Should we rethink our university system? (Atlanta, Columbus: home, schools, universities)

[MathmanMathman]

I was told that Georgia put colleges in towns across the state to help spur their local economy. i.e. Georgia politicians winning bringing something back to their local constituents. The result was basically the creation of a collection of college towns.

Geographic Map - USG Institutions - University System of Georgia

It's not politically possible to shut some of them down like South Georgia College, East Georgia, or Georgia Southwestern State. In the early 1990's there was an idea floated of creating a system of Regional Universities. The regional university would have other colleges under its authority. It started with Georgia Southern as regional and overseeing Armstrong Atlantic and Savannah State. Then Valdosta State was added but I don't know what schools it would oversee. Rumors spread as to who would be the other regionals such as West Georgia and Georgia State. Georgia State perhaps stood to gain the most as Kennesaw State, Southern Poly (Southern Tech then), Georgia Perimeter (Dekalb College then), Clayton State, and Atlanta Metro would be under them.

Georgia Tech, UGA, and Georgia Medical would be the state research schools.

Anyway, the plans were mysteriously scrapped as a new chancellor came in. Perhaps because of political in-fighting for who's school would be the regional. Plus Armstrong Atlantic and Savannah State complained that Georgia Southern only cared about its development and not theirs.

But, I still liked the idea in principle. Georgia made a mistake in its university system. Regionals should be in Georgia's major cities which means that instead of Georgia Southern in Statesboro, it should have been Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah (Savannah State having a narrowed mission as an HBCU). There should be regionals in Macon/Warner Robbins, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta, and Rome. In other words the larger cities of Georgia. Maybe Georgia State could be the regional in Atlanta and Athens doesn't need one as they have UGA.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

I was told that Georgia put colleges in towns across the state to help spur their local economy. i.e. Georgia politicians winning bringing something back to their local constituents. The result was basically the creation of a collection of college towns.

Completely and totally FALSE! Do some research; nearly ever college and university in the state began as a small specialized institution (industrial school, teacher college, agricultural institute) that eventually evolved to fit the needs of its region. There is nothing wrong with Georgia's university system. It is one of the finest models in the nation and one which other states have made efforts to copy. If it's not broke, don't fix it!

I noticed you've brought up this topic in the past. Seems you have an issue with the Savannah State / Armstrong State duopoly in Savannah, and the perceived second-tier status they play to nearby Georgia Southern. Why is this? I agree a combined Savannah State-Armstrong on paper makes more sense -- it was proposed in the 1990s, but never got past the proposed name "Armstrong Savannah State University (ASSU)" -- THANKFULLY! As for Georgia Southern, it has grown to become a major state university on par with Georgia State, Georgia Tech and UGA. It certainly qualifies for inclusion in Division I / BCS athletic status. It's only a matter of time when that happens, and it will be considered a peer of those larger older institutions in the northern part of the state. Besides, Statesboro is a far more convenient location to the market GSU serves -- only an hour from Augusta, little more than an hour from Macon and surrounded by some of the state's most important and profitable agricultural counties, which is one of GSU's main research missions.

PS -- I went to UGA. GO DAWGS!

PPS -- Have you ever considered the locations of major universities in other states? With few exceptions, they are all located in SMALL college towns outside main population centers, which then grew up around the institutions. This is BY DESIGN: University of Florida in Gainesville, Auburn and Alabama, Clemson, Illinois, all the schools in Indiana, all the schools in Mississippi, all the state universities in New York, and perhaps most notably Penn State in College Station which is a town that was built to be home of the univeresity and is DEAD CENTER between Philly and Pittsburgh. Makes sense huh?

[GRS86]

Originally Posted by MathmanMathman

But, I still liked the idea in principle. Georgia made a mistake in its university system. Regionals should be in Georgia's major cities which means that instead of Georgia Southern in Statesboro, it should have been Armstrong Atlantic in Savannah (Savannah State having a narrowed mission as an HBCU). There should be regionals in Macon/Warner Robbins, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Albany, Valdosta, and Rome. In other words the larger cities of Georgia. Maybe Georgia State could be the regional in Atlanta and Athens doesn't need one as they have UGA.

The University System of GA already has a presence with schools with university status in all the above except Rome.

Macon/Warner Robins- You have Macon State College that has recently been upgraded to four year status. You also have both Ft. Valley State University and GA College and State University both within a thirty minute drive of downtown Macon.

Savannah - As you mentioned, you already have both Savannah St. University and Armstrong Atlantic State University, plus GA Southern University less than an hour away.

Columbus - Columbus State University

Augusta - Augusta State University, and the Medical College of GA

Albany - Albany State University

Valdosta - Valdosta State University

Rome - Doesn't have a public four year college. Could possibly support a satellite of an existing public university.

[Newsboy]

^^^ Rome doesn't have a public 4 year college but it does have 2 private ones -- Shorter and Berry which is nothing to sneeze at. It is also within commuting distance of Kennesaw State, which is the 3rd-largest university in the state with about 25,000 students. It's bigger than Auburn in fact. And soon to have football!

Macon was far and away the most underserved market until Macon State College was upgraded to 4-year status. Still, until it's made a full-fledged university I think Macon remains underserved. Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick was upgraded to 4-year status a couple of years ago. Clayton State is building a satellite campus in Fayette County. Valdosta, Columbus and West Georgia continue to see rapid enrollment growth. UGA has in recent years made the ag experiement stations in Griffin and Tifton full satellite campus offering degree programs. Also, Gwinnett College started out as a branch of UGA but is now a stand-alone 4-year college, the first all- new college built in the state in 40 years. So stuff IS happening.