MTC nursing instructor
and daughter help save neighbor's life
Five days after passing her
boards, a December 2007 graduate of Clemson
University’s College of Health, Education, and
Human Development School of Nursing put her
skills to work to save the life of her neighbor.
Taking advantage of her
post-graduation freedom to visit her
grandparents in Florida, Angela Ciuca, her
mother and sister climbed into the car during
the second week of February and set out south
for a much-deserved break.
They didn’t get too far
before “divine intervention,” as Ciuca explains
it, seemingly forced the family to turn back
home so that they could ensure that the oven was
off.
Their home secure, the trio
again set sail again. Cruising out of the
neighborhood, they noticed an ambulance marked
with the words “Fire Safety” sitting outside the
home of an elderly neighbor.
“Not knowing the full
capability of a fire rescue worker, Mom, who is
also a nurse, and I entered the house to make
sure everything was OK,” said Ciuca. “The two
firemen looked terrified holding up the two pads
of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
machine.”
The mother and daughter
team quickly learned from the rescue workers
that the neighbor had collapsed in his bedroom
and had no pulse.
“The two men asked who we
were, and at first I wanted to respond, ‘I'm the
neighbor,’ but realized this was the first time
I could announce myself as being a nurse,” said
Ciuca. “Mom and I did CPR side by side and had
to shock the man three times.”
By the time paramedics
arrived, Ciuca and her mother, Geniene Ciuca, a
nursing instructor at Midlands Technical
College, had helped the neighbor regain a steady
pulse and a heart rhythm safe enough that an AED
was no longer necessary.
“I even had to start an IV
on him. I had only ever done two in school,”
said the recent graduate. “It was a surreal
moment where the world stopped and something
within took over. We did CPR for 30 minutes. (It
was) like I had been doing it my whole life.”
The paramedics further
stabilized the neighbor and transported him to
the hospital. The Ciuca family made their way to
Florida with an inspirational story to tell of
education and life.
“No matter what statistics
say or grades that I received in school, I know
I had a good education because the knowledge I
came up with that day came from inside,” said
Ciuca. It felt good to save a life and a moment
I'm not soon to forget.”
Midlands Technical College receives $2.6 million
to support community-based job training
Federal funds and local support assist in
addressing the critical shortage in area health
care professionals
Midlands Technical College
will receive $1,964,563 from the US Department
of Labor to support the college’s
Community-Based Job Training program, Creating
Capacity in Health Services. MTC’s partners
from the private and public sector, healthcare
and education, will provide an additional
$634,500 in in-kind services and matching
funding in support of the initiative. The
college’s partners include the Midlands
Workforce Development Board, the Midlands
Education and Business Alliance (MEBA), the
Central SC Alliance, Doctors Care, South
Carolina OB/GYN, Palmetto Health, and the South
Carolina Midlands Emergency Medical Service
Management Association.
Community-Based Job
Training programs support career education for
high growth industries through the nation's
community and technical colleges. Of the nearly
400 proposals submitted to the US Department of
Labor, Midlands Technical College is the only
South Carolina college to receive this
competitive federal assistance.
Commitments made through a
robust community support system were critical in
leveraging the receipt of competitive federal
dollars. The partnership is indicative of the
collaboration between Midlands Technical
College, the healthcare community and the
region’s community-based health organizations.
The program will strengthen
MTC’s ability to respond to the critical
healthcare employee shortage facing the region.
Through Creating Capacity in Health Services,
Midlands Technical College will connect
potential health science students to targeted
counseling and assessment services giving them a
broad understanding of the spectrum of career
possibilities within the healthcare field. The
program provides a progressive career track for
entry-level students to include incremental
credential upgrading, clinical experiences,
tutoring and participant tracking.
“It is vitally important to
the economy and well-being of this region that
we promote interest in high-demand healthcare
fields,” said Dr. Barry Russell, MTC President.
“This is not just a problem for our region; it
is a critical concern for healthcare providers
nationally.”
A unique component of MTC’s
Creating Capacity program is the development of
a health services career ladder. Through it,
Midlands Technical College will provide
solutions to the tactical problems faced in
introducing more individuals into the health
professions pipeline.
“We did a critical
evaluation of the needs of local healthcare
providers and realized the college could guide
students into a variety of health related
professions,” said Dr. Gina Mounfield, MTC Vice
President for Career Programs. “We expect this
program to play a significant role in ensuring a
continuity of qualified employees for the
comprehensive healthcare industry.”
“We value the caliber and
skill level of graduates of Midlands Technical
College’s varied health sciences programs,” said
Willis Gregory, Senior Vice President for Human
Resources at Palmetto Health. “We welcome the
opportunity to be able to hire additional staff
from the pool that will be trained under this
new program.” Willis said the Creating Capacity
in Health Services program is “a sound, logical
method to systematically and strategically
address the challenges faced by our industry.”
Mike Briggs, Executive
Director of the Central SC Alliance, pledged his
organization’s support in implementing the
Creating Capacity initiative. “We are helping to
guide the implementation of this aggressive,
dynamic program that will address the critical
skill needs in what is the largest labor market
segment in the Midlands,” said Briggs.
Creating Capacity in Health
Services participants will receive interventions
that will significantly reduce the rate of
attrition, and subsequently advance completion
rates and provide additional workers to the
regional health services system.
"Regional unemployment is
very high, so it seems illogical that there is
such a health services labor shortage. MTC’s
health sciences programs are essential to
meeting the employment needs of Doctors Care,"
said Jerry Wells, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, Doctors Care.
“Therefore, finding a way to increase MTC’s
capacity to meet our staffing needs is essential
to providing the community with the best in
emergency medical care,” said Wells.
At least 429 area
participants will be served in the first year.
Midlands
Technical College Recognized One of the Nation’s
50 Fastest-Growing Two-Year Colleges
Midlands Technical College
ranks among the nation’s top 50 fastest-growing
public two-year colleges.
In a recent study published in Community
College Week, MTC ranked 35 nationally among
peer colleges with enrollments larger than 10,000
students.
The article compared U.S.
Department of Education data on student enrollment
between fall 2002 and fall 2003, during which time
period Midlands Technical College showed a 6
percent increase.
The college enrolled nearly 11,000 credit
students in fall 2004.
“We are excited about the
growth of Midlands Technical College because it
demonstrates the impact being made by the college
in higher education for the region,” said MTC
President Barry Russell. “With a superb faculty,
excellent classroom technology and a supportive
learning environment, the college provides
affordable, accessible higher education relevant
to knowledge economy careers. Midlands
Technical College prides itself on its service to
our students and the region.”
Midlands Technical College
offers approximately 100 Associate Degree, diploma
and certificate programs of study. About 70
percent of studies are in the Career Programs
area. A
strong college transfer program allows students
the opportunity to take the first two years of a
baccalaureate degree and transfer to one of the
state’s four-year institutions.
Midlands Technical College is currently the
largest source of transfer students to Columbia
College and the University of South
Carolina-Columbia.
 MTC’s Dianne
Luce selected as 2004 Governor’s Professor of the Year
Governor Mark Sanford announced this
year’s Professors of the Year during a press conference
today at the SC State House.
Midlands Technical College’s English instructor Dr.
Dianne Luce was named the award recipient for two-year
colleges.
The S.C. Commission on Higher Education
selects recipients annually to recognize excellence in
teaching in the state's institutions of higher education. This
is the third time in the past four years that a Midlands
Technical College instructor has been selected to receive this
honor. Last year
Dr. Martha Hanks was the recipient.
Dr. Dianne Luce has been an educator for
22 years, 20 of which have been spent at Midlands Technical
College. During those years she has served as instructor, coordinator
of transfer programs, associate dean and department chair.
In each of these capacities, Dr. Luce has sought what
best contributes to student success and has worked with
students, other faculty and administrators to accomplish this. She employs multiple teaching strategies including class
discussion, conferencing, small group work, peer review,
workshops, mini-lectures and guided in-class work.
Current chair of the MTC English
department, Diane Carr, assesses her teaching. “In observing
Dianne’s class, I was struck by her clear instruction and
advice on the research process, the attention she paid to the
skills students were learning and the good rapport she had
established with and among her students.”
Dr. Luce has received numerous
prestigious teaching honors at local, national and
international levels:
-
1992 Hayes-Crolley Distinguished
Lecturer in Arts & Sciences, Midlands Technical
College
-
1992 NISOD (National Institute for
Staff and Organizational Development) Award for Excellence
in Teaching
-
1996 Visiting Fellow, Department of
English, Australian National University, Canberra,
Australia
“While serving as department chair, she
kept faculty and staff focused on student needs as they
revised curriculum and integrated technology,” said Dr. Ron
Drayton, MTC Vice President of Arts and Sciences. “Dianne
constantly reminded her colleagues about the importance of
focusing on learning and learning outcomes as they considered
new and innovative educational approaches.”
Dr. Luce is also active in various
professional organizations helping her to stay current with
the latest research in her field. These professional
memberships also allow her to share her expertise with the
scholarly community. Some
of her memberships include:
-
President, Cormac McCarthy Society,
1998-present
-
Editorial Advisory Board, Cormac
McCarthy Journal, 1997 – present
-
Vice President, Cormac McCarthy
Society, 1995-1998
-
President, South Carolina Association
of Departments of English, 2002-2003
-
President, South Atlantic Association
of Departments of English, 2000-2001
-
Vice President, South Atlantic
Association of Departments of English, 1999-2000
-
Administrative Committee, South
Atlantic Association of Departments of English, 1998-2000
Dr. Luce received her Bachelor of Science
degree in English from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in
1969. She later received her Master of Arts degree in English from
University of Chicago in 1973.
In 1980, she earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree
from University of South Carolina.
The Commission on Higher Education has
selected twenty-two faculty members as recipients for the
Governor's Professor of the Year from 1988 to 2002, 11 from
public senior institutions, four from private senior
institutions and seven from public two-year institutions.
