Dear Chasers,

This July is very special to me as I officially enter my third year as President of Spartanburg Community College. As I reflect on the last two years, it is invigorating to think of how much we have accomplished together, and how much we will accomplish in the near future.
 
Since the beginning of my administration, Spartanburg Community College has succeeded in transitioning through a global pandemic to become one of the fastest growing higher educational institutions in the country. We have truly shined as a beacon of light illuminating the way to prosperity for the thousands of individuals we touch through the services we provide.
 
As we look to celebrate the 246th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this weekend, the parallels between our nation's fight for independence and our efforts to revolutionize higher education are striking to me.
 
The launch of our Free Tuition Initiative last May served in many ways as “the shot heard around the world” that sparked many inspiring dreams, brought to life by our very first mascot, Chaser, that have led to our own declaration of no longer be amenable to the status quo. Indeed, we are dedicated to growing the opportunity for all individuals throughout our communities and beyond to own their pursuit of happiness. 
 
As we move through the 2022-2023 Academic Year, the actions taken over the course of the last year have positioned Spartanburg Community College to take advantage of the opportunity to gain even further ground to serve as the leader in driving forward the comprehensive nexus between higher education and the Upstate economy.
 
The future is bright at Spartanburg Community College, and I could not be more proud of the many achievements we have accomplished.


Go Chasers!
G. Michael Mikota, Ph.D.
President
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Community College Taps Ethan Burroughs As New Vice President of Economic Advancement

Spartanburg Community College announced the hiring of Mr. Ethan Burroughs as the College’s new Vice President of Economic Advancement.

Having served as a Market President and Commercial Relationship Manager with Wells Fargo Bank in Spartanburg for more than thirty years, Mr. Burroughs brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position, which serves as the key solutions provider for economic vitality in the Upstate of South Carolina.

"Spartanburg Community College is greatly advancing the overarching competitiveness of the Upstate Region of South Carolina through delivering unique and innovative economic solutions to support and grow our communities while simultaneously enhancing quality of life through higher educational attainment. Mr. Burroughs’ knowledge, experience and community focus will greatly enhance and facilitate the College’s mission of serving as the comprehensive nexus between higher education and the regional economy."

-Dr. Michael Mikota
Spartanburg Community College Celebrates 11th Graduating Class of BMW Tech Scholars

On June 21, BMW Manufacturing held graduation ceremonies for its 11th class of BMW Scholars. The 44 Scholars completed their course work and training requirements and were officially offered full-time jobs at BMW Plant Spartanburg.

20 of those 44 graduates were Spartanburg Community College Chasers!

Our work with the BMW Tech Scholars Program will be highlighted in an upcoming segment on CNBC with Scott Cohn later this month.


"Love Where You Learn" Mural Installed on Giles Campus

The SCC marketing team collaborated with local Spartanburg artists Jeremy Kemp and Stephen Long (creators of the "Love Where You Live" mural downtown), Maggie MacDonald, and SCC alumni Adrian Meadows to develop and install a vibrant new mural on the SCC Giles Campus Green that showcases the College’s commitment to Education, Community, and Innovation.

The "Love Where You Learn" mural serves as yet another piece of the puzzle in our campaign to rebrand the college to showcase our #DreamItChaseItLiveIt mentality.

The installation process of the mural was filmed as part of a new series of commercials that will air later this summer. You can view an album full of photos from the installation of the mural here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/sccsc/albums/72177720299763237 

Fox Carolina: 'What Is Motivating Upstate Future Educators?'

With the litany of potential uncertainties, rigors, and stresses that come with a career in education, Fox Carolina came to our Giles Campus to talk with two Chasers that are future educators to ask what motivates them to keep chasing their dream of being teachers.

Click the photo above to view the segment.
A Legacy of Lifelong Learning

Susan Gault, daughter of SCC's first president, Joe Gault, recently visited our Giles Campus for a tour as she explores her options to take advantage of our free tuition and return to school.

Mr. Gault served as Director of the Spartanburg Technical Education Center from 1970-1974 and then as President of STC from 1974-1985.

With it now being July, 2022 is officially more than halfway complete. Let's talk a walk down memory lane and reminisce on a handful of the highlights from the last few months.
Free Tuition Initiative Result: Highest Enrollment in College History; Fastest Growing College in the Country

On November 2nd, 2021, we announced the results of our Free Tuition Initiative. For the Fall of 2021, we marked the highest enrollment in college history, with approximately 6,100 students across our campuses, and almost a thousand more students aged 24 and older, working towards chasing the dreams they have. That's immensely powerful.

Enrollment from Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties increased 24, 37 and 35 percent, respectively.
  
One stated goal when the free tuition initiative was launched was to reengage students who at some point paused their pursuits in higher education by eliminating financial barriers and opening access, specifically for adults. The unprecedented 66 percent increase among those aged 24 and older is proof-positive of the success of this initiative and overwhelmingly exceeds expectations.
 
Significant increases were also realized amongst the college's minority population, with a 55 percent increase in African American enrollment, a 44 percent increase in Hispanic enrollment, a 10 percent increase in Asian enrollment and a 37 percent increase amongst all other races. These increases are significant, as SCC is dedicated to closing the gap on degree attainment among minority communities.
 
The rapid growth in SCC's enrollment as part of the free tuition initiative embodies the fact that the SCC family is made up of a student population that dreams of a brighter future, chases down their goals and lives out their dreams.

To cement this mentality of "Dream It, Chase It, Live It,” SCC is proud to announce that SCC students, faculty, staff, and alumni will now be officially known as the Spartanburg Community College Chasers, with Spartanburg’s own Chaser the Border Collie serving as the first mascot in college history.

Every day, SCC students chase their dreams and a brighter future. In the years ahead, we know, much like Chaser’s story, the lasting legacy of our students’ education won’t be limited to what they know, but rather the spirit in which they learned — defying expectation, inspiring others and making an impact that radiates throughout our community and beyond.
Spartanburg Community College Highlighted by GSA Business' Book of Experts and 'Coffee With...'

On the heels of the announcement of the success of our Free Tuition Initiative and Chaser unveiling, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Rick Jenkins of GSA Business to have coffee and discuss our success and how we are gunning to be the most affordable, accessible, and relevant institution of higher education in the country.

Click the image above to view that video of that discussion.

Furthermore, I was honored to be a part of the GSA Business 'Book of Experts' and contribute a column detailing the ways in which Spartanburg Community College is meeting the unique challenges our communities face head on.

Spartanburg Community College Ranked Best Community College in South Carolina by National Independent Organization

Spartanburg Community College was named the top-ranked community college in South Carolina according to rankings from Best Colleges, an organization that utilizes proprietary research and data from the National Center for Education Statistics to help prospective students find the school that best matches their needs. 

"Spartanburg Community College is blazing a path forward for higher education and making waves throughout the state and indeed the nation. Achieving the top ranking from Best Colleges is an achievement worthy of distinction and speaks volumes as to tremendous work our faculty and staff are doing to engage with our students and re-engage those in our community who are utilizing our free tuition initiative to return to their pursuit of higher learning. This is only the beginning of what we are going to accomplish." - Dr. Mikota
Spartanburg Community College Celebrates “Impact” of Higher Education and Workforce Training on Students, Careers, and Community

Announces $35 billion economic impact to South Carolina since 2007

In March, Spartanburg Community College held the inaugural SCC Impact celebration event at the Spartanburg Marriot. Hosted by the SCC Foundation, the celebratory event was a reimagined version of the College’s longstanding annual “Economic Visionaries” event, and featured guest speakers who enumerated on each of the three key areas where the College has an impact: Students, Careers, and Community.
 
The event concluded with a surprise announcement of a new economic impact study showing Spartanburg Community College had an economic impact of $35.4 billion to the state of South Carolina since 2007 with the innovative Spark Center playing a crucial role in the creation of more than 109,000 jobs over that same time. 
 
In Spartanburg County, SCC contributed $132 million and created 897 jobs in 2021 alone.
 
Over the course of five years between 2017 and 2021, SCC alone has contributed:

  • $577.8 million to the economy and created 4,018 jobs in Spartanburg County
  • $43.4 million to the economy and created 811 in Cherokee County
  • $17.8 million to the economy and created 263 jobs in Union County
 
Over that time span, the Spark Center alone has contributed:

  • $30.4 billion to Spartanburg County
  • $235 million to Cherokee County
  • $198 million to Union County.
 
Broken down, the Spark Center provides a yearly average of $6 billion to Spartanburg County, $47 million to Cherokee County, and $39.6 million to Union County. 
 
"Numbers and data speak volumes, and in all of these examples I have shared, the obvious fact is Spartanburg Community College – in collaboration with our many partners -- is one of the most significant drivers of our local economies." - Dr. Mikota.
Graduation on the Campus Green

On Thursday, May 5th, Spartanburg Community College held the first ever graduation ceremony on the Campus Green of the College’s Giles Campus in Spartanburg.

436 graduates received their degrees, diplomas, and certificates from the College as they transition into high-growth, high demand careers or continue their education towards a bachelor’s degree and beyond.
Spartanburg Community College Honors 2022 "Chaser Champions"

Spartanburg Community College recognized five members of its faculty and staff for their exemplary work and dedication to the mission of the College as the first recipients of the "Chaser Champions" annual award:

Garrett Brown, Program Director, Machine Tool Technology
Julie Denesha, Dept. Chair, Nursing
Charm Lowe, Admin, SCC Foundation
Jane Bird, SCC Creative Manager
Rick Teal, VP of Human Resources (Posthumously)

"I am proud to enshrine these outstanding individuals in the annals of Spartanburg Community College's history as the first Chaser Champions and laud their dedication to our students and the communities of which we serve."
- Dr. Michael Mikota
About Spartanburg Community College.

SCC offers more than 70 academic program offerings including associate degrees, diplomas and certificates, plus University Transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities. SCC provides flexible class scheduling including day, evening, weekend classes with multiple start dates and more than 100 online classes through SCCOnline. Offering the lowest tuition in the region, convenient locations, and regional/national accreditations, SCC offers educational opportunities leading to high-growth, high-demand jobs. The SCC Corporate & Community Education Division provides job and career enhancement, workforce development and personal enrichment courses and training programs. For more information, visit www.sccsc.edu.