Technical College May be a Better Path for Students

CLEVELAND, Ga. – North Georgia Tech Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Mike King talked about the importance of a technical education at Thursday’s Georgia Mountains Regional Commission (GMRC) meeting.

King said, “The labor market has changed and we need to change with it. We are not a community college and we are not your mom’s or dad’s trade school. What we’re about is workforce development and helping our communities in northeast Georgia by people coming back in and retraining, some starting new careers.”

King showed a video that addressed what appears to be a common misconception: That a university degree guarantees a higher salary. With rising education costs, a shrinking job market and oversaturation of some academic majors we’re finding that to be a myth for the majority of students, the narrator of the film points out.

According to a Harvard University study, by 2018 only 33 percent of all jobs will require a four-year degree. The study also finds the majority will be middle-skill jobs that require technical skills and training at the associate-degree level.

GMRC is a regional organization created to help promote and guide proper development of human, natural, physical, social and economic resources in 13 north Georgia counties and 38 municipalities including White, Dawson and Lumpkin.

More than 100 members from all across the region attended the meeting which was hosted by White County and the City of Cleveland at the Senior Center.

The GMRC will meet in Dahlonega at the Smith House on Oct. 27 and Dawsonville City Hal on Nov. 17.