Selling Points of Tech Career Pathways at TCTC

Two years ago, business, industry and education partners gathered to strategize and develop action plans to encourage high school students to choose careers in advanced manufacturing. “The goal was to develop action plans to increase the pace and number of high school students who are pursuing technical degrees in preparation for careers in advanced manufacturing,” said Amanda Blanton, director of high school engagement and outreach at Tri-County Technical College. “We left with lots of good material used to form Curriculum, Counseling and Communication and Middle School Committees, all with the goal of communicating with students and their parents about technical career pathways and how they meet the needs of today’s workplace,” said Blanton. Industry and education leaders reconvened March 3 for the second annual business and education forum to hear updates on what has been accomplished and what programs are on the horizon to encourage high school students to choose careers in advanced manufacturing. In just two years, Tri-County’s Technical Career Pathways (TCP) program has grown from seven students in one district to 166 students from all seven school districts, Blanton reported. The program gives students a head start on college, allowing them to complete an associate degree in a technical program within one year of full-time study after high school. Blanton has worked with public school officials and business and industry leaders for more than two years to develop this unique technical career pathways program with school districts to provide students with the employer-defined skills needed in advanced manufacturing and other STEM-related careers. A $1 million state-funded proviso is making it possible for these high school students to take college courses in technical career pathways with little or no out-of-pocket cost. Tuition and related expenses are funded under the proviso. Each program is unique to each district and includes pathways for Automotive Technology, Mechatronics, Industrial Electronics, HVAC and Welding. In addition to developing pathways to support advanced manufacturing, this year Blanton expanded pathways in health, business and public services programs. Like the technical pathways, students may be awarded TAP credit for articulated high school courses and begin taking college courses that give students a head start toward their associate degree. For the first time last fall, students from four high schools in Anderson and Oconee County School Districts were enrolled in a basic Welding class taught at the College’s Industrial Technology Center (ITC) in Sandy Springs. Ten students, seven seniors and three juniors from Belton-Honea Path, Crescent, T.L. Hanna and Seneca high schools, were enrolled in Welding 111 through the TCP program. In addition to the 10 TCP Welding students at the ITC, there were 18 TCP Welding students at the Anderson 1 and 2 Career and Technology Center in Williamston for 28 TCP Welding students last fall. The forum’s keynote speaker, Larry Smith, retired manager of Schneider Electric in Seneca, said, “Technical Career Pathways classes give students a running start. After one year in the pathways classes in high school and one year at Tri-County, graduates can land a job at Schneider Electric making $40,000 a year straight out of school. In three years, they can earn $60,000 and have no college debt because of the efficiency of these programs. A great starting point. No debt. These are just three of the many selling points of the Technical Career Pathways program,” he said. The Business and Industry Expo II was hosted by The Clemson Center for Workforce Development, Partnership for Academic and Career Education, Tri-County Regional Education Center, S.C. Department of Commerce and Tri-County Technical College.