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Press Release=
For Immediate Release
For
more information contact:
Kay
Williamson, Director of Public Relations and Information
Flint
River Technical College
706.646.6131
Anna Taylor,
Director of Public Relations and Career Services
Griffin
Technical College
770.233.5560
Flint River Technical C=
ollege
and Griffin Technical College Select New Name for Merged College
Griffin, Georgia, Janua=
ry 20,
2009 –
Southern Crescent Technical Coll=
ege
emerged as the unanimous decision for the new name of the combined Flint Ri=
ver
Technical College (FRTC) and Griffin Technical College (GTC) by the members=
of
both Boards of Directors in a meeting held January 14, 2009, in Griffin.
The first joint meeting of these
boards gathered with the primary task of selecting a new name for the combi=
ned
colleges. The members began w=
ith a
list of 28 names proposed by board members, trustees, faculty, staff, and
students of the two colleges and narrowed down the list to four names for
serious discussion. The board=
s decided
that the name of the new college should be something that uniquely defined =
and
represented both colleges, as well as one that would be easy to identify and
remember. Southern Crescent
Technical College surfaced as the top choice once these factors were taken =
into
consideration.
The name Southern Crescent defin=
es
this geographic area and is representative of the region that the new colle=
ge
will serve. Stretching from J=
asper
County to the east and Taylor County in the southwest, the area comprises t=
he
southern arc or crescent of the Atlanta region. This name has been approved by Ron
Jackson, Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, and will =
soon
be presented to the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia =
for
final approval.
The State Board voted in Septemb=
er to
merge the administrations of 13 of the state’s 33 technical
colleges. Flint River Technic=
al
College and Griffin Technical College were on the list to be merged, and Dr.
Robert Arnold, current president of Griffin Technical College, was named in
early December as the new President of the combined college, effective July=
1,
2009.
The Senior Management Team for
Southern Crescent Technical College will consist of the following
administrators: President =
211;
Dr. Robert Arnold; Provost – Jim Wheeless; Vice President for Academic
Affairs - Brent Mayes; Vice President for Administrative Services –
Miriam Byrd; Vice President for Advancement – Barbara Jo Cook; Vice
President for Economic Development – Mark Andrews; and Vice President=
for
Student Affairs – Lynn Futral.
Administrators from FRTC and GTC=
have
been working diligently in recent months in order to ensure that the proper
procedures are in place for a seamless transition to the combined technical
college.
Dr. Robert Arnold recently state=
d,
“The emersion of Southern Crescent Technical College is certain to be=
a
winner for students, offering a myriad of new opportunities for students fr=
om
both current colleges. We are
enthused about the merger and the expanded opportunities it will afford cur=
rent
and future students, as well as local business and industry. Above all, we are committed to mak=
ing
this unique educational process a win-win for everyone.”
As its name suggests, Southern
Crescent Technical College will serve the workforce and community needs of =
the over
500,000 citizens in the ten counties of the South Atlanta region including
Butts, Fayette, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Pike, Spalding, Upson, Talbot, and Ta=
ylor
counties. The merger will be
completed by July 2009 with Southern Crescent Technical College emerging as=
a
flagship technical college in the state, expected to have a combined student
population of over 5,000 credit students per quarter. Southern Crescent Technical College=
will
also serve an additional 2,500 students per quarter in Adult Education and =
Continuing
Education programs. Southern Crescent Technical College will offer over 100
associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs on five campus
locations with more sites expected in the near future.
![](3D"newname_files/image005.jpg")
Board=
members
seated pictured L-R:
Jim O=
gletree,
GTC; Eddie Rogers, Vice-President, FRTC Foundation; Scott Swofford – =
FRTC;
Russ McGuire, FRTC; Dr. Robert Patrick, FRTC; Michael Brewer, GTC; Bonnie
Brannon, FRTC; John Quinn, GTC; Don King, GTC; Sherri Moody, GTC; Phil Smel=
ley,
GTC; Missy Kendrick, GTC;
Stand=
ing in
rear:
Jim W=
heeless,
Acting President – FRTC; Robert Arnold, President – GTC; Otis
Blake, Chair – GTC Foundation; Maurice Raines – FRTC; Bobby
Chappell, Vice-Chair – GTC Foundation
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