The state’s technical college system is made up of 34 colleges, 18 satellite campuses, four university system colleges with technical divisions, and courses available online through the Georgia Virtual Technical College.

The programs offered through the technical college system are developed and managed through an administrative structure that involves professional staff as well as local boards of directors. This leadership structure ensures that the curricula and job training at each technical college remain consistent in quality and relevant to the needs and demands of business, industry, and Georgia’s citizens.

In FY02, enrollment in Georgia’s technical colleges grew for the 11th consecutive year. The number of students trained through the system in FY02 totaled a record 142,074 — a 19.9% increase over the previous year.

Also, in FY02, the technical college system graduated 23,624 students, up by 19.1% over the previous year. The quality of the education and training provided to these students is evidenced by the fact that the placement rate of graduates in jobs or continued education was 98.3%.

Another initiative that has proven successful is the collaboration between high schools and technical colleges. Many of these programs allow students to participate in postsecondary technical training classes while also earning credits that count toward high school graduation. In FY02, 7,361 students participated in these collaborative programs, an increase of 15.8% over last year.

 

Georgia’s Technical College System also offers online courses through the Georgia Virtual Technical College, which allows students to receive training and instruction over the worldwide web. In FY02, enrollment at GVTC increased to 17,515 — up from 7,744 the year before — and the number of course offerings grew more than 100% to 2,479, up from 1,151 in FY01.

 

Johnathan Haley GOAL Winner		The 31st annual Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) program was held in May. GOAL recognizes students for academic excellence and personal achievement. This year’s winner, Johnathan Haley, is from Athens Technical College and will serve as an ambassador for technical education in Georgia. When asked why he chose technical education, Johnathan replied that he wanted an education that would give him a “working knowledge” toward his career goals.

Parallel to the GOAL program, the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction recognizes technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields. This year’s winner is Michelle Earley, a Business Office Technology instructor from Coosa Valley Technical College.

Michelle Earley Rick Perkins Award Winner