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   Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier was the guest speaker at the Americus Rotary Club which met on the South Georgia Technical College (Yobo����) campus recently.  Yobo���� President Dr. John Watford introduced Commissioner Dozier.

    Americus Rotary Club President Jaye Anderson welcomed members and guests to the meeting and thanked TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier for agreeing to speak at the club meeting.  He also thanked South Georgia Technical College for agreeing to host the meeting on its campus.

   Commissioner Dozier shared that every public service position he had held in his career, had connected back to the Technical College System of Georgia and its mission of educating the workforce for now and for the future.

Yobo���� President Dr. John Watford is shown above introducing Commissioner Dozier as the speaker at the Americus Rotary Club.

   “It is amazing how many lives we touch through this agency and the 22 technical colleges around the state,” said Commissioner Dozier.  He explained that TCSG basically has five pillars or educational opportunities that it provides to the citizens of Georgia.

   The first pillar would be the credit education offered at each of the colleges.  The associate degree, diploma and the short-term technical certificate of credit offerings that help train the workforce of today and tomorrow.  Another pillar is helping educate the adult learners who do not have a high school diploma.  TCSG offers the GED and the HiSet training as well as a high school diploma option for the nearly one million Georgians without a high school diploma.

   TCSG also offers Economic Development services and training for local business and industry. QuickStart is another pillar of TCSG.  Quickstart provides training for new and existing businesses in Georgia and has been a key component for helping Georgia become and remain as the number one place to do business.

  The final pillar is the Worksource and Career Services or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) State Workforce Development Board that is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market.

   “Student success is a key factor for us,” continued Commissioner Dozier.  “Students coming to the Technical College System of Georgia colleges have a pathway to the career they are hoping for.”  Commissioner Dozier also talked about the partnership with the University System of Georgia that accepts 28 core classes for students who intend to continue their education at the four-year level or beyond. “We are constantly trying to eliminate barriers to student success,” said Dozier.

  He pointed out that the Georgia Match program, which was the initiative of Governor Brian Kemp is one way both TCSG and the University System of Georgia are working together to eliminate barriers for high school students to be accepted into the college of their choice in Georgia.

   As part of the Georgia Match program, every high school senior receives a letter showing their guaranteed acceptance at colleges in the Technical College System and those they qualify for admission at in the University System.  Students do not have to pay an admission fee.  This is a clear pathway for students to enter college.

   Following Dozier’s talk, members of the Americus Rotary Club were allowed to ask questions.