SACS gives nod to University of North Georgia

A new university made up from two existing schools in our area cleared its second to last hurdle for approval Tuesday.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave its nod to the consolidation plans for the University of North Georgia.

That's the merger of North Georgia College and State University and Gainesville State College.

"We had to outline all of our financials, all of our faculty credentialing, all of our facilities and all of our policies and procedures," NGCSU President Dr. Bonita Jacobs said.

The SACS approval clears the way for the Georgia University System Board of Regents to authorize the merger next year.

"We anticipate that the board will do so, and if the vote approves us, we're planning to have a giant celebration in the region on the tenth of January," Jacobs said.

"We'll be caravaning between our campuses. We'll have a lot of UNG giveaways and just a great fun time to celebrate the newness of what we'll be able to do in this region."

The board of regents is scheduled to meet January eighth.