Connection Newsletter August 2020

A Publication from the Office of the President

In this Issue ...

Surgical Technology Is Advisory Committee of the Year............... 3

Adjunct Faculty, Alumni Awards at Fall Convocation....... 4

August 2020

Laura McClain Receives Presidential Medallion For Instructional Excellence Laura McClain, program director for the medical assisting program, was honored August 13 with the highest award presented to the faculty. She received the Presidential Medallion for Instructional Excellence at the College’s virtual fall convocation.

The medallion is presented each year to the instructor who has contributed the most during the academic year to the profession of teaching, to the development of the College and to the students.

“This is a wonderful honor,” said McClain. “I have always demanded excellence of myself and my students, so to be recognized for doing what is natural for me was unexpected. I am extremely thankful for a college that supports my passion and desire to give the students the tools and resources they need to be Laura McClain successful and have that transformative student experience we speak about often. My way to give back is to serve the College in every capacity I can. I am truly humbled. It takes a village, so my recognition is for all those who also assist me day in and day out.”

McClain joined the College in 2014 with 25 years of experience working as a certified medical assistant in OB-GYN and family practice, along with eight years as an RN in the medical/surgical unit, labor and delivery, long-term care and in hospitals.

(continued on page 11)

Tina Burton Honored with Presidential Staff Medallion

Welcome Back......................... 12

Career and Technology Center Ribbon-Cutting............. 12

Tina Burton earned the highest award given to staff at an annual fall convocation.

Burton, who serves as recruitment support specialist and campus visit coordinator for the College’s recruitment, admissions and orientation department, received the Presidential Medallion for Staff Excellence.

“Tina Burton epitomizes the TCTC vision statement. Her passion for our students and for TCTC’s mission in serving our community is evident in everything that she does,” said Jenni Creamer, assistant vice president for college transitions.

Tina Burton “She knows the difference between a transaction and an interaction and seeks to promote our I-CARE standards in every encounter with prospective students, community members, enrolled students and fellow employees,” added Creamer.

Passionate people TRANSFORMING LIVES

AND BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES ONE STUDENT AT A TIME.

(continued on page 11)

Connection is published ten times each year by the Office of the President and the Public Relations Department.

Mailing Address (All Campuses) P. O. Box 587 Pendleton, SC 29670 Pendleton Campus 7900 Highway 76 Pendleton, SC Anderson Campus 511 Michelin Blvd.

Anderson, SC Easley Campus 1774 Powdersville Rd. Easley, SC Oconee Campus 552 Education Way Westminster, SC Main Number (864) 646-TCTC (8282) Toll-free 1-866-269-5677 Website tctc.edu

Tri-County Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Tri-County Technical College.

Tri-County Technical College does not discriminate in admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, qualifying disability, veteran’s status, or national origin.

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TCTC Strong: Our Path Forward Dr. Galen DeHay ri-County Technical College kicked off the 2020–2021 President academic year on August 17, and I am pleased to report that we are offering face-to-face, online and hybrid (a combination of face-to-face and online) courses this fall. Additionally, our student support and engagement services are being offered both in-person and virtually, and we have embedded virtual support services like tutoring and librarians into our online courses.

We also have deployed dozens of mobile hotspots to students who do not have access to or cannot afford home internet service.

Reaching this important milestone was not easy; rather, it is the result of many months of planning and preparation. I am most proud of how we accomplished our work together as a team, and I am deeply grateful for the untold hours spent planning, creating new instructional materials, redesigning support services and adapting work processes. As early as April, we started to develop TCTC Strong: Our Path Forward, our journey to return to on-campus instruction amidst the coronavirus pandemic while protecting the health and safety of students, employees and the community.

Throughout our planning work, we took a measured approach to bringing students and employees back to campus. This approach gave us time to implement a number of health and safety measures to minimize the spread of coronavirus on our campuses, such as making modifications in each classroom to ensure physical distancing, placing plexiglass barriers in high-traffic service areas, deploying sanitizing materials, and installing higher efficiency filters in all of our HVAC units. We also positioned signage across our campuses reminding people to wear a face covering/mask and stay six feet apart.

