Ashland Community and Technical College adds new degree and diploma opportunities

Ashland Community and Technical College is expanding program opportunities for students beginning in Fall 2021. Administrators say the programs will allow students to quickly earn credentials attractive to local employers. According to the college, the largest employers in the area are based in healthcare and education and the new diploma programs are geared toward the entry-level position requirements for college educated candidates, while the Surgical Technician program has been retooled to make graduates more employable.

In a news release explaining the new programs, ACTC said the Surgical Technology program will now be offered as an Associate in Applied Science (AAS-ST) degree program, a change from the credentials currently offered under the more generalized General Education/Technical Studies (GOTS) degree. Heather Cantrell, Surgical Technology Program Coordinator, explained the advantage of this change for students, "The AAS-ST is more student friendly. It is more cost effective than the GOTS, as it is a direct pathway to achieve the AAS in their field of study. The completion of the AAS can only set these graduates up for further success, as they can use this degree as a pathway to further their education and advance their career in healthcare."

Other opportunities will also include Organizational Leadership and Small Business Management diplomas. Business Administration Program Coordinator, Rebekah Michael, says the new offerings will provide skills needed in both education and healthcare career settings, "Organizational Leadership makes sense in both settings, because medical practices and schools are expected to adhere to stringent ethical codes, operate on an unwavering schedule, and support professional development opportunities for staff members. Small Business Management lends itself well to these settings as most healthcare organizations and schools are fragmented into multiple locations which are run similar to small businesses, and the diploma's focus on entrepreneurship allows students to bring a spirit of creativity and innovation into industries that are being pushed to their limits to provide viable responses to the Covid-19 global pandemic."

Both Cantrell and Michael spoke about the growth of ACTC's programs. As Cantrell stated, "Offering the AAS-ST not only shows our growth as a program and institution, it is an example of the progression and advancement of Surgical Technology as a profession not just locally but nationwide." 

Michael said, "Adding credentials is always a cause for celebration, and our diplomas bridge the gap for students who need something a bit more robust than a certificate but wish to complete their program of study as quickly as possible. These diplomas create yet another pathway to success, and I am thrilled that my students have access to this option."