--- title: SR 639. Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 2, 2026 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr639 cite_as: SR 639, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr639 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr639.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr639/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72530 date: 2026-01-29 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. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr638.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr640.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr639.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 639 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-29 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Nan Orrock - Nikki Merritt - Sonya Halpern - Kenya Wicks - RaShaun Kemp - Gail Davenport - Elena Parent - Tonya Anderson - Randal Mangham - Michael Rhett - Jaha Howard - Freddie Sims - Donzella James - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR639/2025 upstream_id: 2100485 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Clark Atlanta University - higher education - Georgia Senate resolution - HBCU recognition --- # SR 639. Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 2, 2026 ## Text Senate Resolution 639 By: Senators Orrock of the 36th, Merritt of the 9th, Halpern of the 39th, Wicks of the 34th, Kemp of the 38th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) 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, later changed to Clark College by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) founded in 1869; 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, making a valuable contribution to the future workforce, including training for technology, engineering, business, social work, and education, as well as contributing to the leadership of Georgia; and WHEREAS, CAU has launched its first comprehensive campaign centered on Lifting Lives and Leading the Way, a 10-year, ambitious campaign that aims to raise $250 million to support catalytic investments in students, faculty, infrastructure, and initiatives that distinguish Clark Atlanta as an institution of choice; and WHEREAS, the goal to raise funding for innovative research to help cure prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease creates new avenues of entrepreneurship and finding ways to eradicate social and racial injustice; and WHEREAS, CAU received a record breaking 52,212 applications for the class of 2029, this was a 4.5 percent increase from the previous year and a 17 percent increase since 2021; the average GPA admitted first time freshman was 3.7, up from 2.7 in 2021, and the freshman population and transfer population went from 12 percent to 15 percent in 2026; and WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University’s economic impact to the state of Georgia boasts $541MM combined gross, a direct impact of $400MM, and labor producing 3,282 full and part-time jobs that can contribute to Georgia's economy; and WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is a founding member of the Georgia Research Alliance and the home of the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, which has the distinction of being one of the nation's largest academic prostate cancer research centers, providing opportunities for high caliber, basic and translational research, training the next generation of scientists in cancer research, and offering an educational environment for community outreach prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate cancer; and WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University held a ribbon-cutting and open house for the former Robert H. “Bob” Bell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, one of the nation's most progressive forums, integrating traditional academics, market research, and intelligence and innovation to increase the level of competitiveness among CAU 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 Golden Key International Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society as well as 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 continues to reach beyond the campus footprint to address critical issues through purposeful service; and WHEREAS, since 1974, Clark Atlanta University has been the home of WCLK Jazz 91.9 FM, Atlanta’s Jazz Station, which celebrates its 52nd anniversary of service to the community in 2026; 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, Grace Towns Hamilton, Irma Jackson Clayton Wertz, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, Mary Frances Early, The Honorable Brenda Hill Cole, Georgia State Representative Shelia Jones, Kenny Leon, Helen Smith Price, Georgia State Senator Horacena Tate, Anthony White, Bomani Jones, Tharon Johnson, and Lorin Crawford; and WHEREAS, under the leadership of President French, Clark Atlanta University has received two of the largest unrestricted donations, a previous $15 million gift, and a recent $38 million gift from philanthropist MacKenkie Scott elevating total giving at $53 million, marking a historic milestone; and WHEREAS, in addition, a $16.5 million gift, allocated over a 10 year period, as a part of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s $50 million HBCU commitment; and WHEREAS, President George T. French serves as the longest serving HBCU president in the county, and has for many years provided dedicated service to higher education of Georgia’s citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the leadership of President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D., and his considerable experience, expertise, wisdom, and passion for advocacy to a better future for the young men and women of Clark Atlanta University. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Clark Atlanta University and President George T. French. ## 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 recognizes February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol, honoring the university's history, achievements, and its president, George T. French, Jr. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial measure from the Georgia Senate rather than a change to state law. It designates February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol, marking the occasion with a series of statements praising the university's history, academic programs, research centers, economic impact on Georgia, notable alumni, and recent large philanthropic gifts. The resolution also commends the university's president, George T. French, Jr., for his leadership and long service to higher education in Georgia. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to Clark Atlanta University and to President French. The resolution creates no new rules, funding, or legal requirements; it is a formal expression of recognition by the Senate. ### What it does - Formally designates February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Commends President George T. French, Jr. for his leadership and long service to higher education in Georgia. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to Clark Atlanta University and its president. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names Clark Atlanta University and its president, George T. French, Jr., as the honorees. It has no regulatory effect on other institutions, businesses, or residents; its practical impact is limited to the university and the ceremonial proceedings of the Georgia Senate. ### Why it matters Because this is a ceremonial resolution rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, obligations, or funding. Its main effect is public recognition of Clark Atlanta University's history and contributions, delivered through a formal Senate document and copies sent to the university. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause recognizes February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause commends President George T. French, Jr. for his leadership and advocacy in higher education. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the university and its president. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-29) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2026-01-29) - Sponsors: Nan Orrock, Nikki Merritt, Sonya Halpern, Kenya Wicks, RaShaun Kemp, Gail Davenport, Elena Parent, Tonya Anderson, Randal Mangham, Michael Rhett, Jaha Howard, Freddie Sims, Donzella James, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72530 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr639.md?full=1