MTC has had four of the seven from the public two-year
college sector. Recipients are selected from written
nomination forms and supporting materials and are also
interviewed by the selection committee.
 |
|
Pictured
in the photo from left to right:
Front row: Judy Long, Tamara Holmes; 2nd
row: Paula Rauch; 3rd row: Kathy Harrison,
Kathryne Gardner; 4th row: Jon Curry,
Becky Kukla. (Not pictured: Kameisha
Foster, Crystal Michael, and Michele
Moscato) |
Midlands Technical
College Inducts Students into National Technical
Honor Society
Midlands Technical College
recently inducted 10 new members into the National
Technical Honor Society at the college’s Airport
Campus. MTC’s
chapter of NTHS is open to eligible Career
Programs students who achieve and maintain a 3.0
GPA in majors from Health Sciences, Nursing,
Industrial Technology, Engineering Technology,
Business Technology and Information Systems
Technology. Family
and friends of the honorees as well as college
faculty and administrators attended the ceremony
in support of Midlands Technical College’s
outstanding Career Programs students.
Governor
Signs Midlands Technical College’s Enterprise
Campus Bill
Economy to Benefit From
New Business Growth
Governor Mark Sanford signed
legislation this week that gives Midlands
Technical College the green light to work with
private businesses to develop the college’s
Enterprise Campus in Northeast Columbia.
The college is setting aside 100 acres
adjacent to the MTC Center of Excellence for
Technology for development through public-private
partnerships. The area is considered a prime location for entrepreneurs
because of its proximity to the Carolina Research
Park and I-77.
Sites on the campus will be leased and
developed through the Midlands Technical College
Enterprise Authority.
“Not only will the
Enterprise Campus present an innovative
opportunity to create new businesses for the
region’s economy, but it will provide
opportunities for our students to learn in a
business setting and to position themselves to
move into careers within the knowledge economy,”
said MTC President Barry Russell.
The Enterprise Campus will
provide a physical, in-state location for
commercialization of research and serve as a
second-tier incubator for companies who can derive
benefit from a close proximity to technical
college students and facilities. Discussions have
begun with private firms to assess the next phase
of the campus development.
The MTC Center of Excellence
for Technology is the anchor facility on the
Enterprise Campus. Its 50,000 square feet of
innovative learning space includes a full scale
manufacturing floor, metrology lab, IT classrooms
and an auditorium that offers full connectivity
for meetings and conferencing.
Mathematics
Professor Receives NISOD Award
John Long, math instructor at Midlands
Technical College, recently received the esteemed National
Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)
Award at the organization’s 26th annual
conference held in Austin, Texas.
Since joining MTC more than 30 years ago,
Long has played many significant roles including serving as a
math mentor to many students and working with the annual
Midlands Math Meet.
Long’s nominator said, “John has a
long history of exceptional service to Midlands Technical
College. His student evaluations of instruction are always
outstanding.”
The NISOD Awards were started to
reinforce the primacy of teaching and to celebrate both
instructors and programs that make good on the promise of the
open door.
During the past two years Long’s focus
has been to incorporate resources in the media-equipped
classrooms into instruction.
This has included use of publisher-supplied materials,
Internet resources and materials developed by Long.
The content has been for use in courses including
Calculus and Differential Equations.
Long also teaches math courses via the
college’s telecast system.
The result of these efforts has led to the project goal
of having a package of instructional materials for Calculus I,
II and III and Differential Equations. The package includes 50
hours of video lecture, class notes, sample tests with
solutions and laboratory demonstrations of applications.
“Seeing students develop career goals
and learn how mathematics enhances goal achievement is
exciting. I serve as a role model that is excited about mathematical
problem solving, cares about students, always strives for
excellence and always eager to learn,” commented Long.
Long graduated from Appalachian State
University where he earned both his Master of Art degree and
Bachelor of Science degree.
“The greatest rewards in teaching come
from the successful experiences of our students.
My students are so very interesting; they have so much
they can teach me. By listening to them, their vast
experiences become my experiences,” said Long.
Since its beginning in 1978, the National
Institute for Staff and Organizational Development has
emphasized the importance of teaching excellence in open-door
settings. NISOD conferences and publications endeavor to
reinforce the primacy of teaching and to celebrate instructors
programs that make good on the promise of the open door.
 Midlands Technical College Receives Highest Ranking from CHE
First and only two-year college in eight-year performance funding history to achieve Substantially Exceeds category
The SC Commission on Higher Education (CHE) announced today that
Midlands Technical obtained a Substantially Exceeds ranking on its Performance Funding evaluation. Of the 16
technical colleges in the SC Technical College System, MTC is the first and only two-year college to ever
receive this ranking in the eight-year history of the Commission's Performance Funding evaluation process.
Performance funding is a system for evaluating educational quality of the 33 higher education institutions in the state based on their institutional performance. Two other higher education institutions received the Substantially Exceeds ranking in this cycle. They are the University of South Carolina-Columbia and Winthrop University.
On a scale of 3.0, Midlands Technical College recorded a Performance Year 8 Score of 2.9, with an average overall performance rating of 97 percent. This score was based on the college’s performance on the following indicators: adoption of strategic plan and attainment of goals, academic and other credentials of faculty, compensation of faculty, accreditation of degree granting programs, cooperation and collaboration, graduation rate, results of graduates on professional examinations and accessibility of the institution to all citizens of the state.
"We are proud of the Commission on Higher Education’s acknowledgment of our high quality programs, services, faculty and staff," said Barry Russell, President of Midlands Technical College. At
MTC, we work diligently to create a model curriculum for our students allowing them to gain quality education related to Knowledge Economy careers through collaborative efforts with public and private industries,"
"The CHE ranking will help the college continue positioning itself to improve economic development and create a competitive workforce in the Midlands," continued Dr. Russell.
Performance Funding began as part of an educational initiative began by the SC Legislature that called for changes in higher education. According to the Commission on Higher Education, in the past seven years, performance funding rankings in South Carolina have focused the attention of state leaders on the value of a college education as related to the state’s economic development and quality of life.
A leader in creating an innovative learning environment, Midlands Technical College is a comprehensive, public, two-year college serving Richland, Lexington and Fairfield counties of South Carolina. With more than 90 programs of study, the college serves approximately 11,000 credit students through courses leading to associate degrees, diplomas and certificates. Additionally, through MTC Continuing Education the college provides professional and career training and development through open enrollment and customized courses to approximately 30,000 individuals from area businesses, industries, and governmental and health agencies.
To learn more about Midlands Technical College visit www.midlandstech.edu
For additional information on Performance Funding visit www.che400.state.sc.us
Martha
Hanks Named Governor’s Professor of the Year
Governor
Mark Sanford announced today that Martha Hanks,
Midlands Technical College Program Director of Allied
Dental Education, is the 2003 Governor’s
Professor of the Year for two-year colleges. The
S.C. Commission on Higher Education selects
recipients annually to recognize excellence in
teaching in the state's institutions of higher
education.
Martha
has served as an educator for 19 years, devoting
14 of those years to MTC.
“Dr.
Hanks exemplifies service and dedication to the
teaching profession.
She is a creative and inquisitive leader.
This leadership has led to an outstanding
dental program where the students consistently
perform above the national average,” said Gina
Mounfield, MTC Vice President for Career Programs.
Her
love and respect for the field of dentistry is
exemplified through her commitment to community
service and volunteerism. Dr. Hanks has served as the President of the SC Biology
Teachers Association; the SC Hygiene Educator
Liaison for Southern Regional Testing Agency; and
is a member of the Children’s Dental Clinic
Advisory Board.
Additionally, she is a member of the
American Association of Dental Educators, and the
author of Nitrous Oxide Video and Infiltration
Anesthesia Courses, which are currently used in
two-year colleges throughout the state.
In
addition to being admired and respected by her
colleagues, Dr. Hanks is regarded as a wonderful
mentor and educator by many of her students.
“Dr. Martha Hanks is one of the most
respected women I know in the dental field.
She has a great ability to teach, touch her
students and [can] maintain the curriculum of the
dental programs at the same time. She also instilled the importance of community service and
giving back to others,” said Dawn Wright, RDH,
former student.
Dr.
Martha Hanks has received numerous awards for her
diligence in the field of dentistry including the
2000-01 Teacher of the Year Award from the
National Institute for Staff and Organizational
Development.
“Midlands
Technical College is an institution that prides
itself on teaching and academic excellence,”
said Dr. Barry Russell, MTC President. “It is an honor to have Dr. Hanks recognized by Gov.
Sanford for her excellence in teaching, but it is
also an honor to have her as a part of the MTC
faculty,” said Dr. Russell.
Dr.
Hanks is the third member of the Midlands
Technical College faculty to be selected as
Governor’s Professor of the Year.
Alumni Professor Peggy McClure, chemistry
instructor at MTC, received the award in 1998, and
Alumni Professor Dixon Durham, history instructor,
was the recipient in 2001.
The
Commission on Higher Education has selected
twenty-two faculty members as recipients for the
Governor's Professor of the Year from 1988 to
2002, 11 from public senior institutions, four
from private senior institutions and seven from
public two-year institutions.
Recipients are selected from written
nomination forms and supporting materials and are
also interviewed by the selection committee.
As
a graduate of Brookland-Cayce High School as
valedictorian in 1970, Dr. Hanks, director of
Midlands Technical College’s Allied Dental
Education Program, received her Bachelor of
Science degree in Biology from the University of
South Carolina in 1972.
She later received her Master of Arts in
Teaching from USC in 1974. Because Hanks’ father was a military veteran, she was able
to continue her education at the University of
North Carolina through a Health Professions
scholarship provided through the armed forces.
In 1980, Hanks obtained her Doctor of
Dental Surgery degree from UNC.
S.C.
Physicians Care Charity Pledges $675,000 to the
Midlands Technical College Foundation’s Investing
in the Future Campaign
South Carolina Physicians
Care Charity, Inc., a non-profit foundation,
committed to funding initiatives to improve the
health and wellness of the citizens of South
Carolina has pledged $675,000 to the Midlands
Technical College Foundation.
This is the largest gift received from a
single entity by the MTC Foundation in its
history. The
donation was given to help the college increase
the number of qualified graduates heading into
healthcare professions in the region.
The gift by South Carolina
Physicians Care Charity, Inc. will make it
possible for the MTC Radiologic Technology and the
Surgical Technology Programs to increase their
class size by funding an additional full-time
faculty position in each program.
MTC President Barry Russell said the Charity’s pledge will have a tremendous impact because it
directly increases the number of available
graduates in these two critical health areas and
allows the college to continue to build on the
strengths of both the Radiologic Technology and
Surgical Technology Programs.
