Cairo, Georgia- September 11, 2012

There's good news for some students in our area. Taking upper-level college courses just became a little more convenient.

Southwest Georgia Technical College has established a new partnership with Albany State University (ASU) to now offer ASU’s Bachelor degree-level classes at SWGTC of Grady County.

The courses are offered to individuals who've already completed their Associate's Degree.

The program hopes to give local students greater accessibility to higher education and a competitive edge in the job market.

"The Associate's Degree, diploma, and certificate can get them into an entry level position, but if they'll later go on and get their Bachelors Degree, Masters, or even higher on to the Doctorate, that could just continue to open more and more doors," said Dr. Craig Wentworth, President of SWGTC.

Dr. Wentworth says they're also in talks to establish similar partnerships with other four year universities in our region.

Right now, the Bachelor Degree programs offered are Early Childhood Education, Criminal Justice and Social Work.