Merger of 3 east Alabama community colleges postponed

Officials say the proposed merger of three two-year colleges in eastern Alabama is being postponed indefinitely.

The Opelika-Auburn News reports the decision was announced Thursday on conference calls for workers at Southern Union State Community College, Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Central Alabama Community College.

The interim president at Southern Union, Glenda Colagross, told workers the timing isn’t right for a merger. The presidents of the other two schools made similar announcements.

No detailed reason was given for the decision.

Trustees of the Alabama Community College System approved the consolidations last year, but the merger already has been delayed once before.

The newspaper reports a planned merger involving four south Alabama community colleges is moving ahead. Those include Faulkner State, Reid State, Jefferson Davis and Alabama Southern.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.