Adult Education
The goal of the Adult Education program is to help adults of all ages acquire skills that will make them more successful in the workplace and in college. Adult education offers participants a stepping sone to brighter futures through classes that prepare them to earn a high school equivalency credential and/or transition to college or the workforce. The college offers these free basic and secondary-level instruction for adults at locations in the following counties: Clarke, Elbert, Hart, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Walton, and Wilkes. The college provides classes in the following areas:
- Basic or remedial reading and math.
- Academic subjects at the secondary level to provide preparation for a high school equivalency credential.
- Career training and job placement.
- Tech Prep: Accuplacer test preparation.
The college offers free high school equivalency preparation classes at adult education centers in all service area counties. The college conducts GED or HISET testing sessions at the main campus of Athens Technical College in Athens and at its campuses in Elbert County, and Walton County. GED testing sessions are also offered at locations in Hart and Wilkes counties on a scheduled basis.
The Adult Education staff conducts workplace education classes for employees of area businesses and industries, either on site or at other convenient locations. Classes may include instruction in basic or advanced reading and math, GED preparation, the English Proficiency Program for Speakers of Other Languages, or specific academic skills needed for employment.
Information on adult education classes and high school equivalency testing sessions are available from the college's Adult Education Office, which is located in Building K, on the Athens Campus. The telephone number is (706) 583-2551. Information is also available on the college website.
Economic Development Services
The mission of the Office of Economic Development Services is to provide non-credit workforce development programs and lifelong learning opportunities to businesses and individual citizens within the counties served by Athens Technical College: Clarke, Elbert, Hart, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Walton, and Wilkes. Economic Development Services provides training opportunities for the following sectors: manufacturing, hospitality, government, education, logistics, non-profit organizations, professional services firms, retail units, and health care. The goal of the unit is to become a strategic partner with organizations to enhance a culture of continuous process improvement and develop quality management systems.
Business and Industry Services
Business and Industry Services provides customized training and workforce development programs to business, industry, and non-profit organizations that are seeking to increase the skills levels of their existing employees. The customized training is tailored to meet specific needs and include a variety of subject areas, including safety, computer workshops, first aid, CPR, management and supervisory development, maintenance improvements, quality systems such as Six Sigma, and forklift training. The customized courses may be taught on-site at the organization or at Athens Technical College campuses. The college offers these courses to accommodate all shifts.
Continuing Education Services
Athens Technical College develops continuing education courses in response to educational demands and requests of citizens, professional and business groups, and other organizations. The Continuing Education staff develops and implements on-site, on-campus, and online courses for career and professional development, personal interest, and enrichment. Career and professional courses include microcomputer and software courses, office skills, and language training. Students who satisfactorily complete certain career and professional courses may receive continuing education credit (CEUs) to document that their noncredit instruction met nationally recognized standards. The Continuing Education staff develops personal enrichment courses by focusing on education related to visual and musical arts, crafts, health, and other areas of interest.
Workforce Development and External Testing
Athens Technical College administers the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate. The NCRC is a portable credential that demonstrates achievement and a certain level of workplace employability skills. Individuals can earn the certificate by taking three WorkKeys® assessments:
- Applied mathematics
- Locating information
- Reading for information
WorkKeys® assessments measure "real world" skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Test questions are based on situations in the everyday work world.
Athens Technical College offers NCRC assessments at its Athens, Elbert, and Walton Campuses, as well as in Hart County.
Athens Technical College is also a test center for several testing agencies. These tests are for professional certifications and do not include tests for college admission. Options include the Pearson Vue, NATE, as well as proctored exams. Exam dates vary and availability may be limited. Additional information is available by calling (706) 552-0961.
Athens Technical College also administers the Georgia Pest Control Exam. Call (706) 340-3962 for information or visit http://www.gapestexam.com.
Existing Employee Training Services
Athens Technical College offers varied training for existing employees and is the "first-call" employee-training partner for many companies in Northeast Georgia. Staff members analyze company processes and develop customized training activities to solve key operational issues.
Training areas include leadership, communications, supervision, computer skills, sales, customer service, team building, industrial maintenance, safety issues, Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance issues, and Environmental Protection Agency and hazardous materials training, among others.
