The impact of the South Carolina Technical College System on our state is tremendous. Our 16 colleges act as the engine of South Carolina’s recovery, training and preparing 160,000 South Carolina residents for a better future each year.
As our state recovers from the effects of COVID-19, many people are turning to their local technical college to learn new skills or enhance existing ones that will enhance their employability, expand their career opportunities and increase their earning potential.
Each year, the state’s technical college system educates nearly half of all undergraduate students attending a public college or university in South Carolina. With nearly a third of the cost of four-year state-supported institutions, our colleges educate and they train South Carolinaians for the jobs required today and tomorrow. Surprising 91% of our graduates are employed in a job related to their education or are continuing to continue their studies.
The strategic location of our colleges across the state ensures that higher education remains accessible to anyone who dreams of continuing their education and wants to stay local. Almost all southern Carolinos are a 30-minute drive from one of our main or satellite campuses.
Consistently serving 160,000 South Carolina residents each year, the system plays a crucial role in building our state’s workforce base – an essential building block to boost economic development and increase our overall competitiveness.
As the cliché says, “great things come from a humble beginning.” More than half a century ago, a man believed that all South Carolina residents were entitled to the education and training they needed to improve their living conditions. He also believed that our state needed a broader industrial base. As a result, Governor Fritz Hollings came out of the proverbial box and offered the “100-day promise” – a guarantee for companies looking to move to South Carolina that the state would provide the facilities and manpower needed to operate in 100 days. This kind of promise was unprecedented at the time and proved to be crazy enough to work.
Today, the business and industry landscape has changed. However, as a system, we are still up to the task, delivering a skilled and in-demand workforce and providing individuals with the opportunity to improve their economic situation through education and training.
Modern facilities use some of the most advanced equipment and robotics in the world, whose operation requires a workforce with highly developed skills. These sought-after skills are well rewarded by employers and represent good jobs for the people of our state. And they are not just limited to advanced manufacturing. South Carolina is experiencing growth in areas such as information technology, health and construction technology, to name a few.
From its humble beginnings to its tremendous impact today, the SC Technical College System remains firmly focused on the vital work of increasing our state’s workforce and providing South Carolinians with a path to follow their dreams and build a better future. Our colleges play a critical role in South Carolina’s economic development and workforce development efforts, supporting the state’s recovery and continued economic success.
Tim Hardee he is president of the South Carolina Technical College System.