Leaps and Bounds: How Georgia Southern has grown since last Leap Year in 2012

February 29, 2016

Georgia Southern makes history every year, but every four years, or so it seems, the University makes monumental leaps. Check out some of the changes the University has experienced since 2012, the last Leap Year. 2012: From Provost... In July 2012, Jean Bartels, Ph.D., RN, was named provost and vice president of Academic Affairs for the University. She previously served as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, and served as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs from July 2010 to April 2011. She also served as chair of Georgia Southern’s School of Nursing from 1999 to 2010. 2016: To Interim President Bartels is currently serving as the University’s interim president, and most notably, the first female to ever hold the role. She was named to the role by University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby in July 2015, and she will lead the University during 2016 until the University names its next president. 2012: From All-American Archery... Leap Years seem to be the golden years for Georgia Southern archers. In 2012, vice president of the Archery Club Linda Stephens was named an All-American for the second time by the United States Collegiate Archery Association. She was one of only 10 women to earn this honor that year. 2016: To World Indoor Archery This year, junior Cassy Pelton secured a spot on the national team for the World Indoor Archery Championship. Pelton, captain of the Georgia Southern Archery Club, traveled to Ankara, Turkey this week to compete in this international event. Follow her progress live at the championship website. 2012: From FCS... Last Leap Year, the Eagles football team traveled to Fargo, North Dakota, to face the North Dakota State Bison in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) semifinals. The game was a close one, but ultimately the Eagles lost 23-20. 2016: To Sun Belt’s #1 Recruiting class In the current Leap Year, Georgia Southern football is now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, and is currently the reigning GoDaddy Bowl champion. On National Signing Day, Feb. 3., the program landed the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference. The Eagles will return to Paulson Stadium in the fall under new head coach Tyson Summers. 2012: From Vote... During the previous Leap Year, students let their voices be heard about big changes on campus. A record turnout of more than 9,390 students voted to approve three fees including: a fee to fund an expansion of Allen E. Paulson Football stadium ($25); a fee to fund Georgia Southern’s potential move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision ($75); and a fee support for Sustainability and Green efforts on campus ($10). While it was just the first step of the process to implement the fees, all three were eventually put into place by the Board of Regents. 2016: To Fruition This first step by students to help move the University forward paid off. Georgia Southern is now a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision, and Allen E. Paulson Stadium expansion was completed in time for the 2014 football season. The stadium now seats 25,000. Additionally, the Sustainability Fee has helped make campus greener and aided in hiring personnel for the Center for Sustainability, which now hosts sustainability speakers and events, while encouraging students to lead a green lifestyle across campus. These efforts have helped land the University on The Princeton Review’s Guide to 353 Green Colleges for five years running. 2012: From The Nest... In 2012, during the construction of the new dining facilities, The Nest became the main eatery for all campus-goers. The smaller, makeshift facility took roots in the parking lot by Centennial Place and the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center, bringing staff from the former Landrum and Lakeside together in one establishment. Guest favorites were the pizza and chicken stations and the walk-thru sandwich station on the side of the building. Dining at The Nest also meant students had a limited number of meals they could enjoy per week. 2016: To Dining Commons and Lakeside Today, all meal plan holders enjoy unlimited access to both state-of-the-art facilities, Dining Commons and Lakeside Dining Commons. Award-winning chefs provide a range of dishes each day from various food stations including a pizzeria, hibachi grill and even classic southern cooking among others. Iris cameras allow hands-free entry into the facilities, and going trayless has made Eagle Dining an influence in campus sustainability. [caption id="attachment_5280" align="alignnone" width="608"] Guests visit a serving line in The Nest, a temporary dining facility students, faculty and staff enjoyed while two new dining facilities were being built on campus.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5279" align="alignnone" width="608"] Guests visit a food station in the new Dining Commons facility that students, faculty, staff and the community can enjoy on campus today.[/caption]   What will the next Leap Year have in store for Georgia Southern? We’ll find out in 2020!