Merger of Coosa Valley Tech and Georgia Highlands?
Tony Potts
01-08-2009
Already technical colleges of Georgia are merging. Could 2 year schools
in the University System of Georgia be next. The current
incarnation of the idea has emerged from the recommendations
made to Governor Perdue by Chuck Knapp, former UGA president and
a member of the task force that published the national report
titled `Tough Choices or Tough Times`. What this merger would do
is create a true `community college` system in Georgia. In an email
attained by CoosaValleyNews.com Georgia Highlands College President
Randy Pierce said, `Frankly, I believe this movement to be, at
some level, a lobbying effort by the TCSG.`
Currently there are 8 two year colleges in the University System
of Georgia and as of this year will be 26 technical colleges
in the system.
There are only currently two states in the United States, Georgia
and Wisconsin, that do not have a `true` community college system.
Sources close to the merger have said the move would allow the
University System of Georgia to focus on higher academics in the
system while only dealing with bachelor degrees or higher.
John Millsaps, Associate Vice Chancellor for Media & Publications
Board of Regents 270 said in a statement, ` The University System of Georgia (USG)
and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCGSA) have long
enjoyed a close working partnership. Especially in a period of
limited state resources, it is incumbent on all state agencies to
ensure that their operations are as efficient and effective as
possible. Toward that end, the USG and the TCSGA are working
together to review their current programs and operations, in
order to determine the appropriateness of the alignment of the
two organizational structures to meet the needs of the next
generation of Georgia college students. This will be a long-term
effort, and the USG and the TCSGA will announce their joint
planning process and timeline in the coming weeks.`
Dana Davis, Dir. of College Relations, `I don`t think enough study
has been done yet to really determine if the merger would be beneficial.`
Davis added, `However, I don`t believe that it would ultimately hurt
the system, I think more research has to be done. The students is
the most important part of the entire thing.`
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