South Carolina State University, the historically Black educational institution in Orangeburg, has entered into an agreement with Piedmont Technical College. Under the agreement, students at Piedmont Technical College who complete associate’s degree programs will be able to transfer to South Carolina State University to pursue bachelor’s degrees in a large number of fields.
Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, South Carolina, enrolls nearly 5,000 students, according to the latest data filed with the U.S. Department of Education. African Americans make up 33 percent of the student body.
Learie B. Luke, provost and vice president for academic affairs at South Carolina State University, explained that “providing access to higher education has been a hallmark of SC State since its founding. Preparing more baccalaureate-ready graduates is an absolute necessity for South Carolina to continue building its economic infrastructure.”
“As workforce needs continue to grow across South Carolina, it is critical that we work together in higher education to ensure that a seamless pathway is in place for students to attain the postsecondary training they need to fill the jobs that are in demand today,” said Ray Brooks, president of Piedmont Tech. “We are working together to create additional opportunities for those students to pursue the next level of their education, whether their ultimate goal is a bachelor’s, master’s or a doctoral degree.”
