Winter 2021
LEARN
ONLINE
100% Online Programs
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree Programs • • • • •
Accounting Technology Business Technology Business Logistics Management Business Management Computer Support Specialist
• • • • •
Criminal Justice Cybersecurity Specialist E-commerce Fire Science Technology Health Information Technology
Diploma Programs • • • •
Accounting Technology Business Technology Business Logistics Management Business Management
• • • •
Computer Support Specialist Criminal Justice Cybersecurity Specialist Fire Science Technology
• Hotel/Restaurant/Tourism Mgmt. • Marketing Management • Operations Management
• Hotel/Restaurant/Tourism Management • Marketing Management
Technical Certificate of Credit Programs • • • • • •
Basic Fire Officer Criminal Justice Specialist Customer Contact Specialist Entrepreneurship Fire Officer I Fire Officer II
• Industrial Preparation • Logistics Management Specialist • Microsoft Office Application Specialist • Office Accounting Specialist • Quality Assurance Specialist
• Service Supervision Specialist • Supervisor /Management Specialist • Supply Chain Management
Revised July 2020
For more information, contact Troycia Webb at 229.430.3693 or twebb@albanytech.edu
WELCOME
Winter 2021
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Welcome to the latest issue of ACCESS!
A Duty to Act You may have heard some of the following facts about our community. Twenty-eight percent of the adults in Albany Tech’s service delivery area have not earned a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, according to the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission, 26.4 percent of the population who live in the seven counties assigned to Albany Tech live in poverty. Six of the seven counties served by Albany Technical College are at risk or distressed. Only two zip codes are considered prosperous. Albany Tech can currently provide only two qualified candidates for every three vacant positions requiring a technical college graduate. The shortage of nurses and other health care professionals is acute and growing exponentially. Southwest Georgia’s need for transportation, logistics, and e-commerce workers have grown because of the high demand for the products we produce and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local manufacturers not only require more production operators, they also require additional Dr. Anthony O. Parker mechatronics President
technicians to install and calibrate automated and robotic systems. The need for telecom and information technicians continues to vastly expand. Our response to the pandemic has accelerated the demand for nurses, childcare workers, and paramedics. As the pandemic ends, we will express our pent up desires to meet our friends, eat freely at restaurants, and travel on vacations. As the economy recovers, we will continue to renovate and build. Current facilities will require upgrades and new construction will require incorporation of the highest technology.
FEATURE STORIES
Read insights about the following areas at Albany Tech.
ATC Grad Turns Pro
Finding Success In and Out of the Boxing Ring
We can meet this particular duty to act without requesting additional financial resources. The resources needed to grow our enrollment and the number of graduates has already been allocated. Albany Tech offers a comprehensive catalog of programs designed to meet the region’s needs. Albany Tech’s educational programs have high value and relatively low cost. HOPE and PELL financial aid is available for high school and GED graduates. Dual enrollment options exist for high school students, and joint enrollment options are available for adults that haven’t graduated from high school. If we’re able to meet local employment needs, we will be much more likely to encourage existing industries to expand. Also, we will be more likely to attract new industry. We will also increase the level of pride and self-respect of those who were previously unemployable. Embracing the duty to act is the right thing to do.
Career + HSE
A High School Equivalency Can Change Your Future
Turning the Page Two Instructors Retiring After 30 Years
Follow us online 03 New Titans Coach
21 Purple Briefcase
05 Cover Story
23 Turning the Page
09 Insights
30 New Hires
Tim Dal Bon Named Interim
ATC Grad Turns Pro
15 Career + HSE
HSE Can Change Your Future
Career Services Virtual Platform
Retiring Instructors of Over 30 Years
ACCESS is a news magazine published by the Marketing and Public Relations Office at Albany Technical College. Send inquiries to publicrelations@albanytech.edu
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Winter 2021
FEATURE
®
NEW TITANS COACH
Tim Dal Bon named as interim head basketball coach Tim Dal Bon was named ATC interim head basketball coach following the resignation of Sylvester Patterson who served as head coach since 2007. Tim was recruited in 2019 to be the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach for the Albany Tech Titans. This year, he will lead the Titans team in the 2020-2021 season. Previous Position: Assistant Coach 2019-2020 season Tim Dal Bon’s path to Albany Technical College began three years ago while attending an Albany Tech alumni basketball game with his best friend and fellow basketball teammate while attending Valdosta State College. His friend, a former ATC basketball player, transferred to Valdosta State to continue his basketball career, still had strong connections with Albany Tech and the basketball coaching staff. It was at this game Tim met ATC basketball Coach Sylvester Patterson. This
meeting eventually led Tim accepting the position of assistant coach of the Albany Tech Titans Men’s team. A 2016 Tallahassee Community College associate degree graduate in General Studies, Dal Bon transferred to Valdosta State University to continue his studies and basketball career. At present, he is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and will finish December 2020. As a player, Tim always knew he wanted to transition into college level-coaching because of the recruiting aspect stating, “I knew I wanted coaching to be my profession, and I am focused on making that happen. I am fully invested, and I think Albany Tech has so much potential. I’ve been able to play for coaches as a point guard who have 400 to 500 career wins and I’ve been a been a sponge watching and learning from them.” In the recent past, Tim started a business in
Orlando as a trainer working with Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) players and assisting them in their skills development. He has worked closely with those individuals who were interested in pursuing college and professional basketball. The 2020-21 Team Albany Tech Titans are Division I of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) conference. The basketball conference is primarily comprised of all Georgia schools to include technical and state colleges. The 2021 Titans roster includes 12 players. There are four returning sophomores: Michael Wynn, Javez Lumpkin, Jacquez Fountain, and Zeff Felton. Dal Bon feels like the returning players from last year are going to be strong leaders for the team as Fountain was the GCAA Freshman of the Year last season and Felton was named to the first team all defense.
