ENHANCING THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE
With more than 50,000 students and six campuses, Georgia State is one of the country's largest, most dynamic institutions. Our Atlanta Campus is woven into the heart of downtown, offering students, faculty and staff unparalleled access to one of the world’s great global cities. We are working to enhance our campus experience so that our university is a place for people to learn, work, study, live, play and connect.
See Jared Abramson, EVP/COO, explain the plan to improve campus operations.
CAMPUS AND SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS
THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Creating a campus experience where students, faculty and staff come together to do their best work is a priority. Our university’s urban location is one of our greatest assets, and our students are availed valuable experiential learning opportunities and visible career pathways. In fall 2022, plans to enhance the campus experience began with several immediate actions taken, and today it continues as a sustained and ongoing effort. The comprehensive plan utilizes innovative technology, collaborative partnerships and a determined effort by our community to enhance the living and learning environment on our campuses.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Aligning with the Identity, Placemaking and Belonging pillar in our new strategic plan, we’ve set out to make extensive improvements to our campuses, including those that ensure the safety of the Georgia State community. We held a safety town hall meeting in October of 2023 with the university community regarding ways to continue to secure our campus spaces, share these immediate actions and present insights from our safety study.
IN PROGRESS
SECURITY CAMERAS
Approximately 300 security cameras have been purchased for upgrades to existing locations and new installations. These cameras will be tied into GSUPD’s state-of-the-art video and communication system. Security cameras are part of the comprehensive plan to reduce security risks by deterring and identifying criminals as well as providing an increased sense of safety and security for the campus community.
COMPLETED
CALL BOXES/TOWERS
Twenty-four new emergency call boxes have been installed across the Atlanta Campus. These devices allow for more excellent coverage, improved access, and better control in maintaining campus safety.
IN PROGRESS
CARD READERS
Building access was a significant issue brought forth by students and staff during town hall discussions and security reviews. As a result, a new building access policy was adopted for fall 2023 to limit access to campus buildings for non-GSU individuals. Additionally, 68 card readers have been purchased and are being installed at new locations both for interior and exterior access points across the downtown campus.
IN PROGRESS
HIGH-SPEED GATES
Securing parking structures is a significant part of the planning process to enhance the campus experience. In addition to new security cameras, corner mirrors and card readers for parking garages, high-speed gates are being installed to limit the ability of non-GSU individuals to access parking structures. Installing high speed gates for vehicular traffic will greatly reduce pedestrian ability to follow cars into parking garages.
COMPLETED
PARKING DECK IMPROVEMENTS
Added new high-speed gates to parking deck entryways and exits. Added additional barriers and door swipes, and additional cameras and safety mirrors.
SAFETY CONCEPTS
As part of the ongoing effort to enhance the campus experience, plans continue to develop that will improve the daily experiences of our community. Through town halls, individual discussions and strategic planning meetings, ideas are gathered, evaluated and become action items for the comprehensive plan. See our current plans in progress.
COMPLETED
PANTHER PLACES
55 Park Place and the University Commons have been designated “Panther Places.” Panther Places are facilities that will always be staffed with security 24/7 so that the university community always has places on the Atlanta Campus that are open and secure to seek refuge in an emergency.
COMPLETED
ACCESS CONTROL
PantherCard swipe access has been added to all Atlanta Campus buildings between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. The Student Center and other buildings that hold evening events open to the public have protocols in place to allow community access.
IN PROGRESS
CAMPUS AMBASSADORS
Campus Ambassadors will serve as extensions of our safety and facilities teams and assist students, faculty, staff and visitors to navigate campus, as well as complete a daily checklist of security and facilities inspections so issues can be identified and resolved without delay to improve the campus experience.
IN PROGRESS
ENTRYWAY RELOCATION
The Piedmont Central entrance for residents and dining has been relocated to the south entrance of the building facing Centennial Hall. This new path for students will reduce the foot traffic at the intersection of John Wesley Dobbs and Piedmont avenues where students have encountered safety concerns. The relocation was a joint effort between students, housing staff and campus leaders to improve the daily experience of the students who live and dine in Piedmont Central.
