---
title: HR 233. Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; February 18, 2025; recognize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr233
cite_as: HR 233, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr233
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr233.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr233/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70218
date: 2025-02-11
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 131
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr233.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 233
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-11
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Bryce Berry
  - Sheila Jones
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR233/2025
upstream_id: 1965835
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - higher education
  - historically Black colleges and universities
  - Clark Atlanta University
  - ceremonial recognition
  - Georgia General Assembly resolutions
---

# HR 233. Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; February 18, 2025; recognize

## Text

House Resolution 233
By: Representatives Berry of the 56th and Jones of the 60th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; and for
other purposes.
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University was established in 1988 upon the consolidation of its
two parent institutions: Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American Missionary
Association, and Clark University, founded in 1869 by the Freedmen's Aid Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and later renamed Clark College; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University was the nation's first four-year liberal arts college to
serve a primarily African American student population; and
WHEREAS, the university's four schools offer 40 academic programs to 3,920 students
annually, contributing to the future workforce through training in technology, engineering,
and education as well as fostering leadership within Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University has launched its first comprehensive campaign,
Centered on Lifting Lives and Leading the Way, a ten-year initiative aimed at raising $250
million to support catalytic investments in students, faculty, infrastructure, and research,
including efforts to cure prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease, promote entrepreneurship,
and address social and racial injustices, distinguishing Clark Atlanta University as an
institution of choice; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University received a record-breaking 46,414 applications for the
Class of 2028, marking a 6 percent increase from the previous year and an 18 percent
increase since 2022, with an average admitted first-time freshman GPA of 3.7, up from 2.9
in 2021; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University's economic impact on the State of Georgia consists of
$541 million in combined gross sales, a direct impact of $400 million, and labor producing
3,282 full- and part-time jobs that contribute to Georgia's economy; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is a founding member of the Georgia Research
Alliance and is home to the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, one
of the nation's largest academic prostate cancer research centers, which provides
opportunities for high-caliber basic and translational research, trains the next generation of
scientists in cancer research, and offers an educational environment for community outreach,
prevention, early detection, and the treatment of prostate cancer; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University additionally houses the Center for Innovation and
Entrepreneurial Development, one of the nation's most progressive forums integrating
traditional academics with market research, intelligence, and innovation to enhance the
competitiveness of the university's graduates and local entrepreneurs; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is the first private historically Black university to host
a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, America's most prestigious honor society for all academic
disciplines, in addition to the Golden Key International Honour Society, the Phi Eta Sigma
Honor Society, the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, and several discipline-specific honor
societies; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is an important contributor to local, regional, and
national communities, engaging more than 1,000 student and faculty volunteers annually in
service to local nonprofit organizations; supporting the educational systems of Fulton,
DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and nearby Georgia counties; and continuing to reach
beyond the campus footprint to address critical issues through purposeful service; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is home to WCLK Jazz 91.9 FM, Atlanta's jazz
station, which is celebrating 50 years of service to the community; and
WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University has produced stellar alumni who constitute
irreplaceable threads in the fabric of the State of Georgia and America as a whole, including
Fletcher Henderson, AU '19; Grace Towns Hamilton, AU '27; Irma Jackson Clayton Wertz,
AU '35; Evelyn Gibson Lowery, CC '46; Mary Frances Early, CC '57; The Honorable Brenda
Hill Cole, AU '67; Georgia State Representative Sheila Jones, CC 74-78; Kenny Leon, CC
'79; Helen Smith Price, AU '81; Georgia State Senator Horacena Tate, AU '88, CAU '92;
Anthony White, CAU '99; Bomani Jones, CAU '01; Tharon Johnson, CAU '02; and Lorin
Crawford, CAU '13; and
WHEREAS, under the leadership of President Dr. George T. French Jr., Clark Atlanta
University has received the largest unrestricted donation in the university's history, and Dr.
French has stewarded the addition of the Propel Center, which will support Clark Atlanta
University, the Atlanta University Center, and the entire HBCU community, which includes
more than 100 colleges and universities, through a robust virtual platform accessible to all
HBCU students and faculty. Founding partners Apple and Southern Company, along with
strategic partner the Walt Disney Company, have each made major investments toward the
development and launch of the center.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body recognize and commend Clark Atlanta University as well as
President Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership, extensive experience, and unwavering
dedication to higher education; he serves as the longest-tenured HBCU president in the
nation and has worked tirelessly to attract talented scholars to the State of Georgia.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body recognize February 18, 2025,
as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Clark
Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol, honoring the university and its president, Dr. George T. French Jr.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives, not a change to state law. It recognizes Clark Atlanta University's history, academic programs, economic impact on Georgia, research centers, notable alumni, and community service.
The resolution formally designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol and commends university president Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership. It directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the university and its president. The resolution creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties; it is a statement of recognition passed by the House.

### What it does

- Designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.
- Formally commends Clark Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership in higher education.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the university and its president.
- Creates no binding legal obligations, funding, or regulatory changes since it is a ceremonial resolution.

### Who it affects

Clark Atlanta University, its president Dr. George T. French Jr., students, faculty, and alumni are named in the resolution. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to distribute copies, but no other Georgians face new obligations.

### Why it matters

The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians outside the ceremonial recognition itself. It publicly acknowledges Clark Atlanta University's academic, research, and economic contributions to Georgia, giving the university and its president formal recognition from the state legislature.

### Key provisions

- The resolving clauses recognize and commend Clark Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership in higher education.
- A further resolution formally designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.
- A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the university and its president.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-11)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-11)
- Sponsors: Bryce Berry, Sheila Jones
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70218

> The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr233.md?full=1