Georgia Magazine - January 2018 - 31

For instance, many students in the
organizational leadership program
need experience with project management in their workplaces. VSU
may develop an add-on certificate so
students can graduate with both an
organizational leadership degree and
a project management certificate.
This trend means that several
college courses can be combined in
a sequence to create mini certificates.
"Many institutions are bringing
employers together to understand
their needs and find ways to help
employees gain those skills," he
says. "Likewise, colleges are giving
employees credit for what they're
learning on the job."
As more Americans look for
more ways to build their skills-
either formally through public and
private universities or informally
through online courses on websites
such as Udemy.com-college systems will continue to respond with
more options and flexibility. Merwin
believes it can only help Georgia's
workforce to improve, both personally and professionally.

"Even though the nontraditional
student is typically older, we're
seeing a trend that people of all
ages have children, jobs and busy
lifestyles that call for nontraditional
schooling," he says. "We need more
online and career-oriented programs, and we'll continue to see
those grow."
Carolyn Crist is a freelance
writer based in Athens.

For more information
* "Go Back. Move Ahead.," gobackmove
ahead.org
* Complete College Georgia, completega.
org
* Lumina Foundation, luminafoundation.org/
goal_2025
* University of North Georgia Veteran and
Adult Learner Programs,
ung.edu/veteran-adult-learners/index.php
* Information on earning college credits
through experience, gobackmoveahead.
org/faq
* Valdosta State University Adult and
Military Programs, valdosta.edu/
academics/amp

Resources for those going back to school
For those who see it as a "startingover" point, heading into a classroom
again-whether online or in person-can
feel like a daunting task. Finances, enrollment requirements, schedules and credit
transfers can be a headache on their own,
let alone rolled together. Luckily, Georgia
offers several resources to help learners get
through the process.
* Finances: Georgia residents can use the
state's HOPE Grant or the federal Pell
Grant to enroll in school again. Those who
attend technical college can use the grant
with no high school grade-point average requirement as well as the Georgia
Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, which funds programs in
high-demand areas, such as computer
programming, engineering, commercial
truck driving, health sciences and nursing, early childhood education, welding
and manufacturing.
* Enrollment: Students must have a high
January 2018

school diploma or General Educational
Development (GED) diploma-or be
enrolled in a GED program-to start a
degree or certificate program.
* Schedules: The 51 Georgia colleges
that participate in the "Go Back. Move
Ahead." program offer a variety of
scheduling choices for busy adults to fit
courses into their lives. Most offer night
and weekend classes as well as flexible
start times and shortened "mini-mesters."
With online degrees, you can study and
work in one part of the state and earn
your credential at a college across the
state with no commute.
* Credit transfers: Georgia colleges have
addressed ways to get students the most
credit possible. Now, 27 general courses
transfer between the University System
of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia. Each college also offers
a course transfer chart to explain what
you'll earn before you enroll.
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

Attention students:

Win a FREE
tablet!
As a part of our feature on higher education, GEORGIA Magazine will give away a
tablet computer to one lucky student. To
win, you must be either a Georgia high
school student or enrolled in a Georgia
college, university or technical school.
Fill out and send in the coupon below,
postmarked by Feb. 16, 2018, or enter by
clicking the contest link online at

www.georgiamagazine.org
Online responses will be
entered in a BONUS drawing for a
$25 Walmart gift card!
Winners will be notified March 4.

To enter our drawing and get free
information on the schools listed below,
please mail the completed coupon to:
GEORGIA Magazine Tablet Giveaway,
P.O. Box 1707, Tucker, GA 30085.

Or enter online and save a stamp!
Belhaven University
John Marshall Law School
University of North Georgia
Or list another college/university/tech
school you're interested in:

Name
Address
City

State

ZIP

High school or college attending
Email
Intended college enrollment date
31

http://www.gobackmoveahead.org http://www.gobackmoveahead.org http://completega.org http://completega.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.luminafoundation.org/goal_2025 http://www.luminafoundation.org/goal_2025 http://www.ung.edu/veteran-adult-learners/index.php http://udemy.com http://gobackmoveahead.org/faq http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eeyb3gb7jbcx9hb0/start http://gobackmoveahead.org/faq http://www.valdosta.edu/academics/amp http://www.valdosta.edu/academics/amp http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2018