Nov. 15, 2017 - Project Lead The Way, Trident Technical College announce national pilot youth apprenticeship program
A new national engineering youth apprenticeship program was announced Wednesday at Trident Technical College in North Charleston. U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeships Deputy Administrator Daniel Villao joined Dr. Vince Bertram, president and CEO of Project Lead The Way (PLTW), and Dr. Mary Thornley, president of Trident Technical College, to announce the pilot engineering youth apprenticeship program in conjunction with National Apprenticeship Week.
The Engineering Youth Apprenticeship Program will help connect high school students to high-demand engineering careers and connect employers with PLTW students who have the knowledge and skills to fill their labor needs. The U.S. Department of Commerce projects that employment in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations will grow 8.9 percent from 2014 to 2024, more than 2 percent faster than job growth in other sectors. According to Emsi data provided by the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, occupations in engineering are projected to grow 14 percent by 2020 in the Charleston Metro area. STEM employers report a growing skills gap as they seek to fill open positions.
"We are proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor and Trident Technical College to expand career pathways for students,” said Bertram. “We have a moral and economic imperative to empower students with the skills, knowledge and experience to thrive in our rapidly evolving economy, and this youth apprenticeship program in engineering will do just that.”
In April 2017, the USDOL Office of Apprenticeships launched a partnership with PLTW to solve this problem. PLTW is a national educational nonprofit that designs classroom instruction in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) for delivery to millions of students and teachers across the country. The USDOL and PLTW selected TTC as the post-secondary partner and employer liaison to pilot this national initiative.
“The Department of Labor is really interested in making sure that apprenticeship is modeled at the highest levels, and partnerships with our college and university partners have floated to the top as a priority for Secretary Acosta,” said Villao. “We want to make sure that partnerships, like this one with Trident and PLTW, that are creating pathways into engineering careers for high school students, are really looked at as potential models by major employers, like Boeing and Robert Bosch, to demonstrate how employers are now reimagining the way workforce pipelines work in our country.”
Trident Technical College was instrumental in establishing the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program, a regional collaborative launched in 2014, which includes four school districts that deliver PLTW engineering curriculum, and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. Based on the current model, the new initiative is scheduled to start in fall 2018.
“The pilot engineering youth apprenticeship program will offer high school students the opportunity to work as apprentices for participating employers, combining their Project Lead The Way engineering classroom instruction with college curriculum and mentored on-the-job training. This is a win/win opportunity for both students and employers,” said Thornley.
Participating employers in this national pilot will include Boeing, Robert Bosch, Charleston County, Mobile Communications, and Thomas and Hutton, which have committed to hiring and mentoring high school-aged apprentices as engineering assistants. Students from Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester 2 and Dorchester 4 school districts interested in the program should contact their school’s PLTW teacher or guidance counselor.
Click here to learn more about Project Lead the Way.
Oct. 23, 2017 - Palmer Campus holds Spirit Week and honors inaugural class of Pillars of Palmer for Eastside Day 2017
Trident Technical College’s Palmer Campus will honor the Pillars of Palmer for Eastside Day 2017 to be held Friday, Nov. 3, at the downtown Charleston campus.
The red-carpet event will consist of video presentations and portrait unveilings created by TTC students on the inaugural class of honorees. Pillars of Palmer are individuals or groups who have played an instrumental role in the partnership between TTC’s Palmer Campus and the Eastside Community. This year’s honorees are Mary Edwards, Gerald Mackey, Dr. Susan Williams and the Eastside Community Development Corporation, represented by the four past presidents. The program will begin at 10 a.m. in the amphitheater, immediately followed by a Gallery Opening in the campus library.
Eastside Day is a part of the Palmer Campus’s Spirit Week held annually to celebrate the students of TTC and the heritage of the Eastside Community where the college’s downtown Charleston campus is located. Spirit Week 2017 is slated for Oct. 30-Nov. 3.
In collaboration with TTC’s Cosmetology, Health Sciences and Film, Media and Visual Arts departments, as well as the Culinary Institute of Charleston, the Palmer Campus has planned a week of student-driven activities that the community and TTC students, faculty and staff are invited to attend. All events are free.
