Georgia Highlands College is preparing to launch a program that will make earning a college degree faster and more convenient for some of its students.

NOW-Nights Online Weekends, a “brand-new program offered to an underserved student population — the working adult,” will have a special kickoff celebration for the first group of participants Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Student Center, Room 102, on the Cartersville campus, according to Coordinator Maria Lauro.

“Cohort One is a special group of individuals,” she said. “They share similar life experiences but are truly unique in their own ways. GHC wants to celebrate this new chapter in Cohort One’s educational journey by hosting a kickoff celebration.”

Activities planned for the evening include: welcome sessions with President Dr. Don Green and Cartersville Campus Dean Leslie Johnson; break-out sessions, where students will have the opportunity to meet their instructors, Tim Floyd, Jessica Lindberg, Nick McLemore, Greg Smith, Alan Nichols and Allen Dutch; meet-and-greets with student-service representatives from financial aid, careers and counseling, tutorial and the library; a campus tour; binders; food provided by the Office of Student Life; and a surprise for students.

NOW is an accelerated two-year degree program crafted specifically for working adult learners who want to earn a business-focused Associate of Science degree but need the scheduling flexibility offered by evening, online and hybrid courses.

The program also is a “great pathway” that easily transitions to baccalaureate programs in other University System of Georgia institutions, according to the GHC website.

“Statistics show by the year 2020, 60 percent of jobs in Georgia will require a certificate, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree,” Lauro said. “Only 42 percent of the state’s young adults qualify today. Working adults already have the soft skills and the job experience but are lacking a college degree. A college degree has become a necessity to achieve career mobility.”

The pilot program has 25 participants enrolled for fall semester and also has six course participants — students from other programs of study who want to take core classes like English, communications and math in the NOW program.

“These students need evening courses, like the accelerated format and are willing to sign the NOW attendance agreement,” Lauro said, noting the program will continue to add students every semester.

Five NOW classes will be taught fall semester: Ethics in Business, which is online, and Business Administration 2105, English 1101, Communications 1001 and Math 1111, all hybrid.

“The hybrid courses will be taught on campus, one night a week,” Lauro said. “Classes will be Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6:30. The duration for each course is eight weeks.”

The eLearning courses also are “excellent options for the working student,” she said.

“There is so much flexibility within eLearning courses: hybrid, eClassroom, DVD and online courses,” she said.

Students also are eligible for scholarship money to help them finish their degree, Lauro said.

“Several NOW students have received the non-traditional and Go Back. Move Ahead. scholarships,” she said.

Lauro said “so far, so good” on getting the program up and running after months of planning and preparation, “but this is just the beginning.”

“It is a work in progress and a learning experience,” she said. “This opportunity has helped me grow professionally. I have stepped out of my comfort zone and became more engaged with faculty, administrators, staff and local businesses. I am truly blessed and excited to be a part of the program. There is so much talent at GHC and in the community.”

Spring 2017 enrollment for the NOW program is open, and students can apply online at highlands.edu, Lauro said.

Applicants must work more than 20 hours a week, be older than 24 or possess other qualifiers such as veteran status or having more than two years of full-time work experience with a letter of petition and have the ability to easily access technology.

For information, contact Lauro at 678-872-8009 or mlauro@highlands.edu.

AS SEEN IN THE DAILY TRIBUNE NEWS: http://daily-tribune.com/newsx/item/6031-the-time-is-now-ghc-kicks-off-program-to-help-working-adults-earn-degrees

Georgia Highlands College officially welcomed Dash O’Neill as the head coach for the Charger baseball team this week. O’Neill joins GHC from Chattahoochee Valley Community College, where he helped lead the baseball program through three consecutive Alpine Bank JUCO World Series Appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

O’Neill has a long and well-established track record with several accolades, including three consecutive Region 22 championships, five ACCC Conference Championships and a number one ranking within the NJCAA in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

He has also been honored as the Region 22 Assistant Coach of the Year for the last three consecutive years and is a five-time ACCC Divisional Assistant Coach of the Year.

O’Neill has helped over 140 players advance to four-year institutions, as well as produced 16 players drafted by MLB teams.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dash O’Neill to the Charger family,” GHC Athletic Director Phil Gafney said. “Dash brings a wealth of experience coaching on the NJCAA level. He has a strong commitment to academics, and has worked with a national baseball powerhouse in Chattahoochee Valley Community College. He has been a tremendous recruiter of talent in the state of Georgia, and Metro Atlanta in particular.”

O’Neill is originally from Brooklyn, New York. He is married with three kids, and holds a Master of Science in Sports Management with Athletic Administration Emphasis from Troy University.

“Not only is Georgia Highlands located in one of the most talent-laden baseball regions in the entire country, but the enthusiasm and commitment to athletics I see in Phil Gaffney and the rest of his staff is incredible,” O’Neill said. “I grew up not far from here in Woodstock, so coming home to lead this program is a dream come true, and I could not be more excited about the future of Charger Baseball.”

O’Neill added that he has big plans for GHC’s baseball program.

“My first priority is establishing a baseball culture that the players here are excited about and can buy into,” he said. “I expect us to be very competitive, and we are going to attack our preparation with the intention of competing for a GCAA championship. I also want to make sure we take care of business in the classroom so these young men will leave Georgia Highlands with a degree and a head start toward their future.”

Former GHC Head Baseball Coach Mike Marra started the program in 2013. The Chargers made the Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association playoffs each of the last two years. Marra recently left GHC to take the head coach position for the baseball program at Hiram High School in Paulding County. O’Neill will assume the GHC Head Baseball Coach position this month.

Georgia Highlands College kicked off the summer with another significant jump in enrollment. Those classes will be coming to an end within the next few weeks with a noticeable increase over last year’s summer semester numbers.

“Our current summer enrollment represents a 9.9 percent increase from last summer semester,” GHC Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Jones said.

This increase follows a 6.3 percent increase last spring and a 7.1 percent increase last fall.

According to the University System of Georgia’s “Fall 2015 Semester Enrollment Report,” GHC had the third highest enrollment increase in the state last year.

President Don Green stated the value of a GHC education is one of the driving factors for GHC’s continual enrollment increases.

“GHC remains the most affordable, accessible and valuable USG option in Northwest Georgia,” he said, “and our enrollment increases prove that. I’m glad we offer our students the same classes as larger institutions at half the price with a full associate degree for less than $8,000—one of the many reasons GHC was acknowledged as the best return on investment for state colleges in Georgia.”

Fall semester enrollment is projected to be just as successful. The deadline to apply is August 1^st. Students can apply at highlands.edu

Fall 2016 classes will begin August 15.

One in five students went hungry in the last month, and one in 10 students has been homeless, according to a recent collegiate study. GHC is working to combat this nationwide problem with its own Charger Food Pantry. Since the pantry began operation in March, over 170 bags of food have been distributed to students in need at all of GHC’s locations.

“The problem of food insecurity is increasingly on the radar of many college administrators,” GHC Director of Student Support Services Angela Wheelus said. “Students are sometimes finding it difficult to focus or even stay in class, so if we can remove one of those barriers by providing access to food, then that’s what we need to do here at GHC. Many of our students are non-traditional, supporting families and working full-time while attending college. Food insecurity cuts across all demographics. That’s where GHC’s Charger Food Pantry comes in.”

The pantry was officially opened in March on the Rome campus in the Student Support Services office.

Wheelus explained that the pantry is stocked with staple items like peanut butter, tuna, spaghetti sauce and other non-perishable food items, as well as personal items.

“It helps students who have fallen on hard times,” she said. “They can stop by and collect up to 12 items once a week with no questions asked.”

Wheelus said students are given a bag after checking in with their GHC ID each visit, and since the food and toiletries are provided through donations, there is no cost to student.

Collection bins for pantry donations are located around all of GHC’s locations. GHC has also joined forces with Action Ministries, a food distribution center for Northwest Georgia, to keep the pantry fully stocked.

At this time, Wheelus stated, the pantry is only located on the Rome campus, but, she added, a limited number of emergency pre-packaged food items are available to students at GHC’s remaining locations in their respective Student Support offices.

“Our long term goal is to have a Charger Food Pantry on every GHC location by March 2017,” Wheelus said.

Should you wish to donate to GHC’s Charger Food Pantry, please make monetary donations at any GHC business office in Rome, Cartersville, Marietta, Paulding or Douglasville. To make non-perishable food donations, please contact Student Support Services at: sss@highlands.edu

Georgia Highlands College will host two Instant Enrollment Nights at its Rome and Douglasville locations. Students can participate in Douglasville’s event on July 14 anytime between 4PM and 7PM. Rome’s event will take place on July 18 with options to attend between 4PM and 7PM, as well.

GHC Senior Admissions Recruiter Jillian Petro said the event has been a hit with every incoming student who has attended.

“Students are able to fast-track the enrollment process,” she said. “At GHC’s Instant Enrollment Night, students can apply, take the entry Compass test, get accepted, secure financial aid, get advised for classes and get enrolled for the the next semester all in one night.”

Petro explained that this is the best option for students who are looking to receive personalized attention and assistance through the entire enrollment process, as well as a great way to knock out the enrollment process quickly and efficiently.

“Our students leave Instant Enrollment Nights with a class schedule in hand and confident to begin the semester as a GHC Charger,” she said.

To help make the process faster, Petro stated that students may wish to visit the GHC website, select their “student type” and locate any required documents, such as test scores and transcripts, which will need to be received as official (sealed in an envelope or sent electronically from institutions and/or test agency).

“This is a great event for students,” Petro said. “It really allows GHC to help students through every step of the enrollment process. This eliminates the need to visit the campus multiple times to ensure your enrollment is complete. This one-night event let’s you go through the entire process as quickly as possible.”

If you are interested in attending one of GHC’s Instant Enrollment Nights, please visit and sign-up at: http://instant.highlands.edu