Details still in the works for Georgia's college mergers

GAINESVILLE - While there is a framework in place for consolidating North Georgia College & State University and Gainesville State College, the details of the merger are far from finished. That was the word in Gainesville Thursday from Steve Wrigley, the Executive Vice Chancellor for the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents.

Wrigley, speaking to the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, said most of the work on the campus consolidation for NGCSU and GSC, as well as three other consolidations for Georgia insitutions, will be left up to implementation teams for each project. He said the Board of Regents will take a back seat on most decisions, allowing the 'new' campuses to be molded by those who will use them.

He said the teams will work on simple tasks, such as choosing new mascots, and they will have more complex issues to tackle, with help from the Board.

"There'll be issues around, you know, blending HR/personnel, faculty promotion and tenure...all of that we'll have to look at," said Wrigley.

Wrigley also said he believes other states are watching Georgia to see how the consolidation process works and if it is successful, which he believes it will be, those states may follow Georgia's model.

One of the primary goals of the consolidation model is to save money for the University System of Georgia, but Wrigley insisted that is not necessarily the most important goal.

"The last thing we want is any kind of disruption to the student. Our focus really is about students, improving their chances and opportunities," said Wrigley.

He said the implementation teams are set to begin their work in the next several days. Once those meetings begin, then more details on the blending of the campuses will emerge.

Wrigley did say the target date for the merged campuses to be ready is Fall 2013, although some may take longer to establish.