TCTC and North Greenville University Announce First-of-ItsKind Partnership

TCTC and North Greenville University (NGU) officials signed a first-of-its kind articulation agreement (March 6) that enables the transfer of Tri-County students to NGU’s Educational Studies online bachelor’s degree program.

What makes this partnership unique is that all course credits associated with Tri-County’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Care and Education degree program transfer to NGU’s Early Childhood Education bachelor’s degree program. Plus, Tri-County students who transfer to NGU’s online bachelor’s degree program are eligible for a 10% discount on tuition. The flexibility associated with online courses is particularly valuable to Tri-County students who are often balancing school with work and family obligations.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to collaborate with our colleagues at Tri-County Technical College,” said NGU Provost Dr. Nathan Finn. “There is a critical need in South Carolina for more teachers in our public schools. Through this strategic partnership, prospective teachers will have access to an affordable and flexible education, which will in turn enable them to invest in the next generation as early childhood educators.”

“Early childhood education is an essential building block of a child’s future success, and the demand for these types of educators continues to grow,” said Dr. Jackie Blakley, dean of TCTC’s Business and Public Services Division.

According to the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, employment in the childcare sector continues to lag behind overall employment. In fact, childcare employment today is 5.5% below what it was in February 2020. At the local level, there is a steady and rising demand for early education professionals. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s employment projections website, the number of childcare positions in South Carolina is expected to grow by 7.7% between 2020 and 2030, and the number of kindergarten teachers (except special education) is expected to grow by 9.9%.

“As a community college, it is Tri-County’s role to meet the workforce needs of our region,” said Dr. Blakley. “We are proud to partner with North Greenville University to create a pipeline of early childhood educators who can serve our region while ensuring a seamless transition for our students.”

Twenty-two-year-old Ciera Dudziak of Anderson will graduate from Tri-County this spring with her A.A.S. degree in Early Care and Education and has already been accepted into NGU’s online bachelor’s degree program.

“I work two jobs, so NGU’s online program works well for me because of the flexibility it offers, plus they accept all of my course credits,” said Dudziak. “NGU also has paid internship opportunities, which I can do in Anderson, which is another big highlight for me.”

Once Dudziak completes the online bachelor’s degree program at NGU, she is eligible to sit for the Early Childhood Education Praxis exam. Upon passing the exam, she is certified to teach in a public school or other setting such as a child care center, afterschool program, Early Head Start or Head Start. Her goal is to teach in a kindergarten classroom in Anderson.

Madison Rankin is a 2022 Early Care and Education graduate who will start at NGU in fall 2023. She wasn’t going to get her bachelor’s degree until she saw the online program at NGU and discovered that they would accept all of her credits and she could student teach in her hometown. She notified Public Services Department Head Meredith Dickens about the program and that is how the transfer agreement came about.