Dalton State’s Roadrunner Experience supports our regional workforce

With the new academic year starting in just a couple of weeks, Dalton State College is preparing for near-record enrollment with just more than 5,000 students, and Mashburn Hall—our on-campus residence hall—will be at full capacity for the first time since opening in 2016. These are very encouraging indicators of growth and opportunity for our students and the region. 

As we welcome our new and returning students, we will be talking a lot about the “Roadrunner Experience”—the collection of academic and developmental experiences that equip Dalton State graduates to successfully compete in the job market, excel in their careers, and contribute to their communities. Along with the knowledge they acquire, our students develop critical thinking, communication, reasoning, and problem-solving skills that prepare them to be valuable team members and leaders. 

Whether pursuing a degree in the arts, business, health professions, education, or STEM, all Dalton State students will receive the full Roadrunner Experience. Our community partners help make the Roadrunner Experience a reality for our students. From internships to service-learning projects, from engaging students in the classroom as guest speakers to providing philanthropic support for scholarships, you all play a role in transforming the lives of our students, their families and communities. We thank you for that! 

With about 50 percent of our students being first-generation college students, it is important that we provide these high-quality educational opportunities close to home. We know that affordability and practicality are essential to them and their families. It is significant for our industry partners, too. Report after report continues to highlight that some of the top challenges for businesses—locally and nationally—are workforce shortages and recruiting and retaining talent. With each graduating class, our alumni are helping to alleviate this burden. 

Dalton State produces nearly 750 graduates each year. Most of our graduates are employed before or upon graduation, and many of them are staying local, beginning and maintaining their careers in Northwest Georgia. 

Our most recent survey of graduates showed that 78 percent of the respondents were employed in Georgia, and 67 percent were employed in positions in Dalton and the surrounding area.  

Recent reports reinforce Dalton State’s long reputation for affordability and value. Dalton State ranks number one in Georgia and 52 nationally for affordability according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Affordability and Transparency Center. The report lists the top 10% of public four-year institutions with the lowest net prices based on the 2021-22 academic year. In a time where there is a lot of focus on high levels of student debt, I am pleased that 83 percent of Dalton State’s 2022-23 graduates completed degrees without student loans. 

With support from the University System of Georgia, and our community friends and supporters, Dalton State is committed to maintaining affordability, making higher education accessible to a broader demographic and supporting a more educated workforce with enhanced earning potential. 

I hope you will join me in congratulating Dalton State’s most recent graduates and supporting our newest students as they begin the Roadrunner Experience.