Print Issue: May 2, 2002

Southern Catholic Nears $10 Million Fund-raising Goal; President Named

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

ATLANTA - With a steady stream of springtime successes, Southern Catholic College, a regional private college in formation, named a president April 23 and has nearly met its goal of raising $10 million by early May, enabling it to plow ahead with the first phase of building construction.

The school named Jeremiah Ashcroft, Ph.D., who holds over 30 years of experience in the university system of Georgia, as president effective July 1. "We are excited Mr. Ashcroft will serve as our first president," said Tom Clements, school founder and chairman. "We are very fortunate to appoint a president with such stellar academic credentials and extensive experience within the University System of Georgia. Mr. Ashcroft is an excellent leader who will help develop a college that will set the standard in Catholic-based education."

For more than nine years, Ashcroft, a Catholic, served as president of East Georgia College in Swainsboro, and also was vice president of academic affairs and professor of English there. Earlier, he was chairman of the Division of Humanities and an associate English and humanities professor at Bainbridge College in Bainbridge. He also taught English at Thomas College in Thomasville. A native of Utica, N.Y., he holds a bachelor's degree from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, N.Y., and a master's degree and doctorate in philosophy from Florida State University, Tallahassee. He served in active duty as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam and Okinawa, Japan. Ashcroft is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the American Association of Higher Education and the South Atlantic Modern Language Association, and is a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

"It is a privilege to be named the president of the first Catholic college in Georgia," Ashcroft said. "I look forward to directing the formation of Southern Catholic and its future success."

On the financial front, the school, as of April 22, had raised $9.5 million of the $10 million needed "to kick off the building campaign." This is part of a larger goal of $34 million, which will be necessary to cover start up costs, the first phase of buildings and operating costs through the 2006-2007 school year, said Augusta Gladd, who works in development for the college. The money is needed to start building the college this summer in anticipation of the fall 2003 opening date. Their next short-term goal is to raise another $10 million in the next fiscal year.

The school has received building and land permits. By its May 7 groundbreaking, about 60 of the 338 wooded acres purchased for the college, located about 40 miles north of Atlanta in Dawson County, will have been cleared. "We've just hired a president and all this is a big deal . . . We had a board meeting Thursday and the board is very enthusiastic about taking it to the next level. The goal is to reach $10 million by May 7, and for all practical purposes, to be at $9.5 million-we're there," Clements said. "The campus is a go. From where we've come and what we've done, everybody is high-fiving each other."

Since February, one donor has given $500,000, another $400,000 and three have given $100,000. To raise money and awareness, project representatives have spoken to over 57,000 people before and after Masses at archdiocesan parishes, and have solicited prominent Catholics around the Southeast and companies and foundations, securing 775 donors. They are currently waiting for responses from other ones concerning requests totaling about $7 million. Clements noted that the project's increasing momentum encourages potential donors to open their wallets. He recalled asking the $400,000 donor, "'Why are you giving now?' He said, 'Because you're going to be a winner.'"

Gladd echoed that optimism. "We've made some amazing progress over the last couple of weeks. It's just incredible-if you could feel the energy out here at the office. It's quickly becoming a reality, it really is. People can really share this vision and want to be on board and see the opportunities for realizing this Catholic college. It's just remarkable," she said.

Phase I-A is anticipated to cost $26 million and will involve construction of a residence hall, academic/office/administration building, gymnasium and a facilities building. With construction beginning this summer, the buildings should be completed by the summer of 2003. Phase I-B of the building project is expected to begin in summer 2003 and will involve building another residence hall and student commons to house a library, cafeteria and theater. General contractors are Beck Construction of Atlanta and Opus South Corp. of Tampa, Fla., while architects are HOK architectural firm and Wakefield, Beasley and Associates, both with Atlanta offices.

The school has applied for authorization by the Non Public Post Secondary Education Commission, the group that allows for the formation of a college. Commission members will make a site visit May 10. Student applications are expected to be accepted this September.

Southern Catholic has been negotiating with various banks and investment firms needed for bond financing, a type of loan with reduced interest rates. Clements said the school hopes to pick one within the next month. "One of the things we're trying to do is raise as much money as possible so we can get the best interest rate and credit rating to go forward," he said. "We're alive. Now the difference is (between) just breathing or (being) in good shape (which) is why we need the next $10 million. We can get the financing but at this point we want to be fiscally healthy."

Gladd noted that individuals and families can leave a legacy and participate in creating the school, helping to bring Catholic higher education to North Georgia by making a contribution of $50,000 or more. Those donors will become members of the founder's society and their names will be included as part of a display on campus. She and Clements noted that donations of all sizes are important and that they have raised $289,000 in non-major gifts, exceeding their goal for parishes to pledge $250,000. "It really proves the widespread desire and enthusiasm of the project," Clements said.

So far 2,100 students have made inquiries for the 150 spots in the first class. In March the school also announced the appointments of Kevin McCormick as vice president for institutional advancement and Paul Voss, Ph.D., as vice president for academic affairs.

For more information call (678) 584-0484, write Southern Catholic College, 4227 Pleasant Hill Road, Building 11, Suite 202, Duluth 30096, or visit the Web site www.southerncatholic.org.