South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford was the guest speaker at the Cordele Rotary Club recently and shared with members some of the outstanding accomplishments of South Georgia Technical College and the Crisp County Center campus. He also talked about the purpose of technical education and how it might differ from a four-year university.
“Right now, the average student loan debt of students graduating from a four-year university is over $37,000. It is estimated that it will take new college graduates about 10 years to pay off that debt with payments of around $400 per month. In contrast, the average debt of a South Georgia Technical graduate is $0,” said Dr. Watford. “And once our students graduate, many have the ability to earn as much or more that a new graduate with a four-year degree. We have a 99% job placement rate for graduates and employers who hire them receive a guarantee that if they are not capable of performing entry level skills, the student will be retrained at no cost to the employer or the graduate. So our graduates are helping support the local and state economy as a trained workforce.”
Dr. Watford went on to add that, “lots of good things are happening in Crisp County.” He recognized SGTC Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Partain, who is the administrator for the Crisp County Center campus. “Julie Partain accepted this position at the Crisp County Center in 2016 and since that time, the Crisp County Center enrollment has climbed 44.5%. Right now, approximately one-third of our enrollment attends classes in Crisp County. The students attending South Georgia Technical College in Cordele are from Crisp County, Sumter County, Dooly County, Macon County, and Wilcox counties in addition to other neighboring counties.”
Dr. Watford also shared that of the nearly 1000 students taking classes in Crisp County each year, about 50% of those students are unable to receive financial aid funding which means they must pay out of pocket or receive assistance from the South Georgia Technical College Foundation. “Every dollar given to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation from Crisp County stays in Crisp County. Your dollars are used to provide grants, scholarships, equipment, and renovations to the campus at 105 North Midway Road,” explained Dr. Watford, who added that even though nearly half of the students are without the HOPE Grant or Pell federal financial aid funds, the campus is still growing.
“We are successful in Crisp County because of the support that we receive from this community. We appreciate the local businesses and industries who support the college and each of you for helping to provide top-quality technical training to the Crisp County residents and surrounding counties,” said Watford.
“The purpose of technical education is to provide a trained workforce for the local community and the state,” continued Watford. “We accomplish this by working with business and industry and providing the workforce education needed in our area. Those training needs available at the Crisp County Center include licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, accounting technicians, air conditioning technology, business, computer information and networking specialists, culinary arts professionals, electronics and electrical systems technicians, marketing management professionals, welders, and commercial truck drivers as well as others.”
Dr. Watford also shared that the Crisp County Center served 386 different high school students in dual enrollment programs. “We have a 26% market penetration with high school students in this area. The Crisp County Center serves high school students from Crisp, Dooly and Lee Counties each semester. Right now about one-third of the enrollment at the Crisp County Center comes from high school students.
“I say all of this to let you know that we could not do what we do without your support,” said Dr. Watford in closing. “We appreciate what you as Rotarians do for this community and we thank you for your support of South Georgia Technical College and our students.”
Dr. Watford was introduced by Rotarian Harry Hurt. Rotary Club President Grant Buckley thanked Dr. Watford, who is a past member of the Cordele Rotary Club, for returning to present the 48th meeting program in the 64th year of the club.