“I am pleased South
Carolina Physicians Care Charity, Inc. has donated
these funds in support of the college’s mission
to attract and retain highly qualified faculty to
assure the highest quality education in the health
sciences for our students,” Russell said. “Without adequate faculty, our ability to meet the acute
shortages we now face is limited.”
South Carolina Physicians
Care Charity’s executive director, Gene Beckman,
said the Charity is vitally interested in making a
difference for the people of this region.
Members of the Charity include:
Rice R. Holcombe, M.D., Chair of the Board
of Directors; Harold A. Moore, M.D.; Randall B.
Neil; Herbert B. Niestat, M.D.; Paul R. Oken; and
John C. Rawl, M.D.
Midlands Technical College
enrolls approximately 11,000 credit students each
fall; the college has a thirty percent student
concentration in Nursing and Health Science
programs. The MTC Foundation’s Investing in the Future Campaign
has raised $4.2 million of its five year $5
million goal in the first 18 months of the
campaign.
Other significant initiatives
funded by South Carolina Physicians Care Charity,
Inc. include the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation, the American Lung Association of South
Carolina and funding research through the
Alzheimer’s Association-Palmetto Chapter.
The Charity directly assists
individuals through grants to Make-A-Wish
Foundation, Sister Care, the Assessment and
Resource Center of Columbia and the Durant Home of
the Pee Dee Coalition in Florence.
Last year, South Carolina Physicians Care
Charity, Inc. provided personal protective
equipment to more than 50 South Carolina fire
departments.
In addition to the
Charity’s five-year funding commitment in
support of MTC’s Radiologic Technology and
Surgical Technology Programs, current projects
include the purchase of state-of-the-art research
equipment for use at the Cystic Fibrosis Center at
the Medical University of South Carolina and
funding support for South Carolina State
University nursing students to attend a
professional development conference.
South Carolina Physicians
Care Charity, Inc. is a non-profit affiliate of
Carolina Care Plan, Inc.
 Midlands
Technical College Announces Major Initiatives to
Support the Region’s Advanced Manufacturing
Industry
Plans endorsed by S.C. Secretary of Commerce
Bob Faith
In conjunction with South
Carolina Industry Appreciation Week, the S.C.
Department of Commerce and Midlands Technical
College (MTC) announced today key MTC initiatives
to enhance and promote advanced manufacturing in
the Central Midlands region.
The 11:30 a.m. press
conference at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Columbia
was held in conjunction with the Department of
Commerce’s S.C. Ambassadors for Economic
Development presentations honoring business and
industry leaders from throughout the state.
The announcement reflected the college’s
commitment to collaboration with government,
business and other sectors of higher education in
economic development and fostering a
knowledge-based workforce.
S.C. Secretary of Commerce
Bob Faith was joined by MTC President Barry
Russell as both recognized that the Department of
Commerce and the college are supportive of the
research universities’ economic plans to propel
the economy forward by the establishment of
endowed chairs, and affirmed that university
research will be the engine that drives the new
economy in the state.
Russell and Faith then strongly stated that
MTC and the state’s other two-year colleges must
be positioned to provide the technically skilled
workforce needed to operationalize any prospective
research-driven businesses and to create
opportunity for widespread job growth.
“The state’s economic
engine will not be successful without the fuel to
propel it,” said Commerce Secretary Bob Faith.
“In our state, that essential fuel is the
educated, technically skilled workforce that will
attract and retain knowledge-based business.”
In response to the region’s
critical need for employees skilled in advanced
manufacturing, MTC announced the A&E phase of
construction has begun on a new 16,000 square-foot
multi-million dollar Precision Machining facility
on the college’s Beltline Campus. Russell also
commented that the college has inaugurated
TurningPoint, a program combining high school
participation with nationally certified machining
courses at MTC.
These measures follow last April’s grand
opening of the college’s Center of Excellence
for manufacturing located adjacent to the Carolina
Research Park in Northeast Columbia.
The new state-of-the-art
Precision Machining facility will be equipped to
teach students how to develop working prototypes
of any machined product.
This facility and its equipment will expose
students to the best practices available in the
precision machining industry.
MTC will use the facility to further
improve flow of technical employees to the
advanced manufacturing industry in the region.
“The
new Precision Machining facility will offer an
essential element in the economic growth formula
for the region by blending research-based job
skill training with the exploration of emerging
business needs,” stated Russell.
Illustrating
the college’s commitment to the success of
students and its support for economic growth of
the region, Midlands Technical College is
partnering with area high schools to develop
TurningPoint, a program designed to expand the
manufacturing workforce by providing a seamless
stream of skilled employees into the advanced
manufacturing sector.
TurningPoint prepares
students in area high schools to take the National
Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)
certification exam and to receive credit for
college-level coursework.
The effort also supports faculty becoming
NIMS certified.
This designation is recognized nationwide
as standard of excellence in the profession.
According to MTC president Barry Russell,
by building a curriculum ladder between high
schools and the college, TurningPoint presents
students with the opportunity to secure the
education necessary to enter the lucrative careers
available in the advanced manufacturing industry.
“Through the opening of
MTC’s new Precision Machining facility and the
development of the TurningPoint program, MTC is
demonstrating its proactive approach to economic
development through preparation of the
workforce.” Russell stated.
“In the past 10 years, new
or expanded manufacturing facilities in the
Palmetto state provided capital investments of
more than $25 billion, creating nearly 153,000
additional jobs,” said Faith. “Without
programs like those provided by Midlands Technical
College, the people of South Carolina will not be
able to take full advantage of the coming
potential for prosperity to be found in these new
careers.”
Drawings of the proposed
Beltline facility and a detailed scale model were
on display at the press conference. Construction will begin in early spring 2004 with an expected
completion date of May 2005.
Classes are scheduled to begin in the new
facility in Fall 2005.
First
Citizens Bank Pledges $100,000 Unrestricted Gift
To MTC Foundation’s First Major Gifts Campaign
First Citizens Bank has
pledged an unrestricted $100,000 gift to the
Midlands Technical College Foundation’s major
gifts campaign, Investing
in the Future.
Investing in the Future
assists the college in providing relevant
education that is highly accessible, flexible, and
capable of meeting the changing technological
needs of the marketplace. The campaign supports
teaching excellence and educational options, as
well as provides access for the emerging
workforce, workers in transition and the existing
workforce.
First Citizens Chairman and
CEO Jim Apple expressed the sentiment of his bank
in making this contribution: "It is our
sincere belief that investing in education has the
greatest potential for benefit in terms of the
workforce and quality of life here in the
Midlands. We are delighted to play a role in
shaping the economic futures for so many potential
students."
“We are very pleased to
accept this investment from First Citizens
Bank,” said MTC President Barry Russell. “This generous donation will allow us to continue providing
a pathway to success for both students and their
employers.”
 SCANA
Pledges $100,000 to MTC Foundation’s First Major Gifts
Campaign, Investing in
the Future
SCANA Corporation is pledging $100,000 to
the Midlands Technical College Foundation’s Investing
in the Future major gifts campaign.
This pledge will support the campaign’s Endowment for
Excellence in Technology.
The endowment will assist the college in providing
innovative solutions for regional economic development and a
technically skilled workforce. Investing
in the Future has received more than $3 million in gifts
and pledges during the first year of a 5-year campaign.
By establishing the Endowment for
Excellence in Technology, MTC benefits from private support to
maintain college wide technological excellence in its
state-of-the-art training laboratories.
This endowment also supports the college’s new Center
of Excellence for Technology, an outstanding interactive
training site equipped to handle the high volume, high skills
and flexible education necessary to advance the careers of
individuals and meet the demands of business and industry.
Additionally, the Endowment for Excellence in
Technology will enhance the region’s ability to train the
skilled high-technology workers needed by area employers.
SCANA Chairman and CEO Bill Timmerman
said, “We are pleased to be part of Investing in the
Future, which will help attract high tech businesses to
the region by training the highly skilled workers they
require. Midlands Technical College always plays an integral
role in economic development for the Midlands area by working
closely with employers and prospective employers to meet their
workforce needs.”
Investing in the Future is the MTC
Foundation Board initiative to provide private support for the
college. The
campaign will enhance the college’s ability to deliver
relevant education that is highly accessible, flexible and
able to meet the changing technological needs of the
marketplace. The
campaign supports teaching excellence and educational options
for the emerging workforce, workers in transition and the
existing workforce.
“We are very pleased to accept this
gift from SCANA,” said MTC president Barry Russell.
“This investment will assist us in providing a
pathway to success for both students and their employers.
Additionally, the gift will aid the college in meeting
the challenges of the expanding economy and is a model for the
collaborative partnerships MTC must continue to forge.”
 Sercer Elected
Chair of MTC Commission
Dr. Pete E. Sercer was elected to serve a
two-year term as the next chair of the Midlands Technical
College (MTC) Commission at the June 18, 2003 meeting.
Sercer represents Richland County and has served 13
years on the MTC Commission.
The MTC Commission is comprised of 12 leading citizens
who are appointed by the governor, upon the recommendation of
their respective legislative delegations, to serve as trustees
for the college.
Prior to being elected chair, Sercer
served as vice chair of the Commission.
Serving more than 20 years in the U.S. Air Force,
Sercer concluded his service with five years as Director of
Intelligence, Headquarters 9th Air Force at Shaw
Air Force Base.
In 1984, Sercer retired from the Air
Force as a colonel and became the Senior Aerospace Science
Instructor of the Irmo High School Air Force Junior ROTC Unit,
a position he still holds. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Sercer serves
as president of the South Carolina Association of Technical
College Commissioners and is extensively involved in Rotary
Club, which he served as Assistant District Governor for three
years. Sercer has
received a variety of awards and held numerous leadership
positions including being a multiple Paul Harris fellow and a
past president of the Rotary Club.
Sercer, and his wife Lesley, reside in
Columbia and have two sons.
He succeeds Robert C. Lentz, President of the Lentz
Group, Inc., who has served as MTC Commission chair for the
past two years.
Midlands
Technical College First in U.S. to Receive On-line
Transcript Evaluation
Midlands Technical College
became the first institution of higher education
in the United States to receive an on-line
transcript evaluation of international student
credentials from World Education Services (WES), a
major international credential evaluation service.
WES is the first foreign
credential evaluation service to make the results
of its international credential evaluations
available to U.S. colleges on-line. This
state-of-the-art service has significant
advantages. For
the applicant, the time from application to
availability of the completed evaluation at the
college is compressed, speeding the admissions
decision. More immediate access to applicants’
evaluations also allows the college to quickly
determine the application of transfer credit,
enhancing student service.