Currently, the Titans have two sophomores, Jacquez Fountain and Jalen Nesmith, with Division I offers, and Zeff Felton has a Division II offer. Last year, the Titans had a graduating sophomore, Vinny Viana, sign with the University of Tennessee/Martin Men’s Basketball program as an incoming junior on the 2020-21 roster. Dal Bon says Titan coaches are player oriented and having a player like Vinny on the team creates an excellent opportunity to recruit younger, recruitable players. It allows them to see the player’s caliber and generally creates interest and a desire to be a part of the Titan team. Last year the Titans finished the season 18-12, 4th at the conference and “this year we have amazing talent with the potential to do even better,” said Dal Bon.
The 2020-21 Schedule The Titan NJCAA conference schedule will start February. Teams can play up to 22 total games, with 16 of those being conference games. This means that up to 6 of the games can be non-conference teams. “The scheduling process is currently in progress, but is a challenge,” stated Dal Bon. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) conference left the decision to play out of state up to the individual institutions. Albany Technical College decided the team would not go out of state. Last year, the Titans traveled to Alabama and Florida. Dal Bon expressed it is tough scheduling the non-conference games because ATC is not allowed to travel out of state to compete and most of the out of state teams are not allowed to come to us. To clarify, not all colleges in the state of Georgia are a part of the GCAA. This means that the Titans can schedule nonconference games with teams like the private Brewton-Parker College in Vernon, Georgia, a different conference. National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Other nonconference examples Dal Bon mentioned include the 4-year Reinhardt University and Thomas University, both NAIA.
The Titan season schedule is accelerated and will change from the traditional two-games per week schedule to a three-game per week. Home games will be played at Albany State HPER Complex Gym on the east campus of Albany State University. No decision has been made as to whether fans will be able to come to the home games. Additionally, another change this year will include a difference in the double-header, multiple games scheduled on one night. Although both the men and women will be playing the same night, they will not be playing in the same venue in order to prevent any Coronavirus cross-contamination. For example, if the Titan men play a team at the Albany home court, the Titan women will play the same team away at the opponent’s home court. The pandemic has also created eligibility questions for college athletes. In a recent decision, sophomores in two-year institutions would not be penalized due to the pandemic. Usually, a 2-year college athlete would leave with two years of eligibility left to play. The college athlete’s eligibility to be recruited and move on playing with a 4-year university has been extended to 3 years. NJCAA decided to follow suit with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), who also granted all their student athletes another year allowing extended time to play college ball. Generally, NJCAA students transfer to NCAA.
Final Thoughts It is of Dal Bon’s personal opinion that Albany Technical College is one of the better locations in the league with good amenities and lifestyle for college students. With regard to the team, Dal Bon states, “you will see players held accountable every day for who they are on and off the court. It’s an exciting time at Albany Tech and a lot of things are progressing with the Titans.”
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Winter 2021
COVER STORY FEATURE
HAVEN BRADY, JR.
®
ATC GRAD TURNS PRO
FINDING SUCCESS IN AND OUT OF THE BOXING RING “Excel” is the buzz word that best describes Haven Brady, Jr. both in athletics and academics.
was a conflict with his boxing schedule. He graduated from ATC with an associate degree in business management maintaining a 3.5 GPA in both high school and college. The dual enrollment program allows qualified high school students to maximize their education and career training by taking courses that earn college and high school credit at the same time. Always athletically inclined participating in football and basketball, Brady found his niche in boxing at about age 12. Excelling at this sport, featherweight pugilist Brady proclaimed himself “The Hitman” adopting the same nickname as professional boxer Thomas Hearns as they have similar boxing styles. Recently, Brady signed a multi-year
Eighteen-year-old Brady is a 2020 graduate of Westover High
professional pact with Top Rank, a boxing promotional company. His
School and Albany Technical College. He took advantage of the Dual
boxing career thus far has been quite impressive. As an amateur
Enrollment program allowing him to complete his high school and
before becoming pro, Brady’s record is 65-10 with 30 knockouts. In
technical college studies simultaneously. While the vast majority of his
2019, at the Junior Olympics, Eastern Qualifiers and National Police
ATC classes were online, he was diligent about his assignments and
Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc. (PAL) tournaments, Brady won several
found all of his instructors to be helpful and accommodating if there
gold medals.
Driven to be successful in all aspects of his life, Brady is continuing his education majoring in biology at Clark University, Toledo, Ohio. Additionally, he trains for his boxing career at Soul City Boxing Gym five to six hours a day, Monday through Friday. When asked if he had a favorite or inspirational saying, his response was, “Only the Strong Survive.� Indeed, Brady seems to be strong, determined, and destined to be successful in and out of the boxing ring.
