Albany State University President Art Dunning delivers State of University address

ALBANY — Albany State University President Art Dunning delivered his first State of the University address Monday as president of the recently consolidated ASU and Darton State College. Not surprisingly, much of the address centered around the progress of the consolidation.

“Albany State University has a vibrant history that is constantly changing,” Dunning said. “We are in a very different place at this point now, and that began in December of last year when the Board of Regents gave final approval to the consolidation, which became effective on Jan. 1. The new ASU has two campuses, but both are committed to educating our students and creating a vibrant economy for south Georgia.

“There is a lot of change ahead of us, and the future is promising.”

Dunning said the consolidation has moved past the initial phase, and the university has moved to Phase II, but he took a moment to give a tip of his hat to the former Darton State College.

“Since its founding in 1963, Darton State College has maintained and built upon its mission of providing access to higher education to potential students with a variety of educational needs,” Dunning said. “In its first 50 years, Darton College evolved to support the needs of a community that was changing in its demography and in its values. The college’s first class, in 1966, included no minorities. In its last decade as Darton College, approximately half of the more than 6,000 graduates were minority.

“ASU respects and builds on the historical roots of its institutional predecessors with its commitment to access by now offering associate, bachelor and graduate degrees.”

Even given the optimistic tone of his speech, the ASU president conceded that now is the time that the hard work begins.

“We are now at Phase II of the process, the implementation phase. The recommendations that were approved by the Consolidation Implementation Committee will move forward as appropriate. Much of that work will be done in the next six months,” Dunning said. “When fall semester begins in August 2017, students will complete degree programs on Albany State University’s east and west campuses. The logistics of which classes will be offered and where is part of the implementation process. I want to extend my sincerest thanks to each of you who has ensured that we have made it to this point.

“Consolidation is an intricate and detailed process. As we continue through Phase II, I am pleased to report that the state of the university is filled with opportunity and the future is promising.”

But the specter of falling enrollment is lurking in the background.

When the University System of Georgia on Wednesday released the system’s fall 2016 enrollment figures from last November, Albany State’s enrollment number dropped 12.9 percent, from 3,492 in 2015 to 3,041 this year. Darton had the system’s biggest decline at 24.7 percent, from 5,471 in fall 2015 to 4,120 this year.

Combined, the two institutions lost 1,802 students, or 20.1 percent, from the previous fall’s enrollment.

“Our chief concerns will always be to increase enrollment and improve retention and graduation rates. These are crucial to student success. Dr. (B. Donta) Truss, associate provost of enrollment management, and his team have developed a comprehensive recruitment plan,” Dunning said. “We will begin to identify new markets to tap into for enrollment increases. I’m encouraging each of you to be enthusiastic messengers and tellers of the ASU story. Brag about ASU. Our faculty members are some of the best in the country.”

The road to a successful consolidation is long and rocky, but Dunning said he feels the university and the community are up for the challenge.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but the potential for student success makes the journey worthwhile. The potential for ASU to advance on a local, national and international level has never been greater,” Dunning said.”As I look around this auditorium, I see students with bright futures. They are intelligent, capable and innovative leaders who are committed to making a difference in the lives of others. We are destined for great opportunities in the future.

“I sincerely believe there is no better place to be at this moment in time than right here at Albany State University.”