Customer service training includes professional dress, telephone skills, multicultural issues, sales, and serving difficult customers. Computer training highlights the latest software and operating systems. Other training activities available include:
- Job performance improvement
- Inventory control and purchasing
- Communications and interpersonal skills
- Computers and web-based courses
- Quality control, ISO 9000 and 14000, Six Sigma, LEAN, and 5-S
- Executive coaching and leadership development
- Supervisory skills training and team development
- Technical and business writing
- Personnel development and assessment
- Strategic planning
- On-site management consulting
- Maintenance skills assessment
- Maintenance systems analysis
- Advanced manufacturing technology
Athens Technical College can assess the training needs of an organization and customize programs to correct deficiencies. Customized programs are efficient because they target only those areas needed by the client. These services are available on a contractual basis to business and industry clients.
Labor and Organizational Services
Qualified experts from the college can assist clients in managing change in organizational structure and other management challenges. Staff members monitor progress and suggest strategies to enhance the process and increase employee involvement and acceptance. Specific services include:
- Lean manufacturing implementation
- Labor and organizational issues training
- Employee opinion surveys
- Material and product planning
- Strategic planning
Environmental and Safety Services
Athens Technical College offers a variety of environmental and safety services that identify areas needing emphasis or that do not meet current or proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration or Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
As part of its OSHA alliance, the college offers employee training in handling hazardous materials, consulting services in engineering, and training on workplace safety issues. Ergonomics consultants can also assist in eliminating workplace injuries and lost work time. Specific services include:
- Environmental and safety assessments
- OSHA/EPA consulting, planning, and training
- Hazardous waste management training
- Technical and engineering studies
- Ergonomics
- Arc Flash and other safety training
Computer Academy
Athens Technical College offers seminars and workshops on a variety of computer applications through its Computer Academy. Consulting services are also available. Classes assist people with varying levels of computer skills and range from basic operation and purchasing of a computer to navigating the Internet and mastering software programs such as the Microsoft Office Suite of applications (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word).
Quick Start
The Quick Start program constantly receives national recognition for providing high-quality training services at no cost to qualified new and expanding businesses in Georgia. Quick Start training services are available for both manufacturing and service companies. Manufacturing training focuses on company orientation, core manufacturing skills, job-specific skills, productivity enhancement, employee involvement, and human resources development. Service training includes company orientation, customer service training, personal interaction skills, product information training, job procedures, and professional development. For more information on Quick Start, contact the Office of Economic Development Services by calling (706) 369-5763 or visit the Quick Start website.
Retraining Tax Credit
Staff from the Office of Economic Development Services work with existing industries located in the counties served by Athens Technical College to establish eligibility for retraining tax credits from the State of Georgia. Qualified businesses may receive a tax credit of 50 percent of their direct training expenses with up to a $500 credit per full-time employee per training program. The annual maximum of the credit amounts to $1,250 per employee. Eligible expenses include:
- Costs of instructors and teaching materials
- Employee wages during retraining
- Reasonable travel expenses
Retraining tax credits may be used to offset up to 50 percent of a company's Georgia corporate income tax liability. If the earned credit exceeds that limit, then the unused credit may be carried forward for up to 10 years and applied to future years' tax liability.
Any business filing a Georgia income tax return is eligible for the retraining tax credit. To qualify, training programs must be designed to enhance quality and productivity or teach certain software technologies.
The vice president for economic development coordinates the assistance to a company interested in claiming the retraining tax credit. The vice president is also responsible for determining if programs are eligible for a tax credit and for approving the required forms.
For questions or more information on any of these programs, please call (706) 369-5763.
Georgia Work Keys®
Economic Development Services operates in partnership with state and local efforts to improve workforce skills by actively supporting the Georgia Certified Work Ready program efforts. Staff members provide local industry with certified WorkKeys® profilers who profile jobs to determine the specific skill sets needed by successful employees. The staff also administers workforce assessments that are designed to assist in matching applicant skills to profiled jobs. This effort is designed to provide Work Ready employees who are prepared to perform at optimum levels.
Short-Term Training Programs
Athens Technical College offers short-term training programs in Nurse Aide, Workplace Fundamentals, and Manufacturing 101.
- The Nurse Aide program provides strong academic and clinical educational that allows the nurse aide to serve an important role in a healthcare setting. As a member of the health care team, nurse aides work together with physicians, nurses, and other health care providers in the performance of clinical procedures and care. The training program provides a foundation for professional development and lifelong learning. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the written/oral skills competency examination (National Nurse Aide Assessment Program Examination). The training program at Athens Technical College is regulated by the Georgia Medical Care Foundation.
- Manufacturing 101 and Workplace Fundamentals are short-term training programs designed to help individuals gain the knowledge and skills they need to obtain employment in various businesses and industries. Participants receive OSHA 10 and forklift certifications through these programs. Both programs also cover business etiquette, balancing home and career, computer skills, math skills, and resume building.