Central Ga. Technical Colleges Will Merge Next Year | Education

State-run technical colleges in Macon and Warner Robins will merge next year.

The Technical College System of Georgia board has approved the merger of Central Georgia Technical College in Macon and Middle Georgia Technical College in Warner Robins. 

The state board voted unanimously Wednesday to give Ron Jackson, commissioner of the state Technical College System of Georgia, the go-ahead to start the merger.

According to the state board, the merger should be completed by July 1, 2013 and would create the state's second-largest technical college. CGTC and MGTC have a combined enrollment of more than 16,000 students.  

The TCSG says it uses mergers as a way to reduce administrative costs while creating larger, more efficient colleges. Once Central Georgia Tech and Middle Georgia Tech merge, the system will have successfully merged 17 colleges into eight, leaving a total of 24 technical schools statewide.

According to the Technical College System of Georgia , the merger will have little effect on the day-to-day operation of the campuses.

No campuses will close and the school's other programs, including adult education, continuing education and workforce training, will continue as before.