ACTC Named a Top College

Ashland Community and Technical College is one of the countrys Top Two-Year Colleges according to the Community College Week 2014 Special Report published last month.

ACTC was named one of the countrys Top 50 Two-Year Colleges in the number of Associate Degrees awarded for Science Technologies/Technicians. This is ACTCs second year to receive this ranking, and ACTC was the only Kentucky college included in this category.

We know the importance of science and technology to the future of our economy and to career opportunities for our graduates, said Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President and CEO. We are pleased to see an increase in the number of students who are interested in these important fields.

ACTC was also ranked as one of the Top 100 Two-Year Colleges in the number of one-year certificates awarded. Certificates help prepare students for immediate employment when they graduate or while they are working on other college credentials. I think it is significant that ACTC is able to accomplish as much as many larger colleges in preparing students for the workforce, Dr. Adkins said.

ACTC awarded 1,042 certificates last year, and some students earned more than one certificate. In most fields, students can earn additional certificates to get a diploma and then add general education courses for an associate degree.

ACTC offers certificates in technical fields such as Cosmetology, Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Air Conditioning, Auto, Diesel, Electrical, Industrial Maintenance, Machine Tool and Welding Technologies; in Associate Degree fields such as Business, Computers and Information Technology, Criminal Justice and Culinary Arts; and in health care fields such as Pharmacy, EMT, EMS Paramedic, Medicaid Nurse Aid and Kentucky Medication Aide.

The Community College Week Special Report on the Top 100 degree and certificate producing two-year institutions used U.S. Department of Education data on the number of credentials awarded during the 2013-2014 academic year. The report published August 18, 2014 can be seen in its entirety at http://ccweek.com.