WGTC News Releases & Events
The following articles have been recently released by West Georgia Technical College:
- WGTC Welding Program Celebrates with Tradition, Togetherness
- Rachel Strickland Chosen As WGTC GOAL Winner
- Dental Hygiene Students Help Screen For Cancer
- West Georgia Technical College and Kaplan University Announce Articulation Agreement
- ESL Students Learn More Than Language
- WGTC Cosmetology Students Show Skills in Competition
- Two Foundations Merge to Support Technical Education in West Georgia
- West Georgia Technical College Instructor Babs Russell Nominated For Award for Excellence
- Tuskegee Drumline to Perform at Callaway Center in LaGrange
- WCTC Foundation Announces Redken Gift
- Winter Enrollment Up 20 Percent
- Butler Gives Commencement Address
- Work Ready Region Sponsors WGTC Leadership Academy
WGTC Welding Program Celebrates with Tradition, Togetherness
Posted: March 17, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
Students in West Georgia Technical College’s Welding Program celebrated the end of a successful term with a barbeque on Tuesday, March 16. The event, held at the end of each academic quarter, has become a popular tradition among students and instructors. Many former students return to visit and share news, and current students are often joined at the barbeque by family members.
“Our students work so hard,” said Welding Program Instructor Scott Eidson. “We all look forward to this event because it lets the students and faculty interact in fellowship. We’re celebrating the end of a long but safe and successful quarter and starting a new one. This is our 14th time doing this, and it’s a tradition we all love.”
With 80 students, including dual-enrollment students from five area high schools, WGTC’s Welding and Joining Program is a popular part of the College’s School of Trade and Technology. Tuesday’s barbeque was attended by nearly 150 people, including Carroll County leaders and program directors from other Georgia technical colleges. Students and faculty cooked more than 100 pounds of beef, pork and chicken on smokers designed and built by students.
“Events like this show how important teamwork is here at West Georgia Tech,” said WGTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan. “When you work hard together and learn together, you develop a kind of family bond, and we encourage that. These students are going to join the workforce and be valuable contributors to their team, and we want to reinforce how important that is and show them that we’re proud of their achievements.” Other WGTC programs celebrate student accomplishments in similar ways. The Commercial Truck Driving program holds a quarterly cookout as part of their graduation festivities.
West Georgia Technical College’s Welding and Joining Technology program is a sequence of courses designed to prepare a graduate for entry-level employment in welding and joining. The program provides learning opportunities which introduce, develop, and reinforce academic and occupational knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for job acquisition, retention and advancement. Additionally, the program provides opportunities to retrain and upgrade present knowledge and skills.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Rachel Strickland Chosen As WGTC GOAL Winner
Posted: March 15, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
Rachel Strickland, a Registered Nursing student at West Georgia Technical College, has been named as the College’s winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership. Strickland was chosen by a panel of local leaders over three other nominees for the award.
“Rachel brings so much to her Nursing classes; she’s a critical thinker and her professionalism really shines,” said Laura LaCagnina, a nursing Instructor, who nominated Strickland for the honor. “Her fellow students recognize her talents and look up to her as a leader, and I was proud to nominate her for this honor. She’s an exceptional young lady.”
Strickland, a resident of Douglasville, came to the WGTC Associate Degree Nursing program from an unconventional background. The child of missionaries, Strickland lived in more than a dozen countries through Asia and South America and was homeschooled. “I speak three languages, but my very first day in a classroom was the day I started college,” Strickland said. “With my background, technical education was a good option for me.” Strickland will graduate West Georgia Technical College’s Associate Degree Nursing program in June 2010, and plans to continue her education to become a nurse anesthetist, using her skills to help the world’s most vulnerable people. “I think nursing is a calling, just like missionary work,” Strickland explained. “I definitely feel called to help those who need it.”
“You can see why I am always very proud of all of our students,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “West Georgia Technical College students are driven to excel and passionate about their education. Many of them overcome incredible challenges to reach their goals, and Rachel is a perfect example of that commitment.”
GOAL, a statewide program of the Technical College System of Georgia, honors excellence in academics and leadership among the state’s technical college students. Local GOAL winners are selected at each of the state’s 27 technical colleges as well as the two Board of Regents colleges with technical education divisions.
