Augusta Technical College students will soon have the opportunity to go global through participation in a new student exchange program with Brazil.

The college is part of a consortium which has been awarded a $210,000 four year grant from the Fund for Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) and the Brazil Ministry of Education which will allow for an exchange between Augusta Tech students and students from two Brazilian universities.  The consortium which consists of Augusta Technical College, Gadsden State Community College in Alabama, the University of Montevallo in Alabama, as well as Universidade Federal de Vicosa and Universidade de Goiania in Brazil will work together to exchange both students and faculty in art, music, and literature.

Augusta Technical College President Terry Elam sees exciting opportunities in store for the college’s students, “We are very pleased to have an International relationship for our students in Welding and Joining Technology with our friends in Brazil.”

Dr. Charles Hill, U.S. project director says, “The grant will make it possible for sixteen American students to travel and study at Brazilian universities.  This is a special grant because it pays virtually all student costs and, since it is aimed at art and culture, can make a tremendous difference in our students’ education and careers.”

“Montevallo is a premier liberal arts school with strong art and music programs, and Gadsden State has a national recognized international student program.  Augusta Technical College’s welding and joining technology and graphic arts programs will play a strong role in the consortium.”

Tommy Lyles, Department Head for Welding and Joining Technology and Sherrie Rowe, Department Head for Printing/Graphics Technology contributed greatly to the authoring of the grant.  Mr. Lyles will be traveling to both Brazilian universities in June to meet with the administration and faculty and to plan for the student exchanges over the next three years.

Tommy Lyles provides a lecture on art.


Tommy lectures at the Universidade Federal de Vicosa in
Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.


Tommy and the project directors involved in the Exchange
Program attend a planning session.