Merging Into Controversy

By Ry Rivard. Georgia higher education officials are pushing to merge Kennesaw State University and Southern Polytechnic State University – and students at Southern Poly are pushing back. The merger, the fifth public college consolidation in Georgia since 2012, was announced Friday, to the surprise of many on both campuses. 
The University System of Georgia has already merged eight institutions in an effort to, among other things, save money. So far, countless hours have been spent on the mergers and historic institutions’ names have been wiped off the map. And, so far, the 31-campus system has saved only about 0.1 percent -- an estimated $7.5 million -- of its $7.4 billion operating budget. Read more...