Georgia Military College students at the Valdosta campus use the school’s library to study and finish homework Tuesday. Georgia Military College was recently ranked the No. 12 community college in the nation for 2010.

Following a student survey of campus services, faculty interaction and class assignments, Georgia Military College was ranked the No. 12 community college in the nation for 2010.

Out of 650 community colleges, data collected from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, operating out of the University of Texas, and graduation rates submitted by the U.S. Department of Education, the top 50 community colleges nationwide were determined.

“It’s a huge deal for us and we can only challenge that next year we’ll be 11 or 10,” Billie Washburn, GMC Valdosta campus assistant director/dean of students, said. “ … I blatantly love this school. It’s a huge privilege.”

The student survey was “a measure of the things based on student services,” she said. “It’s what the students reported and what they’re experiencing.”

Over the past 10 years, GMC’s Valdosta campus enrollment has increased from roughly 300 to 2,800 students.

Along with its increase in students, the campus has gone from one of non-traditional students to more traditional students that include people of all ages and backgrounds.

“We’ve seen a difference in our student body,” Washburn said. “ … (There are) a lot more day-time students.”

GMC’s Valdosta campus also has international students, day-time and night-time students and online students. Senior citizens can even attend classes for free.

Originally located at Moody Air Force Base, as enrollment increased and more civilians wanted to attend, the Valdosta campus of GMC was relocated to its North Forrest Street location.

GMC’s Valdosta campus reaches out to its students, providing them access to a learning center, bookstore, multipurpose room, two student success centers, an advising center with three full-time advisors and free on-campus tutoring.

Preparing students by offering a variety of learning opportunities allows students to be “well prepared” for the future, Washburn said.

“We offer classes where the students go to class every day and have contact with teachers every day,” she said. “(Or) you can get your entire degree at night.”  Smaller class sizes that accommodate roughly 24 students each, low tuition fees and a textbook rental program are some of the ways GMC’s Valdosta campus is helping its students succeed.

“It’s a good transition instead of jumping into the college life,” Mary Anderson, GMC’s Valdosta campus enrollment officer, said. “ … We’re very affordable.”

The campus also offers an extensive financial aid package for qualifying students based on their needs.

“We give more financial aid than any other campus and our students give more back than anybody,” Washburn said.

Washburn said that faculty and staff members at GMC’s Valdosta campus base decisions on how they will affect students, as well as maintain good relationships with their students.

“We have a constant stream of people in and out of here to see how things are going,” Anderson said. “ … It’s a great atmosphere to work in. I haven’t been on a campus that’s been this student-focused, this student-centered.”

Anderson and other faculty and staff members often walk the hallways to talk with students and see how they’re doing. Anderson said they want students to know they have a support system of individuals who are available to help them.

“We’re all about the students,” Washburn said. “Everything we do is student-centered, from the top down to the bottom up … that’s a great philosophy if you love college students. I love college students because they’re what it’s all about regardless of their age.”

Established in 1879, Georgia Military College is a co-educational, accredited, liberal arts, junior college with campuses in Augusta, Columbus, Fairburn, Milledgeville, Valdosta, Warner Robins and, as of the fall of 2011, Stone Mountain.

Georgia Military College’s Valdosta campus is located at 4201 N. Forrest St. and can be contacted by calling (229) 269-4848.