FOR THOSE IN ROME and within driving range who are pursuing or planning for a higher education, it is a pretty neat thing that the Technical College System of Georgia and 19 of the members of the Georgia Independent College Association have agreed to something not common in other states. Apparently pushed along by Gov. Nathan Deal, they have agreed that any student earning an associate degree at a technical college can transfer directly into a four-year program at any of those private institutions.

Admission will be automatic if the student has maintained a 2.5 GPA or better. Assuming that a rather large difference in cost per credit hour can be handled by the eager student, via scholarship or student loans and so forth, this has the potential for opening doors at least a little bit wider in the state push for a better-educated workforce.

For students now or in the future attending Georgia Northwestern Technical College, headquartered in Rome, this means that they could continue on to Berry College or Shorter University, both of which are part of this consortium. GNWTC is public, of course, while the local four-year colleges are both private.

It further helps create, for this region, the four-year college opportunities previously not always in affordable supply. A hybrid of lower-cost public instruction for two years followed by higher-cost private classrooms would have, with the added advantages of saving on housing/food, a moderating effect on pursuing knowledge. That’s a positive development no matter how many ultimately avail themselves of it.