Strickland will be competing on March 30 at Middle Georgia Technical College to represent the Central Region in the state GOAL competition. The statewide GOAL winner participates in a variety of speaking engagements including graduations and appearances at the Georgia General Assembly.
A mother of two daughters, Strickland said she is using this award to show her children that anything is possible if you work for it. “I’ve lived all over the world,” Strickland said, “and I believe that this is the only country where you can achieve anything with hard work. I tell my girls to aim for the stars, even though you might hit the ceiling. If you aim for the ceiling, you’ll never get off the ground.”
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Dental Hygiene Students Help Screen For Cancer
Posted: March 15, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
Students from West Georgia Technical College’s Dental Hygiene Program assisted physicians from the Atlanta Head and Neck Cancer Coalition perform free cancer screenings at Atlanta Motor Speedway March 6 and 7. Dental Hygiene Students Stacie Wells, Tarren Beavers, Nicole Winske, Tasha Daniel and Brenda Shoemake volunteered for two days during the E-Z-GO 200 and Kobalt Tools 500 races.
Early detection of oral, head and neck cancers is a priority of the racing community. NASCAR legend Bobby Hamilton died in January 2007 from complications of head and neck cancer at the age of 49. According to the American Cancer Society, this year more than 40,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancers of the head and neck – which include cancers of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx – and 7,550 will die.
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| WGTC Dental Hygiene students take a break from helping to screen race fans for head and neck cancers on March 7 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Pictured are Stacie Wells, Tarren Beavers and Cherie Rainwater, Director for Dental Hygiene. Other students who volunteered were Nicole Winske, Tasha Daniel and Brenda Shoemake. |
"When Bobby was diagnosed he immediately became an advocate of early detection of head and neck cancer," said Lori Hamilton widow of driver Bobby Hamilton and head and neck cancer advocate. "He asked everyone around him to get tested, promoted it to anyone who would listen and became a huge believer in the screening process. It doesn't hurt, is free and the 10 minutes it takes to do it could save your life."
“We encourage our students to become involved in the community,” said Cherie Rainwater, Director of West Georgia Technical College’s Dental Hygiene Program. “Volunteering to help screen for cancers is not only a good way to help the public, but students gain valuable experience they’ll use again in their careers.”
The screening event was organized by Dr. Edie Hapner, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at Emory University School of Medicine. “The Dental Hygiene students participated as room assistants to the surgeons, physicians, and dentists who completed the medical screening,” Dr. Hapner said. “The West Georgia Technical College Dental Hygiene students and their instructor, Cherie Rainwater, were integral to making the largest free head and neck cancer screening in Georgia successful.”
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
West Georgia Technical College and Kaplan University Announce Articulation Agreement
Posted: March 10, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
A new agreement between West Georgia Technical College and Kaplan University offers students more options for continuing their education than ever before.
Articulation agreements are designed to help students make a smooth transition from an associate degree program to a bachelor program without experiencing duplication in learning. Qualifying students who earn an associate degree at WGTC in an articulating program may be eligible to begin a baccalaureate degree at Kaplan with junior status.
“We have some of the most motivated and ambitious students in the state,” WGTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We’re always looking for new ways to give them more opportunities to build on the skills they learn here at West Georgia Technical College.”
Pat Hannon, WGTC Vice President of Academic Affairs agreed. “The mission of West Georgia Technical College is workforce and economic development. We have a responsibility to our students to find opportunities where the knowledge, skills and competencies they learn here are transferrable to senior colleges. This agreement with Kaplan University is a great option for our students looking to continue their education.”
The articulation process applies to graduates of WGTC’s Criminal Justice Technology and Accounting programs and can result in a savings of money, time and effort. West Georgia Technical College alumni and employees will receive a 10 percent discount on their tuition at Kaplan University.
“With the cost of college increasing precipitously, this agreement provides greater access to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for West Georgia Technical College students and staff who are interested in continuing their education at a regionally accredited university,” said Jaime Cocuy, Vice President for Kaplan University’s Strategic Alliance Organization. “Many Kaplan students, like those at West Georgia Technical College, are working adults who appreciate our rigorous academic programs, student-centered services and convenient online platform.”