Our campuses may look different right now, but I can assure you that the highquality learning experiences our students and community have come to expect is still being delivered today. At Tri-County, student success is our number one priority. We pride ourselves on creating a supportive environment in which to learn and succeed in all instructional delivery modes. Whether courses meet online or in person, we are committed to providing an educational experience that is engaging, interactive and offers timely and meaningful feedback.

As an institution of higher learning, we are called to promote economic diversity and prosperity in the communities we serve. This work does not stop because of a pandemic.

In fact, our communities need us now more than ever, and it’s imperative that we keep our students on track academically and help them reach the goals they set prior to the pandemic.

This year will be unlike any other, but I am confident that we will persevere and come out of this pandemic stronger and more committed to our mission than ever before. We are TCTC Strong.

In your service,

Galen DeHay, Ph.D. President

Surgical Technology Named Advisory Committee of the Year The surgical technology advisory committee’s practical and professional guidance this year, along with hands-on attention to student success, earned it the College’s Advisory Committee of the Year award.

The committee was recognized for its achievements this year at the College’s virtual fall convocation August 13.

Committee members Laura Bachlet, nurse manager of perioperative services at Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital, and Fran Kopnicky, retired bank manager, along with Program Director Denelle White, accepted the award.

Pictured from left are Al Young, chairman of the college’s commission; Laura Bachlet, advisory committee member and nurse manager of perioperative services at Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital; Surgical Technology Program Director Denelle White; President DeHay; and Fran Kopnicky, advisory committee member.

The role of the surgical technology advisory committee is to provide feedback and assess annual program outcomes data and curricular issues. They maintain an active role in the continued assessment and revision of program goals, resources and outcomes.

This year the committee engaged in three main objectives: accreditation, curriculum redesign needed to transition to an associate degree this fall and facilities updates that will enhance student competencies.

“Without the committee’s dedicated and high-quality participation, the success of these initiatives may not have been realized,” said White.

Faculty and Staff Recognized for Service to State and College 10 Years TCTC Service

15 Years TCTC Service

20 Years TCTC Service

Julie Beard Tim Bowen Tina Burton Jennifer Creamer Nathan Geary Deborah Nelms Beverly Thompson

Alex Eaton Chad Gregory Jennifer Hulehan David Little Tammy Lollis

Margaret Burdette Tracy Ethridge

10 Years TCTC and State Service

Scott Brabham Dave Bucy Eric Griffith Paul Phelps Amy Roberts Cathy Strasser Teresa Summers

Sheryl Attig Andrea Barnett Amy Borders Keri Catalfomo Shelby Duffy Allison Earley Mandy Elmore Dana Griffith Lillian Hunter Cathy Saidat Matt Simon Donald White Bob White Rhonda Whitten Matt Woodall

15 Years TCTC and State Service

15 Years State Service Beth Byars Gregg Corley Alex Eaton Julie Ellington Chad Gregory Kimberly Harp Jennifer Hulehan Tammy Lollis Glenda Waters

20 Years TCTC and State Service Elaine Alexander Cathy Cole Galen DeHay George Fiori Ron Humphries Suzanne Konieczny Phil Smith

20 Years State Service Laneika Musalini Lisa Rall Lynn Smith

25 Years State Service Margaret Burdette Hubert McClure Della Vanhuss John Woodson

August 2020 • 3

Jonathan Chastain Receives Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award

Jonathan Chastain

Jonathan Chastain, who teaches mathematics classes for our comprehensive studies department, received the College’s 2020 Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award.

This award is given annually at fall convocation to the adjunct faculty member who is recognized for excellence in teaching, who has consistently high student evaluations and who supports the philosophy and goals of the College.

For three-and-one-half years, Chastain has taught at the College and assists with advising, orientations and staffing the Math+Lab. “Jonathan is always willing to go above and beyond and step up when the department and our students need him,” said Jennifer Hulehan, dean for academic and career foundations.

“Jonathan has risen to the occasion more times than I can count. Whether it was responding to a student in distress, filling in for an absent instructor, or helping other instructors better serve students, he’s always ready, willing and more than capable,” Hulehan said.

Kellie Smith Boone, Class of 2001, Receives 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award The Distinguished Alumni Award is given each year at commencement and highlights a graduate’s dedication to his/ her alma mater. The recipient of this award must have been awarded a degree, diploma or certificate from Tri-County; must have graduated at least one year ago and must have made significant contributions to the College, the Alumni Association or the community.

