#1316 | September 28, 2012

Fall 2012 Mini-Mester Schedule

General Education, Commercial Truck Driving and Peace Officer Academy Now Enrolling

SAVANNAH – Students may register for Mini-Mester classes at Savannah Technical College beginning October 1. These classes will start on October 16 and last through the end of fall semester (December 10). Students may take online classes in for Introduction to Computers (COMP1000) and Principles of Management (MGMT1100).

   General Education classes offered at the Savannah Campus (5717 White Bluff Road) include Foundations of Mathematics (MATH1012), Elementary Algebra (MATH0098), College Algebra (MATH1111), Intermediate Algebra (MATH0099), along with English and reading classes. Commercial Truck Driving classes will begin at the Effingham (2890 Hwy 21 South, Rincon, 31326) and Liberty (100 Technology Drive, Hinesville, 31313) campuses. Also offered at the Liberty campus will be Introduction to Computers (COMP1000).

   Crossroads Campus will begin classes for its Peace Officer Academy in October as well. The Basic Law Enforcement Technical Certificate of Credit provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to become competent law enforcement officers. The 18-week cohort program utilizes classroom instruction pertaining to criminal justice theory and the prevailing principles of modern law enforcement, as well as practical application of pertinent enforcement skills. College coursework contains the entire Georgia Peace Officers Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.) Basic Law Enforcement Training Course so that successful completion of the program will qualify the student to be a state-certified peace officer. The application process takes about a month – so it is never too early to apply for the program. For more information about the Peace Officer Academy, please contact Claire Pimentel at 912.443.5191 or cpimentel@savannahtech.edu.

###

For more information about courses or to register contact: STC Admissions 912.443.5513

MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1315 | September 21, 2012

Savannah Technical College Awarded Military Friendly Schools® Title

College offers scholarships, services and more for military!

SAVANNAH – For the second consecutive year, Savannah Technical College has been designated as a Military Friendly School ®, meaning that it is among the top 15 percent of colleges and universities in the country embracing military service members, veterans and spouses as students. There are 1,739 institutions included in the 2013 list, compiled through research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide.

    “We are honored to serve our military students,” said College President Dr. Kathy Love. “We work hard to support them in the classroom and with services that help them be successful.” The College is located adjacent to Hunter Army Air Field and is the only Georgia college or university to offer classes and enrollment services in the Army Education Center at Fort Stewart. For the academic year that ended June 30, 2012, Savannah Technical College enrolled 755 military/veteran students.

    This year, Savannah Tech is participating in the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship program offering tuition waivers each year for qualifying out-of-state veterans under the Post 9/11 G. I Bill. http://www.gibill.va.gov The Yellow Ribbon Scholarship will cover 50% of the out-of-state tuition that is not covered under the regular Post 9/11 Tuition and Fee Assistance. In turn, the Veteran’s Administration will match the STC Yellow Ribbon Scholarship dollar for dollar for the remaining out-of-state tuition charges.

    Additionally, active duty military personnel stationed in Georgia (and their family members) are eligible for a military tuition rate, which is the same as in-state tuition. STC waives the application fee to service members (and their family members) who have deployed to a forward area (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Application fee is waived with proof of overseas deployment beginning January 2007. Soldiers must present their Enlisted Record Brief (ERB); immediate family members need military ID& Deployment Orders or ERB.

    Through the Early Start Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, Savannah Tech has supported military families who live in the communities surrounding Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart through the Army Child Care in Your Neighborhood program since 2007. The Army Child Care in Your Neighborhood (ACCYN) program serves families who live in the communities surrounding Hunter Army Airfield and Fort Stewart. The program supports access to high quality child care surrounding the instillations and provides fee assistance for families of Active Duty Army Services Members and Army Civilians /Technicians who are unable to access on-post child care.

   Savannah Tech also works with the military through health care programs including emergency medical services, phlebotomy and nursing at Winn Army Community Hospital on Fort Stewart.

    Information about services available for military students and families is available at http://www.savannahtech.edu/MilitaryFriendly.

###

Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1314| September 21, 2012

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Adult Education program will host an open house from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 26 in the Student Enrichment Center Building’s Learning Enrichment Center at the Savannah campus (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405).

   Adult Education programs help adults improve their reading, writing and math skills, as well as English language skills for non-native speakers. Instructors also help students with science and social studies test preparation for GED testing.

