GPC is expected to become the 10th college under the Georgia State University umbrella. (photo by Bill Roa)

by Rebecca Rakoczy

The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted Jan. 6 to consolidate Georgia Perimeter College and Georgia State University.

The process of combining the two entities will take about 18 months. The new, consolidated institution, which will be named Georgia State University, will have an enrollment of about 54,000, making it the largest university in Georgia.

The Board of Regents appointed Georgia State University President Dr. Mark Becker as president of the consolidated institution. Rob Watts, GPC’s interim president, will continue to guide GPC until the consolidation is complete.

Becker and Watts say they expect GPC to become the 10th college under Georgia State University and that GPC students who meet requirements will be able to transfer seamlessly to Georgia State without reapplying.

In college-wide forums held in February, Becker said he anticipates that baccalaureate-seeking students will attend Georgia State’s downtown Atlanta campus, while associate-degree-seeking students will attend class on what are now GPC’s five campuses. The online campus at GPC will become part of a larger university-wide platform for online education, he said.

A Consolidation Implementation Committee comprising 42 faculty, staff and students from both institutions was formed to oversee the consolidation. In addition, 43 organizational working groups were named in a variety of areas—from academics to financial aid—to work out the details of combining the two institutions. The “OWGs” are expected to give their recommendations to the CIC to compile and review by July 1.

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

It is expected that the BOR will approve the final details of the consolidation during its January 2016 board meeting.

For information about the consolidation, go to http://consolidation.gsu.edu