East Central Technical College
Encyclopedia
Until July 1, 2010, East Central Technical College was a technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia
. Its primary locations were in Fitzgerald
and Ocilla
, with a satellite
and extended campuses located in Douglas
, Pearson
, and Rochelle
. The school served the counties of Ben Hill
/Irwin
, Coffee
, Atkinson
, and Wilcox. Tift
and Turner
counties were originally to have been part of the school's area, but opted out before it began. The school also previously had campuses in Turner
and Telfair
counties, but in 2001 the Turner campus was transferred to Moultrie Technical College
, and the Telfair campus to Heart of Georgia Technical College. http://www.eastcentraltech.edu/history.htm
On September 4, 2008, the State Board of Technical and Adult Education approved a merger East Central Technical College and Valdosta Technical College, effective July 1, 2010, as part of a larger program of restructuring throughout the TCSG. In 2009, it was announced that the new school would be known as Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
. The merger was completed, as planned, on July 1, 2010.
received their diploma
s. On June 9, 1978 a $600,000 campus expansion plan was completed. The school changed from being locally-governed to being governed by the state under the direction of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
(DTAE). In the fall of 1982, Ben Hill-Irwin Institute began a computer electronics program. It also expanded its machine shop
curriculum through a co-op program with Robins Air Force Base
in 1983. January 1, 1984 Dr. Ed Green became the new president after the retirement of Brinson. The school changed its name to Ben Hill Irwin Technical Institute and established a joint degree program with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
(ABAC) in Tifton, which made it possible for ECTC students to earn an associate degree in applied science
from ABAC in 1986. According to ectcollege.org on July 1, 1996 Dr.Diane Harper became the third president. On November 7, 1996 the school changed its name to East Central Technical Institute. Over the next few years, enrollment
increased tremendously and the support of the community continued to grow. The college continued to expand throughout the 1990s with the opening of the Charles Harris Learning Center in 1994, the Douglas satellite campus in 1997, on July 16, 1998 the opening of the Wilcox Lifelong Learning
Center, and on April 28, 1999 the new campus in Turner County. The name changed again to East Central Technical College in 2000 because of Georgia House
bill 1187, that allowed institutes offering associate degrees to become college
s.
, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit.
Technical College System of Georgia
The Technical College System of Georgia , formerly known as the Department of Technical and Adult Education , is the body which supervises the U.S...
. Its primary locations were in Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald, Georgia
Fitzgerald is a city in Ben Hill in the U.S. state of Georgia, and is the county seat of Ben Hill County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 9,053...
and Ocilla
Ocilla, Georgia
Ocilla is a city in Irwin County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,270 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Irwin County.Ocilla is part of the Fitzgerald Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, with a satellite
Satellite campus
A satellite campus or branch campus is a campus of a college or university that is physically detached from the main university or college area, and is often smaller than the main campus of an institution....
and extended campuses located in Douglas
Douglas, Georgia
Douglas is a city in Coffee County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 11,589. Douglas is the county seat of Coffee County and the core city of the Douglas, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area which has a population of 48,708 as of the 2008 census...
, Pearson
Pearson, Georgia
Pearson is a city in Atkinson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,805 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Atkinson County.-Geography:Pearson is located at ....
, and Rochelle
Rochelle, Georgia
Rochelle is a city in Wilcox County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,415 at the 2000 census.-History:Rochelle was named for La Rochelle, France by the daughter of a local railroad magnate in 1887.-Geography:...
. The school served the counties of Ben Hill
Ben Hill County, Georgia
Ben Hill County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 31, 1906 and ratified November 6, 1906. As of 2000, the population was 17,484. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 17,650...
/Irwin
Irwin County, Georgia
Irwin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 15, 1818. As of 2000, the population was 9,931. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 9,934...
, Coffee
Coffee County, Georgia
Coffee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 37,413. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 40,085. The county seat is Douglas.-History:...
, Atkinson
Atkinson County, Georgia
Atkinson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia, and was formed in 1917 from parts of Coffee and Clinch counties. As of 2000, the population was 7,609. The 2007 Census Estimate placed the population at 8,223...
