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Do not fill this in! ==History== Initially intended as a night school, Georgia State University was established in 1913 as the [[Georgia Institute of Technology|Georgia School of Technology]]'s Evening School of Commerce.<ref name="97 Years Strong">{{cite web|title=97 Years Strong|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com//pdf8/705701.pdf|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111134243/http://www.georgiastatesports.com//pdf8/705701.pdf|archive-date=November 11, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A reorganization of the [[University System of Georgia]] in the 1930s led to the school becoming the Atlanta Extension Center of the University System of Georgia and allowed night students to earn degrees from several colleges in the University System.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwmsp/2006/history/1.htm|work=Main Street Master Plan|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=May 28, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043207/http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwmsp/2006/history/1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> During this time, the school was divided into two divisions: Georgia Evening College and Atlanta Junior College.<ref>{{cite web|title=Evening Signal, 1933-10-02|url=http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/signal/id/247/rec/4|work=Digital Collections|publisher=Georgia State University Library|access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> In September 1947, the school became affiliated with the [[University of Georgia]] and was named the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/signal/id/927/rec/60|title=The Georgia State University Signal, 1970-10-22.|work=Digital Collections|publisher=Georgia State University Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202125541/http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/signal/id/5603/rec/1|archive-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> For its first four decades, the school was treated as an offsite department of its parent institution, Georgia Tech, until 1947, and UGA after 1947. Accordingly, its chief executive was called a director.<ref name=specialcollection/> However, in 1955, the Board of Regents made it an autonomous four-year college under the name Georgia State College of Business Administration.<ref>{{cite web |last=Carabello|first=Joanna Soto|title=J. Mack Robinson College of Business|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-1782|work=Business and Industry|publisher=The New Georgia Encyclopedia|access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> Walter Sparks, who had served as director since 1927, became the newly autonomous institution's first president. In 1961, other programs at the school had grown large enough that the name was shortened to Georgia State College.<ref name=specialcollection>{{cite web |title=Special Collections and Archives: Georgia State University History|url=http://research.library.gsu.edu/GSUhistory|work=Research Guides|publisher=Georgia State University Library |access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> It became Georgia State University in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reed|first=Merl|title=In Business |url=http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwexa/GSU_Magazine_Special_2013.pdf|work=Georgia State University Magazine|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> In 1995, the [[Georgia Board of Regents]] accorded Georgia State "research university" status, joining the [[University of Georgia]], the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], and [[Augusta University]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Core Mission Statement for Research Universities|url=http://www.usg.edu/inst/mission/category/research_universities|publisher=University System of Georgia |access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Achieving Research University Status|url=http://100.gsu.edu/|work=Making History|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref> [[File:GSU1.JPG|right|thumb|View of (from L-R) the Sports Arena and Library South on Decatur Street]] The first [[African-American]] student became enrolled at Georgia State in 1962, a year after the integration of the [[University of Georgia]] and [[Georgia Tech]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia Tech Integration |url=http://crdl.usg.edu/events/gatech_integration/?Welcome|work=Civil Rights Digital Library|publisher=University System of Georgia|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=University of Georgia Integration|url=http://crdl.usg.edu/events/uga_integration/|work=Civil Rights Digital Library|publisher=University System of Georgi|access-date=May 29, 2013}}</ref> Annette Lucille Hall was a [[Lithonia, Georgia|Lithonia]] social studies teacher who enrolled in the course of the Institute on Americanism and Communism, a course required for all Georgia [[social studies]] teachers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Babiarz|first=Liz|title=Quiet Courage|url=http://www.gsu.edu/magazine/2009fall/quiet_courage.html|work=GSU Magazine|publisher=Georgia State University |access-date=March 2, 2013}}</ref> The [[Peachtree Road Race]] was founded in 1970 by Georgia State cross-country coach and dean of men Tim Singleton, heading it in its first six years before turning it over to the Atlanta Track Club.<ref>{{cite web|last=Asher|first=Gene|title=Always in the Running|date=June 2007|url=http://www.georgiatrend.com/June-2007/Always-In-The-Running/|publisher=Georgia Trend|access-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref> ===Expansion periods=== ====1913–1975==== Over its 100-plus-year history, Georgia State's growth has required the acquisition and construction of more space to suit its needs. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, numerous buildings were constructed as part of a major urban renewal project, such as the Pullen Library in 1966, Classroom South in 1968, the expansion of the Pullen Library in 1968, the Arts and Humanities Building in 1970, the 10-story General Classroom Building in 1971 (now called Langdale Hall), the [[GSU Sports Arena|Sports Arena]] in 1973, and the 12-story Urban Life Building in 1974.<ref>{{cite web|title=Campus Expansion |url=http://100.gsu.edu/|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, a raised platform and walkway system was constructed to connect these buildings over [[Decatur Street (Atlanta)|Decatur Street]] and various parking structures.<ref>{{cite web|last=Elrod|first=Jacoby|title=Georgia State's Platform Plaza |url=http://history4220fall2011.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/georgia-states-platform-plaza/|work=The American City|date=November 17, 2011|publisher=James Polhemus|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> ====1980–1989==== In the 1980s, another round of expansion took place with the acquisition of the former [[Atlanta Municipal Auditorium]] in 1979,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlanta Municipal Auditorium |url=http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/downtown/ama_interior.htm|work=Downtown|publisher=Atlanta Time Machine|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> which was subsequently converted into Alumni Hall in 1982 and then to Dahlberg Hall in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|title=GSU Renames Alumni Hall for Dahlberg |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/09/13/daily28.html |work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|publisher=American City Business Journals|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> and currently houses Georgia State's administrative offices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dahlberg Hall|url=http://map.gsu.edu/#/|publisher=Georgia State University |access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref> That same year, the [[Georgia State University College of Law|College of Law]] was founded in the Urban Life Building,<ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=http://law.gsu.edu/about/|work=College of Law|publisher=Georgia State University |access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref> and the Title Building on [[Decatur Street (Atlanta)|Decatur Street]] was acquired and converted into the College of Education's headquarters and classroom space.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lawyers|url=http://atlantatimemachine.com/downtown/lawyers.htm|work=Downtown|publisher=Atlanta Time Machine|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> In 1988, the nine-story Library South was constructed on the south side of Decatur Street, which was connected to the Pullen Library via a three-story high foot bridge (officially referred to as a "link") and effectively doubled the library's space.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Burtle|first=Laura|title=Spotlight on Construction: Georgia State's Library Transformation Project Completed|journal=Georgia Library Quarterly|date=January 1, 2008 |volume=44|issue=9|url=http://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1136&context=glq|access-date=June 5, 2013}}</ref> ====1990–2004==== Georgia State continued this growth into the 1990s, with the expansion of [[Alumni Hall (Georgia State University)|Alumni Hall]] in 1991,<ref name="timeline">{{cite web|title=Building Timeline |url=http://research.library.gsu.edu/content.php?pid=312767&sid=2571075|work=Special Collections and Archives: Georgia State University History|publisher=Georgia State University Library |access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> the opening of the Natural Science Center in 1992,<ref>{{cite web|title=Natural Science Center |url=http://digitalcollections.library.gsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/university/id/769|work=Digital Collections|publisher=Georgia State University Library|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> and the acquisition of the former [[Citizens & Southern National Bank|C&S Bank]] Building on [[Marietta Street]] in 1993, which is now the home of the [[J. Mack Robinson College of Business|Robinson College of Business.]]<ref name="timeline"/> Georgia State's first move into the [[Fairlie-Poplar]] district was the acquisition and renovation of the Standard Building, the Haas-Howell Building, and the [[Rialto Center for the Arts|Rialto Theater]] in 1996.<ref name="timeline"/> The Standard and Haas-Howell buildings house classrooms, offices, and practice spaces for the School of Music, and the Rialto is home to Georgia State's Jazz Studies program and an 833-seat theater.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rialto History|url=http://www.rialtocenter.org/about/history.html|work=Rialto Center for the Arts|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118120027/http://www.rialtocenter.org/about/history.html|archive-date=January 18, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 1998, the Student Center was expanded toward Gilmer Street<ref name="timeline"/> and provided a new 400-seat auditorium and space for exhibitions and offices for student clubs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Center Layout and Floor Plans|url=http://studentcenter.gsu.edu/inside-the-center/center-layout-floor-plans/|work=Student*University Center|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011163429/http://studentcenter.gsu.edu/inside-the-center/center-layout-floor-plans/|archive-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> A new Student Recreation Center opened on the corner of [[Piedmont Avenue (Atlanta)|Piedmont Avenue]] and Gilmer Street in 2001.<ref name="timeline"/> In 2002, the five-story Helen M. Aderhold Learning Center opened on Luckie Street<ref>{{cite web|last=DeLoach|first=Doug|title=Growing University has Big Footprint|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2013/01/11/growing-university-has-big-footprint.html|work=Atlanta Business Chronicle|publisher=American City Business Journals|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> amid controversy over the demolition of historical buildings on its block.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dixon|first=Brad|title=Georgia State to implode office building in Fairie-Poplar district April 16 |url=http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwexa/news/archive/2000/00_0413-implosionrel.htm|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> Most recently, in 2004, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies was moved to the former [[Wachovia]] Bank Building at [[Five Points (Atlanta)|Five Points]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Building|url=https://aysps.gsu.edu/building|work=Andrew Young School of Policy Studies|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526005627/http://aysps.gsu.edu/building|archive-date=May 26, 2013}}</ref> ====2005–2015==== After the release of the 2006 master plan update, a host of new building activities occurred on campus. A $20 million refurbishment to the Pullen Library complex was completed during the 2006–07 school year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2006/02/20/story1.html |title=GSU Plans Record $1b Expansion| publisher= Atlanta Business Chronicle| access-date=February 17, 2006}}</ref> Multiple new units of on-campus housing were built, including the 2,000 bed University Commons in 2007, a new dormitory named Freshman Hall (later renamed Patton Hall) in 2009 and a conversion of a former [[Wingate By Wyndham|Wyndham Garden Hotel]] and a [[Baymont Inn & Suites]] into a new 1,100 occupancy dormitory named Piedmont North.<ref name="timeline" /><ref name="piedmont">{{cite web|title=Georgia State North Piedmont Housing|url=http://www.atlantadowntown.com/go/piedmont-north-gsu-housing-new-development |work=Atlanta Downtown Improvement District|publisher=Central Atlanta Progress|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="hotels">{{cite web|last=Wheatley|first=Thomas |title=Georgia State purchases downtown hotels for student housing|url=http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2010/08/19/georgia-state-purchases-downtown-hotels-for-student-housing|work=Fresh Loaf |publisher=Creative Loafing|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> New Greek housing was built in 2010 along [[Edgewood Avenue]].<ref name="timeline" /> The Citizens Trust Building on [[Piedmont Avenue (Atlanta)|Piedmont Avenue]] was purchased by the university to make room for offices and student services in 2007.<ref name="timeline" /> The Parker H. Petit Science Center was completed in 2010, opening up state-of-the-art science laboratories and teaching space.<ref name="timeline" /> In 2013, Georgia State started operating from the original home of the Trust Company of Georgia and the SunTrust Bank, the 25 Park Place Building, a 26-floor skyscraper located adjacent to Woodruff Park in the heart of downtown Atlanta. The building currently houses many academic units of the College of Arts and Sciences, including the Dean's Office, the University Advisement Center, and facilities of the School of Public Health. In May 2015, the College of Law was moved to its new building at 89 Park Place after the land was donated to the university.<ref name="timeline" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Poe Ross|first=Kathleen |title=Designing a New Home|url=http://law.gsu.edu/7300.html |publisher=Georgia State University College of Law|access-date=June 6, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202135159/http://law.gsu.edu/7300.html|archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> ====2016–present==== The newest incarnation of the university's strategic plan gives an outline of the university's growth from 2011 until 2016 and a brief overview that will be amended for up to 2021.<ref name="strategicplan">{{cite web|title=Strategic Plan 2011-2016/21|url=http://strategic.gsu.edu/files/2012/09/GSU_Strategic_Plan_2016-2.pdf|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> In 2016, an extension to the Petit Science Center was completed. Plans exist for the building of graduate student housing behind the center.<ref name="strategicplan" /> On May 31, 2012, the [[Georgia State Panthers|athletics department]] released a new facilities master plan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia State Athletics Master Plan |url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&ATCLID=205408033|work=Georgia State Athletics|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> The plan includes upgrades and renovations to the [[GSU Sports Arena]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Sports Arena Master Plan|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205408197&DB_OEM_ID=12700|publisher=Georgia State Athletics|access-date=June 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621225733/http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205408197&DB_OEM_ID=12700|archive-date=June 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> including new outdoor sand volleyball courts (which have since been completed)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sand Volleyball Complex Master Plan - Completed Sept. 2012|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205415149&DB_OEM_ID=12700|publisher=Georgia State Athletics|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> as well as plans to build new baseball, softball, and soccer stadiums.