Kicking off the week will be a Student Welcome Monday, Oct. 30, in the campus courtyard and park. Spirit Week will continue with a Safety Awareness Fair Tuesday, Oct. 31, College Transfer Fair Wednesday, Nov. 1, and Health Expo for TTC students Thursday, Nov. 2. The week will conclude with Eastside Day and the Pillars of Palmer event on Friday.
For times and locations of Spirit Week 2017 activities, click here.
Oct. 4, 2017 - Trident Technical College wins national equity award
Trident Technical College has been named the 2017 Charles Kennedy Equity Award winner by the Association of Community College Trustees. College officials received the award during the association’s 48th Annual Leadership Congress held in Las Vegas Sept. 25-28. The college won both state and regional equity awards before receiving the national award.
Founded in 1972, the Association of Community College Trustees is a nonprofit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees of community, technical and junior colleges in the United States and beyond. ACCT’s purpose is to strengthen the capacity of community, technical and junior colleges and to foster the realization of their missions through effective board leadership at local, state and national levels.
The Charles Kennedy Equity Award recognizes exemplary commitment by an ACCT member college to achieve equity in educational programs and services and in the administration and delivery of those programs and services. The award honors the late Charles Kennedy, a trustee of Joliet Junior College in Illinois, who was a founder of the ACCT Minority Affairs Assembly, which became the ACCT Diversity Committee.
Trident Technical College is governed by a nine-member area commission comprised of three members each from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. With the support of the college’s area commission, Trident Tech President Mary Thornley has made equity in enrollment, program completion, campus environment and employment and promotion a priority during her 26-year tenure. Evidence of this success can be found in the diversity of the college’s student population and in the diversity of its faculty and staff. Minorities made up 41 percent of the college’s total enrollment in fall 2016. The college ranks No. 1 among all state institutions of higher education in Equal Employment Opportunity goal attainment, and it has exceeded the S.C. Commission on Higher Education performance funding benchmark for minority faculty for 13 years in a row.
“The economic vitality of our region is due in large part to the efforts made by Dr. Thornley and her staff to remove barriers to higher education and to support student success, especially for those students who must overcome obstacles to achieve their academic and personal goals,” said TTC Area Commission Chair Rudd Smith.
Sept. 18, 2017 - Trident Technical College launches new installment of Workforce Pathways Scholarship program
Trident Technical College’s Division of Continuing Education and Economic Development is offering a new installment of the Workforce Pathways Scholarship that pays for course fees for approved career training continuing education programs.
Due to the success of the two previous statewide initiatives, the S.C. General Assembly made new funds available to the S.C. Technical College System to renew the Workforce Pathways Scholarship program for another term. With $180,000 in funds available for Trident Tech continuing education students, the program has the potential to benefit many local residents who need workforce training to get a job or advance on the job.
The new installment of the Workforce Pathways Scholarship is open for applications one week only, from Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 through Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017. Scholarship funds are available for use only on qualified TTC continuing education courses within approved programs. Scholarship recipients are eligible to take an entire program or classes within a program; they are not able to move between programs.
Scholarship eligibility is not based on financial need or previous academic performance. To be eligible, applicants must reside in South Carolina, and have a GED or high school diploma or provide college transcripts. Applicants must also provide a negative drug screen and clear background checks for certain programs; students will be notified if these are requirements of the program they are interested in.
The scholarship covers the cost of course fees for qualified TTC continuing education courses in the areas of health care, manufacturing, information technology and professional development. A complete list of eligible courses can be found under Funding Opportunities on TTC’s Continuing Education website at www.tridenttech.edu/ce. Training available through the scholarship program prepares students for careers as certified professional coders, phlebotomists, web designers, cell phone repair technicians and careers in manufacturing.
“We are excited to provide career training to scholarship recipients again this term. Thanks to this important scholarship program being renewed again, we can offer this tremendous opportunity for students to train for a new career,” says Bob Walker, vice president of Continuing Education and Economic Development. “Hundreds of students took advantage of the last two installments of the Workforce Pathways Scholarship and are now equipped to begin a new career or advance in their current one.”