   Attendees will learn of the benefits of computer-based GED testing, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and GED classes. They will also learn how to register for the GED classes and the test, scholarship opportunities available and how to complete the application for underage youth.

   Adult Education is considered a public educational benefit, so classes are free to U.S. citizens and individuals with appropriate immigration paperwork. Students are placed into classes based on their Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) results. Students are placed at one of six levels. Each subject: reading, math and language has its own level. Each student has a personal plan, and instructors counsel students on their next step(s) toward reaching their personal, academic or career goal(s).

   To be eligible for the Adult Education program, applicants must meet all of the following requirements: 16 years of age or older, withdrawn or otherwise not enrolled in school, a U.S. citizen or legal residency status, appropriate Adult Education program documentation – completed and submitted, and complete the Adult Education program admission process.

   Savannah Tech offers ESL classes for all levels – beginning, intermediate and advanced. All skills are taught in the same class: speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary and grammar. The classes are conducted entirely in English. Advanced ESL classes and other Adult Education classes prepare students for the GED (high school diploma for adults) or Compass (technical college entrance) tests.

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person with a high school or GED ® credential earns $10,000 more per year than a non-high school graduate. The income level increases substantially more for those who go on to complete a college certificate, diploma or degree program. There are more than one million Georgians who are 25 years of age or older and do not have a high school education or GED diploma. Savannah Tech’s Adult Education serves those who need to improve their basic literacy and math skills, improve their oral and written English, practice for the GED test to attain a high school equivalence degree, and prepare for community college or technical education. The academic training provided by STC’s Adult Education prepares students to apply to college and improve career readiness.

   Savannah Technical College teaches adult education classes in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties with multiple locations in each community including College’s campuses in Savannah, Rincon and Hinesville. For information, contact Adult Education at 912.443.5446 or visit http://www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/GED_Adult_Education and look for the GED Computer-Based Testing Registration Information link.

###

Adult Education Information: www.savannahtech.edu/cwo/GED_Adult_Education 912.443.5446

MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

SAVANNAH – Stratton Leopold, filmmaker, community champion, and ice cream entrepreneur will be honored at the ninth annual Opportunity Award Gala, December 7 at Savannah Technical College. The event, hosted by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, honors deserving civic leaders in our community for a lifetime of service in creating and enhancing opportunities for others to succeed.

     This year, the STC Foundation honors Stratton Leopold for his leadership and commitment to improving the quality of life in Savannah. From his career as filmmaker based in Atlanta and California, to his entrepreneurial guidance and reinvigoration of the family business, he has created opportunities for others in the entertainment industry and in the hospitality industry.

      “Stratton provides quiet leadership in his role as a member of the STC Culinary Arts advisory committee,” says College President Kathy Love. “His input helps shape curriculum and program offerings for one of Savannah Tech’s strongest programs and in one of our area’s leading industries. His guidance is also helping Savannah solidify its position as a desirable location for filmmaking.”

      “We are very pleased to honor Stratton with the Opportunity Award. He and his family have meant so much to our community over the years,” says Scott Center, Foundation board member and volunteer Gala chair. “It will be a wonderful evening. We’re expecting that several of Stratton’s Hollywood friends will join us.”

      The event gathers 300 community and civic leaders for a celebratory evening honoring a special individual. The evening also showcases the talents of students enrolled in Savannah Technical College’s award-winning Culinary Arts programs. Proceeds go to support the Savannah Technical College Foundation. Past recipients include: Former Governor Zell Miller, Arnold Tenenbaum, Judge Griffin Bell, Tom Coleman, Dick Eckburg, Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr., Bob and Alice Jepson, and Howard Morrison.

      The Opportunity Award Gala is a fundraiser for the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to support Savannah Technical College. For ticket and sponsorship information, contact Gail Eubanks geubanks@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.3022.

###

For ticket and sponsorship information, contact Gail Eubanks : geubanks@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.3022

#1313 | September 18, 2012

Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR: 
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu
912.443.5512

#1312 | September 14, 2012

Savannah Technical College Opens Dental Hygiene Facility New lab space supports rigorous program of study and clinical space for patients

SAVANNAH – When Savannah Technical College (STC) opened the doors to its new Dental Hygiene Clinic Thursday evening, things were as sparkly as a smile fresh from a dental cleaning.

