Thanks to Stafford EDA, new Germanna Automotive Technology Center training area students for jobs that are in demand

Carlos Suarez, at center, runs Office Knowledge LLC, an office supply business in Brandy Station. But at 47, he's a career switcher, planning to open an auto repair shop. So he's commuting from the Culpeper area to classes at the new Germanna Automotive Technology Center at 42 Blackjack Road in Stafford. Germanna began offering classes at the state of the art center on Aug. 20 with support from the Stafford County Economic Development Authority and held a ceremony officially opening the facility Monday, Sept. 17.

By PAMELA GOULD

The Free Lance-Star

At 47, Carlos Suarez is one of the oldest students in Germanna Community College’s automotive technology program.

 But the timing of his career change means he’s among the first students to take the course at the college’s new state-of-the-art facility in Stafford County.

Classes started in August in a  15,000-square-foot Automotive Technology Center  off U.S. 1 just north of Centreport Parkway. The center includes a classroom, a 24-station computer lab and two automotive labs with four bays each.

Free Lance-Star story

By DEANA HAMLIN

For The Stafford County Sun

STAFFORD--Germanna Community College will be able to triple the size of its automotive program with the addition of a new high-tech facility in Stafford.

Michael Adams owns the 1.5-acre site and his JON Properties development firm built the 15,000-square-foot facility. In April 2011, the Stafford EDA approved a $75,000 grant toward bringing Germanna's automotive program to theStaffordlocation. The addition came just in time as the demand for auto mechanics is expected to increase.

On Monday, Germanna held a formal ribbon-cutting for its new Automotive Technology Center in Stafford. A crowd gathered to watch Germanna President David A. Sam, and Bob Thomas of Stafford County’s Board of Supervisors cut the red ribbon.

After the ceremony, Brent Wilson, chair of the automotive technology program and Germanna faculty member, led a tour of the new cutting- edge facility. 

Stafford County Sun story

Stop by the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 Open House at GCC's new Science & Engineering Building to learn about careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Reminder: There will be an Open House for students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 9 at Germanna's new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons at the Fredericksburg Area Campus at 10000 Germanna Point Drive in Massaponax.

Hear GCC Faculty speak about STEM programs

Learn about transfer options and Guaranteed Admission Agreements

Tour the high-tech new Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons

If you're considering a career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Math, Germanna can help you prepare for careers in these growing fields. Join us for the first STEM-focused Open House! Hear from faculty from STEM areas, learn more about transfer options, and get a close look at the Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons.

GERMANNA RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF NATION’S TOP COLLEGES IN USE OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

Germanna Community College was recognized when e.Republic’s Center for Digital Education and Converge Online announced today the winners in the seventh annual Digital Community Colleges Survey. The survey documents advances made by community colleges in utilizing information technology and recognizes which colleges are providing a high level of service to their faculty, students, and communities as a result.
The survey looked at technology integration into college curriculum and campus life, documenting use of online admissions processes, distance education, technology training for students and faculty, campus security alerts, use of Web 2.0 social and collaborative capabilities as well as online tutoring and advisory services. Use of mobile devices was also a key indicator of success.
"We pride ourselves on staying on the cutting edge of educational technology," Germanna President David A. Sam said. "We must do so in order to better serve our students’ communities. Further, as our enrollment continues to grow and our resources shrink, technology can help us be more efficient in the use of those resources.
"Our use of technology in our response to the recent earthquake makes this recognition even more meaningful,” he said. “Our stellar Distance Learning program, and our increasingly technology adept faculty and staff were able to serve our students with minimal disruption even after the loss of one-third of our classrooms. We quickly, seamlessly and relatively painlessly accommodated a move of 4,400 students and 321 classes made necessary by quake damage to one of our buildings. It was quite a test of our ability to use technology by increasing the number of online and hybrid classes in a matter of days, by allowing students to change classes online and by keeping students informed via text messages and social media. I'm proud to say Germanna passed that test."
Germanna tied for 4th place with Laramie (Wy.) County Community College and Lord Fairfax Community College in Warrenton in the Mid-Sized Colleges Category – those with from 5,000 to 10,000 students. GCC has about 7,600 credit students and about 3,000 non-credit students.
“As community college enrollments continue to increase, school leaders are incorporating new technologies to enhance student services and improve course curriculum,” said Cathilea Robinett, executive vice president of the Center for Digital Education. “Expanded distance learning offerings, use of mobile devices, and greater collaboration – among other efforts – demonstrate these winners’ drive to provide students with a high-quality education at a lower cost.”