Albany Tech pilot program offers joint GED, career skills classes

ALBANY – Albany Technical College is seeking 50 adult students without high school diplomas for a unique pilot program. The new Career Plus High School Equivalency initiative is changing how people can achieve a high school equivalency, while also getting training in more than 39 high-demand career programs.

The program offers an innovative path for participants to obtain skills training in fields with higher salaries while at the same time earning a high school education.

The 50 candidates selected for the pilot program should be 21 years old or older and not a high school graduate or have earned a GED. Those chosen must joint enroll in one of the career field programs and in adult high school equivalency classes before Oct. 19. 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 financial aid.

“We are eager to offer this Career Plus High School Equivalency to 50 students with the pilot program,” Albany Tech President Anthony Parker said in a news release. “The new program recognizes that adult learners have specific needs and life obligations that have to be addressed to be successful students. This program will allow participants to obtain credit for skills already mastered, get assistance with textbook costs, and gain career skills while earning a high school credential.”

Albany Tech officials said the new program can be life-changing for participants.

“Albany Technical College has worked diligently to reduce or eliminate the barriers for those who are ready to enter into a career field that will provide them a living wage and at the same time they can complete their high school education,” Linda Coston, ATC vice president of adult education, said. “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 employable work force for our community.

“We now have more pathways than ever before for adult learners to earn a high school credential. All of these advancements are 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 high school credentials.”

A student who does not have a GED or 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 [email protected];

♦ Choose a program of interest (www.albanytech.edu/academics/areas-of-study);

♦ Apply at ATC Admissions (www.albanytech.edu/apply-now);

♦ Complete a Financial Aid application (www.albanytech.edu/admissions/admissions);

♦ Register for classes (www.albanytech.edu/images/pdfs/registrar/Ins_Register_for_Classes_Online.pdf).

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.

To support this new initiative, the Albany Tech Foundation has provided $25,000 to establish a lending library of textbooks/media supplies for students entering the program who need assistance in that area. The lending library will be stocked with books and other program media that can be checked out at no cost to eligible adult education students and retained for the length of the course. This new resource will be housed on campus at the Anthony O. Parker Ph.D. Library/Media Center in the Logistics Education Center.

“Albany Tech identified that creating this new lending library would be a very positive and supportive element to the new adult education strategies,” Glenn A. Singfield Sr., president of the Albany Tech Foundation Board of Trustees, said. “The Foundation Trustees unanimously agreed to support the adult education lending library to help students complete their studies. It eliminates the cost of textbooks as one barrier to completing an education.”

Get more information at www.albanytech.edu/adult-education/joint-enrollment.

File Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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