Southern Poly Program

Southern Polytechnic University partners with Georgia Highlands College for information technology degree

By Daniel Bell
Editor

This semester Georgia Highlands College has begun a partnership with Southern Polytechnic University to offer a bachelor’s degree in information technology on the central FC campus in Rome.

This is the second four-year program to be offered on the Georgia Highlands College campus this academic year and is a part of the University System of Georgia’s (USG) $1.9 million “Enhancing Access” special funding initiative, as recommended by former governor Roy Barnes and approved by the Georgia General Assembly.
Students in the new Southern Polytechnic program
This program was one of only 11 proposals to be approved and funded by the project. The grant for the Georgia Highlands College/Southern Polytechnic University partnership is for a total of $164,000.

Southern Polytechnic is currently offering two classes on the Rome campus and plans to offer a full load of upper level information technology related courses in the fall.

The idea behind the “Enhancing Access” initiative is to give students who would otherwise not have the opportunity a chance to earn a four-year degree.

Amanda Mayo is a student in the Southern Polytechnic University classes, and says she is very grateful.

“I like the Southern Poly program because it allows me to get a degree from a four-year college without the hassle of having to drive back and forth to another school. If it wasn’t offered here, I wouldn’t be able to get my bachelor’s degree. The convenience makes it possible,” said Mayo.

To take part in the program students must have completed their core curriculum and be eligible for admission to Southern Polytechnic University.

Anyone interested should go by the SPU Office in the Walraven Building on the central campus of Georgia Highlands College or call (706) 368-7753.