Regents elevate Middle Georgia State to university status

ATLANTA (AP) The Georgia Board of Regents has decided to elevate Middle Georgia State College in Macon to university level as of July 1.

It's a combination of Middle Georgia State College, formerly Middle Georgia College, which merged with Macon State College in 2013. The merged entity will give Georgia 18 university-level institutions.

Christopher Blake, president of the new university, says it will have three campuses -- in Macon, western Bibb County and Warner Robins -- and will offer master's degrees soon.

He says the new name will boost the reputation of the whole middle Georgia area. But Blake, a native of England, says the new university has no plans for a football team.

The Regents also officially approved the earlier-announced combination of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College.