Serving our Students, Serving the State
Chancellor Hank Huckaby launched a number of initiatives in October 2011, all designed to strengthen the University System in its ability to serve students and meet state needs, now and into the future. One of these initiatives was to review the potential for the consolidation of institutions. The Chancellor said: “Looking ahead, we must ensure that our System has the appropriate number of campuses around the state. We need to be organized in ways that truly foster service to our students in the most effective way and that ensure our faculty are properly deployed and supported. Therefore, I believe it is time for the system to study if campus consolidations are justified and will enhance our ability to serve the people of Georgia at less cost.”
At its November meeting the Board of Regents adopted six “Principles for Consolidation” that were then used by University System staff to assess if any campus consolidations would further the USG’s teaching, research and service missions in a more fiscally prudent way. At its January meeting the Board of Regents approved four consolidations among eight USG institutions. Implementation of these consolidations is now taking through a transparent process that involves the efforts of representatives from the institutions.
In May the Board approved new missions for the four new consolidated institutions and new names for two of the institutions. Board approval on the final two new names occurred in August.
Plans are for the full consolidation effort to be completed with accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools and final Board of Regents approval in January 2013.
This website is designed to help foster that transparent process. In addition to general information about the consolidations, there are individual pages for each specific consolidation.