COMPLETED
IMPROVED EXTERIOR LIGHTING
After an evaluation of campus areas in need of better lighting and visibility, the university worked with Georgia Power to replace 420 wall lighting packs. In addition, all lights were upgraded to LED bulbs to last longer and cast wider light.
COMPLETED
INCREASED SAFETY RESOURCES
To bolster security, the university hired retirees, authorized overtime for police and contracted with security companies to add extra security personnel on the Atlanta Campus.
IN PROGRESS
SMART STREET LIGHTS
GSU and Georgia Power are planning to pilot new technology on campus to impact lighting, wayfinding, Wi-Fi access and campus security. Utilizing new technology, the installation of several new lights that contain various sensors to distribute analytics about traffic flow including providing people density heat maps. This is part of our continuing effort to use innovation and forward-thinking technology to create inviting, accessible, safe places for our collective experiences.
COMPLETED
PANTHER EXPRESS
The Panther Express bus routes have been extended to match the library’s business hours. The blue, green and purple bus routes have been extended until 2 a.m.
COMPLETED
RESIDENT HALL STAFF TRAINING
Residence Hall staffs have been given extra preparedness training.
PLACEMAKING CONCEPTS
As part of the ongoing effort to enhance the campus experience, plans continue to develop that will improve the daily experiences of our community. Through town halls, individual discussions and strategic planning meetings, ideas are gathered, evaluated and become action items for the comprehensive plan. See below for ways we are improving the Atlanta Campus.
IN PROGRESS
GILMER STREET PLAZA
Planning is underway to transition the section of Gilmer Street from Peachtree Center Avenue to Courtland Avenue into a pedestrian-only plaza. Situated between Hurt Park and the entrances to Sparks Hall and the Arts and Humanities building, the plaza will serve as a new outdoor gathering space and link Hurt Park to the campus greenway and Library North.
COMPLETED
SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT ENGAGEMENT
The university worked with second and third shift employees, those who work in the late evening and overnight, to better engage with the university community.
IN PROGRESS
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
A safe and secure Georgia State University campus is critical for the financial stability and vibrancy of downtown Atlanta. Georgia State University’s administration has continued to work very closely with partners across the city – the mayor’s office, the Atlanta Police Department, public and private organizations, business leaders and residential housing owners to collectively make changes and enhance the campus experience. This is an ongoing and sustained effort.
IN PROGRESS
PARKS
Working alongside the City of Atlanta and other agencies, Georgia State is committed to enhancing the viability and use of the parks within and adjacent to our campus. In 2022, Georgia State renovated and reopened Hurt Park, which is owned by the City of Atlanta but maintained by Georgia State.
COMPLETED
DOG WASTE STATIONS
Georgia State shares the downtown campus neighborhood with privately owned residential buildings and apartment complexes. While GSU residence halls do not allow pets, many of the privately owned complexes do, and given the proximity to campus green spaces, dog owners take advantage of campus spaces to walk their pets. To assist the community with keeping our campus clean and beautiful, 16 dog waste stations have been installed around campus complete with bags and trash can receptacles.
COMPLETED
FENCING
During the comprehensive safety review of the Atlanta Campus, it was revealed that several areas needed updated fencing or new fencing to create secure spaces. The fencing projects were designed to reduce access for non-GSU individuals in areas such as alleyways, building alcoves, dumpsters and loading docks.
IN PROGRESS
THE GSU BLUE LINE TRAIL MARKERS
Campus pathways are being strategically created with focused resources to enhance the campus experience and placemaking. Initially, trail markers will be placed along the GSU Blue Line so students, staff and visitors can quickly identify the routes of the pathways. The initial wave of trail markers to be installed in April 2024, will serve as placeholders to inform the campus community about the GSU Blue Line and future developments of the GSU Blue Line infrastructure and campus enhancements.
Latest Updates
Transformation Starts With PeopleTuesday’s announcement of the transformational gift from the Woodruff Foundation and President Blake’s vision for our campus to become a “college town downtown” is another turning point in GSU’s rich history. Anyone who knows Georgia State University knows that drive and determination are fundamental traits of our students, faculty and staff, and the opportunity to transform our campus will be embraced and accomplished by all.
