Georgia Southern-Armstrong consolidation committee member speaks to FOX 28
Savannah, Ga. (WTGS FOX 28) — It could be more than a year before Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University officially consolidate. Those involved in process are working to wrinkle out the details.
The Consolidation Implementation Committee includes students, faculty and staff from Georgia Southern and Armstrong, as well as one representative from nearby Savannah State University. All 41 committee members met in Atlanta to discuss first steps.
Dr. Georj Lewis, Armstrong's VP of Student Affairs, was one of the chosen few.
"When we went to Atlanta, we walked in the room and there were so many familiar faces," Lewis stated. Even though he's serving on the committee, Lewis says he's not feeling pressure.
"No pressure. It's a privilege for this--to be on the team that has the opportunity to work together really to create this new campus," said Lewis.
Lewis and his fellow committee members will strategize about how the consolidation will play out for both institutions. Right now, there aren't many answers--more notably what will happen to Armstrong student athletes, coaches and athletic programs. But Lewis says students will be at the forefront of all their decisions.
"If you look at the mission statement of both of our campuses, student success or students is at the top. So one thing that won't change is how we will focus on students throughout this whole process," Lewis said.
The committee is in the process of developing a new university mission statement, but their window for action is tight. Lewis says the committee hopes to develop the statement by April and finish the transition process within 12-18 months.
"The mission will actually drive all the works groups and those activities and so we have to set that stage first and then once the stage is set, we will continue to work during the next 12-18 months to pull the institution together," he said.
For more information on the consolidation, visit the Georgia Southern University FAQ page.
