Atlanta — May 27, 2005

Board of Regents Chair Joel O. Wooten announced today the appointment of the committee that will be charged with assisting in selecting a president to lead Gwinnett County’s new state college.

The Board of Regents received approval from the state Legislature and Governor this spring to transition the existing Gwinnett University Center in Lawrenceville into a stand-alone state college. The new institution will help meet the needs of fast-growing Gwinnett County, the largest county east of the Mississippi without a stand-alone, four-year public college or university.

The new college will be Georgia’s 35th public institution of higher education. The transition from the existing Gwinnett University Center to the new stand-alone state college is expected to take approximately three years.

Wooten, in conjunction with University System of Georgia Chancellor Thomas C. Meredith, named three regents to serve on the Special Regents’ Committee, as called for by the board’s policy on presidential searches. Regent Richard Tucker will chair the committee. Regent Hugh Carter and Regent Pat Pittard will serve as its members.

The Special Regents’ Committee will interview five unranked finalists and provide its evaluation and advice to the chancellor and the full Board of Regents.

The search for a president for the new Gwinnett County institution is expected to conclude in early fall.

“The Board of Regents will be aggressive in seeking candidates who can manage the rapid growth of this new college and quickly position it as a leader in higher education,” said Regent Wooten.

Even before earning status as a stand-alone college, the Gwinnett University Center currently ranks as the ninth-largest site in the University System of Georgia, with more than 8,000 students from Georgia Perimeter College and the University of Georgia currently enrolled in courses there.

Chairman Wooten and Chancellor Meredith also announced that Baker-Parker and Associates of Atlanta has been selected as the executive search firm that will assist the regents in identifying candidates for the new college presidency.

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