessons and papers. Little, fun ideas like

having a word of the week may be one of the reasons the GMC is the second

fastest growing junior college in the state of Georgia.

Another reason

for the school's success may be the relationship the college enjoys with

Union City. Close to three years ago Jim Price, director of GMC Atlanta

Campuses, approached Mayor Ralph Moore and the City Council regarding

the possibility of utilizing empty space in the old Union City Elementary

School for college classes.

The main GMC

campus is in Milledgeville; Price had been charged with running the Ft.

McPherson location and had initiated a program of expansion and community

involvement in the metro Atlanta area.

Coincidentally,

City Administrator Sonya Carter, Moore and the council had already discussed

the possibility of extending an offer to GMC. The recreation and police

departments were in the school at the time, but the Police Department

was moving into its own new building and space was available.

Things moved

fast once the two parties started talking and, with the approval of the

City Council, GMC opened its doors for students within a few short months.

"We were

looking to partner with communities to expand educational opportunities.

That is really the major way we have of keeping our programs affordable

and convenient to the community," said Price. "The Union City

leadership was quick to demonstrate it means what is says when it describes

itself as 'The Progressive City.' They acted on the partnership initiative

quickly."

Union City

provided the facility rent-free to the college with the joint understanding

that at some point in the future it would be more self-sustaining. GMC

pays utilities and maintenance for its portion of the building and has

also contributed over $50,000 for building improvements.

The college

occupies approximately 30 percent of what is now the Community Activities

Center for Union City. The Department of Recreation currently occupies

the remainder of the facility.

The relationship

the college enjoys with the city may be unique, according to Price. An

additional partnership with the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce and East

Point may make the relationship the college has with the local community

truly unique.

"Working

with East Point Mayor Patsy Jo Hilliard and the South Fulton Chamber,

we are able to provide students graduating this year their first quarter

of college tuition-free," Price stated.

Graduating

students, and those who obtain a GED during the same relative timeframe,

are eligible. They must attend fulltime and start GMC in the fall quarter.

The community

college has over 200 traditional and nontraditional students from all

walks of life attending day, evening and weekend courses.

Students from

Fulton, Fayette, Coweta, Clayton and other metro Atlanta counties take

advantage of the conveniently scheduled classes. GMC has the capacity

to handle up to 400 students in its current location.

Although the

word "military" is included part of the school's name, the school

is a traditional community college.

"It is

a significant advantage to be associated with the military; however, it

can be confusing for students. There are no military obligations for students,

we area a traditional civilian community college," said Price. "We

do however, have an exceptionally strong character program we believe

strongly in the adage, 'We do not lie, cheat or steal or tolerate anyone

who does.'"

The college

does not offer any military courses.

Low tuition

and high academic standards are two other reasons the school has become

a popular alternative for students seeking an Associate Degree.

"The partnership

with Union City is one factor that enables us to have an academic program

that will transfer to any four-year college while keeping the cost exceedingly

affordable," said Price.

Tuition for

Georgia residents attending fulltime, with grants, is only $377 a quarter.

Students qualifying for the HOPE Scholarship attend tuition free. Associate

Degree programs include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early

Childhood Education, Education, General Studies and Pre-Nursing. The college

is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association

of Colleges and Schools.

"We are

attempting to be as user-friendly as possible but I don't want any student,

or anyone, to ever confuse convenience and easy," Price stated emphatically.

"There is a lot of hard work involved in getting a college degree."

GMC also works

closely with local law enforcement, catering class times and dates to

accommodate the rotating schedules of police and other public servants.

GMC has partnered with the Atlanta Police Academy to offer courses on

location at the Academy. Currently 23 are enrolled for the fall quarter.

In October,

the Department of Recreation is slated to move into a new community center

being built next to Mayor's Park in the city. Union City and GMC are discussing

the option of the college taking over the remainder of the building once

the Rec. Dept. departs.

"We are

looking at it strongly right now, although it is early in the process.

Union City has shown they are very committed to GMC, we have been treated

like a true partner in the community," said Price. "Our assessment

of the community tells us that more students are out there; the problem

is getting the word out."

He continued,

"As people realize we're here, and open to everyone, that capacity

will fill up quickly."

GMC is also

exploring the idea, with the City, of developing a university center at

the current location. Price is in discussions with four-year colleges

and colleges offering Masters Degree programs. He noted the talks were

in the "very, very early stages."