Technical College of the Lowcountry State of the College Remarks (2016) The mission of TCL is stated quite simply: provide the Lowcountry with a college that works. I believe this mission is vital to our community and our state and I consider it my personal obligation to ensure that we succeed. That quote is the first two sentences from my letter in our first state-of-thecollege publication - and I believe it. I m committed to it. It is my mission as president of the College. Good evening and thank you for attending this inaugural State-of-the- College address. For the past two years it has been my pleasure to serve as the President of TCL. My entire civilian career has been spent in higher education and I can say without reservation we are one of the best colleges in the state of South Carolina. We are an excellent value and we are valuable to the Lowcountry. We provide affordable, high quality education and training that puts people in to jobs - jobs here, in the Lowcountry. In fact more than 93% of our graduates either go directly into jobs or transfer to a 4-year institution. TCL is a college that works and is best-in-class. So, why do a state-of-the-college address? Why invite you here? Why not send a letter, an email or post remarks on our website? Because what we do, or what we don t do, makes a difference to you our stakeholders. I believe higher education and workforce development is a local issue and a local responsibility. Higher education in the Lowcountry and regional
workforce development impacts you, your family, and your business. For many, many years TCL has been shaped by the aspirations of the citizens of the Lowcountry and by the employment needs of your businesses. You help define our priorities and any vision for our future depends upon you. So I don t want to talk at you - I want to talk with you. Tonight I want us talk about the value of a TCL education and TCL s impact on the local economy. I want to share my vision for the college and our challenges. [And, along the way, expect me to boast a little about the school.] At the end of my remarks I look forward to fielding any questions or remarks you may have. Let s begin by reaffirming what we are. TCL is the Lowcountry s community college. We are a comprehensive community college meaning we are both a principal provider of academic instruction and a major provider of vocational preparation and workforce development through adult training programs. We are a community-based institution of higher education, specializing in the education and training necessary to meet local employment needs. And for TCL and other community colleges our excellence is defined by our inclusivity. We are an open access college who welcomes all who desire to learn, regardless of wealth, heritage or previous academic experience. Over the past decade community colleges, like TCL, have captured the attention of the nation. Why? Because community colleges work.
Community colleges work because they educate and train local citizens for local jobs providing the foundation for a healthy local economy. What makes TCL a college that works? First and foremost, our faculty and staff. In the past two years this institution this TCL team has accomplished a great deal. My first priority was to restore our presence on MCAS and Parris Island, establish a military training aviation program and open a Veterans Resource Center. Secondly to work closely with area high schools and dramatically grow our dual enrollment program. {Right now more than 400 area high school students participate in our dual enrollment program. Taking college courses while attending high school.] Third strengthen our industrial programs such as our welding program on our Hampton Campus, the Mungin Center. And, lastly - institutionalized Advancement, create an office within the college that focuses on building productive relationships with our key constituents. All this and much more, is the result of a successful team effort by the more than 300 faculty and staff. Our frontline is our faculty. TCL faculty are dedicated teachers and our students, their #1 priority. In addition to advance degrees, TCL faculty have hands-on experience in the fields they teach. TCL faculty are able to share with our students real-world professional experiences. Like Pete Semetis, featured in our State of the College Report. And our staff are equally dedicated. Willing to go the extra mile - the weekend, the evening - to serve the needs of the college and our students. Like Christie Welch-Copeland, administrative director of our Veterans
Resource Center. (Read more about the VRC here.) It s not a big payday at a state-assisted community college. Raises are meager, 1 or 2%, or as is more often the case, non-existent. TCL is fueled by the commitment of our faculty and staff to do good work. They make TCL a college that works. TCL s Impact on the Local Economy Colleges in general, and community colleges in particular, are expected to be workforce developers and economic engines. South Carolina is considered one of the best states in the nation to do business, yet we are approaching a point where we will be unable to keep up with the workforce demands of business and industry. By 2018 it is projected that only 33% of all jobs will require a 4-year degree or more. The majority of jobs some 57% will be middle-skilled positions requiring more than a high school degree but less than 4 years of college. In other words, job growth for those with associate degrees or certifications is outpacing job growth for more advanced degrees. For far too long, the educational bureaucracy has compelled students into a standard 4-year degree track, discouraging consideration of a technical career education also known as a community college education. We should not discourage students from pursuing higher education at a baccalaureate institution. Nor should we discourage students from pursuing a technical career education at a community college. For good reasons, TCL should be the first choice, even the smart choice.
At TCL we offer more than 90 programs of study - associate degrees, certificates and diplomas designed to help Lowcountry citizens enter the local workforce in two years or less and, earn a living wage going from minimum wage to $20/hour or more. In our health sciences programs, graduate placement rate is almost 100%. Our HVAC program placement rate is almost 100%. The criminal justice graduate placement rate is 95%. The paralegal program graduate placement rate is over 90%. What is the reason for these impressive placement rates? TCL trains workers for existing jobs here, for your businesses, in the Lowcountry. Each year TCL graduates more students and awards more degrees, certificates and diplomas than other local institution of higher education 529 graduates in the past academic year. A number of our graduates will go on to 4 year degree institutions. Graduates like Reece Bertholf, Beaufort-Port Royal Fire Department Chief, and his wife, Mikie, a tomography technologist at Beaufort Memorial Hospital - both proud alumni of TCL. (Learn more about Reece and Mikie here.) Most students up to 5,000 annually choose TCL as a starting point for their higher education and career goals. But for others, TCL is an expansion of a university degree they already hold. Why are they returning to TCL? Employability to get a job. Like Lindsay Richardson. Lindsay s working because TCL is a college that works. (Read Lindsay s story here.)
