South Georgia Technical College is adding two new academic programs this fall to help fill positions needed for high demand careers, announced SGTC President Dr. John Watford. Classes begin Tuesday, August 17. Students still have time to sign up. Registration is set for August 13.
Beginning Fall semester, South Georgia Tech will be offering Practical Nursing Essentials for high school students. This program is tuition-free through dual enrollment and is a great way for high school students to get started in an educational health care track by taking three classes – Medical Terminology, Structure and Function of the Human Body, and Introduction to Health Care. This may lead to future licensed practical nurses and registered nurses.
The second program beginning this Fall is the Associates of Science in Education degree. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and the University System of Georgia (USG) have a statewide Educator Preparation Articulation Agreement. This agreement allows students graduating with an Associate of Science in Education from South Georgia Technical College or another TCSG College to seamlessly transfer up to 54 credit hours of coursework toward a participating USG bachelor’s degree program in education, leading to initial teacher certification. This will help with the K-12 teacher shortage which is especially prevalent in rural areas.
There are over 411,000 K-12 teacher positions either unfilled or occupied by uncertified or out-of-field teachers nationally. This is a wide spread crisis affecting about one in eight classrooms nationwide. The crisis is heavily driven by poor teacher retention rather than recruitment. In Georgia, there are approximately 6,000 active teaching vacancies or positions filled by uncertified instructors.
While public schools retained roughly 90% of their overall educator workforce, early-career burnout remains severe. State data historically tracks that 44% of Georgia educators leave the profession within their first five years.
“We are pleased to be able to add these new programs to the other over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs available here at South Georgia Technical College,” said President Watford. “We believe the addition of these new programs can provide a pathway for students to enter the health care field and the K-12 teaching fields.”
South Georgia Technical College is also continuing to over a greater variety of classes at its Crisp County Center. SGTC began offering Barbering, Precision Machining, Automation Technology, and Business Management at its Crisp County Center campus last fall and those programs will be available again in Crisp County this fall. These programs were expanded to the Crisp County Center campus as a result of business and industry interest.
“These programs are providing local manufacturers with the skills they are seeking, especially with the precision machining and automation technology programs,” explained SGTC Vice President of Economic Development Michelle McGowan, who added the Business Technology associate degree program will now offer students the opportunity to specialize in office management, project management, human resources and social media.
“By offering barbering on the Crisp County campus, we also are providing another professional services opportunity for individuals in this area. It has been a great program for the Americus campus and now it has expanded to the Cordele campus.”
Individuals interested in enrolling in one of these or the other over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs offered at South Georgia Technical College can apply online at www.southgatech.edu. Click on the Apply Now button at the top right hand corner of the home page.
A registration day is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th and students are encouraged to visit either campus and get their schedules and meet instructors. For more information contact Admissions Coordinator Macy Williams in Crisp County, macy.williams@southgatech.edu or 229-271-4051 or Admissions Director Candie Walters, cwalters@southgatech.edu or 229-931-2299 in Americus.
SGTC will be offering two new educational programs this fall – an Associate of Science in Education degree and a Practical Nursing Essentials technical certificate of credit.