AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) and South Georgia Technical College (SGTC) signed a new articulation agreement recently that is designed to ensure a smooth transition from associate degree programs at SGTC to GSW’s new Long-Term Care Management (LTCM) program.
“We are excited to partner with South Georgia Tech in educating the caregivers our aging and disabled communities desperately need,” said GSW President Neal Weaver, Ph.D. “We hope that in simplifying the transition from institution to institution, more students are encouraged to pursue long-term care as a career.”
“Our nation has a growing number of older adults and individuals with disabilities,” said GSW Associate Dean and Professor Leisa Easom, Ph.D. “The LTCM degree addresses the multi-disciplinary elements in education and training required in the preparation of our healthcare workforce today to meet the needs of these populations.”
Unique to the GSW campus is the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI) where the creation of this degree began. In prior years, Easom served as the RCI executive director and experienced firsthand how families across the nation are struggling to connect with community resources that would enable the disabled family member to remain in their home, navigate the healthcare system, and/or transition from hospital to home as well as residential settings.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to continue their education at Georgia Southwestern, but it’s also a great opportunity for the communities we serve because this is a much-needed position in our workforce,” said SGTC President John Watford, Ed.D.
Graduates with the LTCM degree will have the managerial, budgetary, and communication skills critical to the health management field. The degree prepares graduates to assist patients and families to connect with community resources, transition from hospital to home, and manage the care of residents in an institutional setting.
GSW and Georgia Military College (GMC) also signed a new articulation agreement recently on GSW’s campus that is designed to ensure a smooth transition from associate degree programs at GMC to GSW’s new Long-Term Care Management (LTCM) program.
Lt. General William B. Caldwell IV, president of Georgia Military College, says this partnership with GSW will greatly benefit the students at Georgia Military College.
“We are excited to expand our partnership with Georgia Southwestern to include their bachelor’s degree program in long-term care management that is offered through their College of Nursing and Health Sciences,” Caldwell said. “This expanded partnership will provide additional transfer opportunities for our students to pursue four-year degrees, and provide an excellent opportunity through which GMC graduates can receive training in order to contribute to society as a healthcare professional.”