HBCUs Suggested To Merge With Majority Schools

Should historically black colleges merge with white-majority schools to save money?

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The state of Georgia is looking to cut costs by up to 10 percent, and some lawmakers are suggesting that historically black colleges should merge with their white-majority neighbors to save money.

Under the plan, historically black Savannah State University would be merged with Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, and historically black Albany State would be merged with Darton College in Albany. The institutions were formed during a time when education in Georgia was segregated.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has more:

Any decision to merge the schools would have to be made by the University System's Board of Regents. The system receives about $2.3 billion in annual state funding, but the governing body makes decisions about the system's 35 schools.

System Chancellor Erroll Davis said merging historically black colleges is more than an economic issue because the schools have a long history of providing education to African-Americans in Georgia. The idea would probably face strong opposition from supporters of historically black colleges nationally.

Do you support these cost-saving measures, or do you feel there is still a need in the African-American community for historically black colleges?

Geoffrey Gardner

Tags: Albany State | Armstrong Atlantic University | Darton College | HBCUs | Savannah State University | black colleges

12:41 PM ET | 12- 2-2008 | permalink

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