The Walters State Community College Foundation continues to set the bar when it comes to private support for Tennessee community colleges. The foundation received more in private giving than any other Tennessee community college during the past year, according to a recent report by the Council for Aid to Education (CAE).
    The CAE showed that Walters State received over $2.1 million in private contributions during 2008-09, outpacing all other Tennessee's community colleges listed in the report. The foundation's fund balance, as of the end of September, is $11.5 million.
    The Walters State foundation also led all Tennessee community colleges in private giving the previous year, according to a 2008 CAE report.
    “You are making the difference at Walters State,” said McCamey.
    McCamey also informed trustees of several developments at the college since the board’s last meeting in May.
    He reported that the college received its highest ranking ever in the national Digital Community Colleges Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education and “Converge” magazine. Walters State is ranked the fourth most technologically advanced community college in the country among mid-sized community colleges (between 3,000-7,500 students).
    Also related to technology, McCamey announced that the college has been awarded a $493,000 technology grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. The grant will be used to expand dual enrollment courses via video streaming to area high schools and build three new technology enhanced classrooms at the college. The grant also includes $137,000 for technology upgrades at Jefferson County schools.
    Through the college’s Center for Workforce Development, $1.7 million was used to provide job skills training and employment services to the unemployed. The CWD also administered the $2.2 million summer youth jobs program in which 875 area youth were employed in local businesses and industries. This program, he said, has been nominated by the U.S Department of Labor as an exemplary program.

… read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.

... read the rest of the story by Subscribing now.