Technical college merging into Kennesaw State

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia higher education leaders are expected this month to approve plans to fold a Marietta technical college into Kennesaw State University.

The state's university system chancellor, Hank Huckaby, will ask the Board of Regents to approve the merger of Southern Polytechnic State University with the existing Kennesaw State University.

Kennesaw State University President Dan Papp will continue to serve as president of the consolidated institution, which will still be based in Kennesaw. The move will boost the school's enrollment to more than 31,000 students. That will make it the third largest institution in the state university system.

The merger is the latest in a series of consolidations across the system. State officials say the mergers strengthen the combined campuses and save money on administration and operations.