A new partnership between Alabama State University and Montgomery Coca-Cola Bottling Company United can bring over $2 million in cash and in-kind gifts to the university.

While $200,000 in cash was presented to the university for scholarships, new things such as a recycling program, a new workout facility with state-of-the-art equipment, and an 18-wheeler truck for the Mighty Marching Hornets band will be provided over the next five years.

Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Col. (Ret.) Gregory L. Clark, was entrusted by Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross, Jr., Ed.D., to negotiate a fruitful deal to benefit the students of Alabama State University.

“At the end of the day, we wanted to make sure that we partnered with someone who had student success at the top of their priorities,” Clark said. “With this effort, Coca-Cola United came out on top. They really showed a commitment to student success at Alabama State University, and that’s someone we want to be married to in this partnership.”

This is not the first deal between Alabama State University and Coca-Cola United.  Coca-Cola has served as Alabama State University’s vending partner for the past 10 years, as evidenced by the dozens of Coca-Cola vending machines placed in almost every building.

In the previous deal with the university, Coca-Cola donated $100,000, without any of the benefits that the new contract specifies. That agreement ended on June 30, 2023. With the need to find a new vending partner, Alabama State University entered negotiations with not just Coca-Cola, but Pepsi as well, with Coca-Cola sealing the deal.

“I am satisfied with the amount,” Clark said. “It’s a building block. The last contract we did with Coca-Cola was 10 years, however, this time we decided to do five years. We believe that over these next five years, we’re going to be able to show the value of Alabama State University’s partnership with them. We also believe that our enrollment is going to continue to grow, which is going to put us into a better position.”

The new contract has a balanced focus on both carbonated drinks and bottled water due to a change in the beverages consumed by the student population.

“When the contract first started 10 years ago, students consumed a lot of carbonated beverages,” Clark said. “Now students drink a lot of water, so there has been a lot of change going on since the last contract.”

According to Clark, the new campus developments have already begun. The 18- wheeler truck is expected to make its debut in the next few weeks, while remodeling on the new workout facility is in the works. Dual enrollment scholarships will also be awarded to students who are struggling financially.

While some students believe that the money and benefits received from Coca-Cola is good for the university, there are others who believe more emphasis should be placed on the residence halls.

“I think it’s a smart investment,” senior Derrion Gilbert said. “but we need better dormitories.”

He is not the only one who supports the partnership but wishes the money would have been directed in other areas.

“I think that it’s a good program to have,” senior Kielarie Walls said. “We kind of need it. However, some people like me like the library and I like to sit in my residence hall, so I think that it probably should have been put towards study rooms since we’re here for college. I usually like my residence hall, but I just think we need better places to study.”

Even though there are some disagreements with students surrounding the use of money gained from the partnership, Clark’s goal is that Alabama State University will be able to negotiate a higher amount of money to be used in flourishing student success.

“It’s overall a good lot of money that will benefit student success,” Clark said. “We’re gonna take those dollars, and we’re gonna put them back in areas that will make student life easier over here at Alabama State University.”