Wiregrass President Dr. Tina K. Anderson is proud to announce that the college has experienced increases in several keys area affecting student success, and economic impact.  “Our mission at Wiregrass is workforce development, and our job is to educate, train, and get our students ready for the work force,” shared Dr. Anderson.  The college’s newly released job placement report shows the total placement rate is at 99.18% and in-field rate at 88.68%.  “This is wonderful news for our college and communities.  It means that our students leave here as skilled workers and are being employed quickly therefore contributing to the economy in the communities we serve,” added Anderson.  The job placement report tracks students who are employed in field, employed in a related field, or continuing their education after graduation.
 
Wiregrass also received high scores on the annual benchmark indicators.  According to the Technical College System of Georgia’s Performance Goals and Benchmarks report on, the Complete College Georgia Degree Production Goal Wiregrass surpassed the goal for 2015 by 13%. As part of the state goal for graduation attainment by 2020, Wiregrass was expected to produce 991 graduates in associate degrees or technical certificates that lead to state or national certifications. The actual count for Wiregrass for the year is 1,143.
 
The college’s number of unduplicated graduates increased by 21% increase. This includes all students who earned an associate degree, diploma or a technical certificate of credit.  The college’s total number of awards conferred increased by 27.4%. Students could be awarded more than one award at graduation if they have met the required hours and successfully completed the required curriculum.  
 
The increases in college graduation rates and placement rates are due to the focus on helping students stay in college and on track. Early alert programs have been put in place under the supervision of a College Navigator. An early alert program seeks to identify early warning signs that a student is struggling and identify the reasons why. College resources are then used to help the students stay on track in their program, or decide if they chose the right career path. The use of reverse transcripts, prior learning assessments and exemption testing have been an integral part of the increased graduation rates as well.
 
For Fall Semester Wiregrass also saw an increase in enrollment.  The latest report shows the college had a 3% enrollment increase over Fall Semester 2014. “This is wonderful news to us because it lets us know that in the 11 counties we serve we are providing a service that is needed.  Whether online programs or classroom instruction, we are meeting the demands for education and skill training that can fill jobs locally and state-wide,” stated Dr. Anderson.  The overall enrollment increase includes a 4% increase in the number of high school students enrolled in the new Move On When Ready programs. “The increase in enrollment and other benchmarks are an indicator of the quality of instruction and support services provided to the students as they complete their programs, and the demand for qualified and skilled employees in the community. These increases represent our commitment to paving the way to a better life for each of our students,” shared Wiregrass Vice President of Enrollment Management Angela Hobby.