®
September 2020
AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM RECEIVES KIA OPTIMA FOR STUDENT LAB KIA Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. donated a KIA Optima to the Albany Tech Foundation. The late-model vehicle will be used as a hands-on laboratory to train students on computer diagnostics in the Automotive Technology Program. This donation will place current automotive repair technology in students’ hands and prepare them to work in the local automotive industry.
Fall Semester 2020
LAPTOPS
The Special Populations Program received 10 laptops purchased through Perkins funds. The laptops are available to the students as part of the Lending Library and can be borrowed for the entire semester. For more information, contact Quanta Bell, Special Populations Coordinator, at qbell@albanytech.edu or 229.430.6144.
SPOTLIGHT
Winter 2021
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Winter 2021
INSIGHTS ®
INTEL POCKET PC COMPUTER STICK
assists students in taking classes online Students now have an opportunity to access the internet through a PC computer stick that easily plugs into an HDMI port on a television or monitor. Students will need to use their HDTV (with HDMI port or HDMI display) and wireless keyboard/ mouse combo to connect to the Pocket PC computer stick. Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse combo are recommended.
The library check-out procedure is as follows:
Checking out a mini PC computer stick will be much like checking out a book. Albany Technical College has purchased 100 Intel Pocket PC computer sticks for students. Intel Pocket PC computer sticks are now available at the Anthony O. Parker, Ph.D. Library on the campus of Albany Technical College. Students can check-out the Pocket PC computer stick for the entire semester.
• Must be a current ATC Student and must present a valid Driver’s License, Validated Student ID card, and Current Class Schedule.
PC sticks are a low-cost alternative to laptops for students/staff to access online coursework. This stick isn’t a laptop replacement, and the performance is limited but can be used to provide alternative options due to financial or availability limitations.
• Students will need to bring their current class schedule, student ID, and Driver’s license to validate their enrollment status. • Students must complete the Pocket PC computer stick Check-out Form and agree to the loan’s terms and conditions.
• The student agrees to return all equipment listed above in the same condition as it was issued by the designated date specified. The student’s account will be charged for replacement cost if the equipment is lost, stolen, damaged, or not returned by the date designated. A hold may also be placed on the student’s Banner Account until equipment is returned and all fines paid. • Upon return, the equipment will be inspected for damages, etc.
To increase access to technology for our students, the Predominately Black Institution (PBI) Enhancing Online Learning and Services grant, funded by the Department of Education, has supplied funds to purchase PC computer sticks for students to access and excel within the online learning environment.
The operation of the PC computer stick is simple. It comes tailored for the individual student with all apps installed that they will need for classwork. The software OS is Windows 10 Home, and the username and password are set up when a student receives the hardware and software installed.
Marcia Poulos, PBI Project Director, stated, “As online learning enrollment increases, we need to make sure that we support our students in their access to technology. Our commitment through the PBI Grant is to enhance online learning and services and providing students with an avenue to access better ensures academic preparedness and furthers the ability for students to continue moving toward successful course and program completion.”
The students must return the Pocket PC computer stick at the end of each semester. The loaned Pocket PC computer sticks will be checked for damages and missing components. Fees may be charged accordingly if damages or missing components are discovered. At the beginning of the next semester, the student may recheck-out the Pocket PC computer sticks again if needed.
In 2020 Remembrance Winter 2021
These individuals contributed to Albany Technical College’s success and will be dearly missed as we move forward. They were a part of our family and their efforts to the college and our students will never be forgotten.
FEMMI ANDERSON
ROBERT CHESTER
Adjunct Instructor, Design and Media Production Technology March 28, 2020
Albany Technical College Board of Directors September 2, 2020
DAVINA FLOYD
MARY FORD
Diploma and Degree Graduate, Culinary Arts May 9, 2020
Instructor, Nursing August 19, 2020
ROBERT (BOB) COKER Technical Support Specialist August 20, 2020
LEM GRIFFIN
Albany Tech Foundation Trustee August 11, 2020
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Winter 2021
INSIGHTS ®
director of LEAP. There are nine IPSE programs in the state of Georgia, but LEAP is the only one hosted by a technical school, where extra emphasis is given to hands-on education and practical experience. At LEAP, students with disabilities take courses with peers and receive support through mentorship. Students can enter the program at the start of the fall, spring or summer semesters, and they typically take one course per semester. After two years, students earn a certificate and graduate with their class.
