Albany Technical College, in response to need from area business and industry, officially announced new programs in Lean Six-Sigma that will be available summer and fall quarters. An introductory press event was held today (Friday, May 21, at 11:00 a.m.) in the Kirkland Building Board Room. Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Tech, Matt Trice, Vice President of Economic Development at Albany Tech, and Rob Stewart, President, The Quality Group, were all on hand to formally sign an educational agreement and to highlight program specifics.

Through a partnership with The Quality Group, Albany Technical College has developed two short-term Certificates of Credit in order to meet the Six-Sigma training needs of area business and Industry. The first certificate, Quality Assurance Specialist, will allow an individual to enter the program and move all the way through to the Green Belt certification level. The second certificate, Quality Assurance Professional, will build on the QA Specialist program and provide training all the way to the Black Belt certification level.

At the conclusion of each certificate, the participant will be ready and eligible to sit for the Green Belt or Black Belt certification and those certification exams will be offered at Albany Technical College. Both certificate programs will be a combination of classroom and online instruction.

Both programs are HOPE Grant eligible as college credit. If an individual qualifies for the HOPE Grant, tuition and books for both certificate programs are covered. The only out of pocket expense to the participant will be a $15 application fee and a $37 technology fee.

Albany Technical College has taken the lead in Lean Six-Sigma certification training in this area and has further strengthened its offering by certifying instructors for the program as Lean Six-Sigma Master Black Belts. This will allow participants in the program to be led and instructed by instructors with the highest of qualifications.

Albany Technical College becomes the first post-secondary institution in the State of Georgia to offer Lean Six-Sigma as college credit and continues to demonstrate its leadership as THE premier workforce development college.