The articulation agreement is one more in a long series of such partnerships for West Georgia Technical College. WGTC alumni are already taking advantage of articulation agreements with Mercer University, Southern Polytechnic State University, Strayer University and University of West Georgia.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Technical College is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Click here for more information on Articulation Agreements
ESL Students Learn More Than Language
Posted: March 4, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
LaGrange, Georgia—For many immigrants and visitors, learning English can be a daunting task, but instructors at West Georgia Technical College use local arts and culture to build confidence in students learning English as a second language.
West Georgia Technical College’s English As A Second Language Program (ESL) assists immigrants with limited English proficiency in acquiring the basic skills necessary to navigate governmental, educational, workplace, banking, healthcare, and other key American institutions. “Part of teaching ESL is preparing the students to be good citizens,” WGTC Adult Education Director Mary Edmondson said. “LaGrange offers so much in history, culture and the arts, and we expose the students to that so they feel invested in the community where they live, work and raise children.”
Led by instructors Nancy Smathers and Deborah Bailey, 16 ESL students from West Georgia Technical College visited the LaGrange Art Museum on February 2 for artist Annie Greene’s exhibit Spinning Yarns: Southern Stories From the Past. The students, natives from Brazil, Korea, El Salvador, Mexico and Guatemala, each chose a favorite piece of work from the exhibit to present to the group. “Annie Greene’s yarn art shows everyday scenes, like shopping or eating a meal with family,” ESL instructor Nancy Smathers explained. “It lends itself well to the vocabulary the 
students are learning, and really stimulates conversation.”
Adults of all nationalities are welcome to attend ESL classes at West Georgia Technical College. Students must be at least 16 years of age and speak a language other than English as their native tongue.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
WGTC Cosmetology Students Show Skills in Competition
Posted: March 3, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
Winners were announced on the West Georgia Technical College’s Lagrange Campus for the SkillsUSA Competition on Tuesday February 2, 2010. Twenty-five juniors and seniors in the cosmetology program competed for the chance to advance to the SkillsUSA Championship held in Augusta, Georgia. The contestants had six hours to prepare th
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From left to right: WGTC Cosmetology students Michi Clay, Latrina Cameron, Amanda Mallory show their competition entries. |
eir entry, and some entries came in the final minutes. Students were judged on the cut, color, and style of their entry. The top three finalists were Michi Clay, Latrina Cameron, and Amanda Mallory. Michi Clay, the overall winner, will advance to the final championship in Augusta, competing against students from 27 other technical colleges.
SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA Championships showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation. Contests begin locally and continue through the state and national levels. Students at West Georgia Technical College compete in SkillsUSA competitions in a variety of events.
Cosmetology instructor Vanessa Clark said, “I am very proud of all our students. They each displayed a well-planned presentation. They had been made aware of the contest a week in advance and each used the time to create some very unique combinations. I am very proud and pleased with their creative approach to the contest.” The judges for the competition were local professionals and former graduates of West Georgia Technical College’s Cosmetology Program and include Renee Winslow and Tabatha Cummings, both from Farasha Spa, and Kimberly Hurston, manager at Great Clips Salon, both in LaGrange.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Technical College is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Two Foundations Merge to Support Technical Education in West Georgia
Posted: February 24, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
In the final act precipitated by last year’s college merger, the West Central Technical College Foundation was cleared Wednesday by the Georgia Secretary of State to begin operating under the West Georgia Technical College Foundation name.
Last year, two state technical colleges, LaGrange-based West Georgia Tech and Waco-based West Central Tech, merged to form West Georgia Technical College, the state’s second largest technical college.
This approval completes the merger of the colleges’ two separate private, non-profit, fundraising organizations under the West Georgia Technical College Foundation.
The new college has campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties. Last fall more than 7,300 students were enrolled in degree, diploma or certificate programs.
“While the College merger took about 10 months to complete, the Foundation merger was a separate process taking over a year,” Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said.
