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Everyone benefits when students stay competitive in today's work force

By Anne S. McNutt
Technical College of the Lowcountry
Published Monday, January 14, 2008
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On the path to the American dream today, there is no detour around post-secondary education. Employers increasingly require their employees to have higher-level skills. Those without at least some education beyond high school find themselves at a serious disadvantage in the job market. Meanwhile, the ethnic and socioeconomic makeup of our citizenry is continuing to evolve across the country and here in the Lowcountry, and employers are relying more than ever on workers from the populations that are least likely to complete their education.

American businesses are competing on a global level as never before. Low-skill jobs largely have moved overseas and available jobs are becoming more technology-dependent. Sixty percent of U.S. jobs are held by workers with at least some post-secondary education or training, and

63 percent of the 18.9 million jobs that will be created by 2014 will require some post-secondary education.

A few examples follow of how the Technical College of the Lowcountry is providing access to the American dream:

• More than 200 individuals who seek challenging and rewarding careers are enrolled in TCL's health care programs (nursing, radiologic technology, surgical technology and massage therapy).They will earn a diploma or associate degree that will lead to a job with an average starting salary of more than $35,000 a year.

• Local teens are enrolling at the college before graduating from high school through the Early College Credit Opportunity program. These students are getting a jump start on their college education.

• To meet employers' needs, the college's business and industrial technology programs offer work-force training in HVAC, building construction, electronics, paralegal, computer technology and general business.

Supporting student success is not only good for the students, it is also good for business. If employers in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties are unable to find enough skilled workers, they will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage, losing out to businesses in other regions and other countries. In addition, area taxpayers may find themselves supporting services for more low-wage workers and the unemployed who are unable to afford services, such as quality health care.

It is more critical than ever to educate the American work force to a higher level, including here in the Lowcountry. The Technical College of the Lowcountry, like community colleges across the country, has a track record of providing access to an affordable, quality education to anyone interested in improving their knowledge and skills, including many whose options are otherwise limited. We are very proud of that record but we all -- our college, our community and our policymakers -- must do a better job of ensuring that the students who enter the doors of TCL walk out having accomplished their goals, ready to contribute their best to the economic and civic life of our region.

While providing access is important, it is not enough if students do not have adequate support to persist and succeed. We must be partners with students in their own success.

That is why the Technical College of the Lowcountry has embarked on a number of efforts designed to help students achieve their goals. TCL is one of more than 80 institutions in

15 states participating in Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative to help more community college students succeed. Through this initiative, we will implement new strategies to improve student achievement and improve our ability to determine what works for students and make critical decisions based on what the evidence shows.

We expect this approach to have a profound impact on the lives of the students directly affected, extending far beyond the personal fortunes of individual students and their families. The future prosperity of our region, our state, and indeed, our nation is at stake. Data show that increasing a state's or a country's average level of schooling by one year results in economic growth ranging between 5 percent and 15 percent.

At the Technical College of the Lowcountry, we have made a good start, but there is much more work to do. We urge members of our community, South Carolina residents and policymakers at all levels to support student success initiatives, such as college readiness programs for high school students, developmental education, student support initiatives, work-force programs, and programs that ease the transfer from the technical colleges to four-year colleges and universities.

We all benefit when students achieve their dreams.

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U.S. Congress
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    Governor’s Office, State House, P.O. Box 12267, Columbia, S.C. 29211
    Office: (803) 734-2100 Fax: (803) 734-5167
  • Senator Tom Davis(R-District 46)
    P.O. Drawer 1107, Beaufort, 29901-1107
    (843) 252-8583
    602 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29201
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  • Rep. Curtis Brantley (D-District 122)
    194 Bees Creek Rd., Ridgeland, 29936
    (843) 726-5998
    314D Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-2965
  • Rep. Richard Chalk (R-District 123)
    326C Blatt Building, Columbia, S.C. 29211-1867
    Office: (803) 734-3067; Home: (843) 842-5985
    15 Goldfinch Lane, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928
  • Rep. Shannon S. Erickson (R-District 124)
    (843) 986-1090
    306A Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-3261
  • Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R-District 118)
    P.O. Box 11867, Columbia, S.C. 29211
    Office: (803) 734-3063; Home: (843) 757-5424
    151 Gascoigne Bluff, Bluffton, S.C. 29910
  • Rep. Kenneth F. Hodges (D-District 121)
    PO Drawer 355, Green Pond, 29446
    (843) 525-9006 Home (843) 844-8756
    434B Blatt Bldg., Columbia, 29201
    (803) 734-3062
Beaufort County
  • Rick Caporale (R-District 1)
    17 Salt Wind Way, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926
    Office: 680-9999; fax: 681-6700
  • Steven Baer (R-District 2)
    10 Heather Lane, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29926
    Office: 689-3570; fax: 689-3569
  • Stu Rodman (R-District 3)
    27 Baynard Park, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29928
    Office: 363-470; fax: 363-6472
  • Weston J. Newton chairman (R-District 4)
    P.O. Drawer 7049, Hilton Head Island, S.C. 29938
    Office: 842-6111; fax: 706-9981
  • William McBride (D-District 5)
    P.O. Box 77, St. Helena Island, SC 29920
    Fax:(843)838-8303
    Home:(843)838-2264
  • Gerald Dawson (D-District 6)
    64-A Horace Dawsone Drive, Seabrook, SC 29940
    Fax:(843)846-4738
    Office:(843)846-4830
  • Paul Sommerville vice chairman (R-District 7)
    1509 Pigeon Point Road, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-7115
    Office:(843)379-7114
  • Herbert N. Glaze (D-District 8)
    P.O. Box 4053, Burton, SC 29903
    Fax:(843)846-3601
    Home:(843)846-2845
  • Brian Flewelling (R- District 9)
    25 Petigru Drive, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-9806
    Office:(843)379-9805
  • Jerry Stewart (R-District 10)
    11 Teaberry Lane, Bluffton, S.C. 29909
    Office: 705-4753; fax: 705-4723
  • Laura Von Harten (D-District 11)
    166 Fuller Parkway, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Fax:(843)379-1380
    Office:(843)379-1367
Beaufort County School District
  • District Office: 1300 King St., P.O. Drawer 309, Beaufort, SC 29902
    Office: 322-2300; fax: 322-2371
    Hilton Head Island office, 689-4635; fax: 689-4617
    • Beaufort County Board of Education members:
    • Fred S. Washington chairman (District 11)
      PO 325, 804 West Street, Beaufort, SC 29901
      (C) 843-524-8404
    • Bob Arundell vice chairman (District 2)
      198 Woodlake Villas, Hilton Head, S.C. 29926
      Home: 681-8502; work: 7855-8040; fax: 785-3056;
    • Joan Deery (District 1)
      5 old Fort Drive, Hilton Head, S.C. 29926
      Home: 681-8968
    • Wayne Carbiener (District 3)
      Home: 843-363-2113
    • Laura Bush (District 4)
      P.O. Box 172, Bluffton, S.C. 29910
      Home: 757-2638; fax: 757-2638
    • Michael F. Rivers, Sr. (District 5)
      734 Seaside Road, St. Helena, SC 29920
      (H) 843-838-2277
      FAX 843-838-1192
    • Earl Campbell (District 6)
      93 Bruce Smalls, Grays Hill, P.O. Box 768, Lobeco, SC 29931
      (H) 843-846-4531
      (C) 843-476-7512
      FAX 843-846-1373
    • Jim Bequette (District 7)
      4 Broomfield Lane 2532, Beaufort, SC 29907
      (H/C) 843-263-8327
    • Herbert Burnes (District 8)
      95 Pine Grove Road, Beaufort, SC 29906
      (H) 843-846-445
      (C) 843-263-2776
    • Ronald Speaks (District 9)
      3121 Palomino Dr., Burton, SC 29906
      (H) 843-525-1163
      (W) 843-525-8277
      FAX 843-525-1163
    • George Wilson (District 10)
      20 Osprey Circle, Callawassie Island, S.C. 29909
      Home: 987-1234; cell: 812-9870
City of Beaufort
Town of Hilton Head Island
  • Town Hall: One Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928; 341-4600
    • Town Council
    • Mayor Thomas D. Peeples
      4 Hartford Place, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928-3922
      Home: 686-4138; office: 681-2600; fax: 689-3229
    • Bill Ferguson (Ward 1)
      634 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 686-2863
    • William Harkins (Ward 2)
      3 Old Fort Lane Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
      263-3261 - cell
    • Drew A. Laughlin (Ward 3)
      5 McIntosh Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 689-5723; work 689-5700; fax 689-9300
    • John Safay (Ward 4)
      19 Starboard Tack, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 785-4489; work: 785-4696; fax: 785-4696
    • George Williams (Ward 5)
      8 Braddock Cove, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 363-6601; fax: 363-6604
    • Ken S. Heitzke (Ward 6)
      3 Audubon Place, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
      Home: 681-8182; fax: 681-9864
Town of Bluffton
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