West Central Technical College will become West Georgia Technical College effective July 1.

The name change will represent the culmination of a merger between West Central Tech and LaGrange-based West Georgia Technical College. The new name was approved by Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson following a recommendation from both local boards of directors.

“We feel this name is representative of both the service area of the merged college and our student population,” Janice Thompson, Chairman of the West Central Technical College Board of Directors, said. “Our board feels the name change is positive and will ultimately benefit our students. As such, the board was willing to support a new name representing a college that will have an enrollment of more than 7,000 students in the fall of 2009.”

WCTC President Dr. Skip Sullivan was also positive. “I wholeheartedly support the Board of Directors’ name change recommendation and agree that West Georgia Technical College is a name that is truly descriptive of the seven-county region we will be serving,” Sullivan said. “I am excited about the expanded educational opportunities for our students and look forward to strengthening our partnerships with the business and industry community.”

Jackson has selected Sullivan to serve as president of the merged College.

The newly merged West Georgia Technical College will have five campuses serving Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties.

“This is an exciting time for both colleges as well as all our students,” Perrin Alford, interim president of West Georgia Technical College, said. “The core mission of the technical college system is to foster economic development in Georgia. A slowing economy necessitates that all Georgians have access to the best faculty, staff, facilities and training possible. The newly combined college will provide additional resources, options and training opportunities that otherwise would have been unavailable.”

Alford will become provost of the merged college on July 1. As provost, Alford will supervise campus directors and manage the College’s day-to-day operation.

“I agree that keeping the name of the existing technical college in LaGrange is appropriate and accurately describes the service area of the newly combined colleges,” Wayne Livingston, chairman of the West Georgia Technical College Board of Directors, said. “The expanded opportunities that will become available to our students will offer greater access and potential career skills training.”

Sullivan said a new logo will also be unveiled soon to represent the merged College.

West Central Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas and Haralson counties, offers over 90 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Central last year served over 10,000 students including credit enrollment, adult education, ESL classes, continuing education and corporate training. West Central Tech is the fastest-growing technical college in the state of Georgia.