This document defines special populations and the services available to support them. Special populations include those with disabilities, from low-income families, in non-traditional fields, single parents, out of the workforce, English learners, homeless, foster youth, and children of active military. The special populations office at Columbus Technical College provides resources, referrals, and workshops to help overcome barriers and achieve career goals. Students can disclose special population status by completing an online or paper form.

1. SPECIAL POPULATIONS
Providing Services Where YOU Are the Center of Attention

2. Who are special populations?
(a) individuals with disabilities
(b) individuals from economically disadvantaged
families, including low-income youth and adults
(c) individuals preparing for non-traditional fields
(d) single parents, including single pregnant women
(e) out-of-workforce individuals
(f) English learners

3. These additional categories of Special
Populations have recently been added.
 (g) homeless individuals
 (h) youth who are in, or have aged out of, the foster care system; and
 (i) youth with parents on active duty in the armed forces.

4. out-of-workforce individuals
A person who has cared for a home and family
without pay; who has been financially supported by
another family member in the past; who is
unemployed or underemployed and having
difficulty in obtaining and upgrading employment,
or who has custody of a child with less than two
years remaining to receive assistance from Title IV of
the Social Security Act.

5.  single parents, including single pregnant women
A person who has the primary or joint custody for a
dependent child. You may be divorced, widowed, legally
separated or never married.

6. individuals from economically disadvantaged
families, including low-income youth and adults
A person who is eligible for a PELL GRANT or
receiving federal assistance such as TANF, SNAP or
MEDICAID.

7.  English learners
A person who has a language other than English as
their native language

8.  individuals preparing for non-traditional fields
Any occupation in which women OR men comprise
25% or less of its total employment is considered
nontraditional
 In the Technical College System of Georgia, nontraditional refers to the
program/occupation – not the status or age of the student. The student is
not nontraditional …the program/career is.

9. NONTRADITIONAL OCCUPATIONS
Occupations or careers may be nontraditional
based on a history of gender stereotyping,
segregation and discrimination in the workplace.
For this presentation, the term nontraditional is
used to refer to the underrepresented gender in a
program/occupation

10. WHY NONTRADITIONAL
 For Women, the need for better wages is imperative given
the high poverty data regarding women and their families.
 For individuals, a nontraditional occupation could be a better
fit when considering job skills, personal interests and lifestyle.
 The need for workers across the nation exceeds the supply
of trained workers available.

11. COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
 Accounting Male
 Air conditioning Technology Female
 Major Appliance Technology Female
 Automotive Collision Repair Female
 Automotive Technology Female
 Barbering Female

12. COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
 Business Technology Male
 Residential Carpentry Female
 Cosmetology Male
 Criminal Justice Female
 Dental Assisting Male
 Dental Hygiene Male
 Drafting Technology Female

13. COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
 Early Childhood Care and Education Male
 Engineering Technology Female
 Health Care Assistant Male
 Industrial Systems Technology Female
 Machine Tool Technology Female
 Nursing Male
 Paralegal Studies Male

14. COLUMBUS TECHNICAL COLLEGE
NONTRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
 Pharmacy Technology Male
 Practical Nursing & Related programs Male
 Radiologic Technology Male
 Respiratory Care Male
 Surgical Technology Male
 Welding and Joining Technology Female

15. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME
 The best solutions are developed when problems are tackled by teams and when
those teams have a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives!
 The world needs your creative brainpower if we are serious about developing
medicines for all, clean energy, low-cost communications systems, or simply
feeding the planet THEN IT WILL TAKE MANY MINDS COMING TOGETHER!
 Working in a non-traditional field brings diversity to the workforce, as well as
provides you an opportunity to earn a higher wage and create greater job
satisfaction!

16. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME
 The United States will need 1.7 million more engineers and computing professionals
before 2025 to keep up with technological advancements, yet women make up only 12
percent of engineers and 26 percent of computing professionals according to a 2015
executive report by the American Association of University Women (AAUW). It’s important
for women to be a larger part of science, engineering and tech industries because of their
unique perspectives, voices and experiences.
 Diversity brings a larger perspective to problem-solving. Inclusion creates solutions by
taking varying experiences into the equation. Women are more likely to see how a
suggested solution will impact another group of people.
 Every person brings a different experience; without women or minorities, a team lacks
diversity of perspective, and creative solutions are lost.

17. What are Special Populations Services
 Quick Overview – special populations are groups of individuals that may
have additional challenges while pursuing a program of study.
 The special populations office is designed to assist students with support
services, resource referrals, connections groups, lunch and learns,
customized workshops and life skills
 Our goal is to provide effective guidance to assist students in
overcoming barriers to stay in school and achieve their career goals. We
strive to support your growth as an individual and support your
educational endeavors

18. How Do You Receive Services?
 Complete the easy, confidential self-disclosure form, you can
print from the CTC website at: Columbus Technical College
Special Populations Self-Disclosure Form ..or come by the office
to complete the form
 Ms. Dawn Evans - Special Populations Coordinator
 Hartline Administrative Building, Room 161
devans@columbustech.edu 706.649.7514
 8:00 am – 6:00 pm EST Monday – Thursday