Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University, is a university located in Statesboro, Georgia, USA, and part of the University System of Georgia.

History The school which was to become Georgia Southern University was founded as a district agricultural school in 1906 as one of several agricultural and mechanical trades schools chartered by the Georgia General Assembly, the state legislature. During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s the school expanded, offering a richer curriculum with an emphasis on education. It progressed from a two-year to a four-year teacher's college during those years. In 1959, Georgia Southern became a senior college within the University System of Georgia followed by receiving university status in 1990.

Academia The university offers both graduate and undergraduate programs in a variety of disciplines including education, business administration, information technology, biology, civil engineering, and art.

The university participates in the National Biological Information Infrastructure program with several centers including the Lamar Q. Ball Raptor Center and the Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology containing the U.S. National Tick Collection.

Sports The Georgia Southern Eagles are an NCAA Division I-AA football team and participate in Division I in all other sports. The Eagles have won a record six NCAA Division I-AA national championships (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1999, 2000). The university also has baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, volleyball, soccer, and track & field teams and offers intramural teams for these sports, as well as others such as equestrian, fencing, and judo.

Student Activities The university has a botanical garden at Bland Cottage, the Performing Arts Center where national acts as well as Georgia Southern student shows are performed, a college radio station (WVGS 91.9 The Buzz ), and a college newspaper, The George-Anne . The Recreation and Activities Center (the RAC) has an area for weight lifting, several basketball courts, an indoor track, two dance studios, equipment for yoga and pilates, and an indoor climbing wall.

Location The town of Statesboro is located inland from the coast off of Interstate 16 between the cities of Macon (which is in central Georgia) and Savannah (located on the coast of Georgia at the mouth of the Savannah River). Statesboro is less than one hour's drive from Savannah, about two hours from Macon, and about three and a half hours from Atlanta.