Among the numerous advantages
of this system from the college’s standpoint are
enhanced documentation security, reduced potential
for fraudulent documentation, and the ability to
download the electronic evaluation and distribute
it electronically within the college. Additionally, colleges and universities can go into their WES
web account and retrieve current and archived
evaluation reports relevant to those applicants
who have applied to their institutions.
WES selected Midlands
Technical College as the first pilot site to test
its new on-line credentials evaluation process due
to MTC’s national reputation as a leader in the
on-line processing of international students. The
new WES web based delivery service and online
application offer a win - win process for our
valued international applicants and for Midlands
Technical College.
 MTC
Center of Excellence for
Technology Opens Doors to the Community
Approximately 500 people attended the
grand opening of the College's Center
of Excellence for Technology April 2, giving students,
educators and the business community access to a
state-of-the-art facility committed to enhancing learning and
economic collaboration. MTC
president Barry Russell was joined by USC president Andrew
Sorensen and NASA Shuttle Astronaut Hoot Gibson in cutting the
ribbon to officially open the building.
Approximately
500 business, education and community leaders were invited
guests. More than a new teaching site, the Center offers the
community a forum for exploring emerging technologies through
symposia focusing on key development trends.
It provides access for business, education and
government to work together to build the technical workforce
that is essential to the area's success.
Located adjacent to the Carolina Research
Park in Northeast Columbia- this 50,000 square-foot facility
marks the first building of the college’s new Campus for
Enterprise Development. The Center is one of the Southeast's largest and most
advanced metalworking training facilities. The New MTC Campus
offers an essential element in the economic growth formula for
the region by blending research-based job skill training with
the exploration of emerging business needs.
The campus will compliment the programs and strategies
developed at the state’s universities.
Dr. Andrew Sorensen, USC president, spoke at the 10
a.m. ribbon cutting and underscored the advantages of
collaboration between the two institutions.
The Center’s 100-seat auditorium, as
well as its classrooms, is outfitted with world-class
capabilities for distance learning activity.
The courses provided at the Center of
Excellence for Technology will include the highest levels of
advanced manufacturing and information technology education
available in two-year colleges.
In addition to the information technology
classrooms and a large auditorium/lecture complex, the Center
houses an expansive manufacturing training floor and one of
the most advanced precision-measuring training labs in the
Southeast. The
precision measuring training lab is equipped with instruments
that allow students to measure the tolerance of machined parts
down to one micron. There
is also a rapid prototyping module in the Center.
 “The Center of Excellence for
Technology, along with the college’s renewed dedication to
economic development through relevant education and training,
has ushered in a new era of interaction with area employers.
Only through hands-on experience can students make the
theories they discuss in the classroom come alive,” said
Barry Russell, president of Midlands Technical College.
Illustrating the college’s commitment
to applied learning, the success of students and support for
economic growth of the region, Midlands Technical College
entered into a partnership with Haas Automation, Inc., which
designated the advanced manufacturing education floor of the
MTC Technology Center as the first Haas Technical Center (HTC)
in South Carolina.
Haas Automation, Inc., the largest
manufacturer of computer numeric controlled (CNC) machine
tools in the United States, is providing the MTC Technology
Center with a cost-free consignment of CNC machines valued at
$.5 million. This
equipment, combined with the machines purchased by the
college, will provide local industry and students with the
finest and most high-tech equipment available in the
metalworking industry. Additionally, the new Haas Training
Center will allow MTC to offer special training on advanced
CNC machines to employers and their employees of manufacturing
and machining companies.
The Haas equipment will rotate through
the Center as newer models come onto the market, ensuring a
proactive approach to offering cutting edge technology skills
to MTC students. The college and HTC will utilize the center
to further improve the manufacturing industry in the Midlands
and throughout the state.
In the past 10 years, new or expanded manufacturing
facilities in the Palmetto state provided capital investments
of over $25 billion, creating nearly 153,000 additional jobs.
“The Center of Excellence for
Technology is designed to the highest standards of
interactivity and technology, and it represents a tangible
commentary about how the future of education will evolve,”
said Russell.
Initially, the MTC Technology Center will
concentrate on the highest levels of applied information
technology and advanced manufacturing.
The college is also committed to the future development
of programs addressing additional sectors of the economy such
as biotechnology, nanotechnology and photonics.
 MTC’s
Nursing and Health Sciences Programs Receive Continuing Accreditation
The National League for Nursing
Accreditation Commission (NLNAC), Inc. approved Midlands
Technical College’s associate degree program and the
practical nursing program for continuing accreditation through
Fall 2010-when the next evaluation visit is scheduled. NLNAC, a nationally recognized specialized accrediting agency
for all types of nursing programs, is
responsible for the specialized accreditation of nursing
education schools and programs, both post-secondary and higher
degree.
MTC offers eight associate degrees, four
diplomas and 13 certificate programs in Nursing and Health
Sciences. Nursing and Health Sciences programs have the mission of
educating students to work in the fields of patient care,
public health and health research.
Educational enrichment, professional training and
personal development are the primary concerns of Nursing and
Health Sciences faculty and staff.
Congratulations on this outstanding
achievement.
 Wachovia
Pledges $100,000 Unrestricted Gift To MTC Foundation’s First
Major Gifts Campaign
Wachovia is pledging an unrestricted
$100,000 gift to Midlands Technical College Foundation’s
major gifts campaign, Investing in the Future. This
campaign promises to develop the regional economy and improve
the quality of life in the Midlands.
Investing in the Future will assist the
college in providing relevant education that is highly
accessible, flexible and able to meet the changing
technological needs of the marketplace, support of teaching
excellence and support educational options and access for the
emerging workforce, workers in transition and the existing
workforce.
“At Wachovia, education
is our top community commitment.
Programs that enhance student achievement through
systematic improvement of academic standards, curriculum,
student services, teacher quality and availability of
educational resources are important to us,” said Charlie
Cole, regional president of Wachovia.
“Midlands Technical College delivers these programs
in an excellent manner. Wachovia
is proud to participate in Investing in the Future.”
“We are very pleased to accept this
gift from Wachovia,” said MTC president Barry Russell.
“This generous donation will allow us to continue
providing a pathway to success for both students and their
employers. Additionally,
the gift will aid the college in meeting the continuing
challenges of the expanding economy through educational
excellence and collaborative partnerships.”
MTC
Receives First Place Award for Building a Village
of Hope
Midlands Technical College is
the 2003 first place award recipient of the South
Carolina Technical Education Association’s (SCTEA)
student community involvement competition.
SCTEA recognizes the college’s Village of
Hope Family Support Center for helping to improve
the quality of life for the residents of the
Roosevelt Village community.
The student community
involvement competition was established to
encourage student groups in the technical college
system to get involved with community
organizations and individuals to help meet some of
the special needs of the college and local
community. Community involvement projects were judged on project
planning and implementation, achievements, public
awareness and future services.
After need-based surveys were
distributed to residents of Roosevelt Village, MTC
and various community leaders, spent the next
several years building a Village of Hope Family
Support Center for the residents of the Roosevelt
Village neighborhood.
Five years in the making, the center now
provides after school programs, GED classes for
adults, an emergency food bank and a recently
built playground.
“Much of the success in
this project is a direct result of the
participation from MTC students, faculty and staff
as well as collaborative community
partnerships,” said Mary Rawls, MTC’s director
of Human Services.
The Village of Hope Community
Development Corporation was formed with the goal
of continuing to improve the quality of life for
the citizens of Roosevelt Village and surrounding
areas.
Last year, the Village of
Hope received the United Way’s Community Impact
award.
 Midlands
Technical College provides site for first-ever
annual ‘Give Kids A Smile’ campaign Targeting
improved dental access for needy children
In conjunction with the
American Dental Association (ADA) national ‘Give
Kids a Smile’ campaign, the South Carolina
Dental Association (SCDA) brings the campaign
closer to home.
Dentists, dental hygienists and dental
assistants from across the Palmetto State will
take time from their practices to provide free
dental services to children who would not
otherwise receive dental care.
‘Give Kids a Smile’ is a
one-day volunteer access-to-dental care initiative
setup in response to the growing epidemic of oral
disease among low-income families.
On Saturday, February 15, 2003 from 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., oral healthcare providers
will be at MTC’s Dental Clinic on the
Airport Campus located in the Academic Center Rm.
321 providing needy children with free
cleaning, restorative and extraction services at
no charge.
This first-ever annual
campaign is an effort to improve access to dental
care for low-income families, but is also intended
to educate parents/guardians on how important it
is to maintain good oral health.
‘Give Kids a Smile’ comes in the
absence of effective public health financing
programs and the ongoing crisis in children’s
dental health.
The initiative focuses the attention on the
epidemic of oral disease among low-income families
and delivers the message that in order to see
improvement there must be a real commitment from
government and society.
“Although the ‘Give Kids
a Smile’ project will help thousands of
children, our larger purpose will be to deliver
the message…that for every child we care for on
that day, hundreds, even thousands more will
continue suffering until the nation gets serious
about oral health,” said former ADA President D.
Gregory Chadwick.
For additional information
regarding ‘Give Kids a Smile’ day please
contact Magan Lyons at (803) 750-2277 or lyonsm@scda.org.
For all media inquiries, please use contact
information listed above.
Black
History Month Activities At Midlands Technical
College
MTC is celebrating Black
History Month by exploring black history and
applying it to the present.
In commemoration of Black History Month,
below is a listing of activities that will take
place throughout February.
For additional information concerning
activities, please contact Thomasina
Hughey, program director for Student
Activities at (803) 738-7860 or Vanessa Brown,
program coordinator for Student Activities at
(803) 822-3650.
Events are free and open to the public.
-
Feb. 5 & 6 –
Discussion:
“Black not Blind” Lecture by
nationally known conversationalist, Bryant K.
Smith, director of multicultural affairs and
international services at Millikin University
in Illinois.
This thought-provoking lecture will
offer insightful information on race relations
in America. “Black not Blind” will be held in the Airport Student
Center Rm. 126 from 9:05 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.
on Wed., Feb. 5 and the Beltline Student
Center Rm. 201 from 11 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. on
Thurs., Feb. 6.
Reception and book signing immediately
following both sessions.