Nineteen years ago Kellie Smith Boone walked across the stage at the Anderson Civic Center and received her associate in arts degree at Tri-County Technical College’s spring commencement.

Since that day, she has worked in manufacturing facilities in Oconee County, beginning her career at Koyo Bearings in Walhalla, where she started as an operator in production and quickly moved up the ladder into human resources. She says her Tri-County degree paved the way.

Boone spent 16 years at Koyo - most recently as a human resources generalist until joining Horton’s team as human resources manager late last year. (Horton is Oconee County’s newest manufacturing facility.)

She always is pleased when she sees Tri-County on an applicant’s resume -- whether it’s an associate degree or the South Carolina Manufacturing Certification (SCMC). “Tri-County graduates will play a vital role in Horton’s success,” she said.

Horton’s proximity to the College’s Oconee Campus is a real plus, she said. “Tri-County will serve as a feeder for us. Tri-County

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and the Hamilton Career and Technology Center, are our partners in supplying future employees. It makes me smile that we are located so close to the campus.”

Horton and other industries are part of the Oconee Industry and Technology Park, located on Highway 11 in Westminster.

It co-locates the Oconee Campus of Tri-County Technical College, the career center for high school Kellie Smith Boone students and industry.

“We are excited about having a potential skilled workforce nearby,” she said.

As human resources manager, Boone is responsible for recruiting and hiring for all hourly and salaried positions, payroll and benefits, training and development and employee/public relations. When seeking candidates for job openings, she says she looks for Tri-County Technical College when reviewing resumes. “I know what Tri-County graduates can do,” said Boone.

“I’m proud I started at Tri-County.”

“I Am Amazed at Your Resilience” President DeHay Tells Grads In a virtual commencement address July 31 to the Class of 2020, President DeHay praised the graduates’ resilience and ability to persevere during the spring semester. He said: “As I reflect back over the past several months and the extraordinary challenges we have faced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, I continue to be amazed at your resilience and the resolve you have shown in getting to where you are today.

Building resiliency is like building a muscle. It takes time and commitment. Many of you have been on the fast-track to building resiliency as a result of the pandemic.

You may not be able to see it now, but this newfound resilience will help you succeed in both life and work. It will equip you to meet future challenges and embrace opportunities.

And it will no doubt continue to empower you to grow and improve your life.

Linda Jameison, vice president of student support and engagement, g extends a big thank you to the Bra & e 2020 commencement event team. r She writes: Sha “The July 31 commencement was a celebration of our students’ accomplishments. But, it also provides an opportunity to give kudos and thanks to the team of people who made this happen. Scott Harvey and the graduation committee (representing all college divisions!) started planning the May ceremony many months ago. Then, when that live event was moved to July and to a new location, they shifted plans and created what would have been a great outdoor event. Then, when it was apparent this event needed to be virtual, they shifted plans again, and created the video event. Afterwards, team members came together to package and send our graduates their credentials and other items that celebrate their accomplishments. Plans changed, and changed and changed. Through it all, Scott and the team remained flexible and adaptable and accomplished this very important TCTC milestone. Many thanks to this team of people who continued to rise to the challenge.”

Ken Kopera, director of our physical plant, extends a big thank you to folks on campus who worked tirelessly to prepare for the first day of classes amid the challenges of COVID-19.

“I just have to brag on the physical plant team and all they’ve accomplished to prepare the campuses for the fall

Stand tall class of 2020. You have not only survived this crisis, you have thrived. As the pandemic continues to evolve and pose new challenges, I am confident that you will triumph because you are resilient. You are the class of 2020. And you have a story to tell.

Congratulations to all of you. You have a bright future ahead of you, and I wish you all the best.”

GRADUATION AT A GLANCE • • • • •

1466 graduates for fall 2019 and spring/summer 2020 487 are from Anderson County 217 are from Oconee County 473 are from Pickens County 289 are from out of county

semester. This includes implementing physical distancing measures in 156 classrooms and labs along with Learning Commons, common areas, computer labs, lounges and breakrooms. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray and wipes, masks, gloves and face shields, were distributed to these areas, as well.

Hundreds of coronavirus-related signs have been placed throughout all facilities.

