On July 31 in this space, my colleague Dr. Don Mathews wrote, “On July 31, we’re near the top. Hearts pound, grips tighten. In short order, we will be launched at warp speed, screaming, with arms stretched high, into a new academic year.”
Well, here we are, two and a half weeks into the drop, and what a thrill it is! When folks have asked me about my semester’s start, I keep returning to this idea that the energy on campus is just different this Fall. And it is different in all the right ways.
Students are showing up early for class and taking notes and engaging in discussion in ways I have not seen at least since before the pandemic. Students have been in my office seeking help and asking good questions in numbers I haven’t seen maybe in all my 8 years at Coastal. And— shout-out to the amazing teams in our Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management— campus is abuzz with events and extracurricular activities.
College of Coastal Georgia has come alive this Fall in fresh ways, and my colleagues and I are here for it!
Brunswick, are you here for it?
At the time of this writing, we have a headcount of 3457 students, 63% of whom are coming to us from outside Glynn County. That’s the equivalent of about a 2.5% increase to the population of Glynn County when they are all here.
How are we, as a community, gearing up to support them?
In preparation for this article, I perused several online lists of top “college towns.” I don’t think most of these lists are scientifically generated, but they are interesting conversation starters. According to College Values Online, the only city in Georgia that makes the top 50 small college towns in America 2024 is Valdosta, and they are ranked 50th. A site called College Snacks narrows the list to 10 best college towns in Georgia for 2024, and they actually call out Brunswick as “officially the worst college town in Georgia.”
Obviously, I disagree! I love Brunswick, and since I have been at Coastal, I have always felt strong and growing support from the Brunswick community.
I also believe we should seize all opportunities to become known as more of a vibrant “college town.” A 2018 editorial on the popular site Niche says, “A location doesn’t get to call itself a ‘college town’ merely by having a university within its city limits. Rather, a real college town is a place where the academic institution is a distinctive feature of the city culture.”
The college and Brunswick are both rapidly growing and changing for the better. We should be intentional about embracing each other, forming our identities around each other, and capitalizing on the energy found in synergy between a college and its town.
I have a few ideas about how to do this, some of which are already happening or beginning to happen in Brunswick.
Businesses—market yourselves to college students. Become a Mariner’s Mate, offering college discounts, and create spaces that are friendly and appealing to young adults.
Non-profits—Don’t count out college students just because they are not big donors. Coastal students want to change the world! Engage with their passions and energy to help accomplish the goals of your organizations.
Faith communities—The number one concern I heard from potential students and their parents at recruiting events I attended last year was anxiety about finding their church home away from home. Our students are looking for you. Will you show up? Plug into College ministries on our campus, and offer rides to your campuses for your gatherings!
City and County Government— Let’s finally get that public transportation going that we have been talking about for ages so students can get to Brunswick for First Friday and other great things we already have going on. We also need to develop housing and childcare solutions that support students and the local workforce we hope they’ll join.
These and other ideas are already taking hold in Brunswick. Let’s keep it going!
In a future column, we’ll look at things the College is doing to spur this dream, as well.
It is an exciting time to be a Costal Georgia Mariner in my favorite college town!
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Dr. Melissa Trussell is a professor in the School of Business and Public Management at College of Coastal Georgia who works with the college’s Reg Murphy Center for Economic and Policy Studies. Contact her at mtrussell@ccga.edu. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the College of Coastal Georgia.
Reg Murphy Center