, and Wilcox. Tift
Tift County, Georgia
Tift County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 38,407. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 41,610...
and Turner
Turner County, Georgia
Turner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2010, the population was 8,930. The county seat is Ashburn.-History:The County is named for Henry Gray Turner, U.S...
counties were originally to have been part of the school's area, but opted out before it began. The school also previously had campuses in Turner
Turner County, Georgia
Turner County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on August 18, 1905. As of 2010, the population was 8,930. The county seat is Ashburn.-History:The County is named for Henry Gray Turner, U.S...
and Telfair
Telfair County, Georgia
Telfair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 11,794. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 13,366...
counties, but in 2001 the Turner campus was transferred to Moultrie Technical College
Moultrie Technical College
Moultrie Technical College or MTC, is an accredited technical college, located in Moultrie, Georgia, in Colquitt County. Moultrie Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia...
, and the Telfair campus to Heart of Georgia Technical College. http://www.eastcentraltech.edu/history.htm
On September 4, 2008, the State Board of Technical and Adult Education approved a merger East Central Technical College and Valdosta Technical College, effective July 1, 2010, as part of a larger program of restructuring throughout the TCSG. In 2009, it was announced that the new school would be known as Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia providing education for an eleven-county service area in south-central Georgia. The school's service area includes Atkinston, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, and...
. The merger was completed, as planned, on July 1, 2010.
History
In 1968 Lewis Brinson became the first director of Ben Hill-Irwin Area Vocational Institute. On September 21, 1970 200 full-time students enrolled at the institution and on September 15, 1971 the first full-time graduatesGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
received their diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
s. On June 9, 1978 a $600,000 campus expansion plan was completed. The school changed from being locally-governed to being governed by the state under the direction of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
(DTAE). In the fall of 1982, Ben Hill-Irwin Institute began a computer electronics program. It also expanded its machine shop
Machining
Conventional machining is a form of subtractive manufacturing, in which a collection of material-working processes utilizing power-driven machine tools, such as saws, lathes, milling machines, and drill presses, are used with a sharp cutting tool to physical remove material to achieve a desired...
curriculum through a co-op program with Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base
Robins Air Force Base is a major United States Air Force base located in Houston County, Georgia, United States. The base is located just east of and adjacent to the city of Warner Robins, Georgia, SSE of Macon, Georgia, and about SSE of Atlanta, Georgia...
in 1983. January 1, 1984 Dr. Ed Green became the new president after the retirement of Brinson. The school changed its name to Ben Hill Irwin Technical Institute and established a joint degree program with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is a State College of the University System of Georgia. Located in Tifton, Georgia, ABAC offers baccalaureate and associate degrees...
(ABAC) in Tifton, which made it possible for ECTC students to earn an associate degree in applied science
Applied science
Applied science is the application of scientific knowledge transferred into a physical environment. Examples include testing a theoretical model through the use of formal science or solving a practical problem through the use of natural science....
from ABAC in 1986. According to ectcollege.org on July 1, 1996 Dr.Diane Harper became the third president. On November 7, 1996 the school changed its name to East Central Technical Institute. Over the next few years, enrollment
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
increased tremendously and the support of the community continued to grow. The college continued to expand throughout the 1990s with the opening of the Charles Harris Learning Center in 1994, the Douglas satellite campus in 1997, on July 16, 1998 the opening of the Wilcox Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is the continuous building of skills and knowledge throughout the life of an individual. It occurs through experiences encountered in the course of a lifetime...
Center, and on April 28, 1999 the new campus in Turner County. The name changed again to East Central Technical College in 2000 because of Georgia House
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
bill 1187, that allowed institutes offering associate degrees to become college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s.
Accreditation
East Central Technical College was accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education to award associate degrees of applied technologyApplied Technology
Applied Technology, Australia founded by Owen Hill in 1975, was a pioneer producer of home computers that ran CP/M on Zilog Z80 microprocessors. Their MicroBee computer was the first commercial personal computer manufactured in Australia....
, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit.