Budget cuts could force the Technical College System of Georgia to merge services at its technical schools, including Northwestern Technical College in Rock Spring with Coosa Valley Tech in Rome, Ga.

Jeff King, interim president at Northwestern, said of the possible merger, “Our students are our priority. Our students are first and foremost in any consolidation plan and we will do what is best for them by building upon the strengths of our college.”

Northwestern’s main campus is in Rock Spring in Walker County. It has a satellite campus in Catoosa County.

Under the proposal, the state’s 14 technical schools would consolidate into seven. Each of the 14 campus would continue to operate, but services and offerings would be consolidated.

“The merger-consolidation will have no impact on the mission of either college, nor will it impact the work of the college in any way,” King said. “This is about changing how the system manages its most limited resources.”

Coosa Valley Technical College had a fall 2007 enrollment of 2,588 students, compared to 2,277 at Northwestern.

“It’s important to note that no community will lose a campus or the economic engine that the college currently provides them today, and very few staff or faculty will be impacted by this change,” King said.

Ron Jackson, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, or TCSG, said $3.5 million could be saved statewide by consolidating.

According to the TCSG, savings at the administrative level will allow the state to maintain faculty in classrooms at both schools during a time of growing enrollment and workforce development needs, while weathering the current economic downturn.

Administrative positions that might be axed under the plan have not been released by TCSG.

The merger proposal, if adopted, is set to go into effect in July.

The TCSG pointed out some positives that could result from the merger. For example, it would provide all students expanded program opportunities, better access to equipment and technology resources, and greater career opportunities, the TCSG said.

In proposing the merger plan, the TCSG considered each college’s structure and operations, student demographics, enrollment history, the needs of the adult education students, and the expectations and training requirements of the local businesses and industries.

TCSG also said the consolidation will create more efficient use of limited resources through the sharing of administrative roles, operations costs, faculty and staff, equipment and facilities, and services for adult education programs.

TCSG said it would be determined by the local level, merged local boards and the communities, if any name changes for the schools would occur.