ATLANTA (February 4, 2009)—Senator Freddie Powell Sims (D- Albany), recently met with university officials to discuss her concerns with Senate Resolution 84 which urges the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to merge, among others, Albany State University with Darton College. The meeting was sparked by the proposal from Sen. Seth Harp (R- Midland) of merging the institutions in order to save money during this year’s budget cut-backs and to end the practice of illegal discrimination in the historically black colleges.
“The missions of these institutions are distinct and well-defined and should not be confused,” proclaims Sims. “There is no need for a merger for the sake of racial integration, because presently, Darton College is fully integrated with an enrollment of 41 percent Black/Non-Hispanic students.”
Sen. Sims met with Chancellor Errol B. Davis Jr. of the University System of Georgia prior to the beginning of this year’s session to discuss the issue of merging Albany State University with Darton College. Chancellor Davis, along with the Board of Regents, Darton College, and Albany State University do not support the mergers.
Albany State University (ASU) is a historically black institution first established in 1903 as the Albany Bible and Manual Training Institution. In 1918, the school changed its name to Georgia Normal and Agricultural College, offering two-year degrees. It became a part of the University System of Georgia in 1932, and became a four-year teacher training school called Albany State College in 1943. It gained university status and its current name in 1996.
ASU’s demographics include a total enrollment of 4,033 with a racial makeup of less than 2% Asian/Pacific Islander, 88% Black/Non-Hispanic, less than 3% Hispanic, and 7% White/Non-Hispanic. The average undergraduate age is 25 years old.
Darton College was founded in 1963 as Albany Junior College. The school’s name changed to Darton College in 1987. Darton is a two-year college offering 73 transfer and career associate degrees.
The demographics of Darton include a total enrollment of 5,019 with a racial makeup of 2% Asian/Pacific Islander, 41% Black/Non-Hispanic, 1% Hispanic, 2% Multiracial, and 54% White/Non-Hispanic. Eighty percent of the students are from Southwest Georgia, and the average student age is 30 years old.
“A would-be merger as expressed by Senator Harp fails to take into account the single most important issue of these two institutions—their mission,” added Sims. “We need to concentrate on what is best for these schools and the South Georgia students attending them. Many students only wish to attain a two-year degree while others intentionally attend the university for other purposes. Higher education should focus on student choice and should remain mission driven.”
Sen. Harp has agreed to create a study committee on Senate Resolution 84 concerning the merging of the institutions in which Sen. Sims will be a member. She will engage in conversation with Sen. Harp and the other members in order to discuss the mission and the needs of these institutions.
Sen. Freddie Powell Sims represents the 12th Senate District which includes Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Dougherty, Quitman, Randolph and Terell counties and a portion of Mitchell County. She may be reached by phone at 404.463.5259 or email at Freddie.Sims@senate.ga.gov.
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2009
For Information Contact:
Raegan Weber, Director
Hayley Howell, Senate Press Office Aide
hayley.howell@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0029