Valdosta State University

Main article: History of Valdosta State University South Georgia State Normal College (1913–1922) The school that would become Valdosta State University was founded in 1906. Colonel W.S. West led the legislation through the Georgia Senate , and C.R. Ashley and E.J. McRee pushed it through the House. However, no funds were appropriated for it until 1911 when the state allocated $25,000. The city of Valdosta raised $50,000, and Col. West gave the property that is now the main part of campus to the state for use by the new institution. The president chosen was Richard Holmes Powell. His travels in the American southwest led him to choose the Spanish Mission style of architecture for the institution's buildings. [ 3 ] In January 1913, the school opened as South Georgia State Normal College (SGSNC) with three college freshmen and 15 sub-freshmen. The early students were required to wear a school uniform and paid $10 per year for tuition and $12 per month for food and board. Most became teachers and studied subjects such as literature, physics and agriculture. In 1922, the school became a four-year college and the legislature changed the name to Georgia State Womans College.

Main article: Valdosta, Georgia Solar-powered charging station at VSU makes travel more convenient to the surrounding community. [ 11 ] The city of Valdosta is located in South Georgia, just off of Interstate 75 , approximately 20 miles (32 km) from the Florida state line . Valdosta is about a two-hour or less drive from Tallahassee , Macon , and Jacksonville , three hours from Orlando , Tampa , and Atlanta . The Valdosta metropolitan area has a population of over 145,000 and the area offers many shopping areas including the Valdosta Mall , historic downtown Valdosta, multiple restaurants, a movie theater, a nearby theme park , art and history museums, and more. The total economic impact of VSU related activities in the 2010 fiscal year brought in $537 million and 5,400 jobs to the Valdosta metropolitan area, or approximately 8 percent of the employed labor force in the Valdosta Metro area. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] A study by Valdosta State University's Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) shows that in the 2010–2011 school year VSU directly and indirectly generated 5,055 jobs and created an annual labor income impact of $208.7 million for the Valdosta Metropolitan Area. The Valdosta State staff includes 1,302 full-time and 526 part-time employees. VSU ranks within the top 10 employers for the Valdosta MSA. [ 14 ]

Main article: Buildings at Valdosta State University Main Campus The archway at Valdosta State was presented to the college by the Alumni Association in 1960. It was refurbished in 1993 to celebrate Valdosta achieving University status The VSU campus is divided into two areas: main, and north campus. The main campus houses much of the academic and administrative departments and is recognized for its Spanish Mission architecture theme of every building. The 85-acre (34 ha) Main Campus faces North Patterson Street, one of the city's main thoroughfares. In total, 85 buildings located across 168 acres (68 ha) make up the Valdosta State University campus. Other units of the university are located in satellite facilities adjacent to the campus and along Patterson Street. The campuses and principal satellite buildings are connected by the university bus service, operating regularly throughout each class day. West Hall West Hall and the gates with the azaleas in bloom, Spring 1986, when it was named Valdosta State College Built in 1917, West Hall , is the oldest building at Valdosta State University and has long been known as the symbol of the university due to its distinctive dome and Spanish-mission architecture. It is also the center of academic activity at VSU, housing the Administrative Offices of the President and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Departments of English, Political Science, and Modern and Classical Languages are also located in West Hall. In addition, this building houses the Public Administration Programs, Department of Modern and Classical Languages Department, Department of English, Department of Political Sciences, and numerous classrooms. [ 15 ]

Odum Library The Gertrude Gilmer Odum Library built in 1971 at 85,000 square feet (7,900 m 2 ) , serves as the main library of Valdosta State University. In 2004, a 95,000-square-foot (8,800 m 2 ) addition was built off the southern portion of the building doubling the size of Odum Library. Distinctive features of the addition include a 24-hour internet cafe, the GALILEO Technology Center, electronic classrooms, auditorium, expanded Media Center, climate-controlled Archives, new study areas, and additional book shelving. The nearly 180,000-square-foot (17,000 m 2 ) library houses approximately 453,757 bound volumes, and nearly 3,000 current periodicals and newspapers and a microform collection of over a million units. [ 16 ] The Odum Library is a Selective Depository of U.S. Government documents and maintains the Archives of Contemporary South Georgia History and a Southern History Collection. In November 2013, VSU announced it would expand its sustainability efforts by adding a solar canopy behind the library. [ 17 ]