Education

Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) was formed from the union of two local colleges. Mayo Technical College was founded in 1938, and Prestonsburg Community College in 1964. In 2003, they joined to form the Big Sandy Community and Technical College. One of 16 colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, BSCTC provides a comprehensive two-year college education for students seeking an Associate’s Degree, diploma or certificate in a field of study to prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce. Students may also elect to pursue an Associate’s Degree that will transfer to a college or university of their choice where they can complete a Baccalaureate Degree in the field of their choice.

Under the direction of Dr. George D. Edwards, the founding President of BSCTC, the College has increased enrollment every year to approximately 4800 students in the Fall 2008 semester. The increased online class offerings and creative scheduling of classes has helped make it possible for students to pursue an education despite the economic crisis facing students today.

BSCTC includes four campuses located at Prestonsburg, Pikeville, Paintsville and Hager Hill. An off-campus site at Betsy Layne, KY offers real-work mine instruction in a simulated environment. The East KY Science Center is located on the Prestonsburg Campus.

Floyd County Schools
106 Front Street
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
606-886-2354
Website

Floyd County Schools is located in the heart of the beautiful Appalachian highlands. They serve 6,500 students, making it the 20th largest school district in Kentucky. The school district employs 1,100 service minded people who work together to meet the needs of the community and its most precious resource -- the children.

Floyd County Schools has been a “district on the move” in the last few years. The District's Commonwealth Accountability Testing System District index has increased 10 points to 85.2 in 3 years .

The District pledges their best efforts at communication and teamwork so they can raise expectations for the children to prepare them for the 21st Century.

You are encouraged to visit the Floyd County School District's Website http://www.floyd.k12.ky.us and join in the District's mission to “educate all students to become proficient life-long learners.”

Henry Webb, Superintendent
Floyd County Schools

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center
478 Meadows Branch
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
(606) 886-1037

The Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center, located in Prestonsburg, Ky., has been assisting young adults to reach their academic and vocational goals since 1981. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Job Corps is the nation’s largest career technical training and education program for students ages 16 through 24. The Perkins Center has an enrollment of approximately 280 students through the residential and nonresidential program.

Academic Information

Carl D. Perkins Job Corps Center is a fully accredited institution through the Council on Occupation Education. The Center offers many opportunities for academic achievement including:

• High School Diploma program through Paintsville Independent Schools
• GED Program
• Community College Partnerships
• Military preparatory program
• Partnership with local rehabilitation center
• Driver’s Education Program

Career Skills Training Information
Perkins has the following vocational offerings for students to choose from:

• Brick Masonry
• Carpentry
• Culinary Arts
• Electricity
• Facilities Maintenance
• Finance & Business
• Health Occupations
• Hotel Lodging
• HVAC

The Center is also an Accredited Training Unit through NCCER - The National Center for Construction Education & Research.

Lindsey Wilson Offers Higher Education Opportunities in Floyd County

Because of an innovative partnership between the Lindsey Wilson School of Professional Counseling and Big Sandy Community and Technical College's Prestonsburg Campus, area residents can earn a bachelor's and master's degree in mental health counseling from Lindsey Wilson without traveling to the college's main campus in Adair County.

After students earn an Associate Degree from Big Sandy CTC or another member of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, they can continue their education at Big Sandy CTC at Prestonsburg. By attending classes on the weekend, students can earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree in human services and counseling and then a Master of Education Degree in counseling and human development.

Students enroll in two Lindsey Wilson classes at a time, which meet for three consecutive weekends. Students who enroll in the program full-time should be able to earn a Bachelor's Degree in little more than a year and a Master's Degree in six semesters. The public-private partnership has been praised for the innovative way in which it meets an acute shortage of higher education opportunities in the region.

Most of the program's graduates remain in the Big Sandy area and go to work as mental healthcare workers, which addresses another need - a shortage of qualified mental-health care professions in this region.

Lindsey Wilson's Human Services Program is considered by mental-health professionals to be among the best in the nation. It is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) - the accrediting arm of the American Counseling Association.

For more information about the program, contact Lindsey Wilson College at 889-4773.

MSU-Prestonsburg
PO Box 1776
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Telephone: (606) 886-2405
Website

Morehead State University has been offering college courses in Prestonsburg for more than 30 years. Initially, classes were available at night at the local public schools. As a result of steady student growth, MSU in cooperation with legislators, the school system, and business and industry leaders in the area, expanded its educational opportunities in Floyd County. MSU established a full-time presence in the Big Sandy region beginning in 1991. MSU at Prestonsburg is now located on the campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College. The completion of the over $6 million regional postsecondary education center, a multipurpose conference facility for education/training that includes classrooms, compressed video communication, a computer lab, and office space, allowed MSU at Prestonsburg to move its entire operation in 2003. MSU at Prestonsburg provides educational and training opportunities for Floyd, Johnson, Magoffin, Martin, and Pike Counties. Students may enroll in graduate and undergraduate level courses for traditionally-taught day, night, and weekend classes, as well as Internet and interactive video classes. Area students will be able to choose from a variety of courses leading to either a Bachelors, Masters, or Education Specialist Degree. MSU at Prestonsburg is committed to meeting the needs of the region and giving students from the region a quality education, without the necessity of having to live on campus or commute.