April is National Community College Month and Gadsden State, a member institution of the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), is joining with community colleges across the state and nation to celebrate. The ACCS is the state’s single largest system of public higher education and is Alabama’s most affordable and accessible system of higher education. Through academic transfer, workforce development, and adult education the System makes a positive impact on the more than 250,000 people served each year and on the people of the state.
Approximately 15,000 community college students transfer each year to public four-year institutions while others graduate into career technical fields leading directly to employment. ACCS institutions partner with business, industry, and government, to provide customized training for companies, job skills training, workforce development services, and specialized services for Alabama workers and job seekers.
In 2014, the Alabama Community College System enrolled more than 8,100 high school students in its dual enrollment and early college programs providing high-achieving students with rigorous courses beyond those offered at the secondary level; almost 3,700 scholarships were awarded to students enrolled in ACCS career technical education courses—preparing them for high-wage, high-demand occupations; and served more than 29,000 individuals through the adult literacy education programs and services awarding more than 4,900 GED® Certificates.
In addition, the Alabama Technology Network which a part of the ACCS, provided innovative technical assistance that improved efficiency and profitability to hundreds of businesses. Alabama businesses, with the help of ATN, increased profits by more than $129,000,000.
Gadsden State’s annual observance of Community College Month will include: campus tours for community members, a showcase of successful students/graduates on Facebook (visit GSCC pages), editorials from the administrative cabinet, faculty/staff-sponsored children’s book drives, an employment opportunity fair for job seekers, personal enrichment classes through Continuing Education, the annual international festival, an evening of fine arts featuring the music department, athletic events, student juried art show opening reception, and a variety of other events and activities highlighting each campus along with its faculty members and staff.
For more information contact Pam Clough at 256-549-8462, GSCC Public Relations at 256-549-8223, visit “News & Events” on the Gadsden State home page at http://www.gadsdenstate.edu/calendar/ or click on the Community College Month button.