September 7, 2004

For more information, contact: Kimberly Stark at (901) 333-4023 or (901) 489-4771 (Cell)

Southwest and Georgia Tech Become Partners
Training Partnership brings Premier Safety Training to Mid-South

Southwest Tennessee Community College’s Department of Continuing Education and Community Partnerships and Georgia Tech have created a partnership to teach occupational safety training to industry in the Mid-South.

“Georgia Tech selected Southwest as one of only six regional partners because of Southwest’s reputation of presenting an array of professional education and training initiatives to its corporate partners through its Division of Workforce Development and Continuing Education,” said Dr. Ralph Chumbley, executive director of Continuing Education and Community Partnerships. “Other major colleges and universities with which Georgia Tech has partnered include Florida Atlanta University, Florida Community College – Jacksonville, North Carolina State, University of South Carolina, and University of Tennessee – Knoxville.”

Georgia Tech created its Institute of Technology and Professional Education in association with its comprehensive Global Learning Center. Georgia Tech’s Institute of Technology is, in turn, sanctioned by the U.S. government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to be the sole training agency for occupational safety program in Region 4, the southeastern United States.

Future areas of expansion for both institutions to explore include courses in aerospace, architecture, art, asbestos abatement, bioengineers, chemical engineering, city planning, civil engineering, chemical engineering, defensive electronics, electronic engineering, energy, environmental management, hazardous materials training, infrared technology, logistics, management, materials science and engineering, power systems, radar, space technology, sustainable facilities and infrastructure, transportation, and wireless and antenna engineering.

The creation of a partnership with Georgia Tech enhances the stature of Southwest’s workforce development efforts by several-fold with its business and industrial partners. An alliance such as this one underscores the fact that Southwest is dedicated to implementing quality workforce training in the southwest Tennessee area.

“The finest safety training will now be available to Southwest’s corporate partners,” states Chumbley. “We encourage you to contact us for your training needs.” Persons interested in obtaining information about the Southwest – Georgia Tech partnership should contact the Department of Continuing Education and Community Partnerships at (901) 333-4207 or Tim Davis at (901) 333-4112 for other industry training needs.