Alpharetta Campus is popular for students interested in business and in Dual Enrollment, a program that allows high school students to attend college and high school simultaneously. Science-minded students also find a welcome home on Alpharetta Campus, where Perimeter College offers physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, upper-level math and computer science classes and labs. A multi-million-dollar wing of biology and chemistry labs on the campus is preparing students for work in the Alpharetta and north Fulton County growing science and technology industries.
“IT’S A VERY TIGHT-KNIT CAMPUS. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS APPROACHABLE, AND IT’S EASY TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE WELL. IT’S A SMALL FRIENDLY CAMPUS WHERE IT’S EASY TO MAKE A FRIEND AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH PROFESSORS.”
– LIAM JAGROWSKI, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Tech City Of The South
“Tech City of the South” — The number of technology firms in Alpharetta, Georgia’s fastest growing community, has grown exponentially over the past decade, with some calling it “The Technology City of the South,” as well as a great place for female-owned businesses. Forbes magazine even once named Alpharetta one of America’s “Best Places to Move.” No matter what the moniker, Alpharetta is bubbling over with progressive business activity.
Natural Wonders
Natural Wonders — Alpharetta isn’t only about business, the city also offers something for nature and outdoor enthusiasts. Vickery Creek is a 26.5-mile-long stream that courses part of its way through the Alpharetta area of Fulton County, with the creek mouth located at the Chattahoochee River. Nature is close to home for students attending Alpharetta Campus, where they have easy access to the Greenway Trail, which sits partly on the campus.
Students Connect To Business Community
Alpharetta Students Connect to Business Community — Perimeter’s Alpharetta Campus connects students to the burgeoning tech industry through the Alpharetta Campus STEM Career Club. This program provides year-round opportunities for students to visit local businesses, hone their resume writing skills and even snag internships and jobs at area firms.
Perimeter College’s Clarkston Campus is located in what’s referred to as “the most diverse square mile in America.” Although the city of Clarkston is small in size, it is home to an extensive mix of residents representing 40 nationalities and 60 languages. More than one-third are international refugees. This same diversity is reflected in the Perimeter College student population, which is one of the most multicultural campuses in the University System of Georgia. The campus originally opened as DeKalb College in 1964 and quickly established itself as a community gem.
“THERE IS MORE THAN JUST HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION ON THE CLARKSTON CAMPUS. THERE’S THE BEAUTY AND POWER FOUND IN MULTICULTURALISM AND THE FRIENDLY AND TRUSTWORTHY STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS WHO’VE HELPED TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN ME.”
– NESTOR KAPUTO, ENGINEERING
Removing Barriers To Education
Removing Barriers to Education – The award-winning and student-led Mentoring Initiative for New Americans (MINA) program provides mentoring support to refugee and immigrant young adults pursuing college admission. The program matches Perimeter College student leaders with new Americans who are given the academic and social support needed to attend college.
Diversity: More Than A Catchphrase
Diversity: More Than a Catchphrase – With the largest number of refugees in Georgia living in Clarkston, the mayor calls his city “The Ellis Island of the South.” Georgia State’s Clarkston Campus mirrors this diversity, with students from nearly 90 countries.
Promoting Community Engagement
Promoting Community Engagement – Housed on the Clarkston Campus, the new Center for Community Engagement is a collaboration among Georgia State University’s Perimeter College, School of Public Health, College of Education and Human Development and Clarkston community stakeholders. The center connects community members who are served by governmental, nonprofit and faith-based agencies with Georgia State researchers and local partners. Their mission is to jointly address the area’s health, education, social and other issues. The center also aims to coordinate efforts for research on issues facing refugee and immigrant populations.
Thriving Arts Community
Thriving Arts Community – Clarkston Campus serves as a cultural hub for the community around it, offering art exhibits, concerts, theatrical productions and other programs open to the public. Each year, the campus hosts more than 70 theater, music and art productions, many presented by Perimeter’s fine arts students.
The Decatur Campus’ rolling, landscaped lawns, miles of sidewalks and pedestrian nature trail make it a draw for students and nearby residents alike. Established in 1972, the campus serves students from south DeKalb County, southeast Atlanta and surrounding areas. Decatur Campus offers a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Resource and Study Center, which enables students to receive peer-led tutorials and additional faculty-led instruction. Students can relax and unwind at the campus’s newly renovated gym and fitness center, which include an indoor swimming pool.
“I APPRECIATE THE INTIMACY OF THE CLASS SIZES. IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE MY PROFESSORS RECOGNIZE AND REFER TO ME ON A FIRST-NAME BASIS!”
– KAYE ODWIN, JOURNALISM
Garden Promotes Learning, Community and Self-Sufficiency
Garden Promotes Learning, Community and Self-Sufficiency:The Decatur Campus Community Garden is an educational tool for students, who plant and harvest fruits, vegetables and herbs for the benefit of local nonprofits. Each year, the 9,000-square-foot garden yields 1,000 pounds of food, including blueberries, chili peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes and rosemary. Volunteer opportunities are available to local residents, as well as Georgia State University students, faculty and staff, to weed, mulch and water plots in exchange for produce. Local residents and the Georgia State community also are welcome to stake a plot and grow their own favorites.
