University to move its Gwinnett programs to new location in Lawrenceville
UGA has received approval from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents for an agreement that allows the university to relocate its graduate academic and continuing education programs in Gwinnett County to a new facility at 4350 Sever Road in Lawrenceville.

In May, UGA plans to move its Gwinnett programs from the campus it currently shares with Georgia Gwinnett College to the new location just off I-85 at the Sugarloaf Parkway exit. UGA will occupy 60,000 square feet of the building, known as the ­Intellicenter when it was constructed in 2006.

“We’re very excited about this upcoming move because it will give us more space to accommodate our growing academic and continuing education programs in Gwinnett,” said Bob Boehmer, who oversees UGA’s extended campuses in Gwinnett, Griffin and Tifton. “It’s a highly accessible and flexible space where we will have approximately 20 classrooms of various sizes.”

UGA has offered graduate degree programs at several different locations in Gwinnett since the mid-1980s, but increased the number and variety of programs in recent years. Current offerings include an evening M.B.A. program, master’s and specialist’s degrees in education, and master’s degrees in public administration, food technology and social work.

Newer programs include a master of Internet technology and master’s degree programs in regulatory affairs designed to fill an immediate need for local Georgia companies.

The Small Business Development Center office in Gwinnett and the Education Technology Training Center operated by UGA’s College of Education in Gwinnett also will relocate to the new facility.

UGA has phased out its bachelor’s degree- completion programs offered in Gwinnett at the request of the board of regents. The last students are expected to earn their degrees by the end of spring semester 2008.

Emeritus ecology faculty member testifies before Congress about Clean Water Act
Judy Meyer, ecology professor emerita, recently testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment in support of H.R. 2421, a bill that would remove the word “navigable” from the current Clean Water Act.

Meyer has conducted extensive research on streams for three decades and stressed the importance of keeping the nation’s streams clean. Her testimony included recent research showing that more than half of the water in large rivers in the northeastern U.S. is from headwater streams.

“The scientific evidence is clear that small streams and wetlands must be protected if we are to reach the goals of the Clean Water Act,” said Meyer. “The mighty river cannot be protected without also protecting the small stream.”

Non-navigable water sources such as headwater streams and tributaries also must be covered by the Clean Water Act to protect the sources that are navigable.

At present, H.R. 2421 remains with the House Subcommittee, and Meyer is hopeful it will be brought forth for a vote in the near future.