SAVANNAH—Savannah Technical College celebrated the dedication of its Student Enrichment Center on Sunday. The new building is home to STC’s adult education programs that help students improve basic skills crucial for success in higher education and the workforce.
“More than any other building on campus, this one is designed to prepare our students for success,” said STC President Dr. Kathy Love. “Today’s employers need technically skilled and competent employees, who possess solid basic skills. Our Student Enrichment Center serves a critical need for learning support programs for students to improve basic skills crucial to their success in their program of study and in the workforce.”
The new 19,400-square-foot building is located on the north side of campus and houses 12 classrooms, four computer labs and the Learning Enrichment Center. The labs support classroom and individualized instruction for students. The Learning Enrichment Center has nine study rooms that are used for one-on-one and group tutoring. STC offers self-paced computer programs to assist visual learners or videos for auditory learners. The Learning Enrichment Center also provides free college prep study skills workshops. Last year more than 6,500 students visited the Center.
Savannah Tech’s Adult Education program is also housed in the new building. Serving four counties in southeast Georgia, the Adult Education program provides basic skills instruction, English as a Second Language instruction, as well as GED preparation and testing. Last fiscal year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011) more than 2,600 students enrolled in STC’s Adult Education program, a nearly 13 percent increase compared with the previous year.
The $3.5-million building’s funding included private gifts from a focused investment campaign by the STC Foundation. Campaign donors were honored at the dedication ceremony. The Learning Enrichment Center was named in honor of philanthropists Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson. A suite of classrooms was named in honor of noted author and speaker Dr. Bertice Berry for her support of STC’s Tribute to Community Stars event since its inception.
The Student Enrichment Center is part of a bigger project at Savannah Technical College to create opportunities for individuals to increase their potential and create a higher quality of life for themselves through the Savannah Technical College Foundation Focused Investment Campaign.
The Foundation raises money to support the College’s mission of workforce development. It supports scholarships, capital projects and program expansion on the College’s five campus locations.
“As a state assisted institution, private dollars often provide for a margin of excellence not possible with state funding,” said Foundation Board Chair Jim LaHaise, executive vice president and chief banking officer, The Coastal Bank.
Currently, state appropriations account for less than half of the college’s operating budget.
The Savannah Technical College Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization. For information about the Foundation, visit www.savannahtech.edu and click on the Foundation tab.
