Pact good news for SCC students
Can now take credits with them to USC
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Spartanburg Community College (SCC) students will have an easier time receiving academic credit when transferring to the University of South Carolina next fall.

The state's 16 technical colleges announced a transfer agreement Thursday where students with 30 hours of academic credits or a twoyear associate's degree can transfer to the University of South Carolina. The transfer agreement includes students taking classes at the Spartanburg Community College's Cherokee, Spartanburg and Tyger River campuses.

The program will go into effect next fall and is expected to bring in 500 students in the first year.

Without the agreement, academic credits from technical schools often don't count towards a fouryear college degree. The transfer agreement is designed to make it easier for technical school students to transfer into four-year programs by providing them with more specific information on required courses.

Recent high school graduates who may be interested in transferring at some point will be given special counseling on what courses to take, available financial aid options and information on student housing in Columbia, said Kelley Jones, SCC executive assistant to the president.

"This will make a big difference for the students on our campuses who plan on transferring to the University of South Carolina," Jones said. "Students won't have to travel as far to get their general education courses taken care of before transferring to the university. I feel this is a trend where we will see more of these type transfer agreements in the future."

Spartanburg Community College already has similar transfer agreements with Clemson University for students in their horticulture and civil engineering programs.

South Carolina Technical College System President Barry Russell and University of South Carolina President Andrew Sorensen announced the transfer agreement Thursday at a news conference in Columbia. Both said they hoped the program will make a college education more affordable and accessible to students.

"There's a wonderful Southern saying, 'Y'all come!' That's what this is all about, 'Y'all come!'" Sorensen said at the news conference.

About 350 students are currently attending general education classes on the Cherokee County branch campus this fall.

It currently costs an average of $3,000 a year to attend one of the state's technical colleges. By comparison, a full-time USC student pays about $8,300 a year.

A meal plan and on-campus housing adds another $5,500 for a college student's cost.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)