“This is truly a milestone, as the West Georgia Technical College Foundation, Inc. is the first foundation within the Technical College System of Georgia to complete its merger,” Malcolm Jackson, West Georgia Technical College Foundation President, said.
Beverly Smith, Executive Director of Stewardship and Development for the Technical College System of Georgia agreed. “I commend the excellent work of both the West Central and West Georgia Technical College Foundation Boards during the merger process,” Smith said.
Cook said the merger means the Foundation is ready for the future. “Merging the foundations of West Central and West Georgia Tech ensures that the College is poised to meet the economic growth needs throughout our seven county service area,” Cook said. “Through our inaugural major gifts campaign, Invest in the Next Generation, the West Georgia Technical College Foundation is raising funds to build a new Coweta County Campus, provide more scholarships and grants to students, create a Healthcare Fund and expand the adult education and literacy programs.”
The new West Georgia Technical College Foundation is a private, non-profit corporation whose purpose is to solicit, receive, invest and administer gifts for the benefit of West Georgia Technical College. The Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees comprised of business and community leaders within the West Georgia region.
“The Foundation plays an integral role in making a difference in the lives of the students we serve in West Georgia,” College President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “I commend them on their hard work to complete the merger and their dedication to continue to support the College.”
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
West Georgia Technical College Instructor Babs Russell Nominated For Award for Excellence
Posted: February 24, 2010
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist;
PHONE: 770-537-6056; EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
Babs Russell, Business Administrative Technology Instructor, was selected by a committee of her peers to serve as West Georgia Technical College’s nominee for the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence, honoring technical education’s most outstanding instructors. The award, given by Technical College System of Georgia, recognizes and honors technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. Annually, all 28 technical colleges, plus the four Regents system schools with technical divisions, each nominate an instructor to represent their college for the statewide honor. Nominees then compete on a regional basis.
Named in memory of Thomas “Rick” Perkins, an instructor at West Georgia Technical College who received the TCSG’s Commissioner’s Award of Excellence prior to his untimely death, the award is the Technical College System of Georgia’s version of an “instructor of the year” award.
“West Georgia Technical College is fortunate among our peer colleges for having some of the most dedicated and credentialed faculty anywhere,” WGTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “The fact that the Rick Perkins Award is named for one of our instructors proves that we have a legacy of excellence in our faculty, and Mrs. Russell is no exception. She was nominated by her colleagues for her commitment to our students.”
The state Rick Perkins Award winner serves as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia. He or she will make many public appearances throughout the year, including addresses to the Georgia General Assembly, Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Technical College System Leadership Conference.
“Mrs. Russell is a dedicated professional,” Pat Hannon, West Georgia Technical College Vice President of Academic Affairs said. “She goes above and beyond, inside and outside of the classroom, and I know she’ll represent our faculty and our College well.”
“Being the Rick Perkins nominee, representing our College's committed, student-centered faculty who are professionals in their chosen fields, is truly the highest honor of my career,” Russell said. Russell, a Villa Rica resident and 15-year veteran of West Georgia Technical College, serves as the Program Chair for the Business Administrative Technology program. She is an alumna of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree. Russell also holds a Masters in Business Education from University of West Georgia and serves on the Business Education Advisory Board for Villa Rica High School.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
TuskegeeDrumline to Perform at Callaway Center in LaGrange
Posted: February 22, 2010
WHAT: Eighth Annual Tuskegee University Percussion Showcase
WHERE: West Georgia Technical College, LaGrange East Campus, Callaway Conference Center, 303 Fort Drive, LaGrange, Georgia 30240
WHEN: Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 7 p.m.
CONTACT: Angela Warner, WGTC Media Specialist
PHONE: 770-537-6056
EMAIL: angela.warner@westgatech.edu
The Tuskegee University Marching Crimson Piper Drumline will be performing on Thursday, February 25 at 7:00 at the West Georgia Technical College LaGrange East Campus Callaway Conference Center. As part of WGTC’s Black History Month celebration, the Percussion Showcase will feature a variety of classic band cadences, choreography and step performances by members of the Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma band honor societies. The event is free to the public.
