Plans for a new recreation facility and residence hall at Macon State College have been suspended, along with the fee to pay for it, according to a Tuesday press release.
Interim MSC president John Black, who replaced Jeff Allbritten after he was hired by Edison State College in Florida, announced that construction plans are on hold until after the consolidation of Macon State College and Middle Georgia College.
College officials learned of the suspension last week, which Black said was due to possible or proposed changes in the bond ratings of two University System of Georgia institutions, neither of which involved Macon State.
"The Chancellor and his staff reiterated the suspension of our two projects is not a negative reflection on Macon State or on its handling of these projects," Black said. "The suspension is temporary and precautionary until the System can deal with an issue at sister institutions."
Black said the Macon State building projects will be reviewed as soon as the consolidation with Middle Georgia College is approved.
The new institution will be known as Middle Georgia State College and is expected to occur in January 2013.
Delaying construction, slated for the Macon campus, saves students the $140 fee which the college has been collecting since last year to fund the project.
According to the press release, students who have already paid the fee for the fall semester will get that money refunded on their Higher One card. The refunds are expected to appear in students' account by September 1.
But students who paid the fee prior to the 2012 fall semester will not get a refund. That money has already been used for upgrades to the college's recreation facilities and programs at the Warner Robins and Macon campuses.
Black said it's likely the fee won't return until the projects are approved to begin construction.