To apply, visit www.tridenttech.edu/ce, click on Funding Opportunities and review the basic requirements of the Workforce Pathways Scholarship.
Aug. 8, 2017 - Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program celebrates its new class of apprentices at Signing Day 2017
Trident Technical College and Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce celebrated career education with hundreds of business leaders, educators and students at the Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship Program Signing Day breakfast today at the College Center on TTC’s Main Campus. Highlighting the breakfast was keynote speaker Amy Firestone, program analyst of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Apprenticeship.
The program spotlighted the partnership among TTC, Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, the region’s public school districts and regional business partners with the signing of the 2017-18 class of apprentices.
Following the program, youth apprentices officially signed with their employers representing automotive, civil computer aided design, CNA/pre-nursing, culinary arts, emergency medical technicians, hotel operations, HVAC, industrial mechanics, computer networking, computer programming, machine tool technology, medical office assistant and pre-law enforcement.
Through the Youth Apprenticeship Program, TTC connects qualified high school students with participating employers. The employers interview and hire the students, who then begin employment while taking high school and college courses. At the completion of the apprenticeships, students will have earned a high school diploma, a TTC certificate, a journeyman credential from the U.S. Department of Labor and two years of work experience.
All costs associated with the program including tuition and books are paid by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. Currently, there are over 120 business partners who have or are interested in hiring youth apprentices for the 2017‐18 academic school year.
June 8, 2017 - Fall semester registration opens June 12
Registration for fall semester classes at Trident Technical College opens Monday, June 12, and college officials are encouraging potential students to take action now.
The first step is to submit an admission application, said Dr. Patrice Mitchell, vice president for student services at Trident Tech. “You must apply and be accepted to the college before you can register for classes,” she explained. Mitchell said the most convenient way to submit an application is online at http://www.tridenttech.edu/. Applicants must provide proof of high school graduation or GED, proof of lawful presence in the U.S., and qualifying ACT or SAT scores. If applicants have not taken the ACT or SAT, or do not have qualifying scores, they will need to take Trident Tech’s placement test, which identifies academic strengths and areas where students may need help. Once accepted to the college, students can attend orientation and meet with their advisor to register for classes.
Mitchell said applicants who need financial aid should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, at the same time as the admission application to ensure financial aid is in place by the tuition payment deadline. The FAFSA can be submitted online at https://fafsa.ed.gov/.
“The FAFSA is required to access many types of financial aid, including federal Pell Grants, S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance and loans,” she said. “It’s important to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible because processing can take several weeks.”
S.C. Lottery Tuition Assistance amounts for fall have not yet been announced, but if the maximum award amount of $1,140 is renewed, eligible tri-county students will pay only $1,000.23 in tuition and fees for 12 credit hours. Eligibility for lottery assistance is not based on income, so most S.C. residents qualify.
The college has many resources to help potential students complete the application and registration process. The college’s Educational Opportunity Center offers free assistance to adults 19 and older who need help filling out college and financial aid applications. The college also has dedicated support for military members, veterans and military spouses. The college’s Counseling and Career Development Services office is available to help students explore career fields and choose a major.
The college’s fall registration action period is June 12-Aug. 4. Students who complete all admission, financial aid/VA and disability accommodation requests during the action period will have the greatest chance of being able to register and have financial aid in place by the time fall classes start on Aug. 21.
There are other benefits to starting the process now, according to Mitchell. “The earlier students register, the more likely they are to get the classes and schedule they want,” she said.
For more information about registering for fall classes, visit http://www.tridenttech.edu/ or call 843.574.6111.
May 11, 2017 - Pro-Am Golf Tournament breaks record
Trident Technical College’s Pro-Am Golf Tournament and Distinguished Alumni After Party was the most successful yet, netting over $53,000 and attracting hundreds to the Country Club of Charleston on Monday, May 8.
The captain’s choice tournament, sponsored by SunTrust Bank, included 25 pros and 100 players. Highlighting the evening was an after party featuring 11 distinguished alumni, as well as faculty and staff from The Culinary Institute of Charleston. Alumni prepared exquisite dishes ranging from Sous Vide Asian Pork Belly and Oyster Stew to Banana Cheesecake and Tropical Rum Cake.
