South Georgia Insider

Welcome to the South Georgia Insider Podcast, hosted by Thressea H. Boyd, editor of South Georgia Business Magazine. Join us as we chat with business and civic leaders and community influencers about the exciting—and sometimes challenging things happening throughout South Georgia. Topics range from business and manufacturing to entrepreneurship and rural prosperity, economic development, agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism, and the arts.

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South Georgia Insider

SRTC President Jim Glass

July 14, 2021 • Thressea H. Boyd, Host • Season 2 • Episode 0

Today we are talking to Jim Glass, President of Southern Regional Technical College. (SRTC). President Glass officially began his tenure as president at SRTC on July 1, 2019.

Offering 130 degree, diploma, and certificate programs, SRTC was formed in 2015 from a merger of the former Moultrie Technical College and Southwest Georgia Technical College. Serving the technical education and training needs within an 11-county service region, SRTC has locations in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas (main campus), Tift, Turner, and Worth counties.

"One of the things we will never stray from is our workforce mission," Glass says. "Whether it's a credit course in the form of a degree, diploma or certificate or even through non-credit courses that people can take through our economic development division. We have a free high school equivalency test or English as a second language from our adult education department."

SRTC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the same accrediting body that certifies degrees from most colleges in the Southeast, and has 28 general education core classes transferable to colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia.

Moving forward with creating apprenticeship programs, Glass says, "Every single day, I have people tell me they need welders, electricians, remote tech, nurses, on and on."

A win-win opportunity, SRTC's apprenticeship program gives students valuable work experience and helps businesses meet their workforce demands.

Listening to business and community leaders is the focus of SRTC's new Business and Industry Round Table discussions.

"One of the things I wanted to do when I became president was to make sure that our development authorities, cities, counties, and chambers knew we wanted to be their partners," Glass says. "It's so important that we maintain great relationships."

Glass says the goal is to have round table discussions throughout SRTC's service area.

Growth is coming to the Moultrie campus thanks to $2.3 million to plan and design a new technical and industrial building. The funds are part of the state's FY2022 budget and expand space for SRTC's high-demand program.

Also, SRTC recently received a $200,000 grant from Coca-Cola Bottling United and Rural Development Partners. The grant funds the Rural Development Partners Community Investment and Coca-Cola Bottling United Scholarship and benefits SRTC's technical and industrial programs, including the popular commercial truck driving program.

COVID impacted higher education throughout the past year, especially technical schools where "hand-on" teaching is critical. Like many other schools, SRTC received CARES Act Funds used to support students and improve campus facilities, including repairs and upgrades at its campuses.

SRTC's fall semester starts on August 17, visit the SRTC website or call 888.205.3449 for more information.

Join us next time as we continue to promote South Georgia as a great place to live, work, play, and visit.

Thanks to our sponsor Smalltown Broadcasting and WDDQ, home of the Scott James Matheson Show, where you can listen to live from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday on Talk 92.1 http://talk921.com/ or through the TuneIn app https://tunein.com/radio/Talk-921

South Georgia Insider is produced by Spencer Van Horn, Smalltown Broadcasting.