n 2000, Aiken Technical College began offering a certificate in industrial technology for prospective Savannah River Site employees. By 2008, SRS was requesting a certification program in radiologic technology.
"In 2008-09, a fast-track program was developed," Deal said. "We moved from a semester to a six- to seven-week program. It was the same amount of work, intended to assist SRS's urgent need for certified people.'
Through a provision allowed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), federal stimulus funds were used to put additional adjunct professors to work at ATC. That has led to the introduction of an associate degree program for radiologic technology - training technicians to produce diagnostic images at SRS and, with the introduction of an revised curriculum, providing that training for a commercial nuclear facility like Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga.
In 2009, Deal said, ATC registered the program with the Nuclear Energy Institute, which made available such resources as the curriculum to meet specific needs. Earlier this year, the college received grants totaling more than $200,000 for scholarships and to further enhance the curriculum to include more scenario-based activities.
"The key to the program has been the community and industrial partnerships," Deal said. "We've gotten support from the VC Summer plant near Columbia, Bartlett, the Department of Energy, Plant Vogtle, Savannah River Remediation and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. What got it all started was the seed money provided by the Washington Group."
About 150 students at ATC are enrolled in the program, Deal said. The college had to cap the number, especially with the loss of the stimulus funds scheduled in September 2011. Of the 21 students who have received associate degrees or certificates, 18 are employed in the field and two others are interviewing.
In the near future, Aiken Technical College plans to achieve accreditation for its radiologic technology program. Deal said the college also wants to bring its existing Technical Scholars program to this course of study. Through this program, industry will pay for qualified students' tuition with the expectation that the student will come to work for the company. ATC also intends to introduce an online course to be implemented this spring.
"Most of our students are non-traditional and have jobs," Deal said. "We can't offer all our classes at night, so we're looking at providing most of the courses online, as well. But there were be some mandatory face-to-face meetings."http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/1123-rotary
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