President DeHay Gives Updates to Board of Visitors

The Board of Visitors (BOV) held its semi-annual meeting January 25 on the Pendleton Campus. President DeHay kicked off the meeting by giving several updates.

Spring Enrollment

President DeHay gave members an update on spring enrollment that shows a 3.7% increase in headcount over last spring. He told the group that the S.C. legislature funded zero-cost tuition through 2023. These state and federal government funds (HEERF, GEER, and workforce scholarships), along with TCTC Foundation scholarships, make it possible for our students to attend college at no cost again this spring.

Manufacturing Works

Another highlight of his presentation included an update on the Manufacturing Works program which is designed for high school students who were currently not planning on attending college. Through the program, they gain technical skills while exploring careers in manufacturing.

“This program can change the trajectory of their lives,” said Dr. DeHay. Tuition funding comes from the South Carolina Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Initiative grant. A participation stipend is funded by the TCTC Foundation, the S.C. Department of Commerce and the Development Corporation of Anderson County.

Forty students from the tri-county area applied and 20 have been selected to join the second Manufacturing Works cohort which began February 3.

BASF Partnership

Jim Kilton, continuous improvement and training manager for BASF, and Bryan Manuel, dean of Integrated Workforce Solutions at TCTC, discussed the company’s partnership with TCTC.

The Integrated Workforce Solutions team, led by Manuel, worked with BASF to design a certificate program that stands out from many apprenticeships because it is a robust and unique hybrid of the typical apprentice classroom. The BASF program is an intensive, one-year classroom learning component of the company’s registered apprenticeship program in Process Technology and reinforces both technical and productivity skills tied to the curriculum. Participants earn $21.50 per hour, and are full-time employees at BASF while attending class one day a week at the Oconee Campus.

Kilton said the program aims to meet future talent needs for a skilled and diverse technician workforce with an emphasis on attracting more females to these roles. An internal goal is to have 30% of the production workforce to be minorities and female.

The BASF North American Apprenticeship Development Program is in its second cohort, which ended on February 28, 2023. The third cohort began on December 8, 2022, and the fourth is anticipated to start in July 2023.

left: Sarai Melendez, director of advocacy and public policy for the Hispanic Alliance in Greenville, is one of the BOV’s newest members. As a member of Walhalla City Council, she, council members and the City of Walhalla Diversity and Inclusion Committee have worked with the College on various direct communication/outreach activities to educate individuals about what TCTC can do for them. Targeted outreach involves engaging community influencers and developing a rapport and trust with community members. Increasing access for these individuals is the goal and it involves a long-term investment said Dr. DeHay. Areas of focus include Walhalla, Homeland Park, Honea Path, and the College is seeking opportunities in Pickens County he said.

middle: Board of Visitors members pose with Grayson Kelly (far left), vice president of Institutional Advancement and Business Relations, and President DeHay (far right).

Clemson Downs Donation Supports Nursing Scholarship

Clemson Downs contributed $1,500 to Tri-County Technical College’s Foundation to continue its support of the TCTC nursing program. This donation will support a future nurse as they continue their education at TCTC.

Retirees Tour Campus

Our Foundation staff recently hosted a tour of the Pendleton Campus for several retirees who had not seen the Student Success Center and the renovations to original buildings. The tour of the campus was followed by a luncheon.

James Hill, executive director of Clemson Downs, fourth from left, and TCTC President Galen DeHay, third from left, are pictured with (from left to right) Grayson Kelly, vice president of institutional advancement and business relations; Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, dean of TCTC’s Health Education Division; and Jackie Rutledge, TCTC department head for Nursing.

Pictured (back row left to right) are President DeHay; Carol Garrison (widow of former TCTC president, the late Dr. Don C. Garrison); Mike Cannon, of Anderson, former Foundation Board member; Helen RosemondSaunders (TCTC Commission member); Linda Elliott (retired TCTC vice president for advancement); and (seated) Bruce Cannon (retired TCTC public relations director and brother of Mike Cannon).

Nine Graduate from Biomedical Device Certification Program

Nine individuals completed the second cohort of TCTC’s biomedical device certification program on January 31. The 36hour program is offered through the Corporate and Community Education Division.

TCTC is collaborating with SC Biotechnology Industry Organization (SCBIO) who funds this short-term certification program that gives students an overview of the life sciences industry and the potential opportunity to interview at companies in our area.

Graduates are qualified to work as clean room operators or on the production line at biomedical device companies like Abbott, Poly-Med and Ortec.

Nine individuals completed the second cohort of TCTC’s biomedical device certification program on January 31. Pictured from left are (front row) Shauna McKinnon, Oasis Hammond, and Andrea Pierce and (back row) Braden King, Tim Franks, Brendan Jones, Kevin Rebok, Cadden Mahoney, and Mark Williams.