Legislative Priorities FY 2011-2012
Preparing South Carolinians For Real Work In The Real World.
Maintain Base Funding
According to the latest available data, fifty-two percent of all undergraduates in South Carolina public higher education are enrolled in the Technical College System. This equates to over 226,000 students. Because South Carolinians are seeking the education and training employers demand, the state’s Technical Colleges are seeing enrollments grow at record levels. Our students depend on affordable tuition—something that grows more difficult as state funding is reduced. In order to keep higher education within reach for these thousands of South Carolinians, it is imperative that the System’s
base funding be maintained at 2010-11 levels.
Lottery Tuition Assistance (LTA)
maintain $47 million
One in three South Carolina technical college students relies on LTA. This funding provides access to affordable higher education and training necessary to enter or remain in the workforce. The goal of the System is to keep the award at no less than $900 per semester.
Center for Accelerated Technology Training and readySC™
$1.8 million non-recurring, $335,000 recurring
Last year, the Center for Accelerated Technology Training and its readySC™ program trained 5,199 employees for 92 companies. Funding for this initiative will ensure that funds are in place to assist eligible new and expanding companies
in meeting their workforce needs in the upcoming year.
Allied Health Initiative
maintain $4 million
Over the past four years, the System has increased Associate Degree Nursing and Practical Nursing graduation rates by 33% and 44%. The System is optimally positioned to provide a statewide approach yet customize solutions locally to meet individual community needs for the ever-increasing demand for qualified healthcare workers.
Lottery Technology Funding
maintain $12 million
Designated technology funding is critical to innovative program delivery options as well as maintaining technology intensive areas of study. This funding allows the System to maximize return on investment by addressing common system-wide needs with a coordinated approach resulting in reduced duplication and improved efficiency.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE…
competeSC™
$6.5 million
Nearly 800,000 South Carolinians have been identified as not having the training, education or skills necessary to fill the jobs currently available and those being recruited to the state. The SC Technical College System is the quickest way our state has to get these citizens better skilled and employable and ensure that our state remains competitive.
Allied Health Initiative
$10 million
An appropriation of recurring dollars along with non-recurring funds will allow the colleges to meet critical allied health workforce demands as well as continue those services already in place.