Founded in 1881, Tuskegee University has a long tradition of excellence in music. Known for their exceptional showmanship and precision, the Marching Crimson Pipers have been perennial favorites at the Honda Battle of The Bands in Atlanta, where the 10 best marching bands from historically black colleges gather to show their musical skill.
“We’re proud to bring the Crimson Piper Drumline to LaGrange,” said Warren L. Duncan, Tuskegee University Director of Bands and Chairman of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. “This is our eighth year playing at the Callaway Center, and we look forward to returning every year.”
“We are very excited to have Tuskegee University Drumline performing at West Georgia Tech,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “There is always something entertaining happening at the Callaway Center, but having the drumline from TuskegeeUniversity is a treat for our guests.”
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
For more information, please contact Grover Sims, WGTC Georgia Fatherhood Coordinator at 706-756-4588.
WCTC Foundation Announces Redken Gift
Posted: February 1, 2010
Contact Ben Chambers, 770.537.5756
The West Central Technical College Foundation today announced a $25,000 donation by Redken, a global hair care products leader headquartered in New York.
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Redken representative Steve Broader (center) presents a ceremonial check to WGTC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook in the College’s Carroll Campus salon. The two are flanked by students and instructors from the College. College students provide cosmetology services at reduced rates at each of West Georgia Tech’s campuses. |
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The gift is part of the WCTC Foundation’s major gifts campaign, “Invest in the Next Generation.”
“We are tremendously thankful for the support of Redken,” College President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “We have a longstanding relationship with the company through the use of its products in our cosmetology program and in the College’s retail salons at each campus. This gift solidifies that friendship and partnership.”
Redken has also recognized West Georgia Technical College as a Redken Premier School. West Georgia Tech joins North Georgia Tech
as the only two Premier Schools in Georgia.
“We are particularly honored to be given the title ‘Redken Premier School’ as it gives our instructors and students access to more cutting-edge training directly from Redken experts – the best in the business,” cosmetology program chair Gail Conaway said.
The Premier School program puts Redken specialists in contact with instructors in “train the trainer” events that prepare instructors to teach the most advanced hair care and styling techniques in the industry.
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| West Georgia Technical College cosmetology instructors, clockwise from bottom, Denise Boykin, Dale Patterson, Vanessa Clark, Gail Conaway and DeeDee Patterson share information during a training session with a Redken colorist. |
Conaway said she and four other WGTC instructors have already begun training with a Redken colorist.
Redken representative John Miller said Redken values its longstanding relationship with West Georgia Tech.
“West Georgia Technical College has a great program,” Miller said. “With a retail salon on each of their five campuses, West Georgia Tech is teaching a huge number of new cosmetologists every year. We could not be more pleased that we have cemented our relationship with the College with this gift and with the Premier School program. As a Premier School, they have access to a tremendous amount of expertise and skill which will keep them on the very forefront of our industry.”
The Invest in the Next Generation campaign is raising funds in four areas, the Coweta Campus Fund, the Student Scholarship and Grant Fund, the Healthcare Fund and the Adult Education and Literacy Fund, Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dawn Cook said.
Cook said teams are now in the process of making proposals for support to numerous businesses, organizations and individuals.
Cook encouraged those interested in the campaign to visit the College’s website, www.westgatech.edu, to give online.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Winter Enrollment Up 20 Percent
Posted: January 21, 2010
Contact Ben Chambers, 770.537.5756
Winter Quarter classes are underway at West Georgia Technical College, and students again are enrolled in record numbers.
Preliminary figures show a 20.9 percent increase over the combined winter 2009 enrollment of West Central Technical College and West Georgia Technical College. The two colleges merged July 1.
Raw numbers show a 1,252 student increase for a total of 7,250 students enrolled at Georgia’s second largest technical college. The total is just 65 students shy of the College’s record-breaking fall quarter which just ended.
“We continue to see remarkable growth, notably at our Douglas Campus this quarter, but really across several campuses,” Vice President of Student Affairs Eddie Gore said.
“The opening of the College and Career Institute on the Douglas Campus last fall continues to attract dually enrolled high school students,” Gore said, “and that led the College to an all-time high of 392 high school students who are also taking college courses at West Georgia Tech.”
