Beginning with the 2008 fall semester, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Georgia Southwestern State University will expand their joint bachelor of business administration degree by adding a major in resource management on the ABAC campus.

"This program represents one more way that ABAC is expanding its scope as we enter our second century of service," ABAC President David Bridges said. "We have had an extremely positive relationship with Georgia Southwestern for a number of years, and I believe this partnership will result in a very popular bachelor's degree program for our students."

"We at GSW have enjoyed our relationship with ABAC,” said GSW President Kendall Blanchard. “Many of our best students and some of our finest graduates have transferred here from the Tifton school. This newest program will only strengthen our ties with ABAC and benefit both institutions as well as the students who wish to complete a four-year GSW degree without having to actually move to Americus."

Students will be able to stay at ABAC for junior and senior level classes necessary to earn a bachelor's degree (BBA). Georgia Southwestern already offers junior and senior level night classes on the ABAC campus for four-year business degrees in management and accounting.

The resource management degree combines the benefits of a strong business degree with a working knowledge of various agriculture and forestry concentrations. The concentrations will include agribusiness, forestry and wildlife business, bioenergy and renewable resource business and turfgrass business. Classes will be offered as a part of the regular daytime schedule.

For more information on the program, interested persons can contact Business Administration Chair Jeff Gibbs at jgibbs@abac.edu or (229) 391-4830 or Agriculture and Forest Resources Chair Tim Marshall at tmarshall@abac.edu or (229) 391-4790.

Classes for the new degree will begin with the start of the fall semester at ABAC on Aug. 18.