December 20, 2018
Today, South College hosted a commencement ceremony for Fountainhead College of Technology students who completed their degrees in December after the technology school’s unexpected closure in Knoxville.
The ceremony for 14 students took place at South College’s Parkside campus in West Knoxville. South College had provided classrooms and compensated faculty from the former technology school so the students could finish the fall semester and graduate on time following Fountainhead College of Technology’s closure on October.
“These 14 students were committed to getting a college degree, and South College and Fountainhead College of Technology worked together to make sure their education was not disrupted,” said Steve South, chancellor of South College. “We are proud of the students and congratulate them for staying on track to graduate.”
Students in the graduating class included G. Blake Collier, Clark Cole, Lester Cooter III, Charles Deaderick, Kevin Dembo, Anthony Garcia, William Hamilton, Adam Kerns, David Nieto, Brandon Pierson, Daniel Spakosky, William Thomas, Earl Whaley and Clint Zimmerhakl.
Fountainhead College of Technology, which was located in North Knoxville and had been open for 71 years, shuttered Oct. 31. Approximately 50 students were enrolled at the college when it closed, several of whom were scheduled to graduate upon completion of the fall semester on Dec. 11.
Under the plan, Fountainhead College of Technology students on track to graduate by the end of the year completed their coursework in classrooms provided by South College, which also compensated Fountainhead College of Technology’s faculty members to teach the courses. Since tuition already had been paid, the graduating students didn’t incur additional financial costs to complete the fall semester. A total of 31 Fountainhead College of Technology students made their way to South College.
South College did not convey the credits or degrees because of accreditation restrictions that would have delayed graduation for the 14 students. Instead, the students were able to graduate with degrees from Fountainhead College of Technology as originally planned.
“We are glad to help celebrate these students’ achievements,” South said. “Everyone at South College wishes these graduates much career success.”
South College hosted a graduation ceremony for 14 students of the closed Fountainhead College of Technology at South College’s Parkside campus on Dec. 19. Following the technology school’s abrupt closure in October, South College provided classroom space and compensated Fountainhead faculty so that the students could graduate on time. Pictured front row, from left: Les Cooter, Blake Collier and Earl Whaley; second row: Anthony Garcia, Charles Deaderick, Kevin Dembo and Daniel Spakosky; third row: Clark Cole, William Thomas, Adam Kerns and David Nieto. Not pictured: William Hamilton, Brandon Pierson and Clint Zimmerhakl.
South College provides degree programs in comparable areas to Fountainhead College of Technology programs, including information technology, network administration and security, and electrical engineering technology, which aided the process. South College also offers a host of other degree programs in health care, business, legal and education fields.
Fountainhead College of Technology students who need additional credit hours to graduate also are able to pursue admission to South College and have all previously earned credits evaluated for transfer.
South College, which also has campuses in Nashville, Asheville, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and offers programs at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate and associate levels. For more information about South College, visit https://www.south.edu.
About South College
South College is a private institution regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to offer programs at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate and associate levels. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of South College. For more information about South College retention/graduation rates, the median loan debts of students who complete the program and other important information, please visit our website at https://www.south.edu.