The number of students taking classes at the Douglas Campus, including CCI, is up over 43 percent to 1,720 students, making it the brick-and-mortar campus which serves the most students.
Interestingly, Gore said, the College’s number one campus by students served this quarter is online.
“Our by-campus student count shows that more students are taking classes online than at any single location the College has,” Gore said. “Enrollment in online classes more than doubled over last winter to a total of 1,919 students. That figure puts West Georgia Tech’s online enrollment in the top five statewide.”
President Dr. Skip Sullivan said the growth in the first three quarters of the merged West Georgia Tech has continued a trend that the old West Central Tech was already seeing.
“Prior to the merger, West Central had eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year, double-digit enrollment growth. The first three quarters as a merged College have continued that string,” Sullivan said.
“We are offering the type of fast-paced, hand-on, real world education that people are demanding in today’s economy,” he said.
Gore said that these preliminary numbers would continue to fluctuate as students get settled into classes.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Butler Gives Commencement Address
Posted: January 19, 2010
Contact Ben Chambers, 770.537.5756
District 18 State Representative Mark Butler (R-Carrollton) delivered an uplifting address to West Georgia Technical College graduates January 14, encouraging them to stay grounded and invest in relationships.
Butler, a Carrollton resident, addressed graduates at the College’s winter commencement exercises just four days into the state’s legislative session and a day after Governor Sonny Purdue delivered his State of the State address in the House chambers in Atlanta.
“I believe it was a great signal to our graduates that Rep. Butler took time out of a very busy and hectic legislative calendar to honor them,” President Dr. Skip Sullivan said. “As a College, we certainly work to honor the hard work of our graduates, and we deeply appreciate Rep. Butler for being here to celebrate these achievements with us and sharing such appropriate thoughts. He is a true friend to the College and steadfast supporter of technical education across the state.”
First elected in 2002, Butler has worked on and supported several legislative initiatives including the newly created Mental Health Ombudsman. This new position will protect the rights of citizens and work to make the mental health delivery system in Georgia more effective and efficient. He was also asked by Governor Sonny Purdue to co-chair the Human Resources taskforce. The work of this taskforce led to the largest restructuring of state government in 30 years after Representative Butler was asked by the Governor to carry this historic legislation to successful passage.
Through his position on the powerful Appropriations Committee, Representative Butler has been able to successfully advocate for over $100 million to build reservoirs which are much needed in the West Georgia area and tens of millions of dollars for public building projects in the 18th district.
Representative Butler earned his college degree from Auburn University in Public Administration. Locally, he is a member of Kiwanis Club and the Carroll County and Haralson County Chambers of Commerce. He is self-employed as a real estate appraiser and is a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Butler spoke just before West Georgia Tech awarded about 100 associate degrees and technical diplomas. An additional 250 students were recognized for completion of a technical certificate of credit.
Graduation was held on the College’s Murphy Campus in Waco, Georgia. For more information, visit www.westgatech.edu.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.
Work Ready Region Sponsors WGTC Leadership Academy
Posted: January 12, 2010
Contact Ben Chambers, 770.537.5756
About 20 employees from several Troup County manufacturers recently earned their Managerial & Supervisory Leadership Certificates through the Leadership Academy at West Georgia Technical College thanks to the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Certified Work Ready Region.
AMP sponsored the program at the request of Troup County leaders who were concerned about preparing the next generation of leaders in business and industry.
Dr. Peter Snell, West Georgia Tech’s Executive Director of Economic Development, said that today’s economic climate poses a growing challenge for organizations and their succession management.
Snell said estimates are that about 1 in 5 executives at Fortune 500 companies currently are eligible for retirement and about 80 percent of the managers in the federal government currently are eligible for retirement. Percentages of those eligible for retirement in state, local, and municipal governments are unknown, Snell said, but expected to be alarmingly high.
“Many prospective retirees are postponing retirement just long enough for the market to recover so that they can afford to retire,” he said.
Snell said this means is that there will be a recruiting war for supervisory, managerial and leadership talent when the economy improves.
