---
title: SR 170. Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 18, 2025
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/sr170
cite_as: SR 170, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70179
date: 2025-02-12
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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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr171.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 94
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170.md?full=1
bill_number: SR 170
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: Senate
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-12
last_action: Senate Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Nan Orrock
  - Max Burns
  - Harold Jones
  - Brandon Beach
  - Sally Harrell
  - Billy Hickman
  - Chuck Hufstetler
  - Colton Moore
  - Chuck Payne
  - Ricky Williams
  - Michael Rhett
  - Gail Davenport
  - Donzella James
  - Freddie Sims
  - Derek Mallow
  - Kay Kirkpatrick
  - Sonya Halpern
  - RaShaun Kemp
  - Kim Jackson
  - Josh McLaurin
  - Randy Robertson
  - Bill Cowsert
  - Tonya Anderson
  - Nikki Merritt
text_version: Enrolled
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR170/2025
upstream_id: 1965774
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - higher education
  - historically Black colleges and universities
  - Clark Atlanta University
  - Georgia Senate resolutions
---

# SR 170. Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 18, 2025

## Text

Senate Resolution 170
By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Burns of the 23rd, Jones II of the 22nd, Beach of the 21st,
Harrell of the 40th and others
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 SENATE 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 Secretary of the Senate 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 Senate resolution designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol, honoring the university and its president for their contributions to Georgia.

### Plain-language summary

This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a change to state law. It recognizes Clark Atlanta University's history, academic programs, research centers, economic impact on Georgia, and notable alumni, and it names February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.
The resolution also commends the university's president, Dr. George T. French Jr., for his leadership and tenure as the longest-serving HBCU president in the nation. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the university and its president. The resolution does not create any new programs, funding, or legal requirements; it is a formal statement of recognition.

### What it does

- Designates February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the Georgia state capitol.
- Formally commends Clark Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr. for their contributions to higher education in Georgia.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the university and its president.
- Creates no new funding, legal requirements, or programs since it is a ceremonial recognition rather than a law.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Clark Atlanta University, its president Dr. George T. French Jr., and the Secretary of the Senate, who must distribute copies. It has no binding effect on other Georgians, agencies, or institutions.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries symbolic rather than legal weight. It gives Clark Atlanta University and its president formal recognition from the Georgia Senate but does not change any law, provide funding, or impose any obligations on the state or other parties.

### Key provisions

- The resolving clauses recognize and commend Clark Atlanta University and President Dr. George T. French Jr. for his leadership and tenure.
- The second resolving clause formally sets February 18, 2025 as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.
- The final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available for distribution to the university and its president.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2025-02-12)
- Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-12)
- Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Max Burns, Harold Jones, Brandon Beach, Sally Harrell, Billy Hickman, Chuck Hufstetler, Colton Moore, Chuck Payne, Ricky Williams, Michael Rhett, Gail Davenport, Donzella James, Freddie Sims, Derek Mallow, Kay Kirkpatrick, Sonya Halpern, RaShaun Kemp, Kim Jackson, Josh McLaurin, Randy Robertson, Bill Cowsert, Tonya Anderson, Nikki Merritt
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70179

> The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170.md?full=1