Students at

Coweta's Central Education Center could soon be earning college degrees.

According to

Coweta County School System Public Information Officer Dean Jackson, talks

are currently underway between Southern Polytechnic State University in

Marietta and CEC.

Southern Tech

was approached based on input from the CEC strategic planning committee

made up of business leaders, educators and parents, Jackson said.

"What

is being planned is that Southern Tech would establish two degree programs

at CEC, one in Industrial Enginereering Technology (IET) and another in

high-tech and managerial aspects of the textile industry; logistics, design,

marketing, etc," he said. Both would be bachelor's degree programs.

CEC director

Mark Whitlock is excited about the prospect of offering a complete four-year

collegiate study program in the county.

"We're

in the process of talking to business leaders and students to gauge their

interest in the program," he said.

Whitlock said

at least 15 or 20 students would have to participate in the program and

the program could start as early as the fall of 2003.

Jackson said

the strategic planning committee and the Coweta County School System,

local business leaders and Southern Tech will continue discussions through

the coming months.