For media information, contact:
Dana Urrutia, 678-495-3638
durrutia@gwinnetttech.edu

July 24, 2009

Summer Enrollment Soars at Gwinnett Tech

24 Percent Increase is 10th Consecutive Quarter of Double-Digit Growth 

Summer enrollment at Gwinnett Technical College is up 24 percent over last summer, marking the college's tenth straight quarter of double-digit enrollment growth. More than 4,370 students started class on June 27, the highest summer quarter enrollment at the college in more than ten years.  

"The current economic conditions and tight job market have underscored the value of relevant job skills and the most up-to-date education in high-demand sectors, and we can see that reflected in new applications and in enrollment," explains Sharon Bartels, Gwinnett Tech president.  

"At the same time, we've been growing at this incredible pace for over two and half years, and continue to see steady increases in the enrollment of younger students and in more fulltime students. We believe this across-the-board growth reflects our strong role in workforce development and a growing understanding of the great value of and need for technical education," adds Bartels.  

Students are continuing to look for career paths in fields where jobs await after graduation, notably healthcare. Currently, 55 percent of all Gwinnett Tech applicants are seeking admission to one of the college's ten health science programs. Enrollment in health science programs increased 50 percent from summer quarter 2008 to 2009.  

Eager to meet the need in life sciences and healthcare, Gwinnett Tech will welcome its first class of associate degree nursing students this fall, transitioning from its existing LPN program. Ground breaking for a new Life Sciences Building is also scheduled for this fall. The new facility will offer expanded classroom and lab space to serve additional health science programs and students.  

Overall, summer quarter applications were up 51 percent year-to-year. In addition to health sciences, computer sciences, early childhood education, criminal justice and accounting all had significant enrollment increases. 

Specific enrollment increases by program:

• Health Sciences
  63% increase
• Computer Networking
  47% increase
• Early Childhood Education
  42%increase
• Criminal Justice
  41% increase
• Automotive Technology
  28% increase
• Accounting
  18% increase

Gwinnett Tech offers more than 45 degree, diploma and certificate program options that can be completed in two years or less.  For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

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About Gwinnett Tech
Gwinnett Technical College, one of Georgia's largest technical colleges, is committed to delivering relevant knowledge to meet the workforce training needs of its community. The college offers more than 50 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs and hundreds of seminars, workshops and courses providing specialized training. GTC is Gwinnett County's largest provider of corporate training and now serves residents and businesses in north Fulton County. Gwinnett Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097,404-679-4500, www.sacscoc.org for questions about the accreditation of Gwinnett Technical College. For more information, visit www.GwinnettTech.edu.

A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.