Info about Athens Tech!

Athens Tech hosted several CTAE staff, along with the high school counselors of Oconee County, on our teacher workday to let us know about their programs and get a tour. I was impressed by what they are offering! They have some dynamic programs! 94% of their students get jobs within their area of study, and they follow economic trends, so they are creating majors as well as ridding themselves of ones, based on what the economy is telling them. They have been around since 1958, and have evolved over time to several campuses.


They are also a great option for Dual Enrollment, with 750 students across 11 counties and 52 high schools! It allows students to gain experience in the college environment, and since their average class size is around 17, it's an opportunity to earn credits in the core and CTAE areas for both high school and college in a small setting. They also have a free tutoring center on campus for students who need help in their respective classes/areas of study.

There are scholarships, both from HOPE/Zell Miller Grant and ATC-specific scholarships through the Athens Tech Foundation.

Campus Highlights:
--Library has 50 Anatomy models, 3D printers, scanners, and Virtual Reality kits/station. They also have a lending library for students who can't afford books.

--28 student organizations, can participate even as Dual Enrollment student.

--They assist a few special populations: Economically Disadvantaged, ESOL, non-traditional (ex: female in welding), single parent/expectant mom.

--One of their most popular classes is Anatomy, which is a bigger class with 48 students.

Program/Area of Study Highlights:

The Life Science and Public Safety Division has 18 programs in 30 specializations. Their Vet Tech program is top notch, collaborating with the UGA Vet School in many aspects.

Radiology

Vet Tech

Their Radiology program has 100% pass rate on the national exam
their Dental Assisting program also has a clinic where students get hands-on, real life interactions with patients; their Nursing programs have a lot of experiential learning opportunities.

Dental Assisting

Nursing

Surgical Tech

EMT 

I was impressed not only by the technology provided, the training time-frame, but also the results they are seeing both with job placement and salaries coming out of school. Athens Tech has developed great relationships with hospitals and other businesses in the greater Athens and Atlanta area, which has lent itself to their students being highly desirable. They even have Dual Enrollment students who finish both high school and a degree at the same time!



The Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing Division has multiple programs, and we focused on their collision repair and welding sections. The job market needs people in these positions, and the pay is excellent! The technology they are teaching at ATC is the most recent, preparing students for these jobs. They work on real cars, from everything mechanical-related to body-related on automobiles.

Interior Design

Cosmetology

Their Business and Education Division has over 40 specializations, and on this tour, we concentrated on their Interior Design, Cosmetology, and Emerging Technology (Robotics, Video Game Design).



It was a wonderful day visiting Athens Tech! Make sure to check them out when considering your post-high school plans!