UNG’s Blue Ridge campus adds chemistry lab

The University of North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Campus made history as the spring 2023 semester began by holding its first chemistry class.

Taught by Dr. Lori Wilson, Survey of Chemistry I is the first class and lab of its kind on this campus. There are 12 students enrolled in the class.

“This is significant because it opens up a course that had only previously been available in Dahlonega or Gainesville for students,” Sandy Ott, Blue Ridge Campus executive director, said. “This opportunity opens up accessibility and opportunity for students pursuing health science and education degrees because it is a required course.”

The resource will be used for additional lab science courses including environmental science, biology and geology, exemplifying UNG’s commitment to providing access to this community and region, Ott said.

“Dr. Lori Wilson saw the need for this class and she is on the Dahlonega Campus. She drives over two days a week in order to provide this class for students here in Blue Ridge,” Ott said. “She’s to be commended for her dedication and for making sure that this is available and accessible to our students. We truly appreciate her and all she’s done to make this happen.”

The class has dual-enrolled high school students who will receive both high school and college credits.

“Because the lab space is so well-designed and equipped, we can do the same laboratory experiments as students on the Dahlonega Campus. In the next academic year, the chemistry department wants to offer the Survey of Chemistry II course,” Wilson, associate professor of chemistry, said.

The Office of Academic Affairs saw the importance and significance of having this facility and funded it.

“We recognized the need to strategically expand our lab science offerings on the Blue Ridge Campus, so we allocated some one-time savings that we had to purchase the necessary equipment,” Dr. Chaudron Gille, provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, said.

The Blue Ridge Campus opened the doors of its standalone location in August 2020 after first launching at a temporary space in 2015. UNG broke ground in September 2022 on a $15 million expansion of the campus.

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