GNTC, Dalton State College, Georgia Highlands College sign articulation agreement

Dalton State College, Georgia Highlands College and Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) have created Northwest Georgia Connect, a new agreement to further educational opportunities for area students.

Leaders from the three colleges signed an articulation agreement this week to create a partnership, called Northwest Georgia Connect, that will allow students to enroll at GNTC, complete one of the articulated associate of applied science degrees and be eligible to enroll in one of the corresponding Bachelor of Science degrees at Dalton State or Georgia Highlands.

Northwest Georgia Connect creates new pathways for GNTC students to continue their education in the areas of Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Engineering Technology, Health and Wellness, Health Science, Information Technology, Organizational Leadership and Respiratory Therapy at Dalton State or Georgia Highlands.

“The new agreement demonstrates a commitment to enhancing workforce development and expanding educational opportunities for Georgia Northwestern Technical College students,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, GNTC president. “By Dalton State and Georgia Highlands fostering seamless transfer pathways and collaborating with GNTC, this agreement aims to provide our graduates additional opportunities for higher education, further enhancing their skills and knowledge to better serve the workforce needs of northwest Georgia.”

(From left) Dr. Sarah Coakley, chief academic officer/provost, and Dr. Mike Hobbs, president, Georgia Highlands College; Dr. Gina Kertulis-Tartar, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, and Dr. John Fuchko III, president, Dalton State College; and Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, vice president of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, and Dr. Heidi Popham, president, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, prepare to sign the Northwest Georgia Connect articulation agreement.

This agreement formally recognizes that these educational institutions are committed to establishing an educational partnership to serve currently enrolled and future students at these institutions, as well as to support economic and workforce development in the communities they serve.

“As we strive to serve this region and beyond, we are excited about this collaboration and the pathways this agreement creates for students to continue their education and complete degrees that lead to enhanced career opportunities,” said Dalton State President John Fuchko III. “The existing relationships between the three colleges and the excitement from the people working on this agreement have made the partnership easy.”

Upon completion of an associate of applied science degree in a participating program at GNTC, a graduate’s transcript will be sent free of charge to Dalton State and/or Georgia Highlands upon request. Dalton State and Georgia Highlands will waive application fees for applicants who have completed an eligible associate degree program at GNTC.

“Our academic leaders have been very excited about the opportunity to work together on this articulation agreement, and connecting faculty from all three schools in this collaborative process has helped create the most beneficial pathways for students,” said Georgia Highlands President Mike Hobbs.

While GNTC already has articulation agreements with Dalton State and Georgia Highlands separately, this is the first time that an agreement of this scale has been developed with the three institutions.

Conversations began in fall 2023 when the presidents of the colleges asked that some work be done to formalize the articulation of pathways for students interested in pursuing bachelor’s degrees through Dalton State and Georgia Highlands.

Academic Affairs leadership from all three colleges met to build a framework for the agreement. The colleges also had a meeting in the summer that included college, department and program leaders to identify which courses could transfer to or from their respective degree programs. After considering several programs, the colleges decided to move forward in phases to facilitate the process and prioritize specific programs based on regional needs.

This signing event represents the programs in the first phase. The second phase will allow more programs, including business-related programs, to be added as faculty and academic leaders continue discussions. While there is no immediate timeline, more programs may be added by the end of the spring 2025 semester so that students graduating from GNTC have additional options for the fall 2025 semester.

“GNTC did not have to change any curriculum for this articulation agreement,” said Dr. Elizabeth Anderson, vice president of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness at GNTC. “We hope the articulation agreement serves students of northwest Georgia by providing a clear and seamless path to success. We are continuing our efforts to expand the program options available for students with Dalton State College and Georgia Highlands College.”

Dalton State College and Georgia Highlands College are members of the University System of Georgia. GNTC is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.

About Dalton State College

Dalton State College offers 24 bachelor’s degrees and 7 associate degrees in high-demand professions. The college was founded in 1963 and now serves more than 5,000 students from 27 states and 35 nations through campuses in Dalton and Ellijay and online.

About Georgia Highlands College

Georgia Highlands was founded in 1970 as Floyd Junior College, and the college now serves thousands of students from more than 30 counties in Northwest Georgia. GHC has sites in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, and Dallas, as well as a robust online program. GHC offers more than 40 areas of study with associate degree and bachelor’s degree options both in the classroom and online.

About GNTC

Georgia Northwestern Technical College, founded in 1962, provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 12,241 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.