Boards of trustees from both foundations meeting in joint session last week voted to begin the year-long process by forming a subcommittee with representatives of both boards to guide the merger.
“After many phone calls and attending several foundation meetings discussing the pros and cons of merging the foundations, we unanimously came to the conclusion that it would be most beneficial to the students and college to vote in favor of merging the two foundations,” WGTC Foundation President Milton Edelson said.
West Georgia Tech - the name of the combined college - will have five main campus locations in seven West Georgia counties and will be the state’s second largest technical college, with nearly 7,000 students next fall.
“We are really enthusiastic about the future of our combined foundation,” WCTC Foundation President Ned Fowler said. “Two great colleges are joining forces, and we as two great foundations are coming together, combining assets, pooling our resources and leveraging our influence to make West Georgia Tech the best technical college in the state.”
While the entire merger process will take a year to implement - due mainly to IRS regulations - the boards themselves will begin to meet jointly very soon, said Dawn Cook, vice president of institutional advancement at West Central. She will oversee operations of the combined foundation once the merger is complete.
“We will begin the process of creating interlocking boards, not only from a decision-making standpoint, but also to help our trustees get to know one another better and build those relationships that are essential in an organization like ours,” Cook said.
Both foundations are independent, private, nonprofit organizations that support their respective institutions by providing financial support or other resources.
Skip Sullivan, who has been named president-designee of the merged West Georgia Tech, said the merged foundation will provide a base of financial and community support for WGTC that will ensure the college thrives.
“It is essential to have strong community support and a strong foundation,” Sullivan said. “With this decision, I believe the cornerstone has been laid that will cement our college together as we move forward.”
Perrin Alford, the acting president of the current West Georgia Tech, was also enthusiastic.
“I am excited about the pending merger of the two foundation boards,” he said. “The merging of these two boards sends a clear signal that the interests of our students are being placed first. Because the college is supplemented with federal, state and local funds, it is incumbent upon the college to have a strong unified foundation board that works to raise the additional funds needed to operate the college.”
Alford, who will serve as merged college provost, said funds raised by the foundation are used to provide scholarships for needy students, hiring of additional staff and campus renovation projects.
“A strong operating foundation is critical to the long term success of the college,” he said.
West Georgia Tech is located in LaGrange, while West Central Tech has campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties.
Post a Comment
