SC technical colleges receive $100,000 grant
SC technical colleges receive
$100,000 grant
SC Technical College System’s Foundation today announced a $100,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. The funds will assist students throughout the 16 technical colleges across South Carolina , as the state’s most accessible and affordable higher education alternative is experiencing record number enrollment. One of the colleges is Technical College of the Lowcountry, located in Beaufort.
“As unemployment rises and decreasing state budgets present challenges to our students, this generous support from Bank of America is critical to ensuring those struggling receive a quality education,” said Richard Heaton, president of the System Foundation. “The ASSIST (Additional Student Support for Instruction, Supplies, and Training) Fund will help by providing a supplemental, emergency source of funds to cover the costs of textbooks, instructional supplies, tools or uniforms for our low to moderate income students.”
“With more South Carolinians than ever turning to 2-year colleges to learn new skills, Bank of America is pleased to help economically disadvantaged students with school fees and expenses during these challenging times,” said Kim Wilkerson, South Carolina president for Bank of America. “The cost of textbooks and instructional supplies is one of the largest barriers to student attendance and retention. Bank of America is proud to support the System’s goal of providing a quality education that is both accessible and affordable.”
With the bank’s support, a minimum of 200 low to moderate income technical college students across the state will receive assistance.
The general guidelines that the 16 technical colleges will use to administer The ASSIST Fund include:
- Priority to technical college students receiving the Pell Grant award;
- Students receiving Pell Grants or Lottery Tuition Assistance, who have exhausted their financial aid and cannot pay out-of-pocket expenses for textbooks and instructional supplies, such as nursing kits or automotive tools;
- Low to moderate income students maintaining a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better;
- Evidence of enrollment in a program at the local technical college that leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate;
- Maximum award of $500 per semester, although each college may establish award ranges for textbooks and supplies based on part-time and full-time enrollment, as well as instructional programs with higher costs.
“ South Carolinians rely now more than ever on the SC Technical College System to learn new skills and enhance their overall employability. A technical college education offers students the lowest tuition cost available and the greatest flexibility,” said Barry Russell, president of the SC Technical College System. “The ASSIST Fund will help us to provide our students with an even better opportunity for success by offsetting what can be a very significant financial challenge, especially for our most economically challenged students.”
The SC Technical College System educates and trains more than 250,000 South Carolinians. Many of the students attending technical colleges receive tuition assistance in the form of Pell Grants, which are awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need. In the academic year 2008-09, 38.7% of the 122,516 students enrolled in credit programs across the System received Pell Grants. More than 50% of these Pell Grant recipients receive the full Pell Grant amount — these students comprise the neediest category of students for the purposes of the Pell Grant program.
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- Enrollment continues to soar at Technical College of the Lowcountry
- $1.1 million grant sends TCL students to visit Washington DC
- Technical college offers on-the-spot registration for fall classes
- 19 Beaufort Academy juniors check out colleges