TCL the smart choice Nationally only 59% of students enrolled in a 4-year undergraduate institution will complete their degree 61% in South Carolina. Average student debt is $30,000 nationally, $29,000 in South Carolina even for those who left school and did not complete their degree. According to a Harvard study, the number one reason college students leave school before completing a degree is because of incurring student loan debt. In the past 30 years college costs have increased an astounding 1,100%. As a result, parents and grandparents have taken on education debt to help their children or grandchildren. Student debt is becoming family debt. This can be avoided, or at least minimized. The cost per credit hour at TCL is $166. The cost per credit hour at USCB is $394, more than twice TCL. TCL has transfer agreements with USC, Clemson, Frances Marion, Lander and Coastal Carolina. A student can attend TCL for the first two years, then transfer to anyone of these schools and enter as a junior. A student who attends TCL for the first two years and transfers to USCB for her junior and senior year saves almost $11,000. A good decision? A smart choice? Yes, maybe for this student. Savings not only for the student but for taxpayers. Vision for the future
We have a big future, TCL and the Lowcountry! Here s what I m working towards: Number 1. Build a best-in-class culinary institute. We are committed to better serving the businesses that are the primary drivers of the region s economic health the hotels, restaurants, resorts, the businesses and organizations, that is our tourism industry. In 2013, 2.6 million tourists visited Beaufort county. Total economic impact on the county was almost $994 million dollars. In 2014, 150,000 additional tourists visited us with economic impact exceeding $1 billion dollars. And, today right now - initiatives are underway to significantly increase visitors to the region. These folks need to eat and they want to eat well. And when the food is good, they ll return again and again. We are working with the areas restaurants and resorts to build a culinary institute to provide skilled professional culinary staff to support our region s tourism industry. I d like to see the culinary institute built and educating students by 2018. We met with architects yesterday. Estimated cost to build and equip the institute - $16 million. Number 2. Build A Regional Workforce Training Center The Center will be a hub of workforce training, strategically located for ready access by students and industry. The Center will allow us to expand
current programs such as HVAC, Welding, and Aircraft Mechanics and to bring on new program such as CDL and, Air/Land/Sea Logistics training. These are critical skills skills needed by current Lowcountry industry and skills that are in increasing demand as we ready a workforce to meet the needs of the Jasper Port and its support industries. The Regional Workforce Training Center is a strong, strong statement of TCL s and the Lowcountry s commitment to support the region s business and industry. Estimated cost to build and equip the Regional Workforce Training Center - $12.5 million. Number 3. Expand our Health Sciences Programs. No doubt TCL health sciences programs nursing, radiology technology, surgical technology, physical therapy assistant program, massage therapy are best-in-class! I bet everyone in this room has been cared for by a TCL health sciences graduate! We need to expand our current programs and offer new, in-demand programs such as Medical Assisting. It s our job, as your community college, to address this demand to be a college that works. To do this, I need room. The Regional Workforce Training Center would allow me to relocate programs from our Beaufort campus to the new Center. We could dedicate
our Beaufort Campus to our health sciences and have the room for new and enlarged health science programs. Number 4. Expand our on-line course offerings and offer fully online degree/certification programs. More than 70% of our students attend part-time. These men and women are raising children and working, all while trying to change the economic future for themselves and their families. By expanding our on-line course offerings, and offering online degree and certification programs, we give them much needed flexibility to better manage to better juggle their academic, work and family obligations. We help them to succeed. We will also be better able to serve the second largest economic driver in the region our military. Up to 25% of our students are active duty, veterans or veteran dependents. Our job is to educate and train the Lowcountry. The biggest challenge for our students is time and geography. By expanding our on-line course offerings and offering fully online degree/certificates programs we more fully empower lowcountry citizens to build a healthy future. Economically healthy families makeup economically healthy communities. Realizing the Future
How do we realize this future - a future with a culinary institute, a regional workforce training center, more healthcare programs and online degree programs? It s a challenge. TCL is a state-assisted community college. 18% of our budget comes from state appropriations and 13% from county appropriations. 55% comes from tuition and fees. Raising tuitions rates and fees is not an option for us. Our mission is defined by our affordability. Education and workforce development is a local issue and a local responsibility. To realize our vision for the Lowcountry we need to be good partners with our resort and tourism industry; our local government and schools; with the businesses that drive the Lowcountry economy; and with community members, like you, who share our vision and our values. I ll end where I started. As president of TCL I am committed to providing the Lowcountry with a college that works. But any vision for our future depends upon our local partnerships and your continued support of the programs and opportunities that represent your own priorities for TCL. I hope you will continue to be our partner in the years that lie ahead.