May 18, 2026 – The S.C. Legislature approved the bill on May 14, 2026, authorizing institutions in the S.C. Technical College System to offer the Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management degree.
“We appreciate the leadership of Sen. Larry Grooms and Rep. Leon Stavrinakis, along with other members of the House and Senate, in sponsoring legislation that enables Trident Technical College to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree,” said TTC President Dr. Vicky Wood.
The bachelor’s degree proposal originated from a workforce need identified by TTC’s culinary industry partners. Industry leaders who traveled to Columbia to give supporting testimony included Helen Hill, president and CEO of Explore Charleston; Daniel Blumenstock, director of hotels for Fennell Holdings; and Tommy Hall, president and CEO of Hall Management Group.
Anita Zucker, chair of the TTC Area Commission, Dr. Wood and Nathan Rex, dean of the Culinary Institute of Charleston, also testified.
Tourism generates more than $30 billion in economic activity statewide and supports over 200,000 jobs, underscoring the importance of South Carolina’s culinary and hospitality industries. In the Charleston region alone, tourism generates more than $14 billion annually and supports tens of thousands of jobs.
“This program will strengthen our workforce pipeline, retain local talent and ensure that our culinary and hospitality sectors continue to exceed the expectations of discerning visitors,” says Hill.
The four-year degree at Trident Technical College will focus on culinary leadership and advanced operations, building on the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s nationally recognized associate degree programs. TTC will also collaborate with other S.C. technical colleges to create seamless associate-to-bachelor pathways.
“A bachelor’s degree program in Culinary Arts Management fills a workforce gap by providing advanced culinary education. The industry needs people who possess advanced education in culinary and food science, culinary innovation, food systems and sustainability, complex kitchen operations and entrepreneurship,” says Dr. Wood.
Before the program can be offered, the legislation must be signed by the governor and receive approval from the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the college’s regional accrediting body.