-
Feb. 11 & 13 - Multicultural
Business Fair, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
The multicultural Business Fair is to
communicate to African-American students with
the many different business and career
opportunities that are available upon
completion of their respective programs.
The Multicultural Business Fair will be
held in the Beltline Student Center commons
area on Feb. 11, and the Airport
Student Center commons area on Feb. 13.
-
Feb. 19 &
21 – “A Taste of Soul,” Black
History Program and Food Festival, 11:30
a.m. – 1 p.m.
The taste of soul food festival and
black history program is an annual event
showcasing the students,’ faculty and staff
cooking talents by having them prepare various
kinds of soul food.
It is a time for fellowship among all
while eating and enjoying lessons about black
history. “A Taste of Soul” will be held in the Airport Student
Center Rm. 126 on Feb. 19, and Beltline
Student Center Rm. 201 on Feb. 21.
Midlands Technical College Foundation Announces $5 Million Major Gifts
Campaign
Developing the Economy and Workforce, Enhancing the Quality of Life
Among Campaign’s Goals
Gov. Robert E. McNair, Honorary Campaign Chair, and
John Lumpkin, General Campaign Chair announced today that the MTC
Foundation campaign, Investing in
the Future, is setting $5 million as its goal for community
investments. By conducting its first major gifts
campaign, Investing In the Future,
the MTC Foundation is seeking community investments that will allow
Midlands Technical College to improve the quality of life throughout the
Midlands, support the region’s economic development and build a
world-class workforce needed by area employers.
“Education is the foundation of the future and the
rapid growth of technology has made technical education more critical than
ever before in our history,” said Gov. McNair.
“I believe that private investment in this campaign is important because
the entire community will directly benefit from the continued success of
Midlands Technical College.”
The Investing
in the Future Campaign has already raised more than $2.5 million
toward its $5-million goal. A
recent $1.05 million investment, given cooperatively by Palmetto Health,
Lexington Medical Center and Providence Hospitals was the campaign’s
lead gift and the largest ever received on behalf of Midlands Technical
College.
“For almost four decades, MTC has supported the
community by offering citizens the educational opportunities to meet their
personal and professional goals.” said Lumpkin. “For the first
time, Midlands Technical College will be asking this community to
participate in a major gifts campaign. I am confident that our
citizens and businesses will be very willing to invest in the future of
MTC, because ultimately it’s an investment in all our futures.”
Specifically, money raised from the five-year
campaign will be used to:
-
Create innovative solutions for regional economic
development and provide a technically skilled workforce in the
Midlands;
-
Educate and train a world-class workforce through
establishing endowments to recruit and retain outstanding faculty in
rapidly evolving high-technology areas;
-
Maximize the quality of life in the Midlands by
developing educational programs and delivery methods that provide
expanded opportunities to traditional and nontraditional students.
Midlands Technical College continues to improve the
quality of life throughout the community, support the region’s economic
development, and build a world-class workforce needed by area employers.
Midlands Technical College is dedicated to promoting
the Central Midlands’ economic growth by providing business and industry
with the employees necessary for sustained growth and profitability. The
college uses more than 90 diverse programs of study to supply local
employers with the knowledgeable and capable workforce they demand.
The college provides professional and occupational
training and development to approximately 30,000 individuals from area
businesses, industries, and governmental and health agencies through
continuing education.
“I know businesses throughout the Midlands
understand the significant role MTC plays in the economic health of the
community,’ said MTC’s president Barry Russell.
“A gift toward this campaign by any business is
actually an investment in their future workforce needs.
Nearly every sector of the economy is becoming technology
dependent.”
The MTC Foundation, Chaired by Marc Johnson, is
comprised of 35 community leaders. For 33 years the MTC Foundation has
been providing the structure through which individuals, corporations and
other private sector interests can demonstrate their support for the
academic programs and economic development services offered by Midlands
Technical College.
Economic
Impact Study Underlines Midlands Technical
College’s Importance to the Community
Midlands Technical College
has a significant impact on the regional economy,
as validated by a recent economic impact study.
The study was conducted by an independent firm
using a model developed by the Association of
Community College Trustees (ACCT) that collects
data from two-year colleges and then translates
these into benefit-cost and investment terms. The
methodology has been field tested in over 160
community colleges nationwide. As opposed to an
advocacy approach, the impact study model results
are based on economic theory, functional
relationships and hard data.
In brief, the existence of
MTC accounts for $285.5 million of the annual
earning in the Midlands economic region. This
amount equates to roughly 9000 jobs, including
those jobs directly related to the college, and
the accumulated contribution of past MTC
instruction in regional annual earnings.
From an investment
standpoint, MTC students receive a 26 percent rate
of return on their investment of time and money.
Additionally, for every full-time year they
attend, MTC graduates will earn an additional
$4,270 per year.
Midlands Technical College is
a good investment for taxpayers, too. In addition
to lowering potential expenses for support of
non-productive or under-employed individuals,
every dollar of state and local tax money invested
in MTC returns a cumulative $21 over the next 30
years to the tax base. MTC, and the impact of its
services, clearly contribute to the vitality of
both state and local economies.
 New
Appointment to Midlands Technical College Commission
Ronald H. (Ronny) Burkett, certified
public accountant and certified valuation analyst, has been
appointed to serve as a commissioner on the Midlands Technical
College Commission. The Midlands Technical College Commission is comprised of 12
leading citizens who are appointed by the governor, upon the
recommendation of their respective legislative delegations, to
serve as trustees for the college.
A Columbia native, Burkett is a graduate
of the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Accounting
and is a shareholder of Burkett, Burkett & Burkett, CPAs,
PA. He is a
member of the S.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants
(CPAs), the Central Chapter of CPAs, the National Association
of Certified Valuation Analyst and the South Carolina Chapter
of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analyst.
Burkett was also awarded a certificate of educational
achievement by the American Institute of CPAs for completion
of an integrated program in Business Valuation.
An expert in his field, Burkett has
co-authored publications, presented a number of seminars on
various topics to fellow accounting professionals and has been
retained as an expert in numerous national and state court
cases.
 First-ever
Literary Residence Award Presented to Dr. Glenn James,
Midlands Technical College Faculty
The Richland County Public Library has named
a member of MTC’s faculty, Dr. Glenn James, as its
first-ever recipient of the Literary Residence Award.
This honor recognizes Dr. James’ scholarly work with
RCPL over the past eight years providing a literature series
for patrons.
During the past nine years, RCPL has
established an alliance with actors and scholars to bring a
multicultural focus to library programming.
The Literary Residency has been established to take
advantage of the tremendous talent available to the library
and to the community. RCPL’s
Literary Residency includes actors and scholars and consists
of programs spanning many arts and humanities disciplines from
history and literature to theatre and music, always with a
multicultural focus.
This residency benefits the public by
bringing literature to life and encouraging reading, creative
thinking and a stronger understanding of diversity.
“For Midlands Technical College and
myself, it shows that we are involved in culture in the
Midlands in a significant way,” James said.
“ Personally, it allows me to encourage the reading
of good literature beyond the classroom and to work with
non-student audiences.”
Every spring, from January to April over the past eight years, James works with RCPL to conduct eight
two-hour discussion sessions on a literary topic.
Some of his earlier sessions include works from a
variety of literature such as plays, essays, novels and poems.
Next spring, the scholar’s sessions will focus on
novels written by well-known women authors.
The sessions are entitled “A Room of Their Own:
Women’s Role in Contemporary Fiction.”
Works to be included in the sessions are
Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God,”
Elizabeth McCracken’s “In the Giant’s House,”
Isabelle Allende’s “The House of Spirits” and
other Pulitzer Prize and Book Award winners.
James has a distinguished and
comprehensive career that combines scholarship and academics.
His commitment, enthusiasm and extensive knowledge of
his craft are among the many attributes he’s brought to
Midlands Technical College.
Since joining MTC in 1991, the English
professor has administered a Writing Across the Curriculum
Grant and served as administrator of MTC’s Writing Center.
Additionally, serving as a literary scholar, James has
worked with The Actors Theatre of South Carolina as they
dramatized poetry written by South Carolina authors.
He also served two consecutive terms on the Curriculum
Committee.
James is hopeful that by being named a
Scholar in Residence by RCPL he’ll be allowed to continue
administering such programs “as long as [he] can hobble to
the microphone.”
 Area
Hospitals Pledge $1.05 Million To Midlands Technical College
Foundation’s Investing
in the Future Campaign
Governor Robert E. McNair, Honorary
Campaign Chair, and John Lumpkin, General Campaign Chair of
the Midlands Technical College Foundation’s Investing
in the Future Campaign announced a $1.05 million gift to
the campaign. Given cooperatively by Palmetto Health, Lexington Medical
Center and Providence Hospitals, the $1.05 million investment
is the MTC Foundation campaign’s lead gift and the largest
ever received on behalf of Midlands Technical College.
The three hospital CEO’s appeared together
Wednesday in the MTC Health Science building auditorium to
make comments and announce the gift.
Members of the college Commission, Foundation and
community also attended the event.
“Palmetto
Health is partnering with as many community leaders and
organizations as possible to come up with solutions for the
looming nursing crisis,” said Kester Freeman, CEO, Palmetto
Health. “Our goal is accomplish that through partnerships
like this one, thereby, also putting our dollars back into our
local economy. This effort shows our commitment to not only
providing the best quality healthcare but also to ensure that
local students have the opportunity to receive training. With
an aging population, this collaborative effort helps improve
the likelihood that we will have the nurses we need to care
for our community.”
“Midlands Technical College has been a
valuable partner with Lexington Medical Center and the other
Midlands hospitals,” said Mike Biediger, Lexington Medical
Center’s President and CEO.
“As our workforce needs have grown over the years,
Midlands Technical College has worked to provide high-quality
nurses and health care trained people to meet our needs.
We are fortunate to have such an outstanding college in
our community.”
"Providence is excited to be part of
this cooperative initiative to increase educational capacity
for nurses,” said Stephen Purves, President and CEO,
Providence Hospitals. “By providing this opportunity, we can
increase the number of qualified nurses to help meet the
healthcare needs of our community."
The five-year investment will provide
significant resources to help address the region's shortage of
nurses and health care professionals and improve the quality
of health care for the entire community.
Specifically, the $1.05 million will be used to establish endowments that
provide long-term support for MTC Nursing and Health Sciences
programs. These
endowments will fund a number of initiatives including student
stipends to increase retention and growing the departments’
masters-degreed faculty.
