AMERICUS — South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) High School Coordinator Vickie Austin and High School Initiative Specialists Brittny Wright and Beth Brooks are working in each of the high schools in Sumter, Crisp, Schley, Macon, Marion, and Webster counties to share information about “Move On When Ready” that allows high school students to earn college credit at no cost to the students, at South Georgia Tech while still in high school.
“The ‘Move on When Ready’ bill was approved by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and the state legislature to provide a new dual enrollment opportunity for high school students in grades nine through 12,” said SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D. “This new program streamlines Georgia’s existing dual enrollment into one encompassing program that allows all public school, private school and home schooled students in grades nine through 12 to earn college credit at no cost to the students, while simultaneously working toward a high school diploma.”
SGTC is currently registering students for an eight-week summer semester which begins June 6 and can be completed by Aug. 3. There is a July 4 holiday break as well. SGTC has over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit classes that students can enroll in. High school students can also begin signing up for fall semester classes.
Students must meet the college’s admissions requirements and maintain satisfactory academic progress. There is no Georgia residency requirement as long as the student attends a Georgia High School and students are still eligible for full HOPE Grant or Scholarship funding if they choose to continue their education after receiving a high school diploma.
The Move on When Ready (MOWR) program is operated in partnership with local school systems. Students must first meet the requirements of their local high school system to establish eligibility to participate in any MOWR program with South Georgia Technical College. This program is a great opportunity for area high school students to earn college credits while they are in high school and also gives them the opportunity to “Move on When Ready.”
To sign up for Move on When Ready, meet with your high school counselor to determine eligibility, sign the student participation agreement form and select the MOWR program. Students must also complete the MOWR application online at GAcollege411.org or GAFutures.org website to receive funding. A new application must be completed each term. Students must also take a placement test or submit acceptable SAT or ACT scores to be in the program and sign the Student/Parent Memo of Understanding.