The money raised from the tournament and after party will support student scholarships, the student emergency fund, faculty and staff development and other critical needs of the college.
May 10, 2017 - Delta Airlines partners with Trident Technical College
Trident Technical College has been selected as one of 38 schools to partner with Delta Airlines to address the shortage and high demand of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs).
AMTs keep aircraft in safe flying condition by servicing, repairing and overhauling aircraft and aircraft components while following detailed federal regulations set by the FAA. Over the last several months, Delta TechOps evaluated over 80 schools and found that TTC, along with 37 others, was determined to meet FAA standards as well as Delta’s high principles that exceed industry standards.
“This is exciting news for TTC as we move to expand our aeronautical programs in the tri-county area through the ongoing construction of the SC Aeronautical Training Center and the modernization of our aviation curriculum,” said Barry Franco, TTC dean of Aeronautical Studies.
The partnership will benefit TTC’s students by gaining Delta as a resource for continuous improvement of the AMT program, as well as broaden access to the benefits of the AMT careers available within the global aviation industry.
May 8, 2017 - 25th Annual TTC Spring Spin-Off Car Show breaks records
Trident Technical College’s 2017 Spring Spin-Off recorded the largest number of registered participants in the car show’s 25-year history on Saturday, April 29, at TTC’s Main Campus in North Charleston.
A total of 330 registered participants and an additional 60+ vehicles resulted in approximately 400 cars, trucks and motorcycles rolling in and filling rows of parking spaces on the North Charleston campus. Thanks to gold sponsors South Carolina Federal Credit Union and Hendrick Honda Automotive Group, registration fees were waived and all participants went home with a commemorative trophy. Click here for a complete list of winners.
March 8, 2017 - Top students, schools earn academic accolades at 31st Annual Quest Competition
Students from 37 public schools throughout the tri-county area battled for top honors at the 31st Annual Quest Academic Competition held March 4 at Trident Technical College.
Students participated in four levels of competition: Level I-grade 6, Level II-grades 7-8, Level III-grades 9-10 and Level IV-grades 11-12. Students competed and earned points in team competitions in math, science and social studies, and in individual competitions in composition, public speaking and visual arts. Schools whose students earned the most total points won overall awards at each level. Special competitions that did not contribute points toward the overall awards were held in automotive, computer- aided design, computer programming, culinary, French, horticulture, Spanish, video/film and welding.
Approximately 1,000 students participated in this year’s Quest. The competition was developed by TTC to promote academic excellence, provide an academic challenge to students, and recognize top students, teachers and schools.
For a complete list of winners with photos, click here.
Feb. 27, 2017 - TTC receives grant from Bosch to support IT Career Clusters
Trident Technical College was awarded a grant of $49,872 from the Bosch Community Fund to support IT Career Clusters, a two-year project designed to develop a new Social/Digital Media Marketing and Big Data certificate program that will provide a pathway for students into these career fields.
“This project will help meet a growing need for writing, coding and database skills related to social media and data analytics, and we look forward to helping meet this need thanks to the funding received by the Bosch Community Fund,” said Laurie Boeding, Trident Technical College dean of Business Technology.
Courses in the new certificate program will allow students to develop skills and competencies in the use of social media marketing, data analytics and/or computer programming/software development. Additionally, funding will provide Tri-county youth with hands-on experience in these IT fields through workshops and scholarships for Teen University courses. Approximately 140 TTC students and 60 middle and high school students will benefit from the program.
The Bosch Community Fund (BCF) awards up to $4 million in grants annually, providing additional support for the company’s charitable and community efforts in the United States, with a focus on science, technology and environmental initiatives.
Feb. 24, 2017 - Business classes now offered in the evening at TTC’s downtown Charleston campus
Opportunities are now available for individuals to work on an associate degree in business by taking evening classes at Trident Technical College’s Palmer Campus, located in downtown Charleston.
The course offerings will begin this spring, starting March 13, and will include Business 101 on Mondays, Management 101 on Tuesdays and Marketing 101 on Wednesdays. All classes are from 6-9 p.m. and will be in hybrid format.
For more information, contact Randall Morgan at 843.574.6644 or randall.morgan@tridenttech.edu.