We are seeing story after story of nurses, radiology techs, paramedics and other first responders in the response to COVID19 crisis. Locally many of these heroes are Wiregrass graduates. In addition to healthcare heroes, manufacturers are stepping up to the challenge to meet supply needs at a faster pace than ever before. Careers in Welding, Precision Manufacturing, Industrial Systems, and Mechatronics are vital to our local communities and nation.  They are also heroes.

In response to this crisis, Wiregrass will be hosting a second Free Application Week April 27-May 1 to help those who are seeking to be tomorrow’s hero or for those who may have found themselves unemployed during our nation’s crisis. During the Free Application Week when you apply online your application fee will be waived.  There are two ways to enroll for Summer Semester: Full term Summer Semester that begins May 18, or Summer Express that is just 8 weeks starting June 1. 

Those who have found themselves unemployed at this time could possibly qualify for the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA).  The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market, and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete.  WIOA offers financial support services with items such as tuition, books, uniforms, immunization and other required program costs specific to your chosen program. Programs covered under WIOA are specific to each Georgia region and can be accessed by visiting www.worksourcegaportal.com and search for Wiregrass under "Training Providers."

 Wiregrass also has 77 programs that qualify for the HOPE Career Grant. Many of the essential careers that are in-demand right now like Welding, Practical Nursing, Phlebotomy, Industrial Systems, Precision Manufacturing and Mechatronics qualify for the HOPE Career Grant.   Students enrolled in these programs could qualify for additional monies to help pay for college. 

Admission requirements to enter Wiregrass have been made a little easier in the wake of the nation’s COVID-19 pandemic.  The Technical College System of Georgia has provided all TCSG colleges the leeway to admit students for summer semester using a variety of methods that do not include placement testing (use of Accuplacer) or the submission of ACT or SAT scores, as well as the ability to accept unofficial transcripts.

The suspension of the placement exam, ACCUPLACER, still provides Wiregrass the ability to use other methods already in place to allow an applicant to continue the enrollment process. Wiregrass will evaluate program readiness in a number of different ways to ensure student success. 

The suspension of the requirements for official high school or high school equivalency transcripts for admission to Wiregrass allows applicants who wish to begin this summer the ability to continue their admission process. In the interim, students may submit unofficial transcripts until the colleges resume normal business operations. The students will then have the ability to submit official documents to the college without affecting their current enrollment.