All of this wasn’t done by the physical plant alone. Gayle Arries and the marketing team turned sign requests around in a flash. Matt Whitten and Amanda Massey in purchasing worked relentlessly to procure PPE and disinfecting supplies.

The print shop turned around requests in hours and, in some cases, minutes. Mandy Elmore and the EIT team took the lead and proactively made their labs safer from a physical distancing standpoint. Our janitorial partner, the Budd Group, applied an antimicrobial product to all high-touch surfaces and reacted immediately to clean and disinfect any areas suspected of contamination.

It wasn’t all easy, and when a quick fix wasn’t readily available, folks huddled and came up with a solution. I’m super proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish to date.”

Lou Moritz, director of administrative services, received a glowing review from a parent who used the online textbook ordering/pickup service.

“It was so easy and quick!” is how she described the experience. “This kind of email makes me proud! Excellent service is recognized! Thanks for making TCTC shine today!” said Cara Hamilton, vice president for business affairs.

August 2020 • 5

Like Mother, Like Daughter Kaylyn Brown, right, the daughter of Stephanie Brown, program director/instructor in our veterinary technology program, left, graduated from our veterinary technology program last week.

Stephanie, a 1992 alumna of the veterinary technology program, sent this photo of them celebrating her graduation.

Kaylyn is working at Craven Creek, a new veterinary clinic that just opened in Powdersville. She also will be getting married in September.

Students Welcomed Back To Campus We continue to do things differently amid the coronavirus pandemic as we welcome new and returning students back to campus.

“Our plan this fall is grounded in two priorities: create a healthy and safe learning environment and continue to deliver high quality learning experiences,” said President DeHay. “We continue to balance the health and safety of our students and employees with the need to fulfill our vision of transforming lives and building strong communities one student at a time.”

TCTC is currently offering face-to-face, online and hybrid (a combination of face-to-face and online) courses. Most courses have a combination of online and on-campus instruction, and courses that require hands-on learning continue in person as much as possible.

Glenda Waters, left, greets Emily Hafner, of Salem, a media arts production major, on the first day of classes. Students received welcome bags filled with snacks and supplies.

Commissioner John Powell to Be Recognized Nationally with ACCT Award Congratulations to Commissioner John Powell, who will be recognized nationally for his commitment to advancing the community college movement. He was notified July 30 by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) that he is the recipient of the Southern Regional Trustee Leadership Award. This award will be presented to him at the ACCT Leadership Congress.

Powell is one of five community college trustees representing five geographic regions in the U.S. The national winner will be named at ACCT’s annual association awards ceremony.

Earlier this year, Powell was the recipient of the 2020 South Carolina Association of Technical College Commissioners (SCATCC) Trustee Leadership Award. The award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to promote the technical or community college concept.

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TCTC Employees Learn About Leading Inclusively In a thought-provoking hour with La’wana Harris, a certified diversity executive, Leading Inclusively provides guidance and helps start individuals on the journey toward inclusive leadership. Participants gain insights and tools to help them and their organization value and leverage the unique strengths and talents of all individuals.

Dr. Jackie Blakley, dean of the Dr. Jackie Blakley business and public services division, said the “training was very informative and provided a number of opportunities for self-evaluation related to inclusion.”

Dr. Blakley found opportunities like the COMMIT SelfAssessment to be very useful as the results suggest areas of opportunity. COMMIT is an acronym for: • Commit to courageous action • Open your eyes and ears • Move beyond lip service • Make room for controversy and conflict • Invite new perspectives • Tell the truth even when it hurts Overall, Dr. Blakley went on to describe two key learning points from this session.

1. Individuals should leverage power and privilege to enable inclusion, and those with power and privilege should be thoughtful and effective allies for underrepresented groups.

2. We should embed inclusive behaviors as a way of doing business.

Changes to Fall 2020 Academic Calendar In response to the coronavirus pandemic, TCTC made three major changes to the fall 2020 academic calendar: first, fall break has been shortened to one day (November 3); second, classes for sessions A, C and J will end on November 24; and third, since students will not return to campus after November 24, any exams occurring after this date will be done online.

A copy of the revised fall 2020 academic calendar is available on our website.

