Partnerships and Our Technical Colleges
B Y   J O N   E.   J O H N S O N

rue partnerships, by definition, yield a product that exceeds the expectations of all who are involved. Partnerships have been a major contributor to our success. The involvement of business and industry leaders early in the formation of the technical college system provided a foundation for achieving levels of success, credibility and accountability that are rarely found in educational institutions.

South Georgia Technical College has enjoyed a rich heritage of business, industry and community partnerships. Those relationships, cultivated over decades, have resulted in excellent communication and teamwork with companies like Caterpillar, Cooper Lighting, Lockheed Martin, Textron and Weyerhaeuser, to name just a few. These partnerships formed the framework for establishment of the extremely successful South Georgia Technical College Foundation. Blake Sullivan, the first SGTC foundation chairman, said it best when he described our fund drive as a “Friend Drive.” Our friends in Southwest Georgia have transported our college from the past into the present and will lead the way to a successful future.

Everyone benefits from community partnerships. Business and industry involvement helps prepare students for the specific skills required by area employers. It gives immediate placement opportunities for lucrative local jobs and provides workers with opportunities to update skills as job requirements change and opportunities for promotion develop.

Businesses and industries benefit by having a workforce available locally that has been trained according to their specific skill requirements. They also can benefit from re-training and development of the existing workforce to include basic literacy skills enhancement, state-wide curricula for across-the-board programs such as Certified Manufacturing Specialist and Certified Customer Service Specialist and tailored training for industry start-ups and expansions through Quick Start. They frequently tell us that their success, profitability and opportunity to expand in Georgia are greatly enhanced by our technical colleges.

Meeting the needs of our partners requires accountability at all levels of our operations; this begins with effective recruiting, requires that our curricula and instructors remain current and effective, and demands that our administrators pursue high-quality, state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Successful partnerships provide a solid foundation for Georgia’s system of technical colleges and contribute daily to our growth and credibility. Our local boards of directors, foundations, businesses and industries and community partners help ensure the positive impact of Georgia’s education reform process on our technical colleges.

The opportunity for partnerships is rapidly expanding. Collaborative efforts with local high schools have increased our enrollment. Joint service agreements with universities and the Georgia Departments of Labor, Juvenile Justice and Family and Children’s Services are rapidly developing and benefit all. Involvement with local community service organizations, such as Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Authorities and Boys and Girls Clubs, provides an opportunity to share our facilities and services throughout the communities we serve and will enhance our opportunity for success for years to come.

Partnerships provide accountability and opportunities for our technical colleges to focus our planning, programs and facilities to benefit the constituents and communities we serve. Our friends, quite simply, are at the heart of the successes of our past, and they hold the keys to our future.