Alabama might consolidate several community colleges
By The Associated Press /storypackage /#article_inset Article
The Alabama Community College System is considering a proposal to merge seven schools into three regional campuses.
The Tuscaloosa News reports the system's trustees met Thursday in Montgomery and approved a policy on mergers and consolidations.
Trustees also discussed proposals to plan for the merger of Alabama Southern and Reid State in south Alabama. Another proposal seeks to merge Central Alabama, Chattahoochee Valley and Southern Union State in east Alabama. A third proposal calls for merging Faulkner State and Jefferson Davis, also in south Alabama.
Chancellor Mark Heinrich says he plans to present resolutions to begin planning for the mergers at the board's Dec. 10 meeting.
Heinrich says the mergers wouldn't lead to facility closures, but would create comprehensive and more efficient regional education networks and workforce training programs.