Tri-County’s Fall Enrollment Exceeds 5,000;
Largest Enrollment Ever at College
CONTACT: DR. RONNIE BOOTH, 646-1774
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/7/2007
(By Lisa Garrett)
PENDLETON --- Several days before the first day of the fall semester at Tri-County Technical College, President Ronnie Booth predicted there would be a record enrollment in the College’s 45-year history.
Dr. Booth says his confidence stemmed from knowing that the entire staff was going the extra mile to complete the admissions and financial aid processes for new and returning students. “Everyone put forth the extra effort,” he said, citing personal phone calls to students who had been admitted but not registered for classes and follow-up calls to returning students concerning advisor availability. For the first time, advisors were on call every week during day and evening hours, removing the obstacle of waiting to register.
The personal touch paid off. The result: 5,218 students, a 10 percent increase (478 more students) over last fall and the largest enrollment ever for the College.
Accessibility is key, Dr. Booth said, referring to the curriculum offerings at College’s two new campuses in Anderson and Seneca, in addition to the main campus in Pendleton.
At the Oconee Campus, located at the Hamilton Career Center, classes cater to working adults and high school students by offering late afternoon and early evening classes in the University Transfer curriculum. High school students can choose to take dual enrollment classes (sunrise and late afternoon/evening) to get a head start on college through a variety of general education classes.
“Oconee County residents can save travel time to Pendleton and can choose classes that meet just once a week,” Dr. Booth added.
This spring, the LPN diploma program will begin classes at the Oconee campus, giving area students twice-a-year entry into the Tri-County Technical College LPN curriculum.
A new two-year program, Occupational Technology with a concentration in Pre-Pharmacy, is exclusive to the Anderson campus. These prerequisite courses needed to apply for entrance into the S.C. School of Pharmacy are a mix of online and traditional courses. The curriculum gives students the courses they need to have before they can apply to the S.C. School of Pharmacy. Tri-County is first technical college in the State to offer this package of classes,
On the main campus, the Veterinary Technology program increased its class size by adding more day students and expanded to include evening classes to accommodate persons who work during the day. The program is designed for those who are already working for a veterinarian as an assistant and want to get certification as a technician or for individuals who always wanted to study veterinary medicine, but never had the opportunity to come back to school because of work and time constraints.
The Bridge to Clemson Program, initiated last year for recent high school graduates who narrowly missed admission to Clemson because of limited space and high demand, increased its enrollment by 10 percent. This fall 257 students from all over the United States were admitted to the Bridge to Clemson program, an invitation-only program that blends the traditional academic experience at Tri-County with the social and cultural experiences of being a Clemson University student. The program offers a seamless transition to Clemson for the sophomore year.
The Gateway to College initiative, designed to serve at-risk students and recent high school dropouts in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens counties, jumped from the initial 50 admitted last year to 125 this year. The purpose of Gateway to College is to serve the needs of students who have recently dropped out of high school or who have the academic capability but are struggling in a traditional high school environment.
In addition to appealing to those looking for a technical degree, Tri-County serves as a lead in for those planning to go the university transfer route and continue their studies at a four-year college or university. “The college is a real value for university transfer majors who can take two years of study for a fraction of the cost,” said Dr. Booth.
“Tri-County is viewed as being able to meet community needs. People vote with their feet, and they have flocked to programs that they either want or need. Students keep coming because we are listening to them and focusing more on their needs,” said Dr. Booth.
"The best advertising in business is word of mouth," he added. "The public knows we are accessible, and employers are happy with our graduates." |
Oconee