Young Harris, GA - Dr. Steve Wrigley, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, and Matt Arthur, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia were the featured speakers at the Georgia Education Advancement Council (GEAC) meeting in Young Harris, GA recently. They spoke to nearly 250 representatives from the University System of Georgia higher education institutions and the Technical College System of Georgia colleges.
Both Chancellor Wrigley and Commissioner Arthur talked with the advancement, marketing, alumni, and foundation representatives from 45 educational institutions across the state. Representatives from South Georgia Technical College and Georgia Southwestern State University were in attendance.
Chancellor Wrigley gave an overview of the state of education in the University System of Georgia and talked about the importance of individuals receiving some type of educational certification after high school. He also shared that the University System is in the business of creating “knowledge” for the individuals who choose to attend a four-year institution. He revealed some of the different ways that his universities and colleges were working to create a more seamless pathway for individuals to continue their education in the 26 public colleges and universities in his system. The University System of Georgia institutions have an $8.8 billion annual budget, more than 48,000 faculty and staff and 320,000 students.
Following Chancellor Wrigley’s talk, Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Matt Arthur explained to the group why the two-year technical colleges are so valuable to Georgia. “We are the ones who work with business and industry to provide them with their workforce,” said Commissioner Arthur. “We don’t offer an academic program unless there is a career or a job for our students. We are part of the reason that Georgia has been the number one state to do business in for the past seven years. Business and industry are constantly asking us can we provide them with employees today, and continue to provide them with a workforce for the future? The answer is yes, we can and do.”
Commissioner Arthur shared with the audience that in addition to providing associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit awards, the Technical College System of Georgia also assists those individuals who do not have a high school diploma through the Adult Education and Literacy program that provides GED testing. Georgia’s Quick Start, the nation’s number one customized workforce training program, is also a part of the Technical College System of Georgia.
South Georgia Technical College Vice President of Institutional Advancement Su Ann Bird along with Georgia Southwestern State University’s Assistant Vice President for Advancement Stephen Snyder, Annual Giving Specialist Kimberly Comer, Development Officer Signe Coombs, Web Content Strategist Valerie Hines, Public Relations Specialist Sydney Scott, and Alumni Engagement Specialist Angela Smith attended from this area.
Advancement, foundation, marketing, and alumni representatives from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Andrew College, Athens Technical College, Atlanta Technical College, Augusta University, Berry College, Central Georgia Technical College, Chattahoochee Technical College, Coastal Pines Technical College, College of Coastal Georgia, Columbus State University, Columbus Technical College, East Georgia State College, Georgia College, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Highlands College, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Gordon State College, Gwinnett Technical College, Kennesaw State University, Lanier Technical College, Middle Georgia State University, North Georgia Technical College, Oconee Fall Line Technical College, Savannah Technical College, South Georgia State College, South Georgia Technical College, Southeastern Technical College, Southern Crescent Technical College, Southern Regional Technical College, the Technical College System of Georgia, Truett McConnell University, University of Georgia, University of North Georgia, University of West Georgia, University System of Georgia Foundation, Valdosta State University and West Georgia Technical College attended the conference titled “Lead, Change, Transform.” The conference was sponsored by SunTrust and Mauldin & Jenkins at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris.
