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Friday, Oct. 30, 2009

Monroe site to be used for Macon State, CGTC courses

Students in the Forsyth area who have been driving to Macon to take courses at Macon State College or Central Georgia Technical College soon will be able to take some classes closer to home.

Both Macon State and Central Georgia Tech will be offering courses at a new branch located at the old Monroe Academy campus, officials said.

The branch is scheduled to open to students in January.

“We are delighted to be able to meet the needs of the community while allowing the tradition of Monroe Academy to be carried forward as an educational entity,” said Flora Tydings, Central Georgia Tech’s interim president. CGTC plans to offer general education classes at the site.

John P. Cole, Macon State College’s vice president for institutional advancement, said officials there also welcomed the opportunity.

“We are excited to be part of a venture to devote a beautiful campus in Forsyth to the higher educational needs of Monroe County and the surrounding area, including giving more citizens access to bachelor’s degrees and providing high school students with joint-enrollment opportunities,” he said in a statement.

Monroe Academy was a private school that closed in July because of a declining enrollment and budget deficit.

The Monroe County Board of Education bought the building for $2.4 million, and it is partnering with the schools.

The school system has had a dual-enrollment program for Mary Persons High School students and those at the Monroe County Achievement Center that allowed high school students to simultaneously take college courses to get ahead.

“But it’s been long distance,” said Jackson Daniel, an assistant superintendent for the Monroe County school system. “This will expand the dual-enrollment program, and it’s right in our backyard.”

Daniel said the schools also are working with the development authority to offer work force-development type classes to the community in the building’s 18 or so classrooms.

Students are encouraged to contact the colleges for more information or the Forsyth-Monroe Chamber of Commerce at 994-9239. A college fair about the branch will be held at Alderman Hall, 5 W. Adams St., from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16.