The 91���� Division of Continuing Education is offering a class to help people parenting their grandchildren. The 90-minute virtual session will be taught on March 12 by Georgia Southern alumna Jessika Washington, director of special education for the Morgan County Charter School System.

“We are always looking for ways to meet the needs of our community,” Deedee Southerlin, Ed.D., adult programs manager, said. “When we were approached by Jessika Washington to host a class addressing the real challenges of parenting grandchildren, we set it in motion right away. We have a special category of classes specifically for the 50 and older age group called Lifelong Learners, and we like to offer practical and useful workshops for this group.”

More than 90,000 children in Georgia and almost 3 million in the U.S. are being raised by their grandparents. Washington will help class participants with identifying a support system and managing the day-to-day challenges of parenting the second time around.

“We were offering virtual classes before the pandemic, but we have really made big strides this past year to make virtual classes successful for everyone involved,” Southerlin said. “We would like to offer this class again if there is a good turnout in March.”

This fall, 91����’s Division of Continuing Education is offering career-building certified fiber optic technician and specialist fast-track courses at the Coastal Georgia Center, in Savannah, Georgia. Participants are provided the option to take two or three fiber optics courses during the weeklong training.        The need for trained certified fiber optic technicians in the U.S. has grown significantly over the past five years. The demand for high-speed, broadband internet has increased, and the need for a reliable and secure method of transporting data has become a necessity.                                     In partnership with BDI Datalink, the University will offer three certification courses in fiber optics technology. The Fiber Optic Association (FOA) reports that most certified fiber optics technicians work in the fiber optics industry as contractors or installers. Consultants, network designers and managers, component manufacturing technicians, estimators and trainers are increasingly expected to be certified. The courses provided through the University prepare participants for the broad-based FOA exam that requires verified skills in fiber optics and covers technology, components, installation and testing. Daily coursework for all classes involves hands-on activities, discussion and chapter tests.  All courses end with the related FOA certification exam, included in the course fee. Each course fee also includes study materials, a CD, and the textbook FOA Reference Guide to Fiber Optics by Jim Hayes. During the weeklong training sessions, the Certified Fiber Optics Technician (CFOT) course will be held on Monday, Sept. 28, through Wednesday, Sept. 30, with a course fee of $725. The Certified Fiber Optics Specialist in Testing and Maintenance (CFOS/T) course will be held on Thursday, Sept. 31, and  Friday, Oct. 1, with a course fee of $700. The Certified Fiber Optics Specialist in Splicing (CFOS/S) course will be held Saturday, Oct. 2, and Sunday, Oct. 3, and costs $750. Registration for all courses closes Monday, Sept. 14. To register, call 912-478-5551 or visit the .��For more information, e-mail j-Lutz@georgiasouthern.edu. Continuing Education at Georgia Southern is one of the largest university providers of professional and personal development education south of Atlanta. The division works to provide extended learning to customers and clients from throughout the region, nation and countries around the world. Continuing Education provides a variety of learning opportunities to help individuals meet their goals while promoting lifelong learning. 91����, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.  Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit .

STATESBORO, Ga. – July 30, 2015 – Professionals with employee relations responsibilities are invited to 91����’s new season of Legal Awareness in the Workplace seminars, now offered in Statesboro, Ga. as well as Savannah, Ga. and Brunswick, Ga. Through the Legal Awareness in the Workplace series, Human Resource professionals, office managers, supervisors, and other business leaders attend 90-minute professional development seminars on the employment law issue of their choice. Seminars are held monthly, rotating from the Coastal Georgia Center located in Savannah, the law office of Hunter Maclean located in Brunswick and the Nessmith-Lane Conference Center on campus in Statesboro. The course instructors are partner attorneys in the Savannah office of Hunter Maclean. Each instructor was included in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015. LAW 125: Discrimination and Hostile Work Environment Discrimination and harassment claims occur in even the best of firms. Attorney Sarah Lamar will help participants identify what qualifies as discrimination, who can be charged with harassment, and how best to reduce the likelihood of these charges in the workplace. Tuesday, August 18, Coastal Georgia Center, Savannah, Ga. LAW 118: ADA Accommodations and Your Firm Attorney Wade W. Herring will inform participants of what the newly strengthened Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means to employers. Armed with this knowledge, they will be able to ensure that their firms are compliant with the ADA. Tuesday, September 22, Hunter Maclean Brunswick law office, Brunswick, Ga. LAW 123: Social Media Use – What Employers Should Know The social media craze is here to stay: Facebook, Twitter, email, texting, etc. Attorney Shawn Kachmar will give a practical review of applicable statutes and regulations to help participants choose suitable policies for their firms to ensure compliance with state and federal privacy laws. Tuesday, October 20, Nessmith-Lane Conference Center, Statesboro, Ga. LAW 124: Managing Employee Leave – Including FMLA, ADA & Workers Comp Attorney Shawn Kachmar will teach when and how to apply unpaid leave, accommodate injured workers with re-assignment, approve medical leave requests, and implement missed-work policies.�� Tuesday, November 17, Coastal Georgia Center, Savannah, Ga. LAW 126: Best Practices in the Hiring Process – Including Background Checks Each time a company seeks a new employee, it must follow federal requirements and determine how much background information is needed. Attorney Wade W. Herring will help participants learn which steps are required and which are optional for successfully completing the hiring process.�� Tuesday, December 1, Hunter Maclean Brunswick law office, Brunswick, Ga. LAW 122: From Hiring to Termination — Effective Employee Management Attorney Sarah Lamar will address how to: follow pre-hire procedures, handle discipline issues, properly process discharging employees and maintain a positive working environment. Tuesday, January 19, Nessmith-Lane Conference Center, Statesboro, Ga. All seminars have been approved for SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). The seminars have been submitted to the HR Certification Institute for 1.5 recertification credit hours toward the PHR, SPHR, and GPHR recertification. The seminar fee is $59 for individuals and $55 each for four or more per firm. The registration deadline is noon Tuesday, the week before each seminar’s start date. To register, go to or call toll-free 855-478-5551. For more information, e-mail j-Lutz@georgiasouthern.edu. 91����, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.�� Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: .

91����’s Division of Continuing Education is pleased to welcome Melissa Richardson as its newest staff member, effective April 1, 2015. Richardson will serve as the College of Engineering and Information Technology, College of Science and Mathematics, College of Education and Contract Training Program Specialist. In this role, Richardson will focus on the development of new programs, coordinate, market, budget and evaluate current non-credit programs and continue to initiate contacts and build relationships with faculty, administrators and external organizations to foster new ideas and ensure a superior customer experience for all of the division’s partners. “I am very excited to be here as a part of Continuing Education at 91����,” she said. “Great ideas are being shared and I look forward to the upcoming programs that will impact many people.” Richardson’s skills, experience and drive make her a key addition to the Division of Continuing Education’s team. She brings over 16 years of program and management experience to the Division. In her last position, she served as a Project Coordinator in Early Clinical Development at Covance Clinical Development Services in Wisconsin. While there, she worked directly with project managers to assist with the overall management of multi-site studies. Along with her work experience, she holds Bachelor of Arts from Kent State University. Current Programs and Conferences

• Southeast Conference on Positive Behavior Interventions and Support
• Curriculum Studies Summer Collaborative
• Global Education Summit
• National Youth-At-Risk Conference, Las Vegas
• National Youth-At-Risk Conference, Savannah

91����, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125-degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. www.GeorgiaSouthern.edu

The Division of Continuing Education at 91���� is pleased to announce its partnership with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management, to offer courses to help HR professionals prepare for SHRM’s new competency-based certification: the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM –CP) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credentials. SHRM announced in May 2014 that it was developing a new certification based on the SHRM Competency Model, which identifies eight behavioral competencies and one technical competency – HR Knowledge or HR Expertise – that HR professionals need to advance their careers and improve the effectiveness in the workplace.�� The first exam for the new SHRM certification will take place in May 2015. “The Society for Human Resource Management is delighted at the opportunity to partner with the Division of Continuing Education at 91����, and to help HR professionals acquire both the competencies and knowledge essential for success in today’s global economy,” said J. Robert Carr, SPHR, SHRM Senior Vice President for Membership, Marketing and External Affairs, “SHRM is committed to ensuring that the certifications our certificants receive are recognized as best-in-class and distinguishes them in the marketplace.�� We regard the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP as the new standard in certification for the HR profession.” With the help of outstanding certification preparation tools from SHRM, our courses will help professionals prepare for the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP exams, which are based on a single, comprehensive SHRM Body of Competency and Knowledge and are relevant worldwide, giving professionals the recognition and flexibility to use their knowledge, skills and competencies anywhere their career takes them. Continuing Education’s SHRM Learning System will begin Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and continue for 12 Mondays, with the last class wrapping up on May 11, 2015. The program will be held at the Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Fahm St. in downtown Savannah, Georgia. For more information about the SHRM Learning System, contact J. Marie Lutz, CE Program Specialist, at j-lutz@georgiasouthern.edu or call 912-478-1763. To register for the course, contact CE Registrations at 912-478-5551 or call toll free 855-478-5551. Visit for online registration. SHRM has always focused on making sure HR professionals were seeking and attaining certification and the SHRM certification preparation programs are designed to maximize success – both on the exam and in career development. For more information on SHRM certifications please visit . 91����, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 125 degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.�� Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: .

The 91���� recently announced its commitment to become the premier customized training provider for organizations in the Savannah area. “Employees are an organization’s greatest asset. Investing in their education and professional growth can significantly impact a company’s success,” said Belkis Torres-Capeles, Ph.D., executive director of Continuing Education at 91����. “Training needs vary from one company to the next and effective solutions should too. That’s why customized training is so important and why we’re committed to serving Savannah in this way.” The Division’s Customized Training Programs are tailor-made and based on the organization’s specific training objectives. Additionally, organizations can select a desired date, time, and location for their program. Many choose to have classes at their own offices, while others opt for the Coastal Georgia Center, the award-winning facility in downtown Savannah that is managed by 91����. High caliber instruction is available in a variety of subjects to include Leadership Skills, Project Management, Legal Awareness in the Workplace and Microsoft Office. Off-the-shelf courses are easily adapted and new courses are continually added. Courses can also be created upon request. Along with its commitment to customized training, the Division offers open enrollment classes at the Coastal Georgia Center to provide another option for professional development. Corporate discounts are available when three or more employees from the same firm enroll. Individuals may enroll at regular rates. Additionally, the Division strives to enhance life outside of the work environment with a host of Personal Enrichment courses, including photography and creative writing. Open enrollment classes are offered year-round. The Division of Continuing Education is offering a ten-percent discount off standard pricing of Customized Training Programs to all new customers who sign contracts by Friday, December 19, 2014. Training programs must take place no later than April 30, 2015 to be eligible for the discounted rate. To learn more about customized training and this special promotion, contact program specialist, Judy Fogarty at jfogarty@georgiasouthern.edu or call 912-644-5967. The Coastal Georgia Center is located at 305 Fahm Street, just off Oglethorpe Avenue in downtown Savannah. For additional information about these and other courses from Georgia Southern’s Division of Continuing Education, contact The Coastal Georgia Center, 644-5967 or coastalgactr@georgiasouthern.edu. 91����, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125-degree programs serving more than 20,500 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement.�� Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education.