SAVANNAH, Ga. — On Tuesday, it was revealed that East Georgia State College is set to merge with Georgia Southern University, following a strategic proposal by the University System of Georgia. The Board of Regents will cast their vote on this plan next week. The proposal comes as a response to the ongoing decline in student enrollment at East Georgia State, located in Swainsboro, approximately 180 miles southeast of Atlanta. Enrollment has dipped to roughly 1,826 students as of last fall, a sharp decrease from the 3,000 students registered in 2015. Given that funding for the institution is directly dependent on student numbers, the budget consequently fell from $31.4 million to slightly beyond $24 million over five years.
Since 2011, the University System has been merging institutions to enhance efficiency and minimize costs. Initially comprising 35 colleges and universities, the system is on course to reduce to 25 institutions once the East Georgia State merger is approved. The completion date of this merger has not yet been disclosed.
Chancellor Sonny Perdue emphasized the benefits of these consolidations, stating, “The dollars saved through consolidation have always been reinvested directly in our campuses — fueling the hiring of strong faculty, expanding student support services and driving measurable improvements in retention and graduation rates.” His statement further reassured, “Our commitment in making this recommendation is no different. We will preserve access to higher education locally while ensuring that we keep improving the experience and success of our students.”
To date, the University System of Georgia reports $30 million in administrative savings due to these consolidations. Georgia Southern University is no stranger to such mergers; in 2017, it incorporated Armstrong State University located in Savannah.
East Georgia State, a four-year institution that also provides two-year associate degrees, promises continuity of its educational mission within the Swainsboro community and beyond, according to Perdue. He acknowledged the essential role East Georgia State College plays in fostering knowledge and prosperity.
For the consolidation plan to proceed, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) must first grant its approval. Decisions on the merger’s execution remain conditional upon this regulatory endorsement.