TIFTON — The University System of Georgia announced Friday that the Board of Regents will act on a recommendation to consolidate Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Bainbridge State College at its meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11.

ABAC President David Bridges and Bainbridge State College Interim President Stuart Rayfield have pledged to work together to enhance educational opportunities for students, according to an ABAC press release.

Bridges and Rayfield will reserve further comment until the Board of Regents takes final action next Wednesday, the release states.

If approved, the new institution would retain the ABAC name, with Bridges serving as president.

“Consolidating ABAC and Bainbridge creates a unique opportunity to strategically align Bainbridge State’s degree offerings with workforce and regional needs,” said University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley in the announcement from USG.

The announcement also cites ABAC’s growing student recruitment, enrollment management and academic achievement, as well as its “specialized-degree programs that have successfully identified and partnered with the needs of agriculture.”

“We are committed to serving south Georgia in public higher education and our partnership with the Tifton and Bainbridge communities,” said Wrigley. “This consolidation is a long-term investment of the University System in south Georgia.”

If the board approves the merger at the Jan. 11 meeting, implementation teams will be formed to work out the consolidation, with both ABAC and Bainbridge State holding campus and community listening sessions in the coming months to seek input.