In yet another sign that Georgia's technical colleges have moved beyond their trade school roots, three of the campuses will begin offering associate of science degrees next August.
The state board overseeing the Technical College System of Georgia voted Thursday to offer the new degree at Augusta Technical, Columbus Technical and Savannah Technical colleges. The new offering will allow more students to earn two-year degrees and help them transfer to other schools to earn four-year degrees, said Dean Alford, chairman of the board.
The colleges already offer associate of applied science degrees but those are viewed as technical instead of academic diplomas, Commissioner Ron Jackson said. As a result, the degree doesn't always transfer to four-year colleges. An associate of science degree is more accepted in academic circles, he said.
"It is a shift for us but we don't believe we're getting into the USG's [University System of Georgia] business," Jackson said.
Georgia's public higher education programs are divided into two agencies. The Technical College System includes 26 campuses that historically prepare students directly for the workforce and offer certificate, diploma and degree programs in areas ranging from health care assistant to automotive technology to culinary arts. The University System of Georgia includes 35 campuses ranging from two-year community colleges to research institutions such as the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech.
Rob Watts, the USG senior vice chancellor, said in a statement that the system will work closely with the technical colleges.
"To remain economically competitive in today’s economy Georgia needs to educate an increasing number of students in both the Technical College System and the University System," Watts said.
The three technical colleges were selected because their communities don't have a dedicated public two-year college, Jackson said. In the metro Atlanta area students have dedicated two-year colleges at Georgia Perimeter and Atlanta Metropolitan. The public colleges in Augusta, Columbus and Savannah primarily focus on four-year degrees, Jackson said.
Over the next several months the three colleges will decide which academic programs will offer the new degree. Jackson predicted the colleges would begin with two programs each in areas such as nursing or respiratory therapy. The colleges also must establish articulation agreements with four-year colleges that will admit students who graduate from the technical programs, he said.
The cost to implement the new degrees will be "minimal," Jackson said, noting that the colleges may have to add some courses to the programs.
While the new degree could be replicated across the state, Jackson said there are no expectations to expand anytime soon.
"This is about providing more access to college," Alford said. "The reality is we're still not educating enough people."
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