“Many, if not most, organizations are unprepared or underprepared as they attempt to delay the identification of replacements for executive,” he said. “Some will be forced to recruit externally and be faced with bidding wars with others who are also trying to recruit scarce supervisory, managerial and leadership talent. Many will look internally only to realize that their pool of succession candidates are severely lacking with skills necessary for these roles.”
The Leadership Certificate program offers employees of Troup County manufacturers an avenue to prepare for future leadership roles that are certain to percolate from an improving economy.
The sponsorship of AMP allowed West Georgia Tech to offer the Managerial & Supervisory Leadership Certificate through the College’s Leadership Academy.
The mission for the Technical College System of Georgia and each of its technical colleges is to facilitate economic and workforce development, President Dr. Skip Sullivan said.
“We are committed to the economic and workforce development of Troup County. Our collaboration with Troup County Certified Work Ready Community and the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Certified Work Ready Region illustrates that commitment,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan credited Diethard Linder, who serves as chairman of the LaGrange Development Authority, and others with the hard work to provide employees of manufacturers in Troup County the luxury of participating in the Leadership Academy at no charge, compliments of AMP.
Snell said WGTC’s Leadership Academy collaborated with Linder to develop a Managerial & Supervisory Certificate program that was tailored to the request of AMP and included seven customized courses: 1) Frontline Leadership & Mentoring, 2) Managerial Leadership, 3) Leadership Overview, 4) Effective Meetings & Presentations, 5) Organizational Behavior & Communication, 6) Professional Ethics & Etiquette and 7) Project Management, Teams, & Participation. The success Mr. Linder’s efforts and the Leadership Academy have also led to its duplication in Upson County and scheduled to begin in January, again, compliments of AMP.
The Georgia Work Ready initiative was launched in August 2006 by Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to improve the job training and marketability of Georgia’s workforce and drive future economic growth for the state.
Work Ready Certificatesare available to individuals in Troup County for free and are designed to provide employers with valuable documentation that illustrates they have met a minimum set of education and skill standards. This documentation may then be used by an employer to match an employee’s skills to current and future job opportunities through an occupational profile.
There are four assessments including Reading for Information, Applied Mathematics, Locating Information and Work Habits (Talent Assessment). For more information about free Work Ready Certificates, please contact the WGTC Economic Development Division at 706.756.4586 or visit www.westgatech.edu.
Customized Job Profiles also are available to employers for free and designed to provide valuable documentation that illustrates the minimum set of education and skill standards for a specific position. A trained profiler works collaboratively with groups of employees to complete a job analysis. This collaboration includes selecting the most critical job tasks, then analyzing these tasks to identify the minimal and optimal skills and skill levels required for an employee to perform effectively.
By matching the customized job profile with an employee’s Work Ready Certificate, an employer can make reliable decisions about hiring and training. Results are typically associated with decreased employee turnover, decreased training, decreased cost for training, increased productivity, and ultimately increased revenue.
Skills Gap Training is also available for free for individuals in Troup County who want to improve their scores and gain a higher-level certificate. For more information about free Skills Gap Training, please contact the WGTC Adult Education Division at 706.756.4587 or visit www.westgatech.edu.
Certified Work Ready Community provides Troup County with a means to illustrate to employers their commitment to economic and workforce development with its “validated” local workforce that is ready for employment. More simply stated, when a new business inquires about locating in Georgia, they will be inclined to begin with looking at those counties that are CWRC. Those that have not achieved CWRC may be overlooked. CWRC is being accomplished in Troup County through collaboration between WGTC, LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Development Authority of LaGrange, local business and industry and Troup County School System. This collaboration required a formal plan to improve the community’s work ready status and minimum percentages of the workforce obtaining the WRC.
Certified Work Ready Region helps Troup County build upon its CWRC status with participation in AMP that was developed as a strategic manufacturing partnership between Coweta, Heard, Meriwether, Talbot, Troup and Upson. AMP promotes regional manufacturing resources.
“Coordinated through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development, the Georgia Work Ready initiative will be the catalyst that will cement in place the linking of education, workforce and economic development together and will ensure our state has the talent to fill the jobs of the 21st century economy,” Snell said.
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and additional class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers over 130 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is the second largest of the state’s 28 technical colleges and one of the fastest-growing two-year colleges in the nation.