10.6. ARCHE (Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education)

The Atlanta region enjoys a concentration of colleges and universities matched by few U.S. metropolitan areas. Their diversity of programs and collective resources make the Atlanta region one of America’s leading centers for higher education.

Nineteen public and private colleges and universities—including Oglethorpe—comprise the membership of the Atlanta Region Council for Higher Education (ARCHE); the membership roster also consists of five affiliated libraries and 12 corporate and nonprofit community partners. ARCHE brings these constituents together to build awareness of the campuses’ collective scope, impact and value and to help them share strengths through cooperative programs. For additional information, please visit www.atlantahighered.org/ (from which all information in this section is taken).

ARCHE works to strengthen public support for higher education, promote economic and community development, and help its members collaborate in ways that leverage their individual strengths. ARCHE offers two important cooperative programs that help its member institutions expand opportunities for students, faculty and staff.

10.6.1. Cross Registration Program

ARCHE’s cross registration program allows students at member institutions to broaden their academic experience by registering for courses at other member colleges and universities. It shares the vast resources of ARCHE member specialties by offering students access to courses not offered at their home institution, and allows them a chance to experience a different campus environment.

Registration is handled through a student’s home institution. Students must contact their college or university’s cross registration coordinator. Further details are available in Sec. 6.8.5. and Sec. 6.9.4.

10.6.2. Interlibrary Loan Program

Collectively, the libraries of ARCHE member institutions contain millions of volumes and countless periodicals, journals and other print and electronic educational resources. Through ARCHE, these vast resources are shared among member institutions’ students and faculty. Member institutions also collaborate with the region’s major non-university libraries and archives through ARCHE’s affiliated library members (which include Atlanta-Fulton County Public Library System, Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Georgia Archives, Georgia Public Library Service, and National Archives and Records Administration—Southeast Region).