Dec. 17, 2024
Reading time: 3 minutes, 4 seconds

From groundbreaking achievements to unforgettable moments, 2024 has been a year to remember at the University of West Georgia. Join us as we count down some of the top 10 news stories from 2024 – the highlights that defined our year and set the stage for an even brighter future. 

Wishing you a season of joy, a year of growth and endless opportunities ahead. Here’s to a bright and brilliant 2025. Go West and Go Wolves!


UWG football player close up

We Are One: UWG Elevates to Division I Sports

The University of West Georgia officially reached the pinnacle of collegiate athletics as the Wolves ascended to NCAA Division I status on July 1. 

UWG students at the entrance sign

Breaking Records: UWG Reaches New Enrollment Milestone with 14,400 Students

UWG celebrated a significant milestone this fall, reaching its highest enrollment ever and continuing its trajectory of excellence and growth. With around 14,400 Wolves enrolled at UWG, this achievement underscores the institution’s commitment to offering a transformative educational experience that attracts students from across the nation and around the globe. 

UWG's mobile health unit

UWG Nationally Recognized as Campus of the Year for Commitment to Wellness

The word is out. Wellness isn’t just a buzzword at UWG – it’s woven into the very fabric of the institution’s DNA. In recognition of this commitment, UWG was named Campus of the Year by Butler University’s Institute for Well-being, a pioneering center dedicated to enhancing holistic support for health.

UWG administrators and faculty and community members at a ribbon-cutting ceremony

‘It Takes a Village’: UWG Cuts the Ribbon on Newly Renovated Humanities Building

In October, UWG celebrated the reopening of the Humanities building, cutting the ribbon on a $31.8 million renovation. A longtime hub of creativity since its 1970 debut, the building is now reimagined to inspire future generations of Wolves. 

UWG computing student

A Pearl of Wisdom: UWG’s Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry College of Mathematics, Computing, and Sciences Named for Longtime Professor 

UWG announced the establishment of the Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry College of Mathematics, Computing, and Sciences in August, named in honor of the late Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry, a beloved mathematics professor who served UWG for more than two decades. 

UWG student filming a football game at University Stadium for ESPN+

UWG Productions Helps Students Score Big with ESPN+ Broadcasts

At UWG, where every game is a chance to shine, a student-led production team turns passion into tangible experience. Behind the scenes, the students in UWG Productions gain hands-on skills in media production, teamwork and problem solving, all while bringing the excitement of college sports to life on ESPN+

UWG students at a table studying

Here We Grow: UWG Establishes Two New Colleges, Names Interim Deans

UWG remains laser-focused on aligning the needs of industry with the educational experiences students have both in and out of the classroom. To strengthen those connections and enhance service and support for student success in their respective areas, UWG launched two new colleges on July 1, 2024: the Dr. James 'Earl' Perry College of Mathematics, Computing and Sciences and the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.

UWG professors outside on campus

A ‘Nanoscience Revolution’: U.S. Department of Defense Awards UWG Largest Instrumentation Grant in Decades

Bearing witness to UWG’s excellence in undergraduate research, the newly named Dr. James ‘Earl’ Perry College of Mathematics, Computing and Sciences recently received the university’s largest instrumentation grant in more than 25 years from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Elle Duncan on set

Swishes Come True: ESPN’s Elle Duncan Talks UWG, Sports Journalism

ESPN SportsCenter anchor Elle Duncan was always meant for the limelight, and UWG helped her determine where she’d shine. She recently helped her alma mater announce the next chapter of its story when she narrated the We Are One video, announcing UWG’s elevation to Division I athletics

UWG student at a desk

UWG's Online MBA Remains No. 1, Online Bachelor Programs No. 2 in Georgia

For the third consecutive year, UWG’s online MBA program remains top in the state, as announced by media powerhouse U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings