So long, Georgia Regents. Hello, Augusta University

Georgia Regents University is no more.

The state Board of Regents voted unanimously Tuesday to change the name of the research institution to Augusta University. The name change is effective immediately.

The GRU name has been a point of contention in Augusta since the Regents consolidated Augusta State and Georgia Health Sciences universities and named the new institution Georgia Regents in 2012.

Students and area residents wanting to retain the city of Augusta name in the university name protested and began a “Save the A” campaign. Regent University in Virginia also challenged the GRU name, saying it had trademarked the “Regent” name.

GRU’s new president Brooks Keel had been prodded by residents to restore the Augusta name since taking over the university in June.

“Georgia Regents University or Augusta University cannot become the university it can be without complete support from the community,” Keel said during Tuesday’s Regents meeting in Atlanta. The name change, he said, will help establish the strong and necessary partnership between the community and school.

So who pays for the name change?

University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby said people in Augusta have pledged to raise money to cover the costs.

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