[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21599-21600]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                COMMENDING FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

 Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. President, I wish to honor in the Record of 
the Senate Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, GA, and the 
schools leadership team, headed by its great president and alumnus, Dr. 
Larry E. Rivers.
  This fall, more than 1,500 new freshmen have started classes at Fort 
Valley State University, making their mark on their very first day as 
the largest incoming freshman class in the schools history. This large 
freshmen class allowed the school to exceed the enrollment goal set by 
Dr. Rivers. In fact, total enrollment has doubled since Dr. Rivers 
arrival at Fort Valley State University in 2006.
  The 2010 edition of Americas Best Colleges by U.S. News Media Group 
listed Fort Valley State University as No. 21 among historically Black 
colleges and universities. FVSU is listed among first-tier schools such 
as Spelman College, Howard University, and Morehouse College.

[[Page 21600]]

  Due to these great achievements by FVSU, the school is expanding at a 
rapid pace. A new $9 million stadium opened on August 29, 2009, to 
start the Wildcat football season. In addition, plans for 2010 include 
a $16.7 million science building and a $6 million student amenities 
building. Other plans for the future include a Family Development 
Center and the expansion of the Stallworth Agricultural Research 
Building to add additional laboratory space. The Georgia Board of 
Regents also recently approved new FVSU College of Education programs, 
including agriculture education 6-12, special education general 
curriculum/early childhood education P-5, middle grades education 4-8, 
and school counselor. The board of regents also approved online 
bachelors degree programs in political science, psychology and 
English--Technical English and professional writing--and offsite 
programs in criminal justice, business administration, and an online 
criminal justice franchise.
  It is also evident through the school's community outreach efforts 
that the young people who attend Fort Valley State University are 
putting the skills they learn in the classroom to even greater use in 
the surrounding community and are learning to make a positive 
difference in the lives of others.
  I am pleased to acknowledge the great work that is done each day at 
Fort Valley State University, and I appreciate the vision of Dr. Rivers 
and his team to ensure students receive the highest quality education 
possible.

                          ____________________