Long a center of higher education, Gainesville and Hall County has continued to flourish as Gainesville State College continues to expand the number of four-year degrees it offers.

Another major component of higher learning is the current quest of Lanier Technical College to seek accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. This is the logical next step in moving Lanier Tech await from the image of a trade school and solidifying its rightful place as a post-secondary college.

And Brenau University's recent announcement of an ambitious plan to expand its academic mission is a concept the community should readily embrace.

The plan calls for the university to become the premier private doctoral degree granting liberal arts institution in the Southeast. That's one heck of a lofty goal to set. But Brenau officials think they can make it happen.

"We've got a number of unique ways to define regionally exemplary that I think are very cutting-edge that are going to make Brenau a pre-eminent name in academic circles, but also going to do great things for Gainesville and Hall County," Brenau President Ed Schrader said recently.

The strategic plan, which comes with it a commitment to spend millions of dollars on facilities, faculty and scholarships, was approved at the spring meeting of the university's board of trustees. The sweeping plan calls for doubling enrollment from the current 2,578 to 5,000 by 2025, adding degree programs, shortening the calendar time it takes to earn degrees and enriching cross-discipline curriculum based on four "portals" of learning.

At a time when a significant number of public school administrators are nearing retirement age, we could soon have an institution here that will prepare the next generation of educational leaders.

But it is more than education degrees.

The university envisions offering terminal degrees in such disciplines as occupational therapy, nursing and psychology.

While the original mission of the college, as a residential women's college is not going away, university officials believe that by 2025, there will be 5,000 students at Brenau with half of them enrolled in advance degree programs.

Also still in the evaluation stage is a medical college to grant degrees to future physicians, which will add to Hall County's reputation as a medical hub.

To do all of these things will require money and the university believes the price tag of the strategic plan will be $40 million to $55 million, and that doesn't include the medical school.

The current budget of the university is $40 million annually, which translates into an economic impact of $80 million. Schrader believes that impact could reach $160 million in today's dollars by 2025.

The administration and trustees have chosen an ambitious course for the future and Brenau has proven in the past that it can handle a significant challenge. This may be the university's most lofty goal. But we believe it's a goal worthy of pursuit.

We applaud the efforts of Brenau and our other institutions of higher learning for their on-going desire to enhance Gainesville and Hall County's reputation for providing quality education. Hall County will be a better place because of those efforts.