<ref>{{cite web|title=Baseball Complex Master Plan |url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205408151&DB_OEM_ID=12700|work=Georgia State Athletics|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Softball Complex Master Plan|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205408254&DB_OEM_ID=12700|publisher=Georgia State Athletics|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Soccer Complex Master Plan|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205408188&DB_OEM_ID=12700|publisher=Georgia State Athletics|access-date=June 6, 2013}}</ref> These would replace the current stadiums in [[Panthersville, Georgia|Panthersville]]. In May 2014, the university announced its intentions to pursue the {{convert|77|acre|m2|sigfig=3|adj=on|}} [[Turner Field]] site once the [[Atlanta Braves]] [[Major League Baseball]] club moves into [[Truist Park]] in 2017. The university intends to retrofit Turner Field into a 30,000-seat open-air football stadium and build a new baseball field on the site of the former [[Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium]], incorporating the wall where [[Hank Aaron]] hit his record-breaking 715th home run. Additional retail and student housing development is also planned for the parking areas surrounding Turner Field.<ref name="GA State Turner Field">{{cite web |last=Roberson|first=Doug|title=Georgia State wants to turn Turner Field into football stadium|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/georgia-state-wants-to-turn-turner-field-into-foot/nfq8R/ |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> On December 21, 2015, the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority announced that Georgia State's bid to redevelop Turner Field had been accepted.<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia State/Carter/Oakwood Team Named Winning Bidder for Redevelopment of Turner Field|url=http://news.gsu.edu/2015/12/21/georgia-state-carter-team-named-winning-bidder-for-redevelopment-of-turner-field/|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223091134/http://news.gsu.edu/2015/12/21/georgia-state-carter-team-named-winning-bidder-for-redevelopment-of-turner-field/|archive-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref> On August 18, 2016, Georgia State and the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority reached a tentative purchase agreement for Turner Field, and the purchase and redevelopment plan was approved by the Board of Regents on November 9, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Janet|last2=Suggs|first2=Ernie|last3=Trubey|first3=J. Scott|title=Georgia State, partners reach deal to buy Turner Field for $30 million|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/georgia-state-partners-reach-deal-to-buy-turner-fi/nsHhr/|access-date=August 18, 2016|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Molly|last2=Trubey|first2=Scott|title=Georgia State's $53M Turner Field redevelopment plan approved|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/georgia-state-53m-turner-field-redevelopment-plan-approved/7GNOtIxm0xzYwcWVaPf8HL/|access-date=November 9, 2016|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}</ref> On January 5, 2017, Georgia State's acquisition of Turner Field, since renamed [[Georgia State Stadium]], was officially closed, with the stadium conversion project beginning in February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Georgia State, Private Development Venture Finalize Acquisition of Turner Field Site|date=January 5, 2017|url=http://news.gsu.edu/2017/01/05/georgia-state-private-development-venture-finalize-acquisition-of-turner-field-site/|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> Georgia State Stadium hosted its first game on August 31, 2017.<ref name="GSU_Stadium_first_game">{{cite web|last1=Holmes|first1=Mike|title=Football Stadium Opener Date Set|url=http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&ATCLID=211463872|publisher=Georgia State Athletics|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref> In June 2021, [[M. Brian Blake]] became Georgia State University's first [[African-American]] and [[person of color]] president.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wabe.org/regents-approve-first-black-president-at-georgia-state-university/|title=Regents Approve First Black President at Georgia State University|date=June 17, 2021}}</ref> =====Consolidation with Georgia Perimeter College===== On January 5, 2015, news broke that Georgia State and [[Georgia Perimeter College]] would merge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gpb.org/news/2015/01/05/georgia-perimeter-georgia-state-possibly-merging |title=Georgia Perimeter, Georgia State Possibly Merging |author=Tanya Ott |publisher=GPB News |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2015}}</ref> Over a year later, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the merger of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College, a 2-year college with five campuses. The board also announced that the president of Georgia State would remain the president of the combined university, which retained the name Georgia State University.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.covnews.com/section/1/article/57581/ |title=Merger of GPC, GSU approved |newspaper=Covington News |date=January 6, 2015 |access-date=January 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106184243/http://www.covnews.com/section/1/article/57581/ |archive-date=January 6, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The merger created the largest university in the state of Georgia at about 52,000 students.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.gsu.edu/2016/01/06/welcome-panther-family-perimeter-college/|title=Welcome to the Panther Family|website=GSU.edu|publisher=Georgia State University|access-date=January 6, 2016}}</ref> Since Georgia State's consolidation with Georgia Perimeter College in 2016, graduation rates at Perimeter College have almost tripled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Georgia State Sets A Record For Overall Enrollment, Most Qualified Freshman Class In University History |url=https://news.gsu.edu/2019/08/22/georgia-state-sets-record-overall-enrollment/ |website=Georgia State News Hub |date=August 22, 2019 |publisher=Georgia State |access-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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