Nov. 16, 2022 - Trident Tech extending free tuition offer through spring 2024
Trident Technical College is extending its tuition-free initiative for another academic year, giving most South Carolina residents the opportunity to attend the college tuition-free through Spring Semester 2024. The tuition-free initiative applies to all of the college’s more than 150 programs of study, including its popular university transfer programs that serve as the first two years of a four-year degree.
“Great jobs are going unfilled in our community because employers can’t find people with the right skills,” said Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley. “Not having to pay for tuition out of pocket removes one of the biggest hurdles for people who want to train or retrain to land one of the many in-demand jobs that are available.”
Both new and current students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to be eligible to attend tuition free. New students and students who have not been enrolled during the last three semesters must also submit a college admission application. Other requirements vary based on the type of state aid awarded. The college will first apply any federal and state grants and scholarships awarded, then waive any remaining tuition, registration and course fees. Eligible students can attend either full or part time.
The college offers several terms during the semester. The next available term is the college’s Wintermester, which begins Dec. 14. Spring Semester classes begin Jan. 9. For more information visit www.tridenttech.edu or call 843-574-6111.
Oct. 4, 2022 - Trident Tech partners with College of Charleston on Transfer Program for Systems Engineering Majors
Businesses in South Carolina are clamoring for more engineers, and the College of Charleston and Trident Technical College have teamed up to help meet that demand. The two institutions have created a 2+2 program that provides a clear map for the courses students need to take at Trident Tech in order to have all their credits transfer to the College of Charleston so they graduate in four years with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering .
“We are excited to increase the pool of career-ready graduates in the Lowcountry,” says Sebastian van Delden, dean of the School of Sciences and Mathematics. “The MOU establishes sequencing maps for Trident Tech students so they know exactly what courses to take for their two-year associate degree so they can come to the College of Charleston and graduate with a systems engineering degree after two more years.”
“Many of our students want to continue their studies and earn a four-year engineering degree,” says Tim Fulford, dean of the Division of Engineering and Construction at Trident Tech. “This 2+2 pathway is an excellent opportunity for Trident Technical College students to earn a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and enter the highly in demand advanced manufacturing job market.”
The 2+2 systems engineering program, which went into effect last month, will serve as the road map for future 2+2 collaborations between Trident Tech and the College of Charleston. These programs will allow for businesses coming to South Carolina to hire locally and will strengthen the state’s position as a prime location for business and industry.
“More and more businesses are coming to South Carolina, particularly the Lowcountry, and they have diverse needs when it comes to employees,” says Suzanne Austin, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By collaborating with Trident Tech, we can ensure students are on the right path to transfer to the College and succeed. And this will help support our growing economy.”
Sept. 7, 2022 - Nathan Rex named dean of Culinary Institute of Charleston
Nathan H. Rex has been named dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College. In this role, Rex will oversee all academic programs, including culinary arts, baking and pastry, and hospitality and tourism management, offered by the college. He will also oversee the Conference Services department, which offers rental spaces and event planning services for meetings, conferences, weddings, receptions and banquets.
Since 2015, Rex served as Hospitality and Tourism department chair and has been responsible for leadership and management of the hospitality and tourism programs.
Rex holds dual associate degrees in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Technology from the Culinary Institute of Charleston, where he received a Merit Award; a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management from the University of South Carolina; and an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Prior to joining the college, Rex served as the resort manager for the 3,000-room luxury property The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His hospitality experience also includes positions as the director of front office at the Ravella Resort, assistant executive housekeeper and assistant front desk manager at the MGM Grand and front office manager at the Platinum Hotel, all in Las Vegas.
The Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College offers four associate degrees and 12 certificate programs. For more information, click here.
Sept. 2, 2022 - Trident Technical College president participates in White House event to launch Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative
Trident Technical College President Mary Thornley participated in a White House event in Washington, D.C., Sept. 1 to help launch a new national Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative. U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and First Lady Jill Biden hosted the event for leaders of the initiative. Thornley represented the nation’s community colleges during a panel discussion on expanding apprenticeship opportunities.
The Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative is a national network of employers and industry organizations, labor organizations, educators, workforce intermediaries and community-based organizations who are committed to strengthening and diversifying Registered Apprenticeship. Registered Apprenticeship is a high-quality, debt-free, equitable “earn and learn” model with a nationally recognized credential system that helps employers hire a workforce and provides workers with on-the-job learning experience with a mentor, job-related instruction and a clear pathway to a good-paying job. Trident Technical College is one of more than 200 organizations selected to serve in the first cohort of Apprenticeship Ambassadors. The Apprenticeship Ambassadors have existing Registered Apprenticeship programs in over 40 in-demand industries and have committed to expand and diversify these programs over the next year by collectively: developing 460 new Registered Apprenticeship programs across their 40 industries, hiring over 10,000 new apprentices, and holding 5,000 outreach, promotional and training events to help other business, labor and education leaders launch similar programs. Ambassadors will also use their expertise to scale innovative practices and increase access to Registered Apprenticeship for underserved populations, including women, youth, people of color, rural communities, people with arrest or conviction records, and people with disabilities.
“Registered Apprenticeship programs have power – the power to change lives in remarkable ways and the power to accelerate our economy and build strong communities,” said Thornley. “Trident Technical College and our partners in the Charleston region have seen tremendous successes as a result of our collective commitment to building and providing these high-quality educational opportunities for the citizens in our community. As an Apprenticeship Ambassador we are passionately committed to expanding these opportunities within our community, to sharing this vision with others, and to promoting and supporting the development of Registered Apprenticeships in other communities across the nation.”
Trident Technical College is a national leader in apprenticeships. The college has worked with local employers for more than 40 years to offer adult apprenticeships. Since 2014 the college has worked with employers, Apprenticeship Carolina, local school districts, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce and philanthropic donors to offer youth apprenticeships for high school students. As an Apprenticeship Ambassador, the college has committed to work with more local employers, K-12 partners and community organizers to expand to 400 apprentices across 10 industry sectors in the next year. The college will also develop new Registered Apprenticeship programs in mechatronics, transportation and education. As a partner in New America’s Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) Initiative, Trident Tech is committed to offering technical training to communities across the country so they can rapidly adopt Registered Apprenticeships.
Aug. 3, 2022 - All Trident Tech programs offered tuition free for 2022-23 academic year
All of Trident Technical College’s programs of study will be available tuition free for eligible South Carolina residents for the 2022-23 academic year thanks to additional funding provided by the state.
In recent years South Carolina residents have been able to enroll in a number of career training programs at Trident Tech without paying out of pocket for tuition and fees. With the additional funding from the state, the college is able to offer all of its programs, including its popular university transfer programs, tuition free for the full 2022-23 academic year.
Both new and current students should complete a 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing the FAFSA may provide additional federal and state funding. New students and students who have not been enrolled during the last three semesters must submit a college admission application and be accepted to the college before registering for classes. Other requirements vary based on the type of state aid awarded. The college will first apply any federal and state grants and scholarships awarded, then waive any remaining tuition, registration and course fees. Eligible students can attend either full or part time.
The college offers several terms during the fall semester. The first fall semester classes begin Aug. 22. For more information click here or call 843-574-6111.
July 28, 2022 - Anita Zucker to lead Trident Technical College governing board
InterTech Group Chair Anita Zucker began a two-year term as chair of the Trident Technical College Area Commission July 1 after serving as the commission’s vice chair since 2018.
The college’s nine-member Area Commission governing board is comprised of three members each from Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. Commission members are appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of the legislative delegations in Berkeley and Charleston counties and by the county council in Dorchester County. Zucker represents Charleston County and has served on the commission since 2007. She takes over as chair from Dr. Yvonne Barnes of Berkeley County who served two two-year terms as chair.