The Professional Development Day, previously scheduled for November 3, has been canceled. As an alternative, faculty and staff are encouraged to engage in professional development opportunities in SPARK as time permits. A copy of the revised fall 2020 academic calendar is available at tctc.edu/calendar.

Dr. Amoena Norcross, curriculum consultant in the office of academic development, also attended and shared her key learning points: “What I personally found most impactful from attending the Leading Inclusively Leadercamp is that there are two different kinds of allyship: Performative Allyship and Thoughtful Allyship. Performative Allyship, according to La’wana Harris, is defined Dr. Amoena Norcross as ‘superficial acts of solidarity from a non-marginalized group that are self-centered and not supported by a long-term commitment to meaningful action.’ Examples of this kind of allyship include passive actions like Black Lives Matter or Say Their Names hashtags/postings on social media.

On the other hand, Thoughtful Allyship focuses on actions that create change. According to La’wana Harris, ‘becoming a thoughtful and effective ally for underrepresented groups’ means I need to do more of the following: • Engage at the systemic level to impact policy • Speak up even when I feel uncomfortable • Use my privilege to benefit underrepresented groups • Acknowledge that even though I feel pain, the conversation is not about me • Understand that my education is up to me and no one else Attending the Leading Inclusively Leadercamp and learning about the two types of allyship has empowered me to become a thoughtful ally. I encourage all TCTC employees to view the recording of the Leading Inclusively Leadercamp!”

Employee Recognition Let’s spread the word about our fellow employees who go the extra mile and let everyone know about their contributions. Laura McClain, medical assisting program director and a member of our Service Excellence Team (SET), asks if anyone has any specific person or group they would like to recognize, please send that information to her with a brief description. Or you can always go to the Recognition Portal on eTC (Employee Tab–Celebrate Excellence–Employee Celebration and Recognition) to recognize or thank those who are making a difference. If you have questions, contact McClain at 864-646-1352 or lmcclain@tctc.edu.

August 2020 • 7

Our College Family excellence through service Congratulations to Mary Orem, director of the learning commons, who was elected to the PASCAL Board of Directors.

Orem will serve as a member-at-large for a three-year term (2020-2023). PASCAL is the Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries which serves nearly 200,000 students at 56 colleges and universities.

TCTC’s membership in this consortium provides our students and faculty a higher level of academic content and services at a dramatically lower cost than individual libraries could provide on their own.

Mary Orem Laneika Musalini, director of grants, has been selected to participate in the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) Equity Leadership Team. Her team was selected for the NAPE Equity Leadership Academy which consists of two persons from State Tech, two persons from a technical college and a student.

Musalini also was a co-presenter Laneika Musalini at the 62nd Annual Meeting for the National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA) held virtually. She copresented a kick-off session for newcomers and first-time attendees on August 6. She also presented a session entitled, “Diversity & Inclusion to Further Your PI’s Research” on August 11. Musalini currently serves as the chair of the organization’s presidential task force on diversity and inclusion. Earlier this year, she was honored by NCURA with the 2020 Distinguished Service Award for Region III. In 2019, the Learning Commons’ tutoring program earned its Level 1 Stage 1 College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certification, which is the industry standard for tutor training programs. Certification is based on tutors’ completed hours of CRLA-approved training topics and actual hours spent tutoring. On May 2, 2020, our tutoring program became recertified at Level 1 Stage 2, which indicates that tutors are able to apply the skills, attitudes and behaviors learned in Level 8 • CONNECTION

1 training and appropriately incorporate those strategies into tutoring sessions. This certification is valid until 2023.

Congratulations to Chief Marcus Guess, who drove to Columbia July 8 and took and passed the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Law Enforcement Certification test. Chief Guess joined the College in February as chief of police.

Chief Guess, who has worked in law enforcement for more than 16 years, spent the last decade at Albany State University Police Department in Georgia, where he served in various capacities, most recently as interim chief of police.

Chief Marcus Guess

Jeremy McCracken

Grayson Kelly

Jeremy McCracken is the incoming Faculty Senate president.

Faculty Senate is comprised of full-time and adjunct representation from each instructional division.

Meetings are held monthly. The goal of the Faculty Senate is to coordinate the efforts of the entire faculty, to maintain faculty morale and to further the understanding between the faculty and the administration.