Midlands Technical College already graduates more
Associate Degree Nurses than any other college in Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The college ranks 18th among all two-year
colleges in the country for the number of nurses it graduates
into the workforce and ranks 33rd among all two-year colleges
in the country for Associate Degrees awarded in health
sciences professions. In
the State Board Nursing Exams for April-June 2002, Midlands
Technical College had a 100 percent pass rate for all
Practical and Associate Degree nursing students.
“The college is extremely grateful to
the three hospitals for this significant investment that will
enable MTC to directly address the nursing shortage in a more
aggressive manner,” said Dr. Russell.
South Carolina and the country are
increasingly relying on community and technical colleges to
address the current crisis in health care. Nationally,
two-year colleges educate 60 percent of all new licensed,
professional registered nurses; and provide cost-effective
nursing education to a significant cohort of students from
underserved populations.
The $1.05 million investment in Midlands
Technical College by the Midlands hospitals confirms that
recruiting and educating the future workforce is essential to
overcoming the region’s health care crisis in the Central
Midlands. This substantial gift will allow MTC to
remain on the forefront of health care education and
successfully generate the numbers of nurses and other health
care professionals needed to meet the needs of the community.
“Education is the foundation of the
future and the rapid growth of technology has made technical
education more critical than ever before in our history,”
said Governor McNair. “I
believe that private investment in this campaign is important
because the entire community will directly benefit from the
continued success of Midlands Technical College.”
Community
Leaders Appointed to 2002 MTC Foundation Board,
New Officers Elected
The Midlands Technical
College Foundation has appointed four new members
to its board for 2002, and elected the Board’s
leadership. The Board of Trustees for the
Foundation is composed of up to 35 individuals who
are prominent in our community's business,
industrial, professional and civic affairs.
New Board members elected to
a three-year term are:
-
Robert Derrick, Wachovia Bank
-
Chuck Garnett with NBSC
-
Carl Hoefel from BOSE
Corporation
-
Alan Kahn, Kahn Development
Foundation Board Officers for
2002 are:
-
Chair: Marc Johnson, First
Citizens Bank
-
Vice Chair: Martha Scott
Smith, BellSouth
-
Treasurer: Barbara Davis,
American Express Financial Advisors
-
Secretary: Jim Leventis,
Rogers Townsend, & Thomas
The Midlands Technical
College Foundation provides the structure through
which individuals, corporations and other private
sector interests can demonstrate their support for
the academic programs and economic development
services offered by Midlands Technical
College. The Foundation takes an active
partnership role in advancing the college's
community development mission within the region by
seeking an added measure of financial and other
support for college activities that enhance the
quality of its educational offerings.
Other MTC Foundation Board
members are:
-
Joseph Alizio, Colonial Life
and Accident Insurance Company,
-
John Asman, Keane, Inc.,
-
Dr. Noble Cooper, Jr, Cooper
and Cooper Dentistry,
-
Judy Cotchett-Smith, Palmetto
Health,
-
Cheryl Holland, Abacus
Planning Group,
-
Fred Johnston, F.B. Johnston
Group,
-
Marion "Lex" Knox,
Terminix Services, Inc.,
-
Rebecca Laffitte, Sowell,
Grey, Stepp & Laffitte,
-
Robert Lentz, The Lentz
Group,
-
Robert Livingston, Gregory
Electric Company, Inc.,
-
John Lumpkin, Jr., Edens
& Avant Real Estate Services,
-
Dr. James Morris, South
Carolina Department of Commerce,
-
Robert Nance, 6th
Congressional District,
-
Tom Persons, South Carolina
Technology Alliance,
-
Stephen Purves, Providence
Hospital,
-
James Reynolds, Total Comfort
Service Center,
-
Jack Rinehart, retired,
-
Raymond Robinson, Pirelli
Communication, Cables and Systems,
-
Scott Sawyer, CISCO Systems,
Inc.,
-
Ferol Vernon, Siemens Diesel
Systems Technology,
-
Commissioner Jesse
Washington, South Carolina Human Affairs
Commission,
-
Charles Wendt, Lexington
Medical Center Foundation
-
Harold
Wray, Pulliam-Wray Dealerships.
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Midlands
Technical College Recognizes Verizon with
Leadership Award
Verizon received Midlands
Technical College’s IT Employee Training &
Development Leadership Award for 2002 in
recognition for support and encouragement of
employee training and computer skill development.
“Verizon has been a
pacesetter in terms of keeping their workforce on
the cutting edge,” said Dr. Barry Russell,
Midlands Technical College president.
“We are pleased to partner with Verizon
and other technology leaders, and contribute to
the workforce readiness that helps them succeed in
South Carolina.”
“We are certainly pleased
to receive this recognition from Midlands
Technical College.
Verizon Wireless considers its highly
skilled and well-educated workforce to be key to
our continued success in providing the nation's
best coast-to-coast wireless service,” said
Barbara Ayers, Manager-Training, Verizon Wireless.
“We are committed to our employees'
continuing professional and academic development. We encourage our employees to cultivate continuous skill
development through the many internal and external
developmental opportunities that we provide.”
Midlands
Technical College’s Continuing Education
division served over 30,000 learners in 2002.
MTC’s Computer Training Center offers
training for ten advanced professional
certifications as well as general computer courses
for the community.
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First
Haas Technical Center to Open at MTC’s Center of
Excellence
The first Haas Technical
Center (HTC) in South Carolina will open in August
at the new Center of Excellence for Technology
Training at Midlands Technical College (MTC). The
Haas Technical Center is part of efforts by Haas
Automation, Inc. to provide students with hands-on
technical education in the metalworking trades
using machine tools from Haas.
The 50,000-square-foot center will be the
premier manufacturing training facility in South
Carolina and provide a highly skilled workforce
for the growing advanced manufacturing industry in
the area.
MTC President, Dr. Barry
Russell, said in comments to the MTC board of
trustees, “The addition of Haas’ participation
in the college’s technology programs will
significantly raise the bar as far as MTC’s
ability to work with business and to prepare an
educated and skilled workforce is concerned.”
Tom Persons, President and
CEO of the South Carolina Technology Alliance (SCTA)
said, “The entire region is complimented when a
company the caliber of Haas selects Midlands
Technical College to be a Haas Technical Center.
The Haas equipment at Midlands will be a real
boost to the community’s ability to support
advanced manufacturing.” SCTA is a partnership
whose goal is to promote a technology-capable
workforce and pro-business environment for
manufacturing and high-tech industries.
The concept behind the Center
of Excellence for Technology Training is based on
a three-part plan to interest, educate and
interact with the community and the businesses the
college supports. Siemens Diesel System Technology
(SDST) group is one business that has played a
large role in the new center. “As a startup
company, SDST partnered with Midlands Technical
College for the required technical training for
its manufacturing associates,” said Ferol
Vernon, President and CEO of SDST. “Siemens is
ecstatic that Haas has joined our partnership with
their state-of-the art machinery for the new
center.”
This HTC is the result of a
unique alliance between Haas Automation, Midlands
Technical College, and Jeffreys Manufacturing
Solutions (the local Haas Factory Outlet and
distributor). The HTC joins a network of centers
in the United States and Canada that allows
students to learn on the types of equipment they
will encounter when they enter the workforce. Only
through this hands-on experience can students make
the theories they discuss in the classroom come
alive on the shop floor.
This and all HTCs are Haas-certified,
and require a serious collaboration between the
school management and the local Haas Factory
Outlet to ensure an ongoing “win–win”
scenario. These centers are dedicated to the
future of the manufacturing industry, and they
continue the Haas pledge to deliver quality
education to the engineers of tomorrow.
Haas
Automation, Inc., is the largest manufacturer of
CNC machine tools in the United States, shipping
more units per month than any other manufacturer.
All Haas products are manufactured in-house at the
Haas facility in Oxnard, California.
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Nursing Alum joined
MTC Seniors for Day Event
Focus
was on shortage of nursing teachers.
Twenty
MTC nursing alumni joined with nursing seniors to
learn more about the increasing demand for
qualified nursing instructors. “We hope they will consider the opportunity to continue
their education and possibly come back to Midlands
Technical College in a teaching capacity
someday,” said Janet Lee, department chair. The half-day event included representatives from several
state universities and a Q & A session.
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2002 Honors Ceremony
Celebrates MTC's Finest Students
More than 150 students were
recognized at Midland Technical College’s 2002
Honors Ceremony. Awards and recognition included
Foundation Scholarships, Stylus Awards,
Outstanding Students by Majors, Who's Who, MTC
Ambassadors and Student Organizations.
“Midlands Technical College
is one of the best places in the nation to achieve
your personal and professional goals, and the fine
students we have here representing our student
body are evidence of this,” said Dr. Barry
Russel, President, Midlands Technical College.
The event was attended by the student diversity that makes technical
colleges such an asset to their communities.
Along with outstanding high school students
who are choosing to attend MTC, the college
honored international students, mid-career
students, and adult students returning to school
after raising a family.
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Dixon K. Durham Named 2001 Governor's Professor of the Year for Two Year Colleges
Governor Jim Hodges has announced that Dixon K. Durham has been named the 2001 Governor's Professor of the Year for Two Year Colleges. Durham is a history instructor at Midlands Technical College, where he has been teaching since 1991.
Midlands Technical College President Barry Russell described Durham as "a remarkable instructor, dedicated to his students and their well-being, as well as to scholarship, the art of teaching, and professional and public service. On any given day, a visit to Dixon's classroom shows a professional whose entire teaching philosophy and practice are focused on his students."
Durham's teaching career began as an instructor with the Opportunity Scholars Program at the University of South Carolina, a program supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In many ways, this experience shaped him as a teacher and provided him with the skills to communicate with students in a personal and comforting way. Moses Boyd, Esq. is a former student of Durham from the USC Opportunity Scholars Program.
"Mr. Durham often injected drama and levity in his lessons, which made his lectures particularly interesting and enjoyable," said Boyd, who is currently the Chief Democratic Counsel for the United States Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. "What also is noteworthy is that he promoted an objective and independent examination of historical issues. I must say that this mode of intellectual thinking has remained with me. He knew his subject matter; he taught it with enthusiasm."
