The announcement of a merger between two major universities came as a shock to many on campus, but as time goes on people are starting to see some of the positives behind the consolidation.
One of those faculty members is Chad Stephens, associate professor of chemistry, who said he sees how the merger will benefit students in the long run.
“It’s going to give students more opportunities,” Stephens said. “I think the thing I hope improves is student success on our campus.”
One aspect Stephens said he hopes improves is the graduation rate of students. According to the University System of Georgia Graduation Rate Report, the graduation rate for Augusta State University first-time and full-time freshman through summer 2011 was 6.72 percent of students. What this means is out of 804 students who started in fall 2007 as full-time freshman, only 54 of those students graduated in summer 2011.
Stephens said another aspect he hopes will change is the new university adding more full-time faculty than part-time and this change helping to increase the graduation rate.
“Studies have shown full-time students that have classes with full-time faculty show better retention rates,” Stephens said.
While Augusta State is known for its close-knit community, Stephens said there has to be value within a university when it comes to student’s success and the merger could bring a better chance for that.
“Enrolling students is one thing, graduating is another,” Stephens said.
Barbara Kiernan, the chair person of the department of biobehavioral nursing at Georgia Health Sciences University, said she is also looking forward to the merger between the two institutions.
“I think we are looking forward to the ability for each of the schools to take advantage of each other’s positive offerings,” Kiernan said.
Kiernan said she believes the merger will have a good affect on both of the universities.
“I think it will bring the aspects of graduate programming, the ability for more students to attend graduate school from the ASU side, although I know there are some graduate programs,” Kiernan said. “I (anticipate) for the folks on the GHSU side the ability to enjoy camaraderie with the folks in arts and sciences, to enjoy the opportunities that (Augusta State’s) campus has to offer (and) things like sports and other amenities that I know are up there.”
Ricardo Azziz, president of Georgia Health Sciences University, said he hopes to create a more efficient university where students, faculty, staff and the community can be proud.
“There is no hidden agenda other than what they see,” Azziz said.
Some of the benefits Azziz said would come from the merger will be a greater collaboration between faculty when it comes to research and a university that can be “a greater Georgia University.”
Katherine Sweeney, registrar and director of admissions at Augusta State, said she is looking forward to specific aspects of the merger, including benefits for the students.
“We are all very excited about the possibilities,” Sweeney said. “We will now be a comprehensive research level one institution with a lot more to offer to our students. The faculty collaboration opportunities will be wonderful.”
