The board of the Technical College System of Georgia today awarded grants totaling $10 million to help establish three new college and career academies in Georgia. 

Grants were given for career academies in Morgan County, Dougherty County, and Atlanta. Each received $3.33 million, which will be matched with local funding to support the academies’ start-up costs, construction, and initial staffing. 

Three of Georgia’s technical colleges will partner with local school systems to establish the college and career academies. Georgia Piedmont Technical College will collaborate with the Morgan County School System. Albany Technical College will work with the Dougherty County School System in partnership with the Terrell and Calhoun County school systems, and Atlanta Technical College will collaborate with the Atlanta Public School System in partnership with the Fulton and Clayton County school systems.

“The success of Georgia’s College and Career Academies is a product of strong state partnerships with local communities, educational entities and business partners,” said Gretchen Corbin, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia. “By providing a streamlined connection between high school and college educations, our College and Career Academies are an important part of Georgia’s economic development strategy.” 

In Albany, the grant will largely go towards transforming what is currently Southside Middle School into the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy, which will serve students in the Dougherty County, Terrell County and Calhoun County School Systems.

“This really is a historic day for students in Southwest Georgia,” Dougherty County School Superintendent Dr. David Mosely said. “For the first time in Southwest Georgia public education, higher education and the business community are working together to create some amazing opportunity for our kids and that’s a good thing.”

Next, the charter for the CCCCA must pass muster with the state board of Education, which will likely vote on whether to accept it at their January meeting. Last month, representatives of several Southwest Georgia school districts, ATC, Albany State University, Darton State College and business and community leaders met with an interview panel with the state DOE to discuss the CCCCA.

The College and Career Academy will be a first for the students in Southwest Georgia. It will be run by a CEO and principal who will answer to a board of directors named by the Dougherty County School System, Albany Technical College, Albany State University, the Albany-Area Chamber of Commerce and the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission.

“This will be the greatest opportunity for Albany and Southwest Georgia in my 20 years at Albany Tech,” Dr. Anthony Parker, president at Albany Tech said. “This will be an opportunity to bring together high school students through a mechanism that gives them a workforce credential or to earn the equivalent of an associate degree and to enter a college or university as a junior…ultimately, we believe this will give businesses and economic developers a reason to look at the second congressional district for relocation and expansion of industry because of our skilled workforce.”

In a first for college and career academies across the state, the Dougherty County School Board has decided to appoint business and community leaders to the board of directors for the CCCCA; an example of the board’s commitment to addressing the workforce development needs of Southwest Georgia.

“The College and Career Academy isn’t just an Albany, Dougherty County thing. It’s really a regional concept that will benefit students and businesses throughout Southwest Georgia,” Velvet Riggins, chair of the Dougherty County School Board, said.

Students entering the CCCCA will retain their affiliation with their zoned high schools but will get the opportunity to pursue 10 different college or career pathways facilitated by educators attached to the DCSS, Albany Tech, Albany State. Additionally, applied practical instruction will be taught in labs by business and community leaders in the community.

“This opens the door for apprenticeships and internship opportunities that our students simply haven’t had in the past,” Associate Superintendent for Academic Services Ufot Inyang said. “This will give students the opportunity to pursue a college degree, technical certification or workforce training while still remaining high school students and they’ll get to do it free of charge.”

“This is a proud day for Albany, Dougherty County, and Southwest Georgia, said Darrel Ealum, State Representative, Georgia House District 153. “This $3 million dollar grant will allow us to provide a co-located first class facility adjacent to Albany Technical College where our students will take advantage of existing ATC facilities, as well as newly renovated facilities.”  

"The College and Career Academy creates an incredible opportunity for students in Albany and Southwest Georgia to develop the skills needed by our industries,” said Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Community. “The initiative creates a pipeline of talent that supports economic growth in our region."

“The Albany Area business community has been committed to the College and Career Academy from the very beginning, and has worked hand-in-hand with our educational leaders to develop a program that creates opportunities for students to become players in our economy,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, interim president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, and vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “This long-term strategic collaboration between education and business is key to our region’s success." 

Students find that the academies’ dual credit programs provide great relevancy and value, which leads to higher graduation rates. Students are also better-prepared for higher education because they take college-level courses and earn college credits. Businesses realize the benefit from students who can put their education to work as part of Georgia’s highly-trained and skilled workforce.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Senator Freddie Powell Sims praised the new Dougherty County/Albany Tech Community partnership.
 
“I am excited that the Technical System of Georgia approved Albany Region College and Career as one of Georgia’s newest College and Career Academies,” said Lt. Governor Casey Cagle. “As Lt. Governor, I am committed to providing every student in Georgia access to a college and career academy. Their proven success at providing our children the relevant, job-related skills they need is more important than ever in the 21st Century economy.”
 
“Today, I am excited about the grant approval for Albany Region College and Career Academy and what this means for the Albany region,” said Senator Freddie Powell Sims. “In the State of Georgia, Career Academy Partnerships have become academic "lifelines" for thousands of students in preparation for the workforce. Schools, businesses, and civic leadership, partnering with Albany Region College and Career Academy, will contribute to the stability and growth of business enterprises in our community.”