     “I’m especially proud that we are able to offer the Dental Hygiene program at Savannah Technical College,” said College President Kathy S. Love. “It is the perfect example of our commitment to local workforce development. We listened to area dentists’ concerns and worked diligently to create a seamless transfer of location and administration of the program last year.”

     The Dental Hygiene program, operated for 44 years by Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU), was transferred to Savannah Technical College last year, when AASU made known its plan to eliminate the program. Once Savannah Tech was granted the transfer of the accreditation by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation, arrangements were made to lease program and clinical space from Armstrong. While the construction on the new facility was completed, faculty were hired, including supervising dentists, and classes were taught without academic interruption for students.

      The new facility, on the College’s Savannah Campus, is a mix of renovated space (7,745 square feet) and new construction (6,407 square feet). It includes a clinical lab with 24 dental hygiene stations, four radiology rooms, a dental materials lab, two classrooms, specialized spaces for records, sterilization, and patient reception, as well as six faculty offices and an administrative area. Designed by Hansen Architects of Savannah and built by Benning Construction, the cost of the project was $1.81 M.

     Dental Hygiene Department Head Dr. Suzanne Edenfield has been with the program for 30 years providing instruction, clinical supervision and administrative leadership. According to Edenfield, “Our students and patients love this space. We are very pleased to be here.”

     The 82-credit-hour program for an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene accepts approximately 24 students annually. Students provide clinical patient care as a component of their curriculum requirements. Edenfield is proud of the program’s record of success, noting that most students are offered employment positions pending successful completion of two credentialing examinations and licensure. The program has had 100% licensure pass rate for many years.

      The program utilizes a competitive admissions process. Students wishing to enter the Dental Hygiene program must complete an application packet by May 1, 2013 for admission to the Fall class. For more information about program admission, please contact STC’s Health Sciences Academic Advisor Heather Valentine (hvalentine@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.5721) or Dr. Suzanne Edenfield (sedenfield@savannahtech.edu).

###

For more information about Dental Hygiene program admission:
STC’s Health Sciences Academic Advisor Heather Valentine
(hvalentine@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.5721)
Dr. Suzanne Edenfield (sedenfield@savannahtech.edu)

 Media Contact:
Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512
ashaffer@savannahtech.edu

#1311 | September 12, 2012

SAVANNAH – Savannah Technical College’s Historic Preservation Department will host H. Thomas Küpper to kick off its Visiting Artisan series for the 2012-13 academic year. He is the glazing department team leader at Lincoln Cathedral and is responsible for the conservation and preservation of the more than 720 plain and historic stained glass windows in a building called ” the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles.” His visit to Savannah is in conjunction with the upcoming Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) / Preservation Trades Network (PTN) parallel conferences in Charleston, S.C.

     Back by popular demand, Küpper will be at the College’s Savannah campus September 25 – 28, 2012 (5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah, GA 31405). He will work with STC Historic Preservation students on advanced conservation techniques for stained glass, including cleaning, copper foil repairs and chemical edge bonding. Also he will cover proper documentation techniques for stained glass conservation. Küpper and the STC students will work on an 1884 window donated by John Galik of Sanctuary Place Inn.

     This window will be used for hands-on training during the APT post-conference, two-day workshop “What’s Wrong with My Windows?” held at Savannah Tech on October 3^rd and 4^th. The APT workshop is hosted by the College and will be taught by Küpper, STC’s Historic Preservation Department Head Steve Hartley, and Art Femenella of Femenella and Associates of Branchburg, N.J. Spots are still available for this workshop, which qualifies for AIA credits. Workshop participants do not need to register for the entire Conference. For more information or to register, please visit the APT website at www.aptconference.org.

     Fernenella has three decades of experience in stained glass and has worked for studios such as Greenland and Jack Cushin before starting his own business. He has held positions within the Stained Glass Association of American and is one of the founders and past presidents of the American Glass Guild.

     The APT/PTN conferences will focus on collaborative approaches to preservation between architects, engineers, conservators, and trades people from around the world, and Savannah Tech Historic Preservation students will have the unique opportunity to participate. Many will learn about plaster and masonry repairs at the Old Charleston Jail during a pre-conference workshop with Gerard Lynch (STC Visiting Artisan February 2012) and Andy DeGruchy. Other STC students will work with Rudy Christian (Visiting Artisan March 2012) and students of the American College of Building Arts, as they build two timber frame replica gun carriages that will be installed at Fort Sumter.

