AUGUSTA — The much-maligned name of Georgia Regents University might be changing, a highly placed source at the university said. InsiderAdvantage Georgia, a polling firm and political news publisher, also cited Augusta sources Monday that the name might be changed.
The University System of Georgia Board of Regents is scheduled to meet Tuesday morning, and on its agenda is “GRU Update” from Chancellor Hank Huckaby. University system spokesman Charles Sutlive said in a text that he did not know what the item was about but “you should have someone attend the meeting.”
A source at GRU said it will result in some sort of effort to change the name of the university. The regents chose that name in 2012 even though a $45,500 marketing survey from Kennesaw State University found that the name generated little appeal on a survey of people nationwide and within Georgia. That survey’s “results indicate clearly that ‘University of Augusta,’ and to a somewhat lesser extent ‘Augusta University’ are the most popular names among all of the potential names examined,” the study said. The name “Georgia Regents University” appeared in two panels of potential names and did not rank higher than fourth.
The consolidated university was created out of the former Georgia Health Sciences and Augusta State universities. After the regents chose the GRU name, a protest movement called Save the A arose from people in Augusta who wanted the name of the city back in the university’s name.
That ultimately resulted in the university’s announcing it would use the name Georgia Regents University Augusta on all of its merchandise and signs, a compromise that did not satisfy some. They called on new university President Brooks Keel to change the name, a decision that Keel said was in the hands of the regents.
One source within the University System said that the regents are frustrated that Augusta residents have been so adamant about putting the city into the school’s name since none of the state’s other research universities are named for a city. This official said the regents wanted to ensure Keel started his administration with community support after his predecessor — Ricardo Azziz — was blasted by residents and alumni.
Threats to withhold donations and cooperation have worn the regents down, said the official, who requested anonymity.
The name “University of Augusta” would likely be the new name of the school, although there is a chance the health system could remain Georgia Regents Health System, said the GRU source who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak before any decision was made.
Keeping the name for the health system would save on the expense of the name change. The university had budgeted $3.8 million to change and update its signs after consolidation, although some of that likely would have been updated anyway, officials have said.
A call to Neil Pruitt, the chairman of the Board of Regents, was answered by an aide who wouldn’t answer questions about a possible name change. In a statement released Monday, the university system said it “continues to discuss ideas and options that maximize Georgia Regents University and its ability to be an excellent undergraduate university and a top 50 medical school in the nation.”
Georgia Rep. Barbara Sims, R-Augusta, said Monday that she would comment “when an announcement is made by those who have the authority to make a name change.”
“I will tell you that my goal is to support and promote the educational programs that are offered,” Sims said. “I am committed to our university and excited about the growth.”
Augusta Chronicle
