TCTC to offer General Ed Classes at Watkins Center

Forty-five Belton-Honea Path seniors attended a special Tri-County Technical College enrollment day at the Watkins Center April 10 and registered for their freshman classes.  For the first time this fall, general education credit courses will be offered at the Senator Billy O’Dell Learning Center in downtown Honea Path’s community center. “After gathering the names of students who had applied last fall at our high school application days, we scheduled this event at the Watkins Center, especially for BHP seniors.  They were amazed they could meet with an advisor to plan their schedules, go to a lab and register for fall classes and leave with their class schedule in hand,” said Renae Frazier, director of recruitment and admissions at Tri-County. In 2009 community leaders, residents, and College officials gathered at the Watkins Community Center in Honea Path to celebrate the dedication of the College’s new Learning Center named in honor of Senator Billy O’Dell.  At the dedication ceremony, Tri-County President Ronnie L. Booth said,  “This is a foundation piece for us and a way to bring college to your community.  We will do all that we can to meet community needs.” Earlier this year, several members of the College’s President’s Advisory Council gathered to brainstorm about ways to grow the College’s presence in Honea Path.  They also discussed assessing the community’s educational needs and how to offer a slate of classes at the Watkins Center.  This group later met with Anderson School District 2 administrators, guidance counselors and community leaders, including Tri-County Commissioner Al Young, who is president and CEO of The Commercial Bank in Honea Path, to determine course offerings.   “We learned that the community wants credit and non-credit classes, along with dual enrollment classes for high school juniors and seniors, which have never been taught there before,” said Frazier.  This fall Honea Path residents will be able to take the following core courses:  English 101 (dual enrollment), History 102 (dual enrollment), English 101, CPT 170, Math 101/102 (Fast Track), English 032/100 (Fast Track), Reading 100 and Math 120.