      The Visiting Artisan Series is the first effort of its kind at any of Georgia’s technical colleges, bringing three world-class craftsmen to campus each for a week throughout the year. The most recent visiting artisan was Christian, who helped STC students raise a traditional timber-frame structure.

     The next Visiting Artisan, tentatively scheduled for November 12-19, will feature Jeff and Henry Orton, a father-son plastering team from Milton Mowberry, U.K. Jeff has more than 40 years in the plastering business, working on a vast array of sites throughout the world. His son Henry, after pursuing his university degree, followed his father into the plastering trades and today is working for a pargetting company. Jeff and Henry will teach STC students bench running and in-situ crown molding running.

     Savannah Tech has the only hands-on preservation program in the state. The program has gained international recognition and has contributed to a number of community-based preservation projects in the surrounding communities. The program is the cornerstone of new instructional programs in Green Building Technology, which focuses on a comprehensive view of systems and efficiencies in construction. For information about Historic Preservation at Savannah Technical College, contact Hartley at shartley@savannahtech.edu or 912.443.5864.

###

• APT/PTN Conference Media Contact: Lisa Stott: 217.331.2926 or marketing@apti.org
• Savannah Technical College Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR, 912.443.5512, ashaffer@savannahtech.edu
• Savannah Technical College Historic Preservation Steve Hartley, Department Head, 912.443.5864 or shartley@savannahtech.edu
• What’s Wrong with My Windows? Care and Conservation of Historic Glazing October 3-4, 2012 in Savannah, GA; Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate; Fee: $495 http://www.apti.org/apt-ptn-2012-conference-plan/what-s-wrong-with-my-windows/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, September  6, 2012

Contact: Mike Light

TCSG Executive Director

of Communications

404-327-6913

Atlanta – The state board that oversees the Technical College System of Georgia today approved the system’s request for a tuition increase of $10 per credit hour starting next year.

   TCSG students at the 25 TCSG colleges will pay $85 per credit hour beginning in the spring 2013 semester. As a result, tuition for a full, 15-hour course load will cost $1,275 next semester, or $150 more than today.

   Three-quarters of TCSG students use HOPE to help pay for their tuition, mostly in the form of the HOPE grant, which pays $60.75 per credit hour. With the increase, students who enroll under the HOPE grant will pay $364 in out of pocket tuition for a full semester, up from the $214 that they currently spend

   In addition, the TCSG board approved a new $50 institutional fee beginning in spring 2013 and a $50 fee for online courses starting in fall 2013. TCSG students will pay, on average, a total of $223 in fees starting in the spring.

   Once the expense of books is added in, usually about $500, the total cost to attend a TCSG college full-time for a semester next year will be just under $2,000. The out-of-pocket cost for students who qualify for the HOPE grant will be about $1,086.

   Many students can reduce the cost of their TCSG education if they qualify for the federal Pell grant, which is awarded based on financial need.Last year, more than half of the 170,000 students who enrolled at TCSG colleges utilized the Pell grant.

   “A tuition and fee increase was made necessary by the rising expenses to deliver our programs and lower state appropriations,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson. “A state technical college education remains an excellent value compared to the cost, yet we fully understand the impact that any additional expense has on our students. The colleges will do all that they can to provide sources of financial assistance to those who need it most. We’re committed to seeing that all of our students get the opportunity they deserve to be a part of Georgia’s 21^st century workforce.”

   About the TCSG: The 25 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia offer affordable education and excellent training in more than 600 certificate, diploma and two-year associate degree programs. Students of all ages take advantage of outstanding instructors, hands-on learning and state-of-the-art equipment to gain the skills needed for today’s in-demand jobs.

   In 2012, the TCSG colleges delivered 2.7 million credit hours of instruction to 170,000 students. The TCSG is online, too, serving 85,000 students through the system’s Georgia Virtual Technical Connection. Many TCSG students enjoy the benefits of Georgia’s HOPE grant and scholarship and the federal Pell grant, which will pay for a significant portion of a TCSG education.

   For more information about the TCSG and links to a technical college in your area, go to www.tcsg.edu

# # #