Southwest Tennessee Community College

August 26, 2004

For More Information, Contact: Keith Gentry (901) 333-4114 /Kimberly Stark (901) 333-4023

SOUTHWEST RECEIVES GRANT TO TRAIN LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
Release written by Keith Gentry

Southwest has received a Tech Prep grant, allowing the College to train teachers at eight Memphis City Schools in two Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) classes. After completing their training, instructors will be certified to teach two classes at their respective high schools. Money received from a secondary grant will be used to purchase licenses allowing the high schools to teach these courses.

”Southwest is the second community college in the state of Tennessee to sign a state-wide articulation agreement for CIW,” said Ted Along, dean of Business, Career Studies and Technologies at Southwest. “This has set a trend across the state. There are now two or three other community colleges providing similar training.”

These classes - CIW Foundations and CIW Site Designs, are two of four CIW Classes offered by Southwest. This “2 + 2” operation with local high schools will allow students to take the CIW Foundations and CIW Site Designs classes at their high school, earning six college credit hours. Students may then enroll at Southwest for the remaining two courses – Server Administration and Web Languages to complete the CIW program.

“We’re excited about the dual-enrollment opportunities this Tech Prep Grant provides. If students can take college-level classes while still in high school, this not only allows them to earn college credits, but more importantly can save them money in the long run,” states Felecia Lee, Tech Prep director.

Southwest is collaborating with the following Memphis City Schools in this program – Central High School, East Career and Technology Center, Kansas Career and Technology Center, Kingsbury Career and Technology Center, Mitchell High School, Sheffield High School, Trezevant Career and Technology Center, and Whitehaven High School.

For more information about Tech Prep, contact Felicia Lee at (901) 333-4538 or e-mail: flee@southwest.tn.edu. For more information about the CIW program, contact Ted Along at (901) 333-4131 or email at talong@southwest.tn.edu.