The Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University Consolidation Implementation Committee met for the first time Jan. 30 at the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents office in Atlanta.

During the next 18 months, the 42-member committee will begin crafting the mission statement, goals and direction of the new institution. The team—which includes GPC President Rob Watts, Georgia State President Dr. Mark Becker and 20 representatives from each institution—will be guided by Shelley Nickel, USG vice chancellor for strategic planning and implementation, and led by Becker, who will preside over the consolidated institution.

Becker spoke about the close relationship that already exists between the two institutions.

“Twenty percent of Georgia State’s undergraduates come from GPC,” he said. “Our two institutions have had a close academic relationship going back decades.”

USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby encouraged the group to proceed with excitement for the opportunity to set history in public higher education. He also asked them to look at “what is best for students—not necessarily what is best for the institution.” Nickel shared learnings from prior consolidations and stressed the importance of leadership, communications, stakeholder engagement and transparency.  

Watts noted how rare it is in higher education to be able to create something entirely new. “This is a legacy moment,” he said.

By Sept. 15, a prospectus, which will include the mission statement, organizational structure and operations plan for the consolidated institution, must be presented to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for review at its December 2015 meeting.

During the meeting, Nickel introduced Dr. Ed Rugg, the Board of Regents’ SACS consultant who has guided four other USG consolidation efforts, the most recent of which was that of Southern Polytechnic State University and Kennesaw State University. Rugg will work with the implementation committee as it moves forward.

If SACS approves the union, the Board of Regents has 30 days to validate the action and is expected to review and approve the entire consolidation plan during its January 2016 meeting.  The aim is for the two institutions to function as one entity by July 1, 2016, and for students to officially begin attending the consolidated institution in the fall of 2016.

GPC members of the team reflected on the opportunities the consolidation presents.

“It is striking how much GPC and Georgia State have for years had in common with students and faculty,” said Dr. Paul Hudson, who teaches history at Georgia Perimeter. “As a Georgia State alumnus and a GPC professor, I look forward to our exciting goal of consolidating two distinguished institutions of higher learning that I love deeply.”

Debra Denzer, GPC Faculty Senate chair, was reassured by the tone of the committee’s first meeting.

“I think an important takeaway was that the consolidation team’s recommendations will be driven by what is best for students … and that the timeline does not preclude inclusive, deep and thoughtful conversation during decision-making.”