Columbus Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a two year public college which offers programs and services that support student and community success through the attainment of associate degrees, diplomas, technical certificates of credit, customized training, continuing, and adult education. The College supports the economic empowerment of its six county region by focusing on teaching and learning and developing a globally competitive workforce. We provide traditional, distance learning, and training experiences for career development and transfer. (TCSG SB 2-14)
Columbus Technical College was established in the year 1961 and is a prominent name in the field of education. At the time of inception, the college had only seven instructors, 39 students, and eight academic programs. But it has steadily grown and today boasts an annual student enrollment of approximately 5,200 and offers 100+ distinguished academic programs in six West Georgia counties: Muscogee, Harris, Talbot, Stewart, Quitman, and Chattahoochee.
The college had started as a unit of Muscogee County School District and was named the Columbus Area Vocational Technical School in its inception year. In 2000, the name changed, and since then it has been known as the Columbus Technical College. In its 50+ years of a rewarding journey, the college has seen many expansions, recognitions and accreditations. On December 12, 1972, the college received formal accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Later, Columbus Technical College was recognized by the state for their excellent educational services to the community and the college was selected as one of the only three technical schools in Georgia to pilot engineering technology programs by offering an Associate Degree in Applied Technology.
With the noble vision of crafting vibrant communities by delivering hope, opportunity and economic empowerment, Columbus Technical College offers associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates to their students in variety of streams including Nursing. The objective of their nursing program is to prepare highly educated, competent, and caring individuals to practice professional nursing within the service area and in a variety of settings.
Eminent Programs and Accreditations
Associate degree in nursing, Surgical Technology, Practical nursing, Radiologic Technology, Medical Assisting and Dental Hygiene are some of the prominent medical courses that Columbus Technical College offers to its students. Apart from these medical courses, the college also provides a wide range of business, trade and industry, and IT-related programs.
Columbus Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the Associate Degree, Diploma, and Technical Certificates of Credit. Their nursing program is accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN, formally NLNAC) and the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses.
Distinguished offerings that are shaping Students’ Future
The Robert L. Wright, Jr. Health Sciences Center is especially made to instill the advanced technological needs that are required to become a better nurse. This center is the epicenter of all nursing related activities, where students learn the fundamentals and inculcate the practical learning that is required for getting a good job in the market and further studies. The college offers SMART boards, Elmo document camera, projectors, and desktop computers in each class of the college.
Columbus Technical College also provides many types of financial aid to its students. The College reports that 80 percent of its students receive some kind of educational funding. Federal Pell grants, HOPE scholarship, HOPE grants, GA Bill/VA, and Vocational Rehab funds are just a few in the long list of financial assistance available for students.
President of the Columbus Technical College
Lorette M. Hoover is the current President of this prestigious institution. She has a Masters in Science from Troy University and has almost three decades of experience with the Technical College System of Georgia. With her expertise in technical education, adult education and economics, she is successfully driving Columbus Technical College toward fulfilling its mission of providing quality education to all while assisting students with their career and education goals.
Notable Alumni
Tracy Degracia is one of the most notable alumni of Columbus Technical College. She earned her nursing degree in 2012, and just after that she got placed as a medical nurse at the West Georgia Medical Center. Today with her profound knowledge obtained at Columbus Technical College, she was often promoted. Today, she is a nurse manager- overseeing the Outpatient Infusion Center at the John B. Amos Cancer Center in Columbus.
Accomplishments in the Recent Times
Thanks to their quality teaching, the college has won many prestigious honors. WalletHub has ranked Columbus Technical College at the fourth position amongst community colleges. Community College Review placed it in the list of Top 100 USA College that is providing excellent educational outcomes and job placement services at an affordable cost. It has also been named as a military friendly school for four years in a row.
Career Opportunities and Columbus Road ahead
Nurses are in huge demand all across the world in a variety of spheres like Labor & Delivery, Pediatrics, Medical-Surgical Nursing, Oncology, Hospitals, Physician’s Office, Psychiatric facilities and many more with varied job responsibilities. Graduate nurses also have an option to continue their education to become clinical nurse specialists, nurse anesthetists, nurse educators, nurse practitioners, and nurse researchers.
Columbus Technical College always believes that a student’s success in his or her career is the ultimate achievement. Therefore, they are always ready and go an extra mile to fulfill students’ career goals. One has to look no further than at the college’s job placement rate of 95 percent to see how effective this institution really is.
Columbus Technical College will continue to anticipate and respond to the community’s educational and workforce-training needs in order to guarantee that the region’s businesses and its citizens prosper.
