Augusta Technical College

Augusta Technical College was born in 1961 as Augusta Area Vocational School. It is located in the city of Augusta, Georgia, and currently serves as a two-year college for the surrounding five county area of east-central Georgia. In 1966, it merged with the Richmond Area Vocational School, and was renamed the Augusta Area Technical School. Not until 2000 would it be rechristened as Augusta Technical College. The main hub of the school is located in Augusta, Georgia, with three other satellite campuses serving the surrounding area. This is a thriving Southern metropolis, which is home to a number of institutions of higher learning, namely Augusta State University, the Medical College of Georgia, the Georgia Military College, and Augusta Technical College.

As a two-year institution, the College operates under the auspices of the State Board of Technical and Adult Education. It is a part of the larger family of technical institutions, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Associate of Applied Science degrees, Diplomas, and Technical Certificates of Credit. It is a committed part of a network of continuing educational programs for the surrounding area, determined to improve the standards of higher education and the socioeconomic achievement of all its community members. Its special offerings generally concentrate in trade-oriented degrees and certificates, helping graduates to attain satisfying vocation in fields such as applied mechanics, emergency medicine, and pre-engineering specialties.

While it is true that the college is located in the midst of a bustling Southern city, as per its legally required disclosure of all campus related crimes in a three-year period, a whopping total of four cars were reported stolen. No other criminal offenses were recorded, whether violent or non-violent. This is one of the large advantages of a two-year college. Its programs do not require residence on campus and students of all ages may feel free to reside where they feel most comfortable, commuting to and from their classes.

While this technical college located in the sultry South doesn't boast any superstar alumni, it does provide an intensely valuable resource to an area of five largely rural counties. Through its foundation, financially disadvantaged students can obtain scholarships to attend programs that will enable them to better their living situations. The college provides much-needed remedial and transferable educational credits that can be applied towards a traditional University education. The foundation also provides funds for the purchase of needed equipment for program enrichment when state funding falls short, thereby ensuring that students receive a quality education in their chosen field.

While Augusta Technical College is small by comparison to the Georgia Giants, such as UGA, Georgia State, and other four-year Universities, it is an essential cornerstone of the region's prosperity and well being. It continues to provide specialized training unavailable to many low-income residents, and its reputation is truly "small but mighty."