Support Services

Services to Students in Special Populations

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College provides support services for students who are in special population categories including single parents, out of work individuals, homeless individuals, youth who are in or have aged out of foster care, youth with a parent in the armed forces and on active duty, economically disadvantaged, non-traditional (students enrolled in programs non-traditional for their gender), ESL students (students whose first language is not English), and students with disabilities. Students who self-disclose that they meet special population criteria are notified of support services through a variety of media, including mail-outs, text messages, student e-mail, flyers, and on-campus television announcements. Support services include Lunch and Learn sessions, connections groups, and counseling opportunities.

Lunch and Learn

Lunch and Learn sessions are offered free of charge to currently enrolled special populations students and are designed to help attendees build a range of skills such as financial management and planning, nutrition basics, study skills, stress management, and parenting skills. Sessions are generally offered at noon and last approximately 50 minutes. Lunch is provided. Flyers, social media and other announcements notify students of upcoming events. Sessions are offered on all campuses on a regular basis and are organized by the Special Populations Department.

Connections Sessions

Connections sessions for specific special populations are offered at regular intervals. Students in special populations groups are notified via e-mail of connections group opportunities for their category. These sessions allow individuals the opportunity to meet and share with others who may have similar interests and/or face similar challenges.

Services to Students with Disabilities

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College provides equal educational opportunities to qualified students with documented disabilities. Assistance is available for students with physical or psychological disabilities or with learning disorders, including but not limited to attention deficit disorder, acquired brain injury, and specific learning disabilities. To receive services, students must self-disclose, request accommodations, and provide documentation that meets the guidelines set forth by the college and by the Technical College System of Georgia. Evaluations submitted as documentation must clearly indicate that a physical, psychological, or learning disorder is present and substantially limits one or more of the major life activities. For all types of disabilities, reasonable accommodations are provided in order to offset as much as possible the effect the disability may have on learning, classroom performance, and testing. Based on the students’ documentation and a personal interview, an accommodation plan is developed by the Special Populations Department. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assistive technology (e.g. magnification software, hearing amplification devices, electronic readers)
• Extended time for tests (extended time is not allowed for course criteria that require time as part of the competency; for example, typing speed of 25 words per minute)
• Note takers
• Preferred seating in classrooms
• Permission to use audio tapes for classroom lectures
• Sign language interpreters
• Classroom relocation if needed for accessibility

To request reasonable accommodations based on valid documentation or to schedule an appointment to receive additional information, students should contact the Special Populations Department.

Substance Abuse Awareness/Counseling Referrals

Wiregrass Georgia Technical College provides students and faculty with opportunities to receive information on drug and alcohol abuse. While WGTC does have a Zero Tolerance Policy on drugs and alcohol, we provide information and confidential referrals for professional assistance to those suffering from the disease of addiction. Persons seeking referrals should contact the Special Populations Department. If the Director or Coordinator are not available, students may contact the Vice President for Enrollment Management. Additionally, students who are enrolled in the Commercial Truck Driving program, or the College/Career Success Skills (COLL 1010) course, are required to complete online modules for drug and alcohol awareness and sexual assault prevention as part of their requirements for graduation.

Personal Counseling

Personal counseling is offered free of charge to all currently-enrolled students. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has a collaborative agreement with Valdosta State University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program whereby their graduate interns provide private confidential counseling sessions to students enrolled at WGTC. Students on all campuses may contact FamilyWorks at (229) 219-1281 or via an electronic form submission located on the website and identify themselves as WGTC students to arrange for free counseling sessions at FamilyWorks on the VSU campus. Students may also be referred to outside agencies for counseling. Please contact the Special Populations Department.

Career Placement and Follow-Up

The purpose of the Career Services office at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is to assist current students and graduates in obtaining gainful employment in their field of study or other chosen area. The Career Services office partners with business and industry to provide information about available job openings in the community. Job opportunities are displayed in the Wiregrass Online Job Center, as well as shared with faculty, students, and graduates via email. The Career Services office also provides assistance with resume preparation and interviewing skills, arranges for employers to visit campuses, hosts employer spotlights and workshops, and conducts follow-up with graduates to assist in job placement. All students and graduates are encouraged to contact the Career Services office for assistance or visit the Student and Graduates Resources webpage.