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The Champion, Thursday, December 24 - 30,2015 EDUCATION
Page14A
A Section 12-24-15.indd 14
12/22/15 3:44 PM
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
CLARK STOW CAMPUS
GSU gets head start on merger
by Ashley Oglesby
ashley@dekalbchamp.com
Georgia Perimeter College
(GPC) students and faculty
observed workers making
changes to the colleges sig
nage in preparation for the
merge with Georgia State Uni
versity (GSU).
The Southern Associa
tion of Colleges and Schools
(SACS) Commission on Col
leges gave its approval on Dec.
8 to the consolidation plans
of GSU and GPC which were
first announced by Chancel
lor Hank Huckaby. The new
institution in slated to open in
January 2016.
Huckaby said in a state
ment, “Georgia State is a rec
ognized national leader in im
proving student success and
will be able to apply its best
practices to a broad student
body from across the state.”
He added, “Combining
these attributes with Georgia
Perimeter Colleges leader
ship in providing access to
students across the metro
area presents a significant op
portunity to improve student
success. I thank the Southern
Association of Colleges and
Schools Commission on Col
leges for its thoughtful assess
ment and approving, once
again, a new university system
institution.”
The new institution will
maintain its access mission
through Georgia Perimeter
College, offering associate de
grees while the main campus
of Georgia State University
will continue its research mis
sion.
With the completion of
the consolidation, the number
of institutions in the Univer
sity System of Georgia will be
reduced from 30 to 29.
Officials from SACS
Commission on Colleges,
the regional body for the ac
creditation of degree-granting
higher education in the
Southern states, announced
the approval of the prospectus
submitted for the new institu
tion during the organizations
annual meeting in Houston.
SACS Commission on
Colleges’ approval represents
the final step needed for the
Board of Regents to review
and grant authorization for
the consolidated institution to
officially operate as the new
Georgia State University. The
board is scheduled to review
the final recommendation
for consolidation at its Jan. 6,
2016 meeting.
During his visits to Geor
gia Perimeter’s five campuses
Georgia State University Pres
ident Mark Becker, who will
lead the new institution, said,
“I’m pretty excited about this.”
At each visit, GPC academic
and student service deans
presented Becker with infor
mation about the campus.
Following the presentations,
Becker spoke and answered
questions from students, fac
ulty and staff.
Becker said, “As you
engage in this [consolida
tion] process, we will have a
blending of cultures,” Becker
said. “There will be some
simple things—like combin
ing manuals—and there will
be some very hard things, like
combining the Banner (data)
systems.”
Combining the data sys
tems of both institutions is
essential by January 2016, he
said.
“The initial success of this
consolidation will be mea
sured by whether students can
enroll in classes, receive finan
cial aid—and you [faculty and
staff] get paid.”
The official unveiling cer
emony will take place on Jan.
13 at 10 a.m. on the Clarkston
Campus.
Members of the Georgia
State University band and
cheer squad will perform at
the event. The ceremony will
also welcome Dr. Peter Lyons
as the new vice provost and
dean.
Agnes Scott alumni
elected as chairwoman
Elizabeth “Beth”
Daniel Holder has
been elected as the next
chairwoman of Agnes
Scott Colleges Board
of Trustees. Holder will
ler term
\ class
Holder
received a degree in
economics at Agnes
Scott and pursued an
early career in banking
at First Atlanta Bank
(now Wells Fargo). She
is a noted philanthro
pist and active commu
nity leader in Atlanta
who previously chaired
the board of the Atlanta
Ballet.
Holder will succeed
Clyde Tuggle, senior vice president and chief public
affairs and communications officer at The Coca-
Cola Company, who completes his board term on
June 30, 2016. Portia O. Morrison, an attorney in
Chicago, will continue as vice chair.
“I’m deeply honored to be elected to chair the
Board of Trustees. As an alumna, I understand and
appreciate the value of an Agnes Scott education,
and my appointment represents an opportunity to
give back to the college in a meaningful way,” Holder
said. “This is an exciting time at Agnes Scott as we
have just welcomed our largest-ever first-year class
and launched SUMMIT, which provides every stu
dent with a focus on global learning and leadership
development. It’s a privilege to help shape the future
of an institution that is on the move and committed
to preparing students to be leaders in a global soci-
ety.
Since joining the Agnes Scott Board of Trustees
in 2008, Holder has chaired the board’s college ad
vancement committee and its committee on trustees.
She is also a national co-chair of “The Greatness
Before Us: The Campaign for Agnes Scott College,”
which has raised $97 million toward the $100 mil
lion goal. The campaign concludes December 2016.
“Beth Holder is a highly respected leader in our
community who brings incisive strategic intelligence,
grace and extraordinary dedication to everything
she does,” Agnes Scott College President Elizabeth
Kiss said. “Her many connections across Atlanta and
beyond, her passionate commitment to Agnes Scott’s
mission and strategic direction, and her legendary
ability to persuade people to support causes she be
lieves in make her the ideal board leader for the next
chapter of Agnes Scott’s history.”
In addition to Agnes Scott and the Atlanta Ballet,
Holder has served on the board of the Camp Merrie-
Woode Foundation, Georgia Center for Children,
the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs and the
North Georgia Chapter of the March of Dimes. She
is currently on the advisory council of the St. Simons
Land Trust and is president of the Kelin Foundation.
She is married to Thomas M. (Tommy) Holder,
chairman and CEO of Holder Construction Co., and
they have two adult daughters.
“Clyde Tuggle has been an exemplary board
chair for Agnes Scott and has helped recruit a highly
effective and distinguished group of trustees,” Holder
added. “So it is with great enthusiasm that I commit
to continuing his model of fine work for the board
and college.”
officially begin 1
on July 1, 2016.
of 1982 alumna,