CVCC’s merger has new timeline

The pending merger of Chattahoochee Valley Community College with two other Alabama institutions has a new timeline.

CVCC’s consolidation with Central Alabama Community College and Southern Union State Community College is now scheduled to go into effect Jan. 3, Central Alabama President Susan Burrow, who will lead the combined colleges, announced in a news release. Her executive assistant, Mark McGhee, confirmed Tuesday in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer that means the merger is expected to be in place by the start of the spring 2017 semester.

The Alabama Community College System’s board of trustees governs the state’s 25 community colleges and technical schools. When the consolidation is implemented, according to the plan, the seven involved ACCS institutions will remain open, but their administrative functions will merge to save money.

CVCC, which opened 42 years ago and now has about 1,650 students, will 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 will merge with Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette.

The news of the new timeline comes two weeks after ACCS chancellor Mark Heinrich announced the plan won’t be implemented until “the middle of 2017 at the earliest.” That delayed the original consolidation target of July 2016, which the ACCS board of trustees approved six months ago.

In his written statement to the board and released to the media, Heinrich said the timeline was pushed back “due to unforeseen legislative and departmental delays, coupled with timing issues to ensure students’ financial aid packages will not be compromised.” The consolidation plan must satisfy the requirements of three entities with oversight authority, the U.S. Department of Education, the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education.

Asked what prompted this latest change to the timeline, McGhee told the L-E in an email, “ACCS officials and officials representing the East Alabama and South Alabama consolidations met with representatives from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. 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.”

In the news release, Burrow said, “I appreciate the involvement and hard work of everyone on this complex but important process. Your contributions have helped and will continue to shape the future of our college and those we serve.”

During the March public hearing at CVCC to discuss the merger, Burrow said the yet-to-be-named regional community college will have one name but each campus also will have its own name. Whether it remains “Chattahoochee Valley” or becomes “Phenix City” or something else, Burrow said, “there will be representation from your community in that process.”

Asked for an update on that plan, McGhee said Tuesday, “The process remains the same. At this time, no new timeline has been established for submissions of recommendations.”

Suggestions for the name of the consolidated college and its campuses may be emailed to McGhee at mmcghee1@cacc.edu.

As for athletics, Burrow said in March, the National Junior College Athletic Association will allow the regional community college to have three separate memberships, “so we can continue our athletic programs just like they are today.”

Burrow acknowledged, however, she expects the schools will need to have one mascot, one logo and one set of colors. “That’s a matter of economics,” she said then.

Burrow also addressed during the March public hearing what will happen to the CVCC and Southern Union presidents, who are the interim leaders of their institutions. They will return to their previous jobs, she said, or be reassigned by the chancellor. CVCC interim president Mark Ellard was executive vice president at Bevill State Community College in Sumiton, where he also was interim president, before he took responsibility for CVCC in September.

Asked how many other positions will be eliminated, McGhee said Tuesday, “Once the consolidation is complete, the consolidated institution will immediately realize a savings of $400,000 to $600,000 in annual salary and benefits from the elimination of two presidential and two CFO positions. Other savings and effectiveness will be realized as the institution matures.”

So no other positions are expected to be eliminated immediately, McGhee said, but “to maximize effectiveness and efficiency, each position vacated by retirement, resignation, etc. will be examined in the context of the larger organization.”

No timeline has been established to decide the name of the consolidated college or its campuses, mascot, colors and logo, McGhee said. An Iowa-based marketing and branding firm called Stamats, which specializes in higher education, is guiding that effort.

The process includes conversations with nearly 200 stakeholders, comprising students, faculty, staff and community leaders around the five campuses, McGhee said. Electronic surveys were sent to the total of nearly 10,000 students, faculty, staff and administrators among CVCC, Central Alabama and Southern Union, he said.

The 15-member transition committee, with five appointees from each of the three colleges, includes students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members, McGhee said.

“The transition committee met with the marketing team to review preliminary findings of the market research, and to further recommend suggested names for the newly formed college,” he said. “Most recently, Stamats electronically communicated with over 20 elected leaders seeking their input. This feedback will be incorporated into the final marketing study, the result of which will then be presented to the board for consideration.”

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "CVCC’s merger has new timeline."