The merger of Georgia State University and Georgia Perimeter College will make the institution the largest university in the state.

However what will be the effects on Newton County and its GPC campus?

According to Charles Sutlive, Vice Chancellor for Communications of the University System of Georgia, many decisions about the merger will be finalized by a campus consolidation committee, consisting of faculty, staff and students from both institutions.

Included in those decisions will be “assessing the needs and infrastructure of the new consolidated institution,” Sutlive said.

It is predicted by school officials that the Newton campus will remain open after the consolidation.

As far as staff, faculty from the GPC will be involved in the implementation committee.

For those enrolling at GPC and planning to attend the Newton campus, it will continue to admit students into its associate’s and certificate programs. GSU will continue to admit students into its bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs.

Georgia Perimeter students looking to enroll in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs offered at the downtown campus will have to apply and be admitted to these programs, same as GSU students, according to Sutlive.

Tuition, which was raised at GPC before the 2014-15 school year, will be assessed by the campus implementation committee, but may be raised once again.

“The Board sets tuition and fees and will continue to do so for the newly consolidated institution,” Sutlive said. “The campus implementation team may recommend a change from the current structure to the Board once the consolidation has been implemented.”