Described by his peers as a remarkable and brilliant history instructor, scholarly and respected colleague, gifted mentor, master craftsman and quintessential public servant, Durham is known for inspiring and guiding students and associates to exceed their own expectations. His teaching style involves the use of guided questions and answers during his lectures. He uses this method not only to inform but also to verify student learning, and his gentle humor encourages student to ask questions and share ideas. Terry Dozier, a former National Teacher of the Year and Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Education is a former student of Durham.
"Mr. Durham has the rare ability to offer constructive criticism in a manner that is always encouraging," said Dozier. "He does not tell students what to do; rather he guides and coaches them to produce their best work."
In his classroom, Durham believes it is important for his students to share an awareness of other cultures and an appreciation for diversity. He organized the International Relations Club at Midlands Technical College and serves as its advisor. In recognizing diversity among his student, Dixon Durham has the ability to find out what makes each of his students unique and uses that to complement his instruction.
"Mr. Durham acknowledged his students' outside interests," said former student Anne Kelly, "calling on us to integrate our backgrounds -- be they in the arts, military, motherhood, or technology -- with the subject of the class."
He has served in nearly every capacity of the South Carolina International Education Consortium, including president. In his tenure at Midlands Technical College and USC, Durham has provided expert counsel on international education, multiculturalism and teaching excellence at dozens of professional conferences and seminars. As well as having articles published on historical South Carolina, Durham is the author of A Guide to International Resources at MTC, A Report on International Education at MTC, and co-author of Study Guide for History 101 in the Distance Learning Format.
Dixon Durham's influence is not only felt by a network of his professional peers throughout higher education, but also by the individual students who have come to know and rely on him.
"Last winter, Dixon and a colleague helped raise desperately needed college tuition for a refugee student at MTC," explained Barry Russell. "Dixon acquainted the college community with this student, who grew up in an orphanage in a country that was formerly part of the Soviet Union. Without Dixon's concern and action, few MTC associates would have ever known of this student's desperate need. As it is, the effort prompted sufficient contributions to a scholarship fund to allow the student to continue his study of electronics at MTC."
Durham's humanitarian works reach beyond the college and into the community, inevitably and effectively aiding those in need and making tremendous, concrete differences in the lives of young people in the Midlands and in the state. He is a co-founder and past chair of Children Unlimited Inc., a statewide, non-profit adoption agency for children with special needs. He has also served his community as a member of the Governor's Special Committee on Adoptions, as founder of the Friends of the Landrum Branch of the Spartanburg County Library, and as narrator for the SC State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.
Durham received his B.A. in history from Emory University, a Master of Arts in history from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and has done postgraduate work in history at the University of South Carolina. He is also a recent recipient of the Governor's Distinguished Professor Award, and in 1998, he was one of seven individuals in the nation to receive the National Faculty Recognition Award given by the Consortium for Community College Development. Other awards at Midlands Technical College include being named the 1998 Hayes-Crolley Distinguished Lecturer in Arts and Sciences; being honored with the NISOD Award for Excellence in Teaching, and being a two-time recipient of the Committed to Excellence Students' Choice Award. At USC Durham received the Opportunity Scholars Program Distinguished Service Award and the Amoco Foundation Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Teaching Assistant.
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College Breaks Ground on Center of Excellence for Technology Training
 Chauffeured in on MTC Ambassador-driven golf carts, more than 200 people gathered at the college's Northeast property August 7 to help celebrate the groundbreaking of Midlands Technical College's Center of Excellence for Technology Training.
Joining MTC President Barry Russell in speaking at the ceremony were Robert Lentz, MTC Commission Chair; Tom Persons, President and CEO of the SC Technology Alliance; Myron Terry, the Governor's Director of Economic Development Policy; Harry Lightsey, State President of Bellsouth; and Ferol Vernon, President and CEO of Siemens Diesel Systems Technology.
Speakers delivered their remarks to a standing-room-only group who included MTC commissioners and foundation board members, state legislators and county council members, industry and community partners, and college employees. Representatives from all three local television networks were on hand to cover the morning's celebration, as well as The State Newspaper. WIS TV sent its News Hawk Helicopter to get aerial video of the building site.
At the conclusion of the remarks, Dr. Russell and the other groundbreakers moved into position, donned MTC construction hats and grasped their chrome shovels. In addition to the speakers, others who helped break ground were Mike Briggs, Executive Director of the Central Carolina Economic Development Alliance; Richland County Senator Kay Patterson; Lexington County Representative Jake Knotts; Cathy Novinger, Chair of the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education; Greg Pearce, Vice Chair of the Richland County Council; and Bruce Rucker, who chairs the Lexington County Council.
After the 30-minute ceremony most guests stayed to enjoy refreshments, view an artist's renderings, and discuss the $11 million center's promise for workforce development and economic growth. The Center of Excellence for Technology Training will address the training needs of the region's information technology and advanced manufacturing industries. Construction of the 50,000 square-foot building will take about a year.
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Ribbon-Cutting of MTC's New Health Science Building
Midlands Technical College recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of the college's new Health Science Building.
Joining MTC President Barry Russell in cutting the ribbon to officially open the facility were:
- Robert Lentz, Chair of the Midlands Technical College Commission
- George "Smokey" Davis, Vice Chair, Lexington County Council
- Greg Pearce, Jr., Vice Chair, Richland County Council
- Charles Beaman, Jr., President of Palmetto Health
- Michael Biediger, President and CEO of Lexington Medical Center
- Mary Willis, Nursing Instructor, Dorn VA Medical Center
- Jana Lee, MTC Department Chair, Nursing
- Ed Nicholson, MTC Interim Department Chair, Health Sciences
 Guests and employees toured the 55,400-square-foot Health Science Building, including the state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and distance learning facilities. A highlight of the teaching equipment to be used in the new building is Stanley, a $150,000 medical dummy that simulates heart attacks, strokes, and other illnesses and injuries.
This new facility was constructed over the summer to help enhance MTC's ability to educate the region's health care practitioners and prepare them, both academically and clinically, to meet the demands of the rapidly changing health care profession.
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Fields Newest Addition to MTC Commission
|
Harriet Gardin
Fields |
Harriet Gardin Fields, President of H.G. Fields and Associates, has recently joined the Midlands Technical College Commission. Fields replaces retiring member Walter B. Todd.
A long-time supporter of MTC, Fields previously was a member of the MTC Advisory Committee for Human Services. She also served as an instructor and counselor at the college, and played a key role in the development of the college's Associate Degree in Nursing program.
The 12 citizens appointed to the Midlands Technical College Commission are appointed by the governor and, upon the recommendation of their respective legislative delegations, serve as trustees for the college.
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McNair, Lumpkin Named to Lead Major Gifts
Campaign for Midlands Technical College
|
Robert E. McNair |
 |
|
John H. Lumpkin,
Jr. |
Former South Carolina Governor Robert E. McNair will serve as Honorary Chair of a major gifts campaign planned by the Midlands Technical College Foundation. Local business leader and MTC Foundation board member John H. Lumpkin, Jr., will serve as General Campaign Chair. The campaign, Investing in the Future, will bolster economic development through investment in cutting-edge technical education and training. It will enable Midlands Technical College to provide its students with enhanced lifelong learning opportunities that will ensure their personal and professional success.
"The MTC Foundation is delighted to have Governor McNair and Mr. Lumpkin in these crucial leadership positions," stated Marc H. Johnson, chair of the college's Foundation Board. "The Investing in the Future campaign will benefit enormously from the leadership and experience of these two community leaders. Together, Governor McNair and Mr. Lumpkin offer an impressive understanding of the essential role technical education plays - and will continue to play - in the region's economic growth and well-being."
McNair's commitment to technical education is deep and abiding. While serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives, McNair was appointed to the legislative committee that envisioned a landmark new educational system for the state. In response to this committee's recommendations, the South Carolina Legislature passed a bill in 1961 that created the South Carolina Technical College System. Nowhere in the nation had such an ambitious network of technical institutions ever been attempted. Four decades later, the 16 technical colleges created by McNair and his colleagues are hailed as South Carolina's best competitive advantage in attracting and retaining high technology industries.
"Technical education has always been an issue of vital concern to me," explained McNair. "I've been very impressed with MTC President Barry Russell and his vision to provide higher education opportunities that support the economic growth of the Midlands. A major gifts campaign for Midlands Technical College is the obvious next step toward realizing this vision."
Upon leaving public service, former Governor McNair became a founding member of the McNair Law Firm, P.A., where he is now chairman. McNair remains a leading South Carolina citizen and a steadfast supporter of Midlands Technical College and its mission to attract business and industry from across the country and around the globe.
John H. Lumpkin, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Edens & Avant Real Estate Services, LLC, has a demonstrated record of leadership and commitment in the service of a number of community organizations. He has chaired the South Carolina Division of the American Cancer Society, the United Way of the Midlands and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as Chair of the Atrium Society of the Palmetto Health Foundation and began his service to the Midlands Technical College Foundation Board in 1995.
"Those of us in business know how vital Midlands Technical College is to the economic development and growth of the region," said Lumpkin. "The college's contributions to many of our citizens and businesses have been integral to our economic well-being." Lumpkin has extended his expertise in economic development to a number of business and community organizations including the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the South Carolina Economic Development Association, and the Central Carolina River Alliance. He currently serves as a member of the Governor's Technology Transition Team.
"For almost four decades, MTC has supported the community by offering citizens an array of educational opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals," said Lumpkin. "For the first time, Midlands Technical College will be asking this community to participate in a major gifts campaign. I am confident that our citizens and businesses will respond by investing in the future of MTC."
Additional details about the campaign will be announced as other key roles in the campaign's divisions and committees are filled.
Midlands Technical College Foundation Board
- Mr. Marc H. Johnson, Chair
Bank of America
- Major General R. Steve Siegfried (retired), Vice-Chair
The Leadership Academy
- Ms. Barbara Davis, Treasurer
American Express Financial Advisors
- Ms. Martha Scott Smith, Secretary
BellSouth
- Mr. Joseph A. Alizio
Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company
- Mr. John D. Asman
Metro Information Services
- Mr. Charles T. Cole, Jr.
Wachovia Bank
- Dr. Noble P. Cooper, Jr.
