Connection

is published six times each year by the Office of the President and the Public Relations Department.

Mailing Address (All Campuses)

P. O. Box 587

Pendleton, SC 29670

Pendleton Campus

7900 Highway 76 Pendleton, SC

Anderson Campus

511 Michelin Blvd. Anderson, SC

Easley Campus

1774 Powdersville Rd.

Easley, SC

Oconee Campus

552 Education Way Westminster, SC

Main Number

(864) 646-TCTC (8282)

Toll-free

1-866-269-5677 tctc.edu

2022-2023 Academic Year a Success

Tri-County Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Tri-County Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

Tri-County Technical College does not discriminate in admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, qualifying disability, veteran’s status, or national origin.

The 2022-2023 academic year was a success in many ways. First, we exceeded our fall and spring enrollment goals with more than 5,000 students enrolled in a credit program each semester. In addition, nearly 2,000 students enrolled in a non-credit program through our Corporate and Community Education Division in the fall and more than 1,200 enrolled in a non-credit program in the spring.

Dr. Galen DeHay President

While we are not yet where we were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are making progress. This is especially true as it relates to our minority student population. In fact, in the fall, we enrolled the highest number of Hispanic students ever at the College. This is the result of many things, including intentional outreach efforts ranging from community listening sessions and partnerships with community leaders and influencers to engaging with entire families to help them see that college is a possibility and that Tri-County is the college for them.

Second, I am pleased to share that our performance on key measures of student success remains strong. In fact, for the current year, Tri-County is the only college in the S.C. Technical College System to meet or exceed the targets for all of the state-established success measures! These measures include graduate placement, licensure exams pass rate, fall-to-spring persistence, graduate production, and overall student success. I believe our continued focus on learning and providing the kinds of wrap-around support services that enable students to balance school with work and family life are what make us successful.

In addition, we implemented a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) between fall 2016 and 2022 that was focused on imbedding High-Impact Practices (HIPs) into all associate degree and diploma programs. HIPs are research-based learning frameworks that improve student learning, engagement, and course completion. During that time, we saw technical program course success rates for all students increase by 3% with even greater impact occurring among our minority and first-generation students. The substantial improvement for some of the most at-risk populations is a testament to our faculty and staff’s determination to support transformative learning experiences that truly change lives.

Lastly, we used input from students and employees to create the College’s first-ever campus mural. The mural aims to evoke a sense of belonging and is intended to serve as a landmark where students can celebrate being a Tri-County student. It is also interactive and showcases the College’s colors and region. You are welcome to stop by the Pendleton Campus anytime to see the mural and take pictures with it.

I wish you all a fun and safe summer, and I look forward to the start of another strong academic year.

In your service,

Galen

DeHay,

Ph.D. President