Page 9 - 2019 President's Annual Report

Aligning for success Jones Foundation gift expands
Macon flight training
Academic reorganization streamlines academic structure,
offerings New aircraft will double capacity for high-demand
flight program
A new academic organizational structure has helped MGA to strengthen
efforts to create smaller, supportive communities of students, faculty A gift from the Charles H. Jones Family Foundation is allowing Middle
and others within the University as a whole. Georgia State to expand its flight training offerings in Macon in response
As of July 1, 2019, MGA’s academic organization is now made up of six to an unprecedented demand for pilots within our state and nationwide.
schools, each with two or more departments focused on specific areas The Foundation’s $800,000 gift will allow MGA’s School of Aviation to
of study. MGA has long consisted of several different schools but the purchase two single-engine Piper Archers, as well as two replacement
University has been restructured in a way that creates even more engines, and put them into service as of spring 2020. The new aircraft
cohesion between related scholarly areas. For example, Information will allow twice as many student pilots to pursue their flight education
Technology and Mathematics & Statistics are now paired under a new at Macon Downtown Airport – increasing the number of aviation
School of Computing. Health Sciences and Natural Sciences are now students at the facility from 60 to 120. With agreements in place with
paired under a new School of Health & Natural Sciences. several regional and national air carriers, the University’s flight students
“This school-centered approach is an attempt to create small graduate with pathways into high-demand, high-paying careers.
communities within each of our campuses that can welcome students “These new planes will provide Macon-Bibb residents with additional
and help them have ‘a home away from home’ while they progress opportunities to start working towards fulfilling and lucrative careers in
through their academic programs,” said Dr. Jon Anderson, Provost and aviation,” said Adon Clark, dean of the School of Aviation, “and the
Vice President for Academic Affairs. “This school-based strategy also future aviators who will be flying them and the faculty members and
supports the University System of Georgia’s ‘Momentum Year’ efforts to flight instructors supporting them will be living, working, and shopping
help incoming students identify an academic area of focus and join right here in Macon.”
supportive small communities of other students in their major, the Dwight Jones, chair of the Jones Foundation, said the gift reflects the
faculty who teach their classes, the advisors who help them along the desire of his late father, Charles H. Jones, to give back to the
way, and all others who share their space within the University.” communities he served as a civic leader and successful businessman
and to help grow aviation as an economic driver in the region.
“My father and our Foundation founder, Charles Jones, was a navigator
for the U.S. Navy Air Transport Command during WWII; he was an early
adopter of general aviation for business,” said Jones, himself a longtime
general-aviation pilot. “Our aviation workforce is second to none, and it
is high time that we emphasize MGA’s superior ability to produce highly
qualified pilots to help fill a growing need for pilots in the industry.”

School of Arts & Letters School of Computing

English Information Technology
History Mathematics & Statistics
Media, Culture, & The Arts
School of Education & Behavioral Sciences
School of Aviation
Political Science
Aviation Maintenance & Structural Technology Psychology & Criminal Justice
Aviation Science & Management Teacher Education & Social Work

School of Business School of Health & Natural Sciences

Accounting & Finance Natural Sciences
Health Services Administration Nursing
Management & Marketing Rehabilitation Science
Respiratory Therapy