ATLANTA (AP) -- The head of Georgia's Senate Higher Education
Committee is proposing a merger of two historically black colleges
with other schools to save money.

But University System Chancellor Erroll Davis cautioned that
such mergers would face strong opposition from supporters of
historically black institutions nationwide.

Sen. Seth Harp told University System leaders during a budget
hearing Monday that with 10 percent budget cuts looming, they
should consider combining Savannah State University with Armstrong
Atlantic University and Albany State with Darton College in Albany.

Any decision would be made by the Board of Regents. The system
receives about $2.3 billion in annual state funding, but the
governing body makes decisions about the system's 35 schools.