CHATTANOOGA, TN -- For nearly 30 years—since she was in high school—Georgia Ghearing had worked as a chef for various catering companies in Chattanooga. But when the pandemic put her out of a job, she had some big questions in front of her: How was she going to pay the bills? What was she going to do for work? How was she going to start over?
Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times Free Press—The Tennessee State Building Commission has approved Chattanooga State Community College's estimated $20 million project in Rhea County that would provide a new site for the community college's academic programs. The project is funded through Governor Bill Lee's $56.2 billion budget. Further approval was given to Chattanooga State to proceed with $10.2 million in improvements to its Tennessee College of Applied Technology academic building in Chattanooga and its automotive technology building.
The Governor's budget recommendations included $945.9 million to fund all 29 major projects recommended by the state's Higher Education Commission for Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology campuses across the state. Additionally, $50.6 million in maintenance funding was approved for 15 projects at all 13 community colleges and 24 other improvements at 14 applied technology campuses.
OPINION, Leslie Gower, Times Free Press—"The fanfare of high school graduation season is upon us with prom, graduation, and hefty decisions on what the next chapter might hold. For many graduates, the future has a hazy lens. With ballooning college tuition, high schoolers should know that there are other pathways to success: a high-paying job doesn't require a four-year college degree.
Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jennifer McNally—The city of Chattanooga comes together to train the next generation of the workforce in advanced manufacturing. Advanced Manufacturing is becoming a "career of choice" for many people as manufacturing moves to automation. For its part, Chattanooga State offers a variety of learning tracks and "on-ramps," including short-term certifications (three to six weeks), technical diplomas (one year or less), and associate degrees with transfer pathways (two years). Many certifications and diplomas lead to associate degrees, as well as transfer pathways to a bachelor's degree, including courses offered through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).
The completion of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) Advanced Manufacturing Center in 2024 will allow ChattState to grow programs like Industrial Electricity, Industrial Maintenance, and Mechatronics. They'll also launch a new program on Industrial Automation.
Volkswagen Academy in Chattanooga recently showcased its Mechatronics Akademie and Robotronics Technology Apprenticeship Program to potential students and parents. The academy is a partnership between Chattanooga State Community College, Hamilton County Schools, and Volkswagen and aims to develop a talent pipeline for the automaker as it transitions to building more electric vehicles. The Mechatronics Akademie provides high school students with dual enrollment courses in robotics, electronics, computer systems, and product engineering, while the Robotronics Technology Apprenticeship Program offers vocational classroom and paid on-the-job training to post-high school graduates. Graduates of the program receive a conditional job offer from Volkswagen. The automaker plans to double the number of high school students in the Mechatronics Akademie next school year and expand the apprenticeship program. Read the full article by Mike Pare of Chattanooga Times Free Press.
After knocking it out of the park academically in the fall semester, the Chattanooga State baseball team begins its 2017 season with a game today and two Saturday against Georgia Highlands at Emerson, Ga.
The Tennessee Board of Regents moved forward Friday on its selection of a new president for Chattanooga State Community College, announcing a search advisory committee to review candidates for the office.
This citywide literacy initiative will feature "Silver Sparrow" with coordinating events scheduled through the first half of April, sponsored by Writers@Work, an annual program of Chattanooga State Community College's Humanities Department.
The elder Brown came to Chattanooga to talk about his son's death and the Michael Brown Chosen For Change Foundation he created to help families and other men whose children have died from violence.
