Lawson State and Bessemer State Receive Final Approval to Merge

Posted on Jun 24, 2005

The Alabama State Board of Education has given approval for the merger of Bessemer State Technical College and T. A. Lawson State College Community to form one college – T. A. Lawson State Community College.

The approved plan is designed to create one strong comprehensive college that yields greater efficiency and effectiveness and focuses on the primary goal of providing excellence in education to the students. This consolidation will enhance academic programs, increase efficiency, eliminate duplication of services, and improve higher education opportunities in the western corridor of Birmingham and Jefferson County.

This was the final step in the process initiated by Alabama College System Chancellor Roy Johnson in December to combine the institutions and reduce through merger the number of colleges in the Alabama College System. With its current 25 colleges, the System has conducted several mergers over the last few years in order to form more comprehensive colleges.

“We are able now to unite two colleges with strong academic programs and services in order to establish a more dynamic college,” said Dr. Perry W. Ward, president of the newly merged institution. “Students will benefit from enhanced curriculum alternatives and a greater variety of resources.

Enrollment for the merged institution will be approximately 6,000 students from the identified service area of Jefferson County and surrounding counties in central Alabama. Academic programs and services for Lawson State Community College will continue to be offered through the academic division and career/technical division. These programs and services are comprehensive and include university/college transfer degree programs; career/technical education; adult education; business and industry training; workforce development; and civic, social, cultural and personal development.

“The merger will not affect any tenured instructor’s positions or any academic programs, majors or fields of study at the College,” said Dr. Ward, who has been president of Lawson State since 1987. “Through attrition and not replacing duplicate executive and administrative positions, the estimated cost savings will be approximately $440,995 per year. This $930,955 per year increase in available funds will be redirected into the instructional programs.”

It is also estimated that based upon the four-year trend of the individual colleges, revenues for the proposed combined institution should continue to increase at a rate of approximately two percent, or about $490,000 per year.

Established in 1949, Lawson State is located in Birmingham and has a current enrollment of approximately 4,000 students. It offers college transfer, adult education, technical, vocational and career ladder programs as well as a number of outreach and community services. Premier programs and services at the college include nursing, business technologies and the Alabama Center for Advanced Technology and Training.

Bessemer State focuses in the key areas of allied health, business, technical and transportation - automotive technology. The college was founded in 1966 and includes among its programs dental assisting, horticulture and air conditioning/refrigeration, horticulture and graphics and prepress.

The Alabama College System consists of 25 lower division two-year colleges, Athens State University and the Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute. The System seeks to provide accessible quality educational opportunities, promote economic development and enhance the quality of life for the people of Alabama.

“The merged institution will continue to provide opportunities in order to prepare students for employment or career advancement, enable students to transfer to senior colleges and universities, and provide customized training needs for business and industry,” said President Ward. “I am excited about the possibilities for growth and the enhanced ability to provide services and a quality postsecondary education to residents in the Jefferson County area. This will be a rewarding situation, not only for our students, but also for the greater community.”