FC, UWG partnership starts four-year program this fall; Southern Polytechnic State University to bring program in 2003

By Daniel Bell
Editor

Georgia Highlands College has received funds to partner with two state universities to offer two new four-year programs, one of which is already underway.

The programs are made possible through the University System of Georgia's (USG) $1.9 million "Enhancing Access" special funding initiative, as recommended by Gov. Roy E. Barnes and approved by the Georgia General Assembly.

On Sept. 16 Georgia Highlands College and the State University of West Georgia (UWG) began an endeavor to offer a bachelor's degree in early childhood education on the central campus in Rome.The classes, which were delayed until Sept. 17 so that students could be contacted and advised properly, began at junior level course work.

To be eligible, students needed to have completed their associate degree or core curriculum and be eligible for admission to the teacher education program at UWG.

Students who enter the new program at FC and follow the specified sequence of classes will graduate in May 2004 with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education.

Since more than 200 students at FC have identified early childhood education as their major, officials at both Georgia Highlands College and UWG collaborated to produce a successful proposal that was approved by the Board of Regents.

"The Board of Regents received 31 proposals for these non-traditional student grants," said Dr. Bettie Horne, administrative associate for academic, student and faculty affairs at the Board of Regents. "The process was very competitive. Most proposals were very strong and addressed the critical shortages in education, information technology and nursing," she said.

Eleven of the 31 proposals were chosen to be funded and the West Georgia/Floyd College grant was for $198,000.

This grant allows more access for non-traditional students to pursue a bachelor's degree and also helps two-year colleges to move into four-year programs without causing the University System to build more campuses.

The second program is scheduled to begin on the Georgia Highlands College Rome campus in the spring 2003 semester.

FC and Southern Polytechnic State University will be offering a bachelor's degree in information technology. The grant funding this endeavor is also a part of the "Enhancing Access" special funding initiative, and is for a total of $164,000.

A program leader will be working throughout the semester on both the FC and Southern Polytechnic campuses, making contacts, formulating the curriculum for the program and recruiting students.

Southern Polytechnic is expected to offer two classes in the Spring 2003 semester and then a full load of upper level information technology related courses the following fall semester. In all, the 11 grants awarded by the Board of Regents will allow 20 USG institutions to collaborate and extend their resources to parts of Georgia where students are under-served.

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