The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges gave its approval Tuesday for the consolidation of Georgia Southern University and Armstrong State University, as well another proposed merger within the University System of Georgia. The SACS commission is a regional accrediting organization for colleges and universities, mainly in the Southern states. A prospectus developed by a committee at Georgia Southern and Armstrong State for their merger as the “new Georgia Southern” effective in January was submitted to the SACSCOC. Now the consolidation plan goes to the Board of Regents of the University System, which announced it is scheduled to review the final recommendation during a telephonic meeting called for Tuesday, Dec. 12.