Grayson Kelly, vice president for institutional advancement and business relations, was honored this month by GSA Business Report as a member of its 2020 class of Forty Under 40.

The Forty Under 40 awards were initiated to recognize success and community involvement of 40 professionals under age 40 who are making their mark on the Upstate from a mix of industry, professional and community sectors.

Lisa Garrett, public relations associate, recently was honored with a 2020 Hermes Gold Award in the Writing category for the College’s most recent 2018-2019 Annual Report. Hermes Creative Awards is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.

Fiscal Affairs Honored with CAFR Award Our Fiscal Affairs Office was honored for the 20th straight year with the highest recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

The College received notification from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) that, once again, we earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR). The CAFR contains information on the counties’ assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenditures in conformity with the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB). The GASB establishes accounting and reporting standards for governments to provide accurate, consistent, and transparent financial information. The goal of the program is not to assess the financial health of participating

governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves.

“I am very proud of the fiscal affairs team for continuing to receive this honor each year,” said Tracy Wactor, controller/ director of fiscal affairs. “While the award is tied to a single document, what is included in this document is the culmination of their efforts over the past year. Obtaining this recognition is accomplished through what the team does every day to ensure the College’s books and records are accurate and up-to-date with their attention to detail and commitment to excellence. I appreciate each member of the team and say thank you for their daily contributions.”

Two Officers Promoted to Sergeant Congratulations to Billy Albert and Shaun Chastain, two committed and dedicated police officers who have been promoted to the rank of sergeant.

“Promotion shows you have chosen the right people who are willing to grow in their roles and responsibility,” said Cara Hamilton, vice president of business affairs.

“Billy and Shaun understand and embrace community policing and student success,” she added.

“Serving others is at the heart of this police department,” added Chief Marcus Guess.

“You live the creed every day,” said President DeHay. “To Billy and Shaun, congratulations. You have prepared yourselves. It’s time for you to shine and to provide leadership and guidance.

And, to our police department, you are a team. It takes all of you to be successful.”

Chief Marcus Guess with Sergeant Billy Albert

Chief Marcus Guess with Sergeant Shaun Chastain

President DeHay Celebrates 21st Anniversary President Galen DeHay celebrated 21 years of service at Tri-County August 19. Last year Dr. DeHay was named the college’s fourth president. He joined the college as a science instructor/department head before moving into executive leadership roles, including senior vice president.

August 2020 • 9

Students Demonstrate Skills at Heavy Equipment Rodeo Students in the Heavy Equipment certification classes recently participated in a rodeo where they showcased their skills for potential employers who are looking to fill these in-demand jobs across the state.

South Carolina employment data indicates the job market is wide open in this field, and employers are looking to fill new positions and openings created by a retiring workforce.

The rodeo serves as a demonstration of the students’ skills obtained during their classroom and skills training through the College’s Corporate and Community Education Division.

From left, instructors Kevin Warren and Patrick “Pat” Condon are pictured with graduates Patrick Donnald, Demetrius Pruitt, Reggie Blassingame, Brian Reed, Nicholas Whitten and Program Director Mike Sanders.

RN/LPN NCLEX Scores Surpass State, National Pass Rates Students in the associate degree nursing and practical nursing programs continue their status of surpassing state and national pass rates on the state certification exam—amid the challenges of shifting to remote learning mid-semester in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am so proud of our students and faculty for their dedication and resilience. These are challenging times. We all just had to do it a different way this semester,” said Jackie Rutledge, nursing department head.

The College’s associate degree nursing (ADN) program reports a 93.18% pass rate for first-time candidates taking the NCLEX-RN (Registered Nurse) exam for second quarter reporting (January 1 to June 30).

According to the National Council State Board of Nursing, the state pass rate is 91.34% and the national average is 88.93%.

The second quarter score for Tri-County students taking the NCLEX-PN (Practical Nursing) is 100%. The state average is 96.25% and the national average is 84.52%.

Since 2016 this is the third time that both programs exceeded state and national averages on the certification exams.

The NCLEX exams for both PN and ADN programs are computerized exams that test a graduate’s basic nursing knowledge and decision-making ability on commonly encountered healthcare situations. Graduates of both programs must pass the exam to work as RNs