Georgia College & State University (GCSU) has partnered with Fouts Brothers in Milledgeville to increase workforce development and readiness in Central Georgia.
GCSU President Cathy Cox signed a Memorandum of Understanding May 13 with Fouts Bros.
CEO and President Scott Eden at the sprawling 700,000-square-foot Fouts Bros. facility (138 Roberson Mill Rd.). The company builds fire trucks, tankers, and other emergency service vehicles used worldwide in firefighting.
“The (memorandum) fosters a partnership between the College of Business & Technology and Fouts Bros,” a GCSU press release stated.
According to Dr. Michael Stratton, dean of GCSU’s J.
Whitney Bunting College of Business & Technology, planning of the partnership began in early December during a tour of the Fouts Bros. facility.
The initial partnership was drafted in February, and this will be the second employer partnership GCSU has established since last year.
“It was serendipitous that I wanted to take a tour of Fouts Bros. because they are a growing employer in the region.
In addition, they’ve hired interns from our College of Business & Technology,” said Stratton.
“I wanted to see firsthand what was happening in one of Milledgeville’s major employers and … it meant a lot to us that it was a local employer.”
Through the partnership, GCSU students from a variety of majors, such as marketing, finance, and business technology, will participate on teams within semesters and internships for project- based learning opportunities designed by Fouts Bros. These opportunities will be supervised by GCSU faculty experts.
According to the GCSU press release, Fouts Bros. may also hire a lead intern through the university’s Double Bobcat Program “to ensure smooth transfers of responsibilities.”
“Fouts Bros. had needs in the areas of marketing, technology, finance, and supply chain, and I knew that was something our faculty and students could support them with,” said Stratton. “Project-based learning is a pedagogy in which the students have a specific deliverable, which in this case is a client. So, for that semester, with the supervision of a mentor, the project team will be responsible for a project chosen by the client. They will supply theory to practice.”
In addition to internships, GCSU is offering Fouts Bros. an externship opportunity to access one faculty member to offer research and expertise on their chosen project for up to 40 hours. The chosen faculty member is Lecturer of Management Information Systems Dr. Eric Kobbe.
According to Stratton, however, the project is yet to be decided.
“When I met with Scott (Eden), he spoke about some of their needs around technology and operational work,” said Stratton. “He knew of Eric Kobbe and was excited to have the opportunity to work with Eric.”
Through this partnership, both students and faculty will have access to experiential learning and research opportunities alongside building valued connections. Through partnering with Fouts Bros., Stratton hopes GCSU students will be better prepared for the workforce and inspired to find innovative jobs.
In addition, the program is intended to create a pipeline of jobs between the university and an important local employer.
“I cannot speak for Fouts Bros., but it is my observation that this will further embed them into our community and connect them with many hardworking, resourceful individuals who can help them complete current projects and become potential future employees,” said Stratton.
Stratton hopes this will become a multi-year partnership and stated the university will meet with Fouts Bros. regularly to reflect on the program and discuss ways to expand it.
He also noted that there are plans to work with other regional employers in the future.