SR639: SR639 Clark Atlanta University Day; recognize February 2, 2026

26 LC 129 0799 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 for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University (CAU) was established in 1988 upon the consolidation3 of its two parent institutions, Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American4 Missionary Association, and Clark University, later changed to Clark College by the5 Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) founded in 1869; and 6 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University was the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to7 serve a primarily African-American student population; and8 WHEREAS, the University’s four schools offer 40 academic progra ms to 3,920 students9 annually, making a valuable contribution to the future workforc e, including training for10 technology, engineering, business, social work, and education, as well as contributing to the11 leadership of Georgia; and12 WHEREAS, CAU has launched its first comprehensive campaign centered on Lifting Lives13 and Leading the Way, a 10-year, ambitious campaign that aims to raise $250 million to14 S. R. 639 - 1 - 26 LC 129 0799 support catalytic investments in students, faculty, infrastruct ure, and initiatives that15 distinguish Clark Atlanta as an institution of choice; and16 WHEREAS, the goal to raise funding for innovative research to help cure prostate cancer and17 Alzheimer's disease creates new avenues of entrepreneurship and finding ways to eradicate18 social and racial injustice; and19 WHEREAS, CAU received a record breaking 52,212 applications for the class of 2029, this20 was a 4.5 percent increase from the previous year and a 17 percent increase since 2021; the21 average GPA admitted first time freshman was 3.7, up from 2.7 in 2021, and the freshman22 population and transfer population went from 12 percent to 15 percent in 2026; and 23 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University’s economic impact to the stat e of Georgia boasts24 $541MM combined gross, a direct impact of $400MM, and labor producing 3,282 full and25 part-time jobs that can contribute to Georgia's economy; and26 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is a founding member of the G eorgia Research 27 Alliance and the home of the Center for Cancer Research and The rapeutic Development,28 which has the distinction of being one of the nation's largest academic prostate cancer29 research centers, providing opportunities for high caliber, basic and translational research,30 training the next generation of scientists in cancer research, and offering an educational31 environment for community outreach prevention, early detection, and treatment of prostate32 cancer; and33 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University held a ribbon-cutting and open house for the former34 Robert H. “Bob” Bell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development, one of the35 nation's most progressive forums, integrating traditional acade mics, market research, and36 S. R. 639 - 2 - 26 LC 129 0799 intelligence and innovation to increase the level of competitiveness among CAU graduates37 and local entrepreneurs; and 38 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is the first private Historically Black University to host39 a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, America's most prestigious honor so ciety for all academic40 disciplines, in addition to Golden Key International Honor Soci ety, Phi Eta Sigma Honor41 Society, and Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society as well as several di scipline-specific honor42 societies; and43 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta University is an important contributor t o local, regional, and44 national communities, engaging more than 1,000 student and faculty volunteers annually in45 service to local nonprofit organizations supporting the educati onal systems of Fulton,46 DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, and nearby Georgia counties, and continues to reach47 beyond the campus footprint to address critical issues through purposeful service; and48 WHEREAS, since 1974, Clark Atlanta University has been the home of WCLK Jazz 91.949 FM, Atlanta’s Jazz Station, which celebrates its 52nd annivers ary of service to the50 community in 2026; and51 WHEREAS, Clark Atlanta university has produced stellar alumni w ho constitute52 irreplaceable threads in the fabric of the state of Georgia and America as a whole, including53 Fletcher Henderson, Grace Towns Hamilton, Irma Jackson Clayton Wertz, Evelyn Gibson54 Lowery, Mary Frances Early, The Honorable Brenda Hill Cole, Georgia State Representative55 Shelia Jones, Kenny Leon, Helen Smith Price, Georgia State Sena tor Horacena Tate,56 Anthony White, Bomani Jones, Tharon Johnson, and Lorin Crawford; and57 S. R. 639 - 3 - 26 LC 129 0799 WHEREAS, under the leadership of President French, Clark Atlanta University has received58 two of the largest unrestricted donations, a previous $15 million gift, and a recent $38 million59 gift from philanthropist MacKenkie Scott elevating total giving at $53 million, marking a60 historic milestone; and 61 WHEREAS, in addition, a $16.5 million gift, allocated over a 10 year period, as a part of the62 Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation’s $50 million HBCU commitment; and 63 WHEREAS, President George T. French serves as the longest serving HBCU president in64 the county, and has for many years provided dedicated service t o higher education of65 Georgia’s citizens.66 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body67 recognize February 2, 2026, as Clark Atlanta University Day at the state capitol.68 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the leadership of69 President George T. French, Jr., Ph.D., and his considerable experience, expertise, wisdom,70 and passion for advocacy to a better future for the young men and women of Clark Atlanta71 University.72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed73 to make an appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to Clark Atlanta74 University and President George T. French.75 S. R. 639 - 4 -