With no discussion, the state Board of Regents Tuesday unanimously approved six guidelines staff will use as they consider how to merge some of the system’s 35 colleges.
It's too soon to say how many and which colleges will merge.
Regents Chairman Ben Tarbutton said he expects the board will receive recommendations during the first quarter of 2012. Once approved, Tarbutton predicted the mergers would be implemented over 12 to 18 months.
Campus consolidations have the potential to save taxpayers millions while affecting thousands of students across the state. The move also will set off a firestorm as alumni, students, politicians and community members fight against changes that threaten their campuses.
"We've done the easy part," Tarbutton said. "Applying the principles will be much more difficult and time consuming."
The "consolidation principles" approved say that any merger should make the system more cost-effective, improve graduation rates and provide more access statewide to quality programs.
As part of the process, University System of Georgia staff will review degree duplication among the colleges to make sure campuses are not competing against one another, Executive Vice Chancellor Steve Wrigley said.
Wrigley said staff will spend "as much as a couple of months" reviewing data based on the merger parameters and then will submit recommendations to the regents.
Tarbutton said there is no target number of campuses the University System is looking to reach, adding "every school is on the table."
Chancellor Hank Huckaby has told the state's colleges not to panic but staff, students and community leaders have spent the past couple of months wondering if their campuses are at risk.
Mergers have long been controversial and emotional.
A state senator ignited widespread debate three years ago when he suggested the system merge Armstrong Atlantic State and Savannah State, both in Savannah, and Albany State and Darton College, both in Albany, to save money. The idea was shot down by local politicians, alumni and supporters of historically black colleges, which include Savannah State and Albany State.
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