Brenau University Takes Step to Strengthen Its Women’s College

Founded in 1878, Brenau University enrolls about 3,500 students in graduate and undergraduate studies on campuses and online. The comprehensive, liberal arts-based institution includes the residential Women’s College in Gainesville, Georgia. It also operates coeducational campuses in Gainesville, Augusta, Norcross and Fairburn, Georgia as well as a new campus in Jacksonville, Florida.

Recently, the university announced that it is “reimaging” its women’s residential college and will launch a group of “signature” programs this coming fall. The GOLD initiative is a series of four, one-year programs of study that will be required of all students in the Women’s College. The GOLD program includes programs in:

Gender: a year committed to women’s empowerment
Ownership: a year focused on personal responsibility
Leadership: a year dedicated to preparing tomorrow’s leaders
Diversity: a year concentrating on global citizenship

The college stated that “the newly reimagined Women’s College will incorporate academic enhancements including gender-focused training for faculty, individual career planning, portfolio development and mentoring for each student, along with speakers, capstone courses, seminars and more.”

The university is also implementing a two-year Ideal Collective, a living-learning community available to juniors and seniors that will focus on transformative leadership through collaborative, project-based service learning. The university will also be offering an executive women’s MBA program.

“These measured steps from the university to ensure the sustainability of The Women’s College are a sign of confidence,” said Brooke Statham, Women’s College alumna, president of the Alumni Association and a member of the planning committee. “It shows confidence in the students who currently attend, confidence in the alumni, and confidence in the faculty and staff. I am so pleased that the university has chosen to invest in The Women’s College’s future, and I believe that we are all going to be impressed with what lies ahead. Only the best will do for our Brenau family, and we have a plan that will keep our traditions strong and allow us to grow and thrive.”