The college’s Area Commission members select their chair, vice chair and treasurer every two years through a nomination and voting process. William Blanton of Berkeley County is vice chair of the Area Commission. Margie Morse of Charleston County serves as the commission’s treasurer.
July 26, 2022 - Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeship program celebrates its largest class of apprentices
The Charleston Regional Youth Apprenticeships (CRYA) program celebrated career education with its largest class of apprentices at Signing Day 2022 held Tuesday, July 26, at the College Center on TTC’s Thornley Campus in North Charleston.
The breakfast event, sponsored by Regions Bank, recognized CRYA’s ninth signing class with 90 new youth apprentices, hired by 51 employers across 16 career fields. The students represent all four local school districts, charter and private schools, as well as homeschool associations from the tricounty area.
TTC President Mary Thornley opened the program with a welcome, followed with remarks by Taylor White, national director of Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA) and senior policy advisor for K-12 Education and Workforce, New America. The event was highlighted by a panel discussion facilitated by Thornley with three former youth apprentices who discussed how the program set them up for success in their career fields. The panel consisted of Daniela Figueroa, graduate of Fort Dorchester High School and current Trident Health employee; Byrone Porcher, graduate of Wando High School and current employee at Wild Dunes Resort; and Colton Pitcher, graduate of Cane Bay High School and former Boeing South Carolina apprentice. Pitcher’s mother, Susan Pitcher, also joined the panel discussion as a parent and school counselor.
The discussion was followed by the official signing of the youth apprentices with their employers representing Automotive, Baking and Pastry, CNA/Pre-Nursing, Computer Networking, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Engineering Technician, Hotel Operations, HVAC, Industrial Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Medical Office Assistant, Security/Pre-Law Enforcement, Sterile Processing Technician, Supply Chain Analyst and Welding.
Through CRYA, Trident Tech 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 paid work experience.
All costs associated with the program, including tuition, books and most materials for apprenticeship-related courses at Trident Technical College, are paid for while apprentices are working for a participating employer through the support of several funders. The 2022-23 funders include Apprenticeship Carolina/U.S. Department of Labor, Bank of America, Boeing, Charleston Engineers Joint Council, Mercedes-Benz Vans, Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeships (PAYA), Regions Foundation, Truist and TTC Foundation.
Learn more.
Feb. 18, 2022 - Culinary Institute of Charleston chef to cook on NBC's 'Today' show
Chef Kevin Mitchell will share a taste of the Lowcountry with the rest of the country during live “Today” show cooking demonstrations on Thursday, Feb. 24. Mitchell, a chef instructor at the Culinary Institute of Charleston at Trident Technical College, will cook in the “Today” show’s kitchen during both “Today” and “Today with Hoda & Jenna.” During “Today,” Mitchell will cook fish and grits with tomato gravy. During “Today with Hoda & Jenna,” he’ll cook blackened salmon with curried black-eyed peas and collards.
The NBC show’s crew recently visited the Charleston area and filmed Mitchell at Joseph Fields Farm on Johns Island and in one of his classes in the Culinary Institute’s kitchens on Trident Tech’s North Charleston campus. “Today” show producers are interested in Mitchell’s work as both a culinarian and an historian, and how he connects South Carolina cuisine to the people who helped create it.
After working at restaurants across the country, Mitchell joined the faculty at the Culinary Institute of Charleston in 2008. In addition to holding two degrees from the Culinary Institute of America, he holds a master’s degree in Southern studies from the University of Mississippi. He is a Nathalie Dupree Graduate Fellow of the Southern Foodways Alliance and has served as a South Carolina Chef Ambassador. He and co-author David Shields recently released a story-driven cookbook, “Taste of the State - South Carolina’s Signature Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories,” that provides the rich history behind South Carolina’s signature dishes and their distinctive ingredients.