CVCC merger delayed indefinitely

The pending merger of Chattahoochee Valley Community College with two other Alabama institutions has been delayed indefinitely.

Trish Jones, the governmental and academic affairs coordinator for the Alabama Community College System, emailed the Ledger-Enquirer on Monday a written statement from chancellor Mark Heinrich, citing more work to be done with the U.S. Department of Education, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

This is the third change in the consolidation timeline of CVCC with Central Alabama Community College and Southern Union State Community College.

The ACCS board of trustees, which governs the state’s 25 community colleges and technical schools, approved in December a plan for two mergers to be completed by July:

▪  CVCC, which opened 42 years ago in Phenix City and has about 1,650 students, would join 1,700-student Central Alabama Community College, which has locations in Alexander City, Talladega, Childersburg and Millbrook, and 4,500-student Southern Union State Community College, which has locations in Wadley, Opelika and Valley.

▪  Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, Alabama Southern Community College in Monroeville and Reid State Technical College in Evergreen would merge with Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette.

All seven institutions would remain open, but their administrative functions would merge to save money.

Since then, Heinrich announced in May the consolidation would be postponed until “the middle of 2017 at the earliest” because of “unforeseen legislative and departmental delays, coupled with timing issues to ensure students’ financial aid packages will not be compromised.”

But two weeks later, Central Alabama president Susan Burrow, who was appointed to lead the combined colleges that include CVCC, announced the merger’s new completion date was targeted for January 2017.

Asked what allowed for the target to be moved to an earlier date, Burrow’s executive assistant, Mark McGhee, told the L-E in an email then, “ACCS officials and officials representing the East Alabama and South Alabama consolidations met with representatives from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). Information from the meeting helped to clarify timelines and additional information needed by ACHE. Based on this information we plan to move forward and seek SACSCOC (Southern Association of College and Schools Commission on Colleges) approval in December for a January implementation.”

But now, even that plan has been scrapped.

“The East Alabama merger is pausing with no time table at this time,” Heinrich said in the written statement. “Slowing down the process will let us work with U.S. DOE, SACSCOC, and ACHE to satisfy their requirements, and to work with the legislature to pass needed board legislation to allow us to move forward with full consolidation plans. By doing this, it allows us to make this process as smooth as possible for the backbone of our schools: Our Students. The Southern Alabama merger is on schedule. CV, CACC, and Southern Union will move forward and focus on plans and initiatives they have on-going at this time.”

Annette Funderburk, workforce and governmental affairs officer for ACCS, explained the difference between the two mergers.

“The current administrative processes and programs offered at each of the three colleges in the south Alabama consolidation are more in line with each other,” Funderburk wrote to the L-E in an email Monday, “therefore allowing for swift approval from the regulatory bodies and a smoother consolidation transition.”

Asked what the sticking points are in the East Alabama merger, Funderburk mentioned “logistical issues in relation to accounting, tuition differentials as well operational concerns. All of these relate to regulatory approvals. The regulatory deadlines are tight, and if not met, the process is interrupted and delayed.

“It is best for the colleges to work through these changes prior to submitting the documents to the regulatory bodies on the previous timeline.”

CVCC interim president Mark Ellard wasn’t reached for comment Monday.

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 12:28 PM with the headline "CVCC merger delayed indefinitely."