Tri-County Technical College Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

CONTACT: DR. DON C. GARRISON, EXT. 2100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/12/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Forty years ago Tri-County Technical College made South Carolina history by becoming the first multi-county technical institute in the state.

Preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary, President Don C. Garrison looks back on how the College has grown from a technical education center in 1962 offering seven technical courses to today's comprehensive two-year college featuring 20 associate degree, 8 diploma and 37 certificate programs.

South Carolina's 16 technical colleges were created as tools for economic development, said Dr. Garrison, who has served as president since October 1971.

In 1961 S.C. faced a bleak future, he recalled. "During the early 60's, young people were leaving in droves because there were few jobs for them," said Dr. Garrison.

Senator Ernest Hollings, who was then was governor, commissioned a group of legislators and representatives of the State Development Board to look at the state's depressed economy at that time. The committee traveled around the U.S. viewing technical education systems in other states. "After a year-long study, they filed a report that said the only way for S.C. to improve its economy would be to develop its most valuable resource – our people. The committee felt that if we had the skilled people to run technical jobs, then we could attract those jobs," said Dr. Garrison.

Less than a year after the committee filed its report, tri-county leaders talked about working together to become a part of the movement to improve the economy in the region and state.

Tri-County was founded in 1962 when the tri-county residents pooled their resources to plan the college after Act 323, Section 23, of the South Carolina General Assembly established the State Committee for Technical Education and provided for the establishment of regional center.

Governor Hollings signed Act 905 of the General Assembly on April 7, 1962, creating what would eventually become Tri-County Technical College.

Senators J.B. Lawson of Anderson County, Marshall Parker, of Oconee County, and Earle Morris, of Pickens County, joined Senator John C. West of Kershaw County, representative of the state committee, when funds were requested from the General Assembly to acquire the original funding of $500,000. They were successful and construction began on 23 acres of land donated by Clemson University.

Tri-County Technical Education Center opened its doors September 10, 1963, and attracted 919 students during its first year of operation. The curricula included electronics technology, machine tool, welding and other engineering technologies.

"The very heart and soul of the S.C. Technical Education System mandate is simple. We were founded to be a catalyst for economic development and to attract diverse manufacturing industries to our state. And 40 years later that's still what we're about," said Dr. Garrison.

"We are preparing the state's greatest resource – its people – for employment in the ever-changing, fast-paced work environment of now and the future. Over the years we, at, Tri-County, have called this program of economic development 'Jobs for People, People for Jobs,'" he said.

It remains the College's mandate, he said. "We support economic development in the state by offering credit degree, diploma, and certificate programs, continuing education classes and the Center for Accelerated Technology Training (CATT), formerly Special Schools."

A central element in the new Technical Education System was Special Schools, a program of customized training for all of the new diverse manufacturing jobs that we envisioned attracted to the state, said Dr. Garrison. "Right away we began to realize success. Now 40 years later, we see national and international corporate logos and signs that weren't on the landscape in 1961," he said. In total, CATT has trained 20,299 for workers for new and expanding industries.

Through the World Class Training Center, the College takes classes on site or anywhere needed. Last year the Continuing Education Division conducted 3,079 classes – 1,218 on campus, 1,822 off campus and 39 in locations other than the tri-county area.

The College has added credit programs in business technology, college transfer, human services, engineering technologies and allied health. Enrollment for spring of 2002 was 3,665.

The College continues to be funded locally by the three county councils. For an unprecedented four decades, all three county councils have approved the College's requests for maintaining its physical plant operations. Over the years, the College has expanded from one 40,000 square foot structure to 13 educational buildings.

"Part of our responsibility, as an open door college, is to make quality education affordable for the people of the three counties," said Dr. Garrison.

"Our mission, as envisioned by the Tech founders in 1960, is even more crucial to the state and community today. The essence of our heritage is what truly separates us and makes us unique from the majority of our nation's 1,2000 plus two-year colleges," he said.

"Tri-County is committed to preparing people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and economic circumstances for success in increasingly sophisticated workplaces. Credit and non-credit courses emphasize strong technical and academic skills, as well as the attributes needed for work success," he said.

"As technology continues to transform the workplace, Tri-County is transforming its programs and offerings, making them more responsive, accessible and diverse. Through new delivery modes, including instruction via the World Wide Web, Tri-County remains true to its proud legacy as a tool for economic development and we look forward to the future," said Dr. Garrison.
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