New report suggests Georgia's two-year, technical colleges should merge
By Jana Barnello
Monday, February 02, 2009 at 5:55 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Education, Two Year, Technical Colleges, Merge, Georgia
The “Tough Choices or Tough Times” Working Group report recommends combing Georgia’s two-year and technical colleges.
The report’s first draft says a short-term way to get students better prepared for higher education is to create a “Technical and Academic College System of Georgia.” That recommendation would move two-year schools from the state’s university system to the Technical College System of Georgia. The report goes on to say the University System of Georgia would then focus on bachelor degree programs and research. The final point calls for a credit-transfer system for students. Albany Technical College President Anthony Parker says they can’t speculate on the report since it doesn’t give any specifics on how a merger might work. However, Darton College Professor Roger Marietta says he doesn’t think combining schools would work unless major issues like cost structures and academic and teaching requirements are resolved.
Governor Sonny Perdue is asking the University or Georgia chancellor and Technical College System commissioner for feedback.