Albany Tech takes a L.E.A.P. for Students with Disabilities by Clay Voytek Article courtesy of Georgia Council for Developmental Disabilities
When Regina Watts arrived in 2008, Albany Technical College didn’t have an inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program. Watts had worked in the disability space for over a decade prior, and she wrote the idea for an inclusive program down on an initial list of goals. “I wanted to create a program for those students that would possibly not have the opportunity to go to college.” Six years later, Watts still had the piece of paper, and she began to connect with other administrators across the state as other programs got their start. Eventually she received money through a federally funded grant to gauge interest. With help from the Georgia Inclusive Postsecondary Education Consortium (GAIPSEC), as well as many other people, grants, agencies and institutions, Watts created the Leveraging Education for Advancement Program (LEAP), which is entering its fifth academic year. “Everything just fell in place with the grant, where we were able to see if there was a need, and most definitely there was a need,” Watts said. “It’s been a wonderful process of getting the program sustained and established.” Watts is now the special needs/disability services coordinator at Albany Tech and the
Students enrolled in the program typically complete a Business Office Assistant certificate, a credential approved by the Technical College System of Georgia and made up of six courses also available to Albany Tech’s larger student population. Watts says taking classes with peers and working with the program’s mentor-tutors allows for a holistic college experience built on education and socialization. “They are truly exposed to a lot,” said Watts. Recently, the school’s board approved for Watts to offer 15 other certificates that students had expressed interest in. The fall 2020 semester is the first time a student has registered for a certification other than Business Office Assistant. The student registered for an Infant/ Toddler Child Care Specialist certificate, and her ultimate goal is to work at a daycare. “Students that probably would not have had an opportunity to go to college can come to the LEAP program and get what they need academically, socially and mentally as well — get the tools that [will] help them go into the world of independent living,” Watts said. Despite the disruptions of COVID-19, there are currently seven students enrolled in LEAP. One of the students is currently completing his last course, and the program welcomed two new students this semester, one of whom is a dualenrolled high school student. Watts personally called each student entering the program on the phone ahead of the semester to present their family with options. Three of the students in LEAP are attending
virtually, and four students are taking classes on campus. Under normal circumstances, students in LEAP take classes on campus in Albany. Students in the program are exposed to a variety of experiences, including conferences, internships, volunteering and job-shadowing. They also work closely with the Career Services Office, where they create resumes and complete mock interviews. COVID-19 has disrupted many of these opportunities, but the work hasn’t stopped by any means. The program currently has two mentortutors available to students for personalized assistance, one on campus and one virtual. Watts says that virtual learning is as inclusive as it can be, but she’s currently working out ways to create a more fulfilling and effective digital experience with virtual tours and workshops. Under Watts’ direction, the program has been able to leverage its position at a small, technical college to best accommodate those it serves. She hopes to keep it small and flexible, so the program can continue providing students with thoughtful, personalized services. “I want to give an example of my very first student,” said Watts. “We started the program with one student, and that was very wise. He is the innovator in the video on my webpage. He blossomed into the person that was able to create a video, to be a part of the video that introduces what the LEAP program is all about. I am just so happy to be able to help someone to achieve their dreams.” Since then, Watts has used her passion to continually improve the program and adapt to new challenges. “It is definitely a rewarding experience for me as well. To be a vehicle that can help an individual to better their lives,” she said.
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Winter 2021
®
®
Signing Ceremony
THE POWER OF PARTICIPATION BY BRAD MCEWEN
www.abtgold.com/home/beyond-the-bank/fall2020/drparker Search: AB&T Anthony Parker
AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE NURSE EDUCATION & TRAINING November 2, 2020
Phoebe and Albany Tech formalized a plan to address a growing nursing shortage by increasing the number of graduates from the Associate of Science Nursing (ASN) Program at Albany Tech in southwest Georgia. Phoebe Putney Health System Chief Executive Officer, Scott Steiner, and Albany Technical College President, Dr.
Excerpts from the article: “We are focusing on the adult learner, not that we are giving up our emphasis and taking emphasis away from the younger student, but we realized the demographics that are changing. Since baby boomers, people my age, became mature, there are fewer and fewer college students of traditional age, but employers need more educated individuals to do jobs. “
Anthony Parker, signed a donation agreement on November 2, 2020
“We have to connect with those individuals who are young adults, middle aged adults, who may not have gotten all the basic education that they need to participate in the labor force,” he continued. “Or they may have started a career and need to consider a change. We are understanding that we have to focus a little differently. We understand that with that group we’ve got to deliver instruction differently.”
boosting our economy as well,” Dr. Parker said.
“We are realizing too that some of our adult students, especially those who did not graduate from high school or earn a GED, need an opportunity to participate. The community needs them to participate. They need to work. They need to contribute and we need them on jobs, or those jobs won’t be filled. Or they’ll be filled by others from outside of our community and the multiplied and accelerative income would be lower.” Dr. Anthony Parker
in the Phoebe Simulation and Innovation Center. “The best way we can address the nursing shortage in southwest Georgia is to make sure we are graduating more nurses who are from this area and will likely stay in this area to work. Phoebe’s support will allow us to expand our ASN program, improving healthcare in our region, and
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Winter 2021 ®
LASHONDA MIMS CAREER + HSE STUDENT PURSUING CULINARY ARTS IN SPRING 2021
“I was encouraged to obtain my HSE & pursue a degree, but ultimately I had to motivate myself. I had to see the vision to make a better life for myself.”
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Three Options to Earn your A HIGH SCHOOL High School Equivalency EQUIVALENCY Decide your path and your pace. CAN CHANGE YOUR FUTURE
Test, HiSet Exam, and Career Plus HSE. The Career Plus HSE is in a pilot program (Albany Tech is one of the pilot colleges for Career Plus HSE, and it will roll out to all Technical Colleges in 2021.) This initiative offers an innovative path to obtain skills training in high demand fields with greater salaries while at the same time earning a high school education.
The Adult Education Department at Albany Technical College will assist every student and advise them on the best option based on individual students and their needs. Every situation has to be evaluated to choose the best option for that individual.
Earning a high school equivalency increases your paycheck by an average of $8,000 per year*
With over 28,000 adults without a high school diploma in Albany and the surrounding area, there is an opportunity to better the Southwest Georgia community. If you or GEORGIA someone you know does not have a high school diploma, we HIGH SCHOOL recommend Joint Enrollment to jumpstart your future career.
EQUIVALENCY
CareerPlus HSE
• Use Previously Earned High Tuition Free Programs Linda Coston, Vice President of• Adult Education, said, “Albany Technical School Credit or GED® tests Available College worked diligently to reduce or eliminate the barriers for • Must be 21has or Older • Multiple Career Pathways • Online In-Person thoseorwho are ready to enter into a career field that will provide them a
Joint Enrollment started at Albany Tech as a simple concept; Take classes for a career while OPTIONS earning your high school diploma equivalency. If you are familiar with the Dual Enrollment options that high school students have had for years in Georgia, then it is a very similar concept. With Dual Enrollment, a high school student can continue to take their high school classes while enrolling in college courses to pursue a diploma or degree. • With Joint Enrollment for adults 18 and older, if a person did not get their high school diploma for whatever reason, then they can enroll in • college courses while they continue to get a high school equivalency at • the same time. A Joint Enrolled student must complete their high school equivalency by the time they finish a degree.
living wage, and at the same time they can complete their high school education. We have an obligation to be the engine for that change in the lives of our students. In turn, we will be developing a skilled and GED® Test” employable workforce for our community. • Four Sections
Language Arts, Math, continued, “WeStudies now have Science, Social
• Online or In-Person • Scholarships Available more• $160 pathways for ALL than Tests ever before for
Coston • Must 16 oraOlder $40 per subject adult learners tobeearn high school credential. These advancements are • FREE Prep Classes designed to support the adult learner and give them opportunities for a high demand career and job advancement. We are now equipped as never before to support and assist our community with obtaining career training and highHiSET® school credentials. Exam ”
Five Sections
Dr. Anthony O. Parker, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Online or In-Person
President• Scholarships of Albany Technical AvailableCollege, commented, • $133.75 for ALL Tests at Albany Technical “We are eager to offer Joint Enrollment opportunities Must be 16 or Older $26.75 per subject College. The program recognizes that adult learners have specific needs FREE Prep Classes and life obligations that have to be addressed to be successful students. This program will allow participants to obtain credit for skills already mastered, Financial get assistance with textbook costs, and gain skills.” assistance available to those whocareer qualify.
* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Under Joint Enrollment, there is an umbrella of choices for a student. If a student did not get their diploma for whatever life reason, then your_email@tcsg.edu the next choice is “Georgia High School Equivalency (HSE)” options. First Name Last Name, Title Under High School Equivalency, you have three options in Georgia: GED
www.tcsg.edu
Visit our website for more info
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Winter 2021 ®
Choose from 39 High Demand Career Programs
CareerPlus HSE
In our community, Albany Technical College is expanding this GEORGIA concept with a “Joint HIGH SCHOOL Enrollment” pathway. A student who does EQUIVALENCY not have a GED® or OPTIONS high school diploma can begin taking “Gateway” classes at the college while earning their GED or high school equivalency. Joint Enrollment also offers students a five-step process to complete a diploma or move on to a degree of their choice in 39 programs of interest. • Contact Albany Tech Adult Education (229.430-7881 or djones@albanytech.edu) • Choose a program of interest • Apply at ATC Admissions • Complete a Financial Aid application • Register for classes Students chosen may be eligible for the PELL Grant, HOPE Grant, WorkStudy, and/or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) financial aid. Some of the programs do not require testing for admissions. This opportunity enables the student to avoid traditional entry testing and move directly into the remainder of the program’s curriculum because they have shown an “ability to benefit” from the program with acceptable performance in the first two college career classes.
• Use Previously Earned High School Credit or GED® tests • Must be 21 or Older • Online or In-Person
• Four Sections
• Tuition Free Programs Available • Multiple Career Pathways
GED® Test
• Online or In-Person • Scholarships Available • $160 for ALL Tests
Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies
• Must be 16 or Older • FREE Prep Classes
• Five Sections
Reading, Writing, Math, Science, Social Studies
HiSET® Exam
• Must be 16 or Older • FREE Prep Classes
Career Plus HSE Career Plus HSE offers the flexibility to earn a high school equivalency (HSE) without the stress of a high-stakes test. Georgians, age 21 and older without a high school diploma, can acquire a basic education and high-demand workforce skills at the same time. Why is Career Plus HSE right for me? • Get your high school equivalency without taking a high-stakes test. • Transfer in high school credits or GED tests you have already completed. • Online high school courses available 24/7. • Enroll in college courses right away. • Tuition-free programs are available. • Earn more money with a post-secondary credential. • Receive one-on-one support from Adult Education staff.
$40 per subject
• Online or In-Person • Scholarships Available • $133.75 for ALL Tests $26.75 per subject
How to Get Started with the New Initiatives Financially A student who enters the Career Plus HSE initiative can potentially qualify for Financial Aid through the HOPE Grant and Career Grant program if they meet Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) requirements. However, this amount may not cover all of the costs. Once the student chooses a program of interest, they will need to earn a “C” or higher grade in two specified gateway classes to potentially qualify for additional federal financial aid if they meet federal requirements. This opportunity enables the student to move directly into the remainder of the program’s curriculum because they have shown an “ability to benefit” from the program with acceptable performance in the first two college classes. What exactly is Ability to Benefit? Do you know someone who dropped out of high school after the 9th grade? Do you know someone who completed at least one section but not all of the GED within the last ten years? Or do you know someone who is enrolled in
Winter 2021
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adult education and is capable of high school level course work? People that meet one of these criteria may show the “ability to benefit” (ATB) from an Albany Technical College education. There are over 39 programs available to them. They may qualify for PELL financial aid as ATB students: • Successfully completing two gateway courses or • Successfully completing an ATB test. As a Georgia resident, they may enroll in the gateway courses using the HOPE Career Grant to cover tuition and fees.
equivalency credential. Students can prepare for both the GED® and HiSET® by attending free exam prep classes at one of TCSG’s adult education providers located throughout the state. • HiSET preparation classes are free. Contact Albany Technical College’s Adult Education Center for information about classes. • Scholarships are available to assist with HiSET Testing fees. See the Albany Technical College Adult Education Center for more information.
GED® Test The GED is still available as a high school equivalency option. GED preparation classes are free, and scholarships may be available to assist with GED testing fees. Below or on the following page you will see a comparison of the GED® Test and HiSET® Exam. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Dr. Deborah Jones at Albany Technical College. Ms. Jones can be reached at 229.430-7881 or djones@ albanytech.edu.
“Because of COVID-19, I lost my job and my wife encouraged me to go back to school to earn my high school equivalency. I want to do better for myself and my family and be a role model for my two sons.”
HiSET® Exam In addition to Career Plus HSE, TCSG’s Office of Adult Education will also begin offering a second standardized test — the HiSET® — as another avenue to earn a high school credential. The HiSET® is a nationally recognized standardized test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) that is aligned with the College and Career Ready Standards for Adult Education. Twenty-three states already offer the HiSET® as an option to earn a high school
CLIFFORD THOMAS
Career + HSE Student Diesel Equipment Technology Student
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COVER STORY
If you or someone you know does not have a high school diploma, we recommend Joint Enrollment Want to earn a high school equivalency and take college courses? Want a better job? Want to earn more money? If you answered yes, Joint Enrollment is the choice for you. Albany Technical College is seeking adult students before the new semester starts January 7. A student can now take college courses and earn their high school equivalency at the same time. This initiative offers an innovative path to obtain skills training in high demand fields with greater salaries while at the same time earning a high school education. Candidates should be 21 years old or older and HAVE NOT graduated from high school or earned a GED. Those chosen must joint enroll in one of the programs listed on the back of this flyer and in adult high school equivalency classes. No application fee is required. A qualified candidate will be eligible for the PELL Grant, HOPE Grant, Work-Study, and/or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) financial aid.
Flexible. Affordable. At Your Own Pace. Find out more today! For more information adulteducation@albanytech.edu 430-2751 | 430-1620 | 430-7881
Albany Technical College Adult Education ÂŽ
albanytech.edu
An Equal Opportunity Institution
JOINT ENROLLMENT 20
Winter 2021
®
®
Programs That Allow Adults Without A High School Diploma To Earn a GED or High School Equivalency and a Technical College Certificate, Diploma, or Associates Degree
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Winter 2021 ®
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CAREER SERVICES PURPLE BRIEFCASE
WELCOME TO PURPLE BRIEFCASE!
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FEATURE
TURNING THE PAGE An interview with retiring instructor of over 30 years, Carlos Salter, Welding and Joining Technology
FALL OPENING AMID CORONAVIRUS
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RETIRING DECEMBER 31, 2020 Start Date: 1997 but 10 years as an adjunct prior. Carlos Salter taught 4-5 years in high schools. He taught at Mitchell Baker High School for two years and two years at Monroe High School while he was part-time at the college. How did you get into welding? “I used to be a farmer. My sister and I still have 340 acres. I farmed it for about ten years and before that, I was a truck driver(owner-operator), says Salter. He traveled long haul all over the United States. He also says he maintains his CDL license to this day. When Salter was a farmer, he had paid so much to have his equipment fixed that he decided he needed to know how to weld. In addition to a CDL license, Salter holds diplomas in automotive, diesel, and welding, all obtained in the late 80s and 90s. All three were acquired at Albany Technical College. When I first started here, there were 670 people, instructors and all. When I first got here, there was “A,” “B” and “C” building and “D” across the road. That was it. I’ve seen a lot of changes here. I remember the
changing of the name from institute to college, and I will say that most of the changes were good changes. What changes have you seen in education over the last 30 years? When I first started, you had the Pell grant and that was all you could get as a student. And now there are more opportunities to obtain extra money to go to school. “In the last 30 years, the hands-on part of welding has stayed the same. But we have added computers and three simulators, says Salter. The simulators in welding are set up for MIG and stick welding. With a stick, a student will use electrodes as you burn them. And as you burn the stick, you see it on the screen just as it will be in a real situation. It is all virtual, and you can see it just like you do in reality. It displays on the screen and tells the student what they did wrong if they made a mistake and even gives a final grade for the simulation. “Computers do everything in the simulator, but I do not test on that. Their test here is a hands-on performance test,” states Salter. Plus, he says the class is 75%-80% of their grade hands-on. In stick welding, if you strike an arc, you have to keep the stick low, he says. If you pull it off, then the arc will go off.
“I stay in touch with many of my former students. I’ve kept my home phone number for years on my card that I give out to them, said Salter. Over the years in high schools, I even taught automotive. But I enjoyed welding the most. Welding has had changes, but how you weld has stayed the same. When he first started working for the state, it was very different, more one on one attention. With the increase in the number of students over the years, it creates a challenge to stay connected to every student and try to make a difference, even to know all of their names. One of the things that Salter is proud of is the set up for welding that was created to train the inmates in the Lee County Prison. This chance to learn a skill before an inmate is released creates a huge opportunity for a person to turn their lives around once they get out of prison. “I spent a month or so ordering the equipment and helping set up the program, at the prison, and recommended that they hire an instructor. Things like going too fast or performing a bead are important to perform in the real world. “Today I was out there with a student TIG welding and they couldn’t understand why they had to hold a wire in their hands while they TIG weld. There are machines that do not require a person to hold the wire now, but we do not have one, plus I am not sure how good they work for TIG welding. We still teach it the old-fashioned way foot pedal or scratch. We still do stick the old way. We do MIG the old way. Everything we do is what industry does, says Salter.” Salter says they are working with Anderson Manufacturing in Camilla to train high school students. The students come to Albany Tech and work for half a day, then head down to Camilla, work part time, and get paid for their work at Anderson Manufacturing. With a little more training Salter believes that the manufacturer will hire the students. Additional internships with LMC-AG locally have provided students with real-world training. We also have internships with a large bridge company out of Bainbridge, Georgia. Currently, the Welding Program enrollment is up at Albany Technical College. Salter says keeping a good rapport between the student and the instructor is very important and he thinks it has contributed to maintaining and building enrollment. “I have two classes online: Introduction and Blueprint Reading. The rest is hands-on.” Salter says that this career has been really fulfilling. He went on to say that he has students that have surpassed the teacher, so to speak. He mentioned a student that became an underwater welder in Mississippi for one of the major oil companies. He then cited another student who went through the program from Randolph-Clay, who left and worked on Alaska’s pipelines. Some have gone to Atlanta to work and many others have moved to Florida. Salter acknowledged that there are many opportunities locally here in Southwest Georgia, but the sky is the limit for welding opportunities all over the United States.
What are your plans for retirement? “I’m planning to leave South Georgia. I went this past weekend and looked at land in Tennessee. I’ve been here for many years and it is time for me to leave this area. Tennessee and Kentucky are the areas we are looking. I’d love to go to Alaska, but I am too old for that (he laughs).” “Ya know I was working on my roll book today for next semester and I thought this will be the last time I do this. And for me that isn’t a good feeling. I’m looking forward to retiring. But I’ve been here so long. This is my house. This is mine. I built this program. That’s the way I feel about it.” Salter has mixed feelings about retiring because he has dedicated his life to the Welding Program and the college. It really is his baby and he has to let it go. It was easy to see the emotion in his eyes as he talked fondly of his program. He goes on to say, “I’m going to miss getting up and coming to work here. I have a lot of good memories at Albany Tech. I’ve had a heck of a ride and I’ve enjoyed it.”
“I’m going to miss getting up and coming to work here. I have a lot of good memories at Albany Tech. I’ve had a heck of a ride and I’ve enjoyed it.”
ATC COULD BE EXPANDING TRANSPORTATION ACADEMY The Technical College System of Georgia has recommended the expansion of the Albany Technical College (ATC) Transportation Academy. The project was recommended in the technical system’s fiscal capital projects for a total of $7.7 million. If approved by state lawmakers, the college would add ASE certified diesel and automotive technology majors, as well as CDL and auto collision technology, acquiring additional space for instruction. ATC President Dr. Anthony Parker said the construction and equipment installation would be completed by early 2023 at the latest. However, that is all contingent on state lawmakers approving the funding. Source: WALB-TV
TURNING THE PAGE
An interview with retiring instructor of over 30 years, Bill Underwood, Auto Collision Repair
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RETIRING NOVEMBER 30, 2020
paint jobs on the luxury motorcoaches.
Start Date: November 1, 1990
After getting some serious experience under his belt, his career brought him back to Americus, where he started for Jones Quality Paint and Body. Underwood goes on to say, “My frame technician at Jones, he graduated from Albany Tech in paint and body. He said there was a job opening. So, I put on a business suit and went down there.”
Before Underwood started at Albany Technical College, he was a shop manager for a large paint and body shop in Americus Georgia, Jones Quality Paint and Body. He goes on to explain that he lived there for 26 years in Americus. How did you get into paint and body work? “My brother in law at the time owned a paint and body shop in Americus in the 80s, and when I got out of the army in 1979, I went to school in Americus, Georgia for this profession and took classes at South Georgia Tech. I graduated from there, while I was working in the paint and body shop for my brother in law.” Eventually, he says he went on to Davidson Textron for three times the money, but three times the work. Underwood found himself working seven days a week, 12 hours a day. His job there was to paint the bumpers for the Chrysler K-cars. After that exhausting effort working with Davidson Textron, Underwood says he went on to work for Bluebird Bus Manufacturing doing custom
Underwood got the job as a full-time instructor at Albany Tech, but it didn’t come without a little reality shock of brutal honesty on Underwood’s part. He says,” I had a job already and wasn’t desperately looking for a job. In my first interview, I sailed through and was told I was the only one that came dressed in a suit and tie. So, they told me they would call me back for a second interview in three or four days with Mr. Cross, who was the President of the school at that time.” In the following days, they were in the final interview. The President, two Vice Presidents, and Mr. Underwood discussed the tour of the facility, reviewing the curriculum, and meeting his possible co-instructor. Underwood was asked what he thought of the auto collision program at Albany Technical College. He replied, “Well, I like your curriculum, the coworker seems like a really good guy, the student body seems really nice, but I wouldn’t hire a single person that came out of this school.”
