Representatives from Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma, LA visited South Georgia Technical College in Americus recently to tour the college and learn more about the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology program.
“On behalf of everyone at South Georgia Technical College, I am pleased to welcome you to our campus,” said SGTC President Dr. John Watford. “We are very proud of the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology program here and the partnership that we have created with John Deere dealers in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and other Southeastern states.”
Mark Arceneaux and Christian Cole Sawyer, Agricultural Mechanics Instructors, from Fletcher Technical Community College in Louisiana visited South Georgia Technical College and received a tour of the facilities and the John Deere Tech Agricultural Technology program with Dean Dr. David Finley, and Instructors Mathew Burks and Wayne Peck. Fletcher College hopes to start a new John Deere Tech program within the next academic year.
“We appreciate your hospitality and for allowing us to come and learn more about this program,” said Arceneaux. “We are excited about the possibility of hosting a John Deere TECH program at Fletcher College in Louisiana. Right now the program closest to us is in Mississippi. There is a need for training agricultural mechanics and we appreciate you showing us your operation here.”
South Georgia Technical College is the site for the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology associate degree program for the southeastern portion of the United States. The program began at South Georgia Tech in August 2014. Students enrolled in the John Deere TECH Agricultural Technology program can earn a two-year associate of applied science degree in Agricultural Technology while partnering with John Deere agriculture and turf equipment dealers from across the southeastern portion of the United States for a career as a John Deere technician.
To enroll in this program, students must be sponsored by a John Deere Dealer. The students spend eight weeks on campus in classrooms and labs learning specific objectives, then work with a dealer for eight weeks to put their knowledge to work in a dealer setting. The students return to the college for another eight weeks of classroom and lab training and repeat the pattern during the two-year program.
Studies indicate that there is a critical shortage of technicians in this field and the John Deere TECH partnership helps satisfy this need. Students will graduate out of the John Deere TECH program having a detailed understanding of John Deere equipment and bring John Deere certifications in electrical, hydraulic and Service ADVISOR™ with them to the dealership.
Students in the South Georgia Technical College Agricultural Technology program are enrolled in general education courses, but students also train and become John Deere certified in Electrical and Hydraulic systems as well as John Deere’s computer based diagnostic tool, Service ADVISOR™. Students utilize John Deere equipment, training components, and computer diagnostic tools to understand what makes equipment run. Students will also spend time understanding engines, drive trains, and product applications for a variety of agriculture and turf machinery.
The instructors for the program at SGTC are Matthew Burks and Wayne Peck. For more information about the Agricultural Technology program, visit www.southgatech.edu, or call 229.931.2394 or 229.931.2401. Matthew Burks can be contacted by email at mburks@southgatech.edu and Wayne Peck can be contacted at wpeck@southgatech.edu.
South Georgia Technical College is currently registering students for Spring semester which begins on Wednesday, January 6th. The first registration will be held on Wednesday, November 18th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hicks Hall on the Americus campus and at the Crisp County Center in Cordele. For more information about Spring semester registration contact the SGTC admissions office at 229-931-2394 in Americus and 229-271-4040 in Cordele.
South Georgia Technical College offers over 200 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate of credit programs. The college has on-campus housing and access to the complete college experience with nationally recognized academics, athletics, and student activities. The college also provides free textbooks for its programs.