Coastal Pines Technical College named State of Georgia’s 2017 Technical College of the Year
Top enrollment growth and highest graduation rate cited as success factors
ATLANTA – The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has selected Coastal Pines Technical College as this year’s recipient of the Sonny Perdue Award for the TCSG Technical College of the Year.
“Coastal Pines’ consistent focus on excellence reflects its commitment to serving its students and its community,” said Gretchen Corbin, TCSG commissioner. “The college not only continues to enroll a growing number of new students, but also has instituted effective measures to support their success, providing students with greater career opportunities and the college’s region with a pipeline to a talented and ready workforce.”
Each December, the TCSG board chooses the award winner from among the system’s 22 technical colleges. Colleges are evaluated against various performance criteria in the areas of technical education, adult education, economic development, resource development and administration.
TCSG State Board Chairman Joe Yarbrough made the announcement during the board’s monthly meeting on December 7.
“We congratulate President Deibert, the faculty and the staff of Coastal Pines for the teamwork that has made this honor possible. The State Board joins them in celebrating the opportunities for growth and success they have created for students throughout the 13 counties served by the college,” said Chairman Yarbrough.
“I’m extremely proud to accept this award on behalf of the board, faculty, staff and students of Coastal Pines Technical College, as well as the communities we serve,” said President Deibert. “This award is a testament to their dedication to higher education and a symbol of the college’s contributions to growth opportunities for our students and our companies.”
Highlights from Coastal Pines Technical College’s 2017 academic year include:
- the highest graduation rate (87 percent) in Georgia’s public technical college system. Coastal Pines graduated 1,278 students in 2017 and has exceeded its Complete College Georgia degree production goals for nine consecutive years.
- the highest enrollment growth in the Georgia technical college system, increasing student Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) by 14 percent over 2016.
- the largest increase in high school dual enrollment system-wide. Coastal Pines had 1,806 high school students enrolled in its credit courses during 2017, representing seven percent of all public high school students in the college’s service delivery area.
- the most improvement in operational efficiency. Coastal Pines reduced its cost-per-FTE by 11.3 percent in 2017, more than any other college in Georgia’s technical college system.
- superb licensure pass rates, with 95 percent of graduates passing their licensure exams.
Coastal Pines Technical College serves thirteen counties in Southeast Georgia – Appling, Bacon, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Jeff Davis, Glynn, Long, McIntosh, Pierce, Ware, and Wayne – more than any other college in the Technical College System of Georgia. Previous College of the Year award winners include Southeastern Technical College (2016), Ogeechee Technical College (2015 and 2011), Lanier Technical College (2014), Savannah Technical College (2013), Atlanta Technical College (2012) and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (2010).
The TCSG College of the Year award was created in 2010 in honor of former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue, a strong supporter of the TCSG colleges and their mission to develop the state’s workforce through technical and adult education.
About the Technical College System of Georgia
The 22 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) are Georgia’s top resource for skilled workers. TCSG offers world-class training in 600 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs to students who are trained on state-of-the-art equipment by instructors who are experts in their fields. The system also houses Georgia’s Office of Adult Education, which promotes and provides adult literacy and education programs, including the GED® testing program, throughout the state. In addition, TCSG partners with companies through Quick Start, the nation’s top customized workforce training program, and through its individual colleges, who work with local industry to provide workforce and training solutions. For more information, visit www.TCSG.edu.
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Contact: Alison Tyrer
404-327-6913
