After two weeks of debate, the University Curriculum Committee voted Monday to expand degree options for the University of Georgia campus at Griffin.

Following discussion spanning from a March 23 to Monday’s meeting, the Curriculum Committee approved proposals to offer majors in special education, general business, biology and microbiology.

Proponents of approving the majors said increasing the degree options at Griffin will have positive impacts for the University, the Griffin community and the entire state. They also expressed excitement about the potential they found in the Griffin campus.

“Griffin represents a unique and a universal opportunity for the University of Georgia,” said Bob Boehmer, a University vice provost.

He said the satellite campus makes a positive impact in the Griffin community and expands the University’s educational impact to more students.

“Griffin is one of the major areas of growth that we have in the state of Georgia,” said Arnett Mace, University provost. “There has been tremendous support from the community.”

The Griffin campus, about a two hour drive from Athens, provides degree options to about 50 students.

These students apply as transfer students to the University, said Arkin. They must meet the minimum University transfer admission requirements, including the completion of 60 hours with a 2.5 grade point average.

In 2005, the Griffin community voted for the Special Option Local Sales Tax, SPLOST, said Gerald Arkin, an assistant provost at the Griffin Campus.

He said about half of the $20 million generated by this tax will pay for a $10 million Student Learning Center. Though smaller than the SLC in Athens, the buildings will be similar.

Despite support from the community and administration, members of the University Council’s Curriculum Committee expressed concerns at both meetings that students at the Griffin campus could receive a diluted education because some of the proposed programs were designed to begin without tenured-track professors.

“I have concerns that we are creating a teaching campus and not a research institution,” said committee member Rodney Mauricio.

After the March 23 meeting, the proposals were amended to include a statement saying some of the biology and microbiology courses will be taught by tenured-track faculty.

Those opposed to the proposals also asked if students at Griffin will receive the same level of education as students in Athens.

Others suggested Athens students may take summer courses at Griffin in order to make better grades.

Despite these concerns, the proposals passed: the proposal to offer special education, biology and microbiology passed unanimously, while the proposal to offer a major in general business passed with some opposition.