Have you ever wondered how colleges develop new degrees and programs? For two-year colleges, new offerings are directly tied to employer needs. Our role is to make sure that the companies in our community have the educational options available to access a skilled workforce. When those employers have an unmet need, we create an answer.
That’s how Greenville Technical College’s applied baccalaureate in advanced manufacturing technology came to be. The need for this educational option was voiced by some of our area’s strongest manufacturing employers including Michelin, GE, and Bosch Rexroth. The first step toward offering the degree was legislative approval. In June, the South Carolina House and Senate passed a bill allowing us to move forward with the curriculum. Last week, Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill, a critical step forward for our state. Now, Greenville Technical College is seeking necessary approvals from the state Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and our accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Soon, we expect to have the program up and running, allowing companies in our area to grow and succeed.