Southern Polytechnic State University has been authorized by the Board of Regents to offer a new degree, an External Bachelor of Applied Science at Gainesville College.

The External Bachelor of Applied Science will allow students at Gainesville College to complete their first two years there, before finishing the additional two years with instruction from Southern Polytechnic faculty. The classes will be offered via distance educational technology or via traditional instruction on the Gainesville College campus.

"This new program provides an opportunity for many students in the Gainesville area to earn bachelor's degrees, in addition to the existing degrees at Gainesville College," said Robert Yancy, dean of management at Southern Polytechnic State University. "The collaboration should be very beneficial to the students and both campuses."

Core classes at Gainesville will be adapted to the degree, and the additional two years of the External Bachelor of Applied Science will be rich in technology classes.

"Our collaboration brings together the excellent core academic program at Gainesville with the technologically-focused curriculum at Southern Polytechnic," said Southern Polytechnic President Dr. Lisa Rossbacher. "Students and the state of Georgia will benefit from this linkage within the University System."

Southern Polytechnic State University is a residential university with approximately 4,000 students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in many of the nation's fastest-growing fields related to engineering and technology. One mile west of I-75's Exit 263, the university is 20 minutes northwest of downtown Atlanta, GA.