University administrators proposed the idea to merge the curriculum and the location of UA South and the main campus during yesterday's Faculty Senate meeting.
Provost George H. Davis and Randall Groth, dean of UA South, said the merge of the two campuses would provide greater development for UA South while bringing diversity to the main campus.
"It's important to think carefully about a more deliberate, tighter relationship with UA South, all the time the two institutions retaining their own distinctiveness" said Davis, who said he was happy to explain the impending proposal to the Faculty Senate while it was still "fresh and embryonic."
Groth said he hopes to present a proposal of the merge to the Arizona Board of Regents by March or April.
Davis said UA President Peter Likins' Focused Excellence program extends UA South's role in serving populations in Southern Arizona, but he thinks UA South should also be more involved around the main UA campus.
Groth said in addition to UA South's locations in Sierra Vista, Douglas, Ramsey Canyon, Vail and at Pima Community College's East Campus and Desert Vista Campus, he has investigated bringing campuses to Safford, Thatcher and Nogales, Ariz.
Groth and Davis suggested UA South classes be taught at the main UA campus during the evenings and on weekends.
Groth said UA South deals with facility issues that would be alleviated if main campus' classrooms were available for use.
Likins said he heard the idea for the first time at the Faculty Senate meeting and approves of the merge proposal.
"If we can arrange for the use of our facilities on evenings and weekends, I think it's a really good idea," he said.
However, he said if the collaboration would cost anything, it would not be likely to happen.
"The whole idea is to provide services that don't cost the UA," Likins said.
Groth said the merge would benefit traditional students in Tucson not accepted by the university.
"Why can't the UA enclose partnership with UA South to manage this issue?" Groth said.
Groth said he spoke with Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup about bringing UA South to Tucson, who approved of the idea.
"Take the child you raised and help it play a larger role," Groth urged the Faculty Senate.