College of Nursing Athens campus celebrates 50 years of nursing education

The Augusta University College of Nursing celebrated a momentous occasion on Friday, Jan. 24, as faculty, staff, students, alumni and special guests joined together to celebrate 50 years of the Athens campus, affectionately known as CONAT. The celebration consisted of a dinner and program held at the Classic Center.

The program commenced with a welcome from Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz, who spoke about the greatness of Athens and the importance of all residents making it a wonderful place to live and work. CONAT is an important piece of that puzzle, and he commended the college for its successes.

The event also recognized the Athens Class of 2000, as well as all CONAT alumni throughout the years. The Athens BSN and MSN student leaders also volunteered at the event, taking the opportunity to connect with alumni and supporters of their campus.

The College of Nursing began in Athens in 1943 as a department at the University of Georgia. In fact, it did not become affiliated with Augusta until 1956 under the Medical College of Georgia.

CONAT started in 1974 as the School of Nursing in Athens, a three-year BSN program. Five Augusta faculty members transferred to the Athens area to prepare nursing students to care for the medically underserved.

The Athens campus moved to Milledge Avenue in 1987, before finally settling into its current location at 1905 Barnett Shoals Road in 1991. CONAT has continued to improve and evolve – becoming a college in 2011, adding a nursing lab in 2015 and a student lounge in 2019, and undergoing a major renovation with a grand reopening in September 2023.

The updated campus now boasts two classrooms, skills labs, simulation rooms and a student lounge, allowing for enrollment growth within the Athens program.

Assistant Dean of Instruction and Innovation Bill Hamilton, EdD, thanked the many people, from environmental services and the local police department to AU leadership, for the parts they play in keeping the campus running.

“Much has changed from 1943, but one critical feature of the college has remained: Our dedication to providing an excellent education for the future nurses of Georgia,” said Dean Elizabeth NeSmith, PhD.