Cooper and Cooper Dentistry
- Ms. Judy Cotchett-Smith
Palmetto Health
- Mr. Asbury H. Gibbes
SCANA Corporation
- Mr. John Gregg
SCT Energy, Utilities & Communications
- Ms. Cheryl R. Holland
Abacus Planning Group
- Mr. Jack S. Hupp
- Mr. Charles W. Jacocks
The Jacocks Group
- Mr. Fred B. Johnston
F.B. Johnston Group
- Mr. Marion A. Knox, Jr.
Terminix Service
- Ms. Rebecca Laffitte, Esquire
Sowell Todd Laffitte Beard & Watson
- Mr. Jim Leventis, Esquire
Rogers Townsend & Thomas
- Mr. Robert Livingston
Gregory Electric Company
- The Honorable Isadore E. Lourie
- Mr. John H. Lumpkin, Jr.
Edens & Avant Real Estate Services, LLC
- Dr. James R. Morris, Jr.
South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance
- Mr. Robert M. Nance
Office of US Representative Clyburn
- Mr. Van T. Newman, Jr.
- Mr. Tom E. Persons
South Carolina Technology Alliance
- Mr. Stephen A. Purves
Providence Hospital
- Mr. Jim Reynolds, Jr.
Total Comfort Service Center
- Mr. Jack S. Rinehart
- Mr. Raymond L. Robinson
Pirelli Cable and Systems North America
- Mr. Scott Sawyer
CISCO Systems
- Mr. Ferol B. Vernon
Siemens Diesel Systems Technology
- Commissioner Jesse Washington, Jr.
South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
- Mr. Charles M. Wendt
Lexington Medical Center Foundation
- Mr. W. Harold Wray
Pulliam-Wray Dealerships
Ex-Officio Members:
- Mr. Robert C. Lentz
MTC Commission Chair
- Dr. Barry W. Russell
MTC President
- Ms. Starnell K. Williams
MTC Vice President for Advancement
- Dr. Ronald L. Rhames
MTC Vice President for Business Affairs
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Road Construction - Airport Campus
The South Carolina Department of Transportation will be making a number of improvements to the roads near the Airport Campus. Specifically, Lexington Drive will be gradually widened from two lanes at a point in front of Saluda Hall, to five lanes at the intersection with Platt Springs Road. Platt Springs Road will be widened to four lanes from Triangle City all the way to a point just beyond Three Fountains. The contracts have been let, and the first work has begun on Platt Springs Road near the northwest end of the Columbia Airport runway.
Work in the immediate vicinity of the campus can start at almost any time, and will take most of a year to complete. The first work on Lexington Drive will be to clear the right of way. This will particularly impact the north intersection of Kentucky Avenue and Lexington Drive. Our groundskeepers will remove a number of Magnolia trees in front of Morris Hall and relocate them on campus. The contractor will be removing other trees and shrubs, and SCE&G will relocate power lines. Then the right of way will be regraded and the road widened. Some of the parking in front of Saluda Hall will be lost, at least for a period of time.
While all this work is being done, roads and intersections may be closed for short periods of time. However, the contractor has assured the College that access to all roads will be maintained. Since the work will be concentrated on the north end of the campus, it might be prudent to use Boston Avenue and the south end of Kentucky Avenue for general access to the campus, thus avoiding most of the construction. The circle in front of the Academic Center and Illinois Avenue should be unaffected.
(See campus map.)
In late fall or winter, work will also begin on the new Airport Connector west of the campus. This will eventually lead to a new road through the fire academy property connecting to Kentucky Avenue (near the NCR water tower). This road will likely not be open until the fall/winter of 2002/2003.
If you have other questions, please call Bob Humphreys at extension 3216.
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The MTC Computer Training Center Joins Global VUE Testing Network
Midlands Technical College (MTC) announced today that it has signed an agreement with VUE, the electronic testing service of NCS Pearson, Inc., to provide Information Technology (IT) certification exams using the VUE testing system. VUE's advanced Internet-based system administers IT exams for leading IT certification programs such as Microsoft, Cisco, CompTIA and others.
"We're very excited about our new partnership with VUE," said Susan Brown, Director of the Computer Training Center. "VUE's testing system is the most powerful available. Its breakthrough technology and passion for service will allow us to provide even greater service for our customers."
Among the technological advances of the VUE system is the ability of exam candidates to register and reschedule their exams at the testing site, on the web or via a VUE call center, all in real time via the Internet. "VUE's technology gives us unparalleled control and flexibility over our ability to provide testing services," added Brown. "We will be much freer to experiment with testing hours and number of testing stations. We can even easily bring testing to our customers' locations. Everyone wins."
The growing list of IT Certification exams accessible through the VUE system is delivered directly from the exam sponsors. Test results are quickly transmitted back, ensuring the candidate's certification status is promptly updated. VUE states, "Same exams ... just better technology and even better service."
Scott Allison, Director of Marketing at VUE, said, "VUE is proud to welcome The Computer Training Center of Midlands Technical College to the rapidly growing global network of VUE Authorized Test Centers, providing students with another opportunity to participate in a positive, rewarding test experience."
VUE is the electronic testing service of NCS Pearson, a subsidiary of Pearson plc (NYSE: PSO). From operation centers in the United States, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan, India and China, VUE provides a variety of services to the IT testing industry.
The MTC Continuing Education program is one of the largest of its kind among two-year colleges in the state, serving more than 30,000 residents annually. Last year, MTC provided training for more than 100 area businesses and industries.
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Now Available to MTC Students: Real-Time Access to Class Availability
MTC students and employees can now get up-to-the-minute information on class size and availability with a few clicks of the mouse. Best of all, they can do this from home, the office or any place with Internet access.
Cecil Barnes, Director of Advisement and Scheduling, said the new system is a great way for students to determine what courses are available and which ones fit into their schedules. He also said
MTC Online is a handy tool for instructors to monitor enrollment for their classes throughout the registration period. Student advisors should also derive great benefits from this new tool.
Those using the site should begin their search by selecting a session or semester from the menu on the
MTC Online site. From there, individuals will have a number of search options to view classes.
"Courses can be searched by days of the week, location, class start or end times, instructor or keyword," explained Barnes. "The number of seats available in each class is given in real time. As soon as someone registers for a class, the numbers are updated."
Barnes said instructors are also often interested in checking the enrollment of their classes throughout the registration period. This new tool gives them the ability to do so from home, the office or anywhere with Internet access. While the site lets faculty and students determine what course sections are open and available, it can also be a powerful tool for student advisors.
"As advisors are working with students, we don't want to send student to a class that's filled," said Barnes. "We don't want to waste their time, and
MTC Online allows advisors to check availability ahead of time, before advising the students."
Take a look at http://mtconline.midlandstech.com, and get the latest information on class size, times, location and availability. Barnes explained that the site still needs some fine-tuning. He said plans are underway to add a help button that will provide clear instructions and the answers to frequently asked questions.
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Kitchings Receives Statewide "Innovator of the Year" Award
Dorcas Kitchings, MTC Director of Assessment, Research and Planning, received the prestigious A. Wade Martin "Innovator of the Year" Award at the 2001 South Carolina Technical Education Association conference. This statewide award honors those who demonstrate the vision and ambitious standards of excellence exemplified by A. Wade Martin, first executive director of the technical and industrial training program in South Carolina.
"Dorcas has pioneered and implemented numerous innovative approaches to the research, analysis and strategic planning needed by two-year colleges," noted Barry Russell, MTC President. "She is known throughout the college and the SC Technical College System for her expertise, vision and leadership." Russell praised Kitchings in particular for accomplishing an impressive amount of research and strategic activities while still actively initiating collaborative activities with college administrators, faculty and staff.
Jean Mahaffey, MTC Vice President for Education, credits Kitchings with "teaching faculty and department chairs to analyze any decision about instruction and curricula in the light of research data." One of Kitchings' most important achievements is the institutional culture she has established. At MTC, it has become a given that data can be collected and analyzed and - crucially - that decisions should be founded on such information.
Kitchings' dedication and vision have resulted in the college significantly enhancing its already stellar institutional effectiveness program and fundamentally expanding its strategic planning process. During the college's most recent reaccreditation, the SACS visiting committee awarded two rare commendations in the areas of institutional effectiveness and research.
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MTC Instructor Reviews Local Cisco Academy Program
Ben Poston, instructor for MTC's regional Cisco Networking Academy, recently conducted an annual monitoring visit of Brookland-Cayce High School's Cisco Academy, one of several local Cisco academies that Midlands oversees. The visit included speaking to students about college and work opportunities in the networking field.
In a move to prepare students for good jobs in the 21st century, Midlands Technical College began its role as a regional Cisco Networking Academy last year. MTC has been working closely with area high schools to create programs that certify high school and college students in the design, building and maintenance of computer networks.
Several MTC students are about to graduate with their Cisco-based Routing and Network Configuration certificates. For more information about this certificate, please visit
http://www.midlandstech.edu/edu/sds/sas/hb/rnc6.html.
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MTC
To Participate in the $1.4 Million 21st Century
Learning Outcomes Project - Only 16 Colleges
Selected Nationwide
With a $1.4 million grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the League for Innovation in the Community College will direct a three-year 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project. Midlands Technical College is 1 of only 16 community and technical colleges throughout the country chosen for this competitive honor.
"With the support of the Pew Charitable Trusts and the combined efforts of the participating colleges, the League hopes to take another bold step toward improving and expanding learning in community colleges," notes Dr. Bill Wenrich, League Board Chair and Chancellor of the Dallas County Community College District.
The goal of the 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project is to increase the capacity of community colleges to define and document critical learning outcomes that students will need to succeed in today's workplace. The colleges participating in the project will design and test innovative, performance-based methods for defining and certifying student achievements. In addition to coordinating this national demonstration project, the League will document and disseminate project activities to showcase the models for educational leaders and
decision makers.
The 16 colleges in the 21st Century Learning Outcomes Project will work with each other, with project facilitators and with members of the League staff to catalyze new standards movement in community colleges.
The League for Innovation is an international association dedicated to fulfilling the potential of the community college movement. The League hosts conferences and institutes, develops Web resources, conducts and publishes research, secures grants, produces publications, hosts conferences and provides services. Additional information about League activities is available online at
http://www.league.org
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Pony
Express Online
The Pony Express is now
online. It can be accessed via the MTC Web page, as a link from the "Enrolled Students" tab. Future printed editions of the Pony Express will also appear online. All questions and comments regarding The Pony Express should be directed to Thomasina Hughey, Student Activities, Airport Campus, 822-3650.
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