SR 639: Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 2, 2026

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.