August 2023
- Welcome Back To School!
- Georgia College and State University Addressing Rural Healthcare
- Probe College Fair is Back
- The Future of Dual Enrollment Discussed in Albany
- Training Opportunities
Welcome Back To School!
Since the beginning of the HOPE program in 1993, Georgia’s population has grown and most school districts have seen increases in enrollment. The increase isn't as visible during the summer but according to the Georgia Department of Education, nearly every school district has more students to begin the 2023-2024 calendar year.
The best way to restart your school year is to check your My GAfutures account and track your HOPE academic eligibility to ensure you’re on track for programs like the HOPE Scholarship.
The HOPE Grant is the qualifying factor for students taking advantage of the HOPE Career Grant, creating skilled workers in industries identified as strategically important to the state’s economic growth. Over 60% of jobs in the Peach State will soon require some form of education and Plan&Pay4CollegeGA is here to help college become a possibility for all Georgians.
Check our College Planning Timeline to see what steps you should take this year towards graduation.
Georgia College and State University Addressing Rural Healthcare
Nurses are in demand around Georgia and the State Office of Rural Health, a division of the Georgia Department of Community Health (DPH), has details and maps showing citizens in 149 counties across the state lack access to adequate healthcare.
To address that issue, 41 WMGT recently reported about the DPH partnering with the Georgia College and State University (GCSU) to bring nurse practitioners to underserved communities. GCSU was awarded the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration for the third time since 2017.
GCSU is the first university in Georgia with a nurse-midwifery program and the ANEW grant will be used to pay tuition for nursing students in this advanced practice concentration to improve the state’s rank of 48th in the U.S. for maternal mortality.
“Whenever you have good maternal care,” said Dr. Will Evans, GSCU Dean of the College of Health Sciences, “you start the process off of not only having a healthy mother finish their pregnancy, but you also have a better chance for that child to have a healthier start.”
To start the program, applicants must agree to serve two years in an underserved area. DPH has guaranteed to provide a job once they graduate and to date, 84% of graduates continue to serve rural communities.
“Having a state university program in the state of Georgia for the people of Georgia to have access to nurse-midwives, to give pregnancy care, women’s healthcare throughout the lifespan is,” said GSCU Associate Professor of Nursing and Certified Nurse-Midwife Dr. Monica Ketchie. “We’re just giving back. It’s an area of need.”
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has practical nursing among the programs where free tuition is available for those interested in a well-paying career opportunity with plenty of openings in Georgia. Learn more about these TCSG-Eligible programs and if your are eligible for the HOPE Grant.
Probe College Fair is Back
Probe is an annual college fair where hundreds of postsecondary institutions gather at locations throughout Georgia to provide potential students with more information about the many options available to high school juniors and seniors as they prepare to graduate.
The fair is free, however Probe student registration is required. You will receive a QA code to bring with you. Check out the full Probe College Tour schedule or these dates in the next four weeks:
August 21 - Kings Ridge Fair, Alpharetta: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
August 23 - Piedmont Academy Fair, Monticello: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
August 24 - Henry County Fair, Hampton: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
August 25 - Morgan County Fair, Madison: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
August 25 - Greene County Fair, Greensboro: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
August 29 - Jefferson Fair, Jefferson: 9:00 a.m - 10:30 a.m.
August 29 - North Gwinnett Fair, Suwanee: 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
August 30 - Forsyth County Fair, Cumming: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
August 30 - Newton County Fair, Covington: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
August 31 - Bartow County Fair, Carterville: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
August 31 - Cobb County Fair, Marietta: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
September 5 - Johnson High School Fair, Gainesville: 9:00 a.m. - 11 a.m.
September 5 - North Hall Fair, Gainesville: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
September 5 - Grayson Fair, Loganville: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
September 6 - Archer Fair, Lawrenceville: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
September 6 - Shiloh Fair, Snellville: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
September 7 - Walton County Fair, Monroe: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
September 7 - Mountain View Fair, Lawrenceville: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
September 8 - Atlanta City Fair, Atlanta: 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
September 11 - Cambridge Fair, Milton: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
September 12 - Apalachee Fair, Winder: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
September 12 - Winder Barrow Fair, Winder: 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
September 12 - Seckinger Fair, Buford: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
September 13 - Snellville Fair, Snellville: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
September 14 - Madison County, Danielsville: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
September 15 - Washington County Fair, Sandersville: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Future of Dual Enrollment Discussed in Albany
In April 2009, the Move On When Ready (MOWR) Act was signed into law; allowing Georgia students a chance to receive high school and college credit simultaneously while attending college classes full time. The was the foundation for the Dual Enrollment program, the result of a law that took effect on July 1, 2015.
Administered by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the program has expanded to provide funding to earn postsecondary coursework during all four school terms for eligible high school and home study students. Dual Enrollment pays (or requires colleges to waive) all tuition fees, including books and mandatory non-course related fees.
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has used Dual Enrollment to help students earn college credit and worked with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) to increase Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) paths like Welding, Patient Care, Clou Computing and Automotive Service Technology.
“I would like to commend GaDOE and TCSG for equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in the workforce,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As we improve technical education in Georgia, we are investing in our future.”
The future of Dual Enrollment was recently the focus of a Joint Study Committee created by Senate Resolution 175 to examine opportunities to develop highly skilled talent at younger ages. Co-chaired by State Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville) and State Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan), the first meeting was held on August 9 in Albany and a video recording of the meeting is available.
Training Opportunities
Remember, GSFC’s outreach staff is available year-round to conduct FREE training's, workshops and information sessions across the state of Georgia.
Over the last year, GSFC’s outreach team has incorporated online live webinars.
Topics include:
- State financial aid programs (HOPE, Dual Enrollment, etc.)
- SURFER/STARS
- Transcript Exchange
- FAFSA Completion
- GAfutures.org Overview
Visit the Outreach module to learn more about the GSFC’s outreach team what services are provided.
Contact your outreach representative to schedule your training, or contact our offices:
Phone: 770.724.9000 Toll Free: 800.505.GSFC
K -12 email: outreach@gsfc.org
Postsecondary email: SAS@gsfc.org