GALLIPOLIS — Gallipolis Career College has received authorization from the Ohio Board of Regents to award associate degrees through Dec. 31, 2012.

The authorization was awarded by Chancellor Eric Fingerhut on Feb. 23, 2009.

This authorization is the culmination of almost two years of hard work from the staff and faculty of GCC, said its president, Robert Shirey.

“Receiving the Ohio Board of Regents authorization is a major accomplishment for Gallipolis Career College,” he said. “The beneficiaries of this effort are the students who attend GCC.”

Prior to receiving this authorization, newly-enrolled students at GCC who are Ohio residents would not have been eligible to receive the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, formerly known as the Ohio Instructional Grant. The OCOG is a major source of funding for the students.

Without the OCOG, students would have been subject to incurring more debt in the form of student loans.

“Now, that will not be necessary,” Shirey said.

In order for GCC to meet the more stringent Ohio Board of Regents’ standards, several major changes have been made. The library has been expanded and upgraded. The faculty has been improved through the addition of instructors who possess master’s degrees in the disciplines they teach.

The student placement testing methods have been revised to meet the Ohio Board of Regents’ regulations. Curriculum changes have been made to improve course offerings. Retention and career placement rates have been maintained throughout this process.

GCC continually exceeds the retention and placement rates of public universities and community colleges, Shirey said.

“In addition to the financial and educational benefits of having our associate degrees authorized by the Ohio Board of Regents, students will be able to more easily transfer their credits earned at GCC to both public and private universities in Ohio,” he said.