knowledge is at a new level now. The Auto Collision Program is still very much hands-on, and Underwood says that it is a vital part of his curriculum. “You can teach theory out of a book all day long, but that doesn’t show the student real-world problems. The book is a wonderful thing in a perfect world, but we do not live in a perfect world when it comes to repairing vehicles.” “Cars have become so complex nowadays that it is almost impossible to stay on top of it, ask any shop owner. After you repair a car in a major collision or even a minor collision, you have to hook that vehicle up to a computer and scan the systems to see if everything is lined up right.” Underwood goes on to say that nowadays, you see cars with 360 camera systems, and lane avoidance crossovers, and self-steering. After a major collision, they all have to be recalibrated. Mom and Pop body shops are finding it more difficult because of expensive software requirements to do all the proper calibration necessary. Jaws hit the floor in Mr. Underwood’s interview. Of course, the interview staff wanted to know why he would say that, to which Underwood replied, “All of your shop equipment dates to the 1950s. It’s so obsolete it’s ridiculous.” The interview panel wanted to know what it would take to get Mr. Underwood on board teaching at Albany Tech. To this he replied, “about $150,000 in new equipment. “ To which they responded, “You got it.” Stipulations of this magnitude come with a cost. The employment of Mr. Underwood came with a requirement to upgrade, and at the time, there were seven students and two full-time instructors. This put the pressure back in Mr. Underwood’s court. He was on a yearly contract, and if he didn’t increase the enrollment after one year, then his employment might be in jeopardy. The enrollment doubled in the first year and tripled in the second year and continued to increase from there. The auto collision program was seeing success. The highest enrollment that the program has seen throughout his career has been 143 in one year. This was before computer program teaching aids like Blackboard. Although computers existed, they were not utilized as they are now. Mr. Underwood laughs and says, “During pre-registration before computers, everything had to be written by hand. Even with two instructors working on pre-registration, the process took approximately a week-and-a-half to complete. As a result, there was no time for instruction.” “Computers are a wonderful thing. It speeds things up so much. Blackboard and Bannerweb help the students a lot. The access to information that is readily available on the internet is impressive now,” says Underwood. The Auto Collision program at Albany Tech subscribes to two databases: ALLDATA and Identifix, both being excellent databases to research how to work on a system on any particular vehicle. Another significant factor for learning in a collaborative nature is YouTube videos. Professional mechanics and body men rely more and more on peers for answers when they are stuck on a problem. The sharing of professional
After 30 years, has it been fulfilling? Was it a good choice for a career teaching? “Oh yeah! I have no regrets with the path I chose,” said Underwood. Underwood observed, “I have several students that now own their businesses and several students who went on to work for large shops in town like Master Body Works. We trained most of their painters and a lot of their body men, and as far as I know, they are the number one shop in Albany.” Two of the Master Body Works employees were in Underwood’s beginning year as a full-time instructor at Albany Tech, and they should be retiring soon also with successful careers. To have a profession as an instructor and seeing students retiring right next to you means fulfillment and happiness in knowing you helped someone have a great career that changed the lives of individuals and their families for the better, stated Underwood. Someone well trained and perfected in their craft can make six figures a year in the Auto Collision industry repairing vehicles. “My wife retires in a year and a half, and we plan to travel some. We’re going to take a small ultra-light camper. We’ve been camping for 30 years, and we do not stay in the camper. We’ve never had a tv in any camper we’ve owned. We are always outside. “ The trip plan is for him and his wife to zig-zag the country with the first trip being to Montana for about three weeks, in the spring, of course. For those of us still plugging away, do you have any advice? “Keep up with technology. Take care of yourself, and don’t let the stress get you down because there is always stress in a job. I’ve seen budget cuts for 30 years, and they do not bother me anymore. ”
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INSIGHTS
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NEW HIRES DORENE AQUINO
Human Resources Coordinator Start Date: 08.03.2020
SHABREKA CHAPPELL Career Advisor Start Date: 10.01.2020
MARKITA COOPER
High School Secondary Education Initiatives Coordinator Start Date: 11.02.2020
Consider your next career in education. We are committed to creating a positive supportive and diverse work environment in which faculty and
ERICA CORBETT
Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs Start Date: 11.02.2020
KA’VONDA HAMMOND Custodian Start Date: 08.10.2020
DEBORAH JONES
Adult Education Coordinator Start Date: 09.01.2020
staff can excel, and hope you will consider joining us as we strive to become a renowned first choice for technical education.
SANDRA SUTTON
Special Services Coordinator Start Date: 09.17.2020
albanytech.edu
A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia 1704 South Slappey Boulevard Albany, Georgia 31701
Dougherty County Campus: 229.430.3500 | Randolph County Learning Center: 229.732.5280 albanytech.edu As set forth in its student catalog, Albany Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law). The following person(s) has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator, Kathy Skates, Vice President of Administrative Services, Albany Technical College, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany, GA 31701. Phone 229.430.3524 and Section 504 Coordinator, Regina Watts, Special Needs Coordinator, Albany Technical College, 1704 S. Slappey Blvd., Albany, GA 31701, 229.430.2854 or rwatts@albanytech.edu.
