Late last year, the board of regents of the University System of Georgia announced the merger of Darton State College with historically Black Albany State University. The consolidation is expected to be complete by January 2017. The combined institution will be known as Albany State University.
But the new combined institution still has a rough road ahead. Art Dunning, president of Albany State University, who will lead the merged institution when the consolidation is complete, announced that Albany State University is eliminating 80 staff positions due to declining enrollments and a subsequent reduction in state funding. Of these 80 positions, 48 are currently filled. Darton State College is eliminating 30 positions, none of which are currently filled.
Since 2011, Albany State University has seen a 25 percent decline in enrollments. Darton State College has had an enrollment decline of 10 percent. As a result, state appropriations to Albany State will be reduced by nearly $1 million for the 2017 fiscal year. Darton State faces a loss of $851,962 for the 2017 fiscal year. The institutions expect further enrollment declines.
President Dunning stated that “we are taking action now to right-size both of these institutions to make them stronger for the future, and ultimately for the long-term health and financial stability of the new university that will serve Albany, Southwest Georgia and the state. We will continue to look for ways to increase efficiencies and effectiveness for the educational benefit of our students. We deeply regret that decisions had to be made that resulted in the reduction of faculty and staff.”
