Conyers University is a great way to get to know your city!

Conyers University is a pilot program created to accomplish two main goals: 1) put a face on, or personalize, local government, and 2) further inform and engage citizens who will ultimately become ambassadors for the city of Conyers.

Who Can Apply

Local citizens who want an inside look at their city government are encouraged to sign up for Conyers University in the fall of 2024. The program, an initiative of the Conyers Mayor and City Council, is limited to no more than 20 participants who must be a resident of Conyers or Rockdale County. Registration is free and will be available starting in August 2024.

How to Apply

As of September 4, registration is closed for the 2024 class of Conyers University due to exceeding the number of participants the class can accommodate. Thank you for your interest!

Applicants will be notified of acceptance into the program by Friday, September 13.

We understand conflicts arise, but please plan to attend and participate in all sessions to get the most out of the program.

The Program

Participants will attend and participate in a six-week session of classes on Monday evenings from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. beginning in September 2024. All sessions with the exception of the public safety session will take place in the Conyers City Hall Training Room. Sessions will be led by city staff and officials on a variety of topics and departments relevant to citizens living and working in Conyers. Each session will include an interactive activity relevant to the session's topic. A light supper will be served. Topics are subject to change, but the outline of sessions is below:

What’s Gov Got to Do With It?: Meet Mayor Evans and city staff for the opening session in which they’ll provide an overview of Conyers city government including the history of the city we know and love, explain how the city limits were derived, voting districts, the city’s organizational chart, and provide other interesting and intriguing information about the city we call home.

OpenHQ: The Conyers Police Department is on the job daily to serve and protect our citizens and visitors. In 2022, the CPD launched a new community policing and engagement initiative called Open HQ. In this session of Open HQ at the Conyers Police Department Public Safety Complex at 1194 Scott Street, you’ll meet Chief Scott Freeman and police command staff, learn about new programs and efforts of the CPD, and allowed an opportunity to try the virtual training simulator.

We Built This City (of Conyers): Today we meet the talented employees who comprise the city’s Planning and Inspections Department and Code Enforcement divisions. Permitting, building plans, land uses, zoning requests, code enforcement and geographical information systems mapping – there’s a lot this department covers! We’ll rock and roll through all the important responsibilities this department has in the present and future plans for Conyers.

Takin’ It To The Streets: We’re delving into the world of Public Works and Transportation in this session! Class members will learn how this important department handles road and infrastructure maintenance, the city’s cemeteries, parks and trail system, and how SPLOST is vital to helping to fund many of Public Works’ responsibilities. You’ll also hear about the city’s relationship with Pratt Industries in handling the city’s sanitation and recycling needs.

Money, Money, Money: ABBA sings “I work all night, I work all day to pay the bills I have to pay.” Who else can relate?  “Where does my tax money go?” is one of our most asked questions at City Hall and in this session, you’ll learn all there is to know about the city’s budgeting process, how the millage rate is calculated, and the impact of taxes, fees, licenses, and more, on the city’s award-winning budget. Join us to learn more about the city’s finances in an easy-to-understand and relatable format.

Come Together: There’s more that connects us than divides us. This final session before graduation will delve into a variety of topics including economic development (what the city can vs. can’t control in terms of what businesses locate here and in what zoning categories), diversity and inclusion efforts, and an overview of tourism and its impact on our community.

Graduation and recognition for Conyers University students will take place at a November 2024 Conyers City Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. 

Questions?

Do you have questions about Conyers University? Contact Jennifer Edwards at 770-929-4299 or jennifer.edwards@conyersga.gov or Casey Duren at 770-929-0453 or casey.duren@conyersga.gov. 

Pictured left to right: The inaugural 2023 Conyers University Class at their November 15 graduation are Christopher Lester, Martin Edmond, Nikki Hamm, LaShondra Payton, Jennifer Edmond, Connie Neely, LaVern Rush, Tina Hobbs, Kenroy Carney, Carolyn Renolds, Dafina Laukam, Phil Gandy, Genia Ardrey and Mayor Evans. Not pictured: Tamekia White.