The Pioneer Frontier Magazine

New GED testing center opened at Tusculum College.

Virginia Hall will play host to the only permanent General Education Degree testing site in Greene County and will serve up to ten surrounding counties.

Officially opened at a January 19^th ribbon cutting ceremony, the GED site will serve community members who have not yet completed a formal High School program and are seeking to improve their education and livelihoods. Kim Gass, director of Adult Basic Education for Greeneville and Greene County was present for the event and illustrated the importance of the facility.

“It is a major hardship for many of our locals to get to a testing site. Making travel arrangement is often a key burden that prevents them from taking the test. With a facility in Greeneville I look forward to telling those seeking a GED how close to home it really is,” Gass told the crowd.

Dr. Moody addressed the audience outside Virginia Hall. Left to Right are Jewell Hamm, David Egbert, Kim Gass and Dr. Moody

President Moody was the featured speaker and shed light on the inseparable relationship between institutions of higher education and the local communities they are involved with.

“Through this project we are able to share our resources and in doing so, improve the lives of those who live here and in our region. We are very proud of this project, and its foundation in the value of education, a concept central to Tusculum College at whatever level it might be.”

Dr. Moody also named some reputable GED recipients including Bill Cosby, Dave Thomas and her mother who earned her GED at the age of 60 with four grandchildren.

The project was undertaken at the recommendation of Melissa Ripley who has now assumed the title of Chief General Education Degree Administrator for Tusculum College. Testing will take place in either Virginia Hall room 216 or Chalmers based on which program is chosen, split day or all day.

“I’ve worked consistently, every day with our mentor program since about September. Susan Doughty, TN Administrator of the GED has been involved throughout as has Kim Gass. Without the support of Dr. Moody and the institution today’s ribbon cutting wouldn’t have been possible,” Ripley told the Frontier.

The test costs about $65 regardless of which test is chosen. The expense goes towards purchase of the testing batteries (packs), an expense TC pays upfront. GED tests are a group of five subject tests which together form a battery. If passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills. The GED is also sometimes referred to as a General Equivalency Diploma or General Education Diploma.

To pass the GED Tests and earn a GED credential, test takers must score higher than 60 percent of graduating high school seniors nationwide.

“Based on what I’ve seen we will have a pretty diverse range of age groups. We hope to bring over 300 individuals through the program by year’s end,” Ripley told the Frontier.

For more information regarding testing, contact Melissa Ripley in the Admissions Office or through the TC switchboard during normal operating hours.