Kathy Young, math instructor. Photo by Kayley Agan

Special Topics classes are something GHC has implemented to cover Area B requirements and fill two-credit hours.

These GHXX class offerings were expanded to replace a once required Computer Studies FCCS 1100 class and are a fun way for first year students to explore different interests.

The Special Topics class curriculums (though they must meet certain criteria) are created by the professors, making them infused with the professor’s hobbies, interests and different things they find important to teach students that might not be found in another class.

These classes were offered this semester in the social science, humanities and math divisions. One particular Special Topics math class is called Show Me My Money, a GHMA 2901 class about practical money management. This class lasts only 50 minutes.

Kathy Young, who teaches this class on the Floyd campus this semester, says, “This class covers things that will help you later in life.”

Chris Hart, another math instructor, created this curriculum for an online class.

Young has tweaked it a little to suit an in-person class. To change things up a bit, she asked people from the community to come speak to her class.

VALIC Financial Advisor, Stephen Mink and Sun Trust Branch Manager, Debora Johnson have come to talk to the class so far.

During the semester, they go over credit and loans, budgeting, savings credit, interest and all of the ways these apply to an individual’s personal life.

David Hensley, assistant professor of history, stands with his students on one of GHC’s study abroad trips to Berlin. Contributed Photo

Whether the need to travel runs through one’s veins, or if someone is curious and ready to get out of his or her comfort zone, GHC Study Abroad has a lot to offer students in 2019.

This summer students have the opportunity to go on four trips overseas.

During the week of the Fourth of July holiday, there is a trip planned for Panama so students will not have to miss any school days.

This also allows students to get even more credit courses under their belt in a shorter amount of time.

GHC students and faculty will stay in hotel style housing at the City of Knowledge during their entire stay in Panama. They will be visiting the Panama Canal and touring places like Dell.

Director of Global Initiatives Bronson Long will be assisting and teaching students alongside the trip. Long said, “Study abroad is both an incredible learning experience and a great deal of fun.”

There are two trips on the itinerary for Montepulciano, Italy. The early summer trip dates are May 16 – June 20, and session two will be from June 27 – Aug. 1.

These trips are a part of a study abroad consortium with Kennesaw State University.

Students will live in apartments at La Fortezza, a restored medieval fortress. Montepulciano is also centrally located between Rome and Florence with accessible bus and rail transportation to the rest of Italy.

Students must take two courses, for a total of six or seven credit hours during their stay in Italy.

Professor of History Jayme Feagin will teach History courses and help students on session one, while Assistant Professor of Sociology Christina Wolfe will teach Sociology courses and help students on session two.

The application deadline for this program is Feb. 1.

Also, the European Council will offer students the opportunity to visit the cosmopolitan city of Berlin, Germany.

The Berlin program is structured so that students are in the classroom two days a week, on field trips in the city two days a week, and have three day weekends for enjoying the local life or traveling to other places in Germany and other European countries.

This is a five week program extending from June 27 – July 31. Additionally, students will be able to take one or two 3-credit hour classes.

Assistant Professor of History David Hensley, who went on the Berlin study abroad trip last summer says, “It’s good to prepare for your trip by looking at guidebooks of the city and checking out the local attractions online before hand.”

Hensley will be teaching the history classes on this program and will assist students who go on it.

The deadline for application fee and form is March 15.

For more information on these study abroad experiences and other European Council trips, visit the Georgia Highlands College website.

GHC’s four-year Criminal Justice Bachelor’s Program has now been approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. These courses will be available at GHC this spring.

This online Bachelor of Science Degree is being offered collaboratively with the USG eMajor Program. This degree is set up to allow students to earn credit for some prior Georgia POST Training.

Those who would like more information can visit highlands.edu/cj

John Kwist. Photo by Nick Whitmire

For the students interested in exploring different fields of study, GHC offers a diverse group of special topics classes.

“These courses give us more of a relaxed and fun way to learn about things that are otherwise more formal or difficult to understand,” said assistant professor John Kwist.

Instructors can choose their topic, allowing them to teach on something they are passionate about.

Special topics classes are offered on all campuses and vary campus to campus.

Floyd campus will be offering “Wolves in the American Battleground” by Leslie Terrell-Payne and “The Psychology of the Supreme Court” by Stephanie Wright, in the Social Sciences, Business, and Education Categories.

The Humanities   special class will be “Social Media and Fake News,” taught by Allen Dutch.

In the math division, Floyd is offering “Show Me My Money” by Kathy Young. This course will introduce students to the effect numbers have on the banking and finance decisions they will have to make throughout their lifetime.

The Cartersville campus offers “Draining the Swamp” by  Steve Blankenship, in the GHSS category and “A Book Journey: Utopian vs. Dystopian Society” and  “Tease Your Brain” by Paul Kapitza will be offered.

This course will introduce students to problem solving strategies. They’ll develop their ability to tackle problems using analytical thinking, critical reading and writing, mathematics, and creativity.

Marietta campus will offer “Psychology of Prejudice” by Bentley Gibson, “A Book Journey: Utopian vs. Dystopian Society” and “Tease Your Brain” by Brent Griffin.

On the Douglasville campus, “Persuasion in Advertising” will the offered.

The Paulding campus will have “Team Sports and Critical Thinking.”

There are also many online Special Topics classes for the spring of 2019.

Online classes include “Medical History” by Jayme Feagin, “Introduction to Bullying” by Sherry Green, “Educator Ethics” by  Darrell Sorrells, “Psychology of Women” by Stephanie Wright, “Women in Politics” by Teresa Hutchins, and “Leadership in Popular Culture” by Crystal Edenfield and “Show Me My Money,” by Chris Hart.

They are all two-credit hour, 10-week courses beginning in January and ending mid to late March. A complete list can be found in the “Course Offerings” menu in Banner/Score under “GHC-Special Topics.”

Allen Dutch. Photo by Lindsay Hamby

A lot of people are concerned with school safety and the idea that many high-schoolers struggle with transitioning to post-secondary educational institutions. Gordon County Board of Education candidate and GHC assistant professor Allen Dutch, is willing to bring his experiences and ideas to the table in helping resolve these issues.

With 15 years of college level teaching and much experience with dual enrollment students, Dutch believes he can present something new and valuable to the Gordon County B.O.E. According to Dutch, “Sometimes we try to make good changes, and sometimes we just make fast changes, which may not be a good change.”

Dutch believes that putting more focus on the sociological side of things has the ability to increase the success of students. He believes faculty shouldn’t be reacting as much as they should be acting in advance and then improving. Dutch said, “Early intervention is an important aspect. I wish we would spend more time identifying factors in students that might be problematic later.” He plans for more faculty to be focusing on behavior and listening to students.

To improve the experience and performance of students at school, Dutch wants to increase participation in extracurricular studies like the fine arts, FFA and other programs that get students involved with each other outside of the classroom. In his public speaking classes, Dutch has encouraged students to be involved in their community. “And voting is a wonderful way to do that,” he said.

In his own words, “If you want to be a part of the solution, you’ve got to make your voice heard… be involved in the process.” Acting as a part of the community is important to Dutch. He wants to compel young people to put their ideas out there and become more involved in the decision making process.

During this first time running for a political office, Dutch is a democratic candidate for the Gordon County Board of Education. His goals are to “work between the systems,” bridging the gap for students seeking higher education. Dutch wants to be involved in the discussion on school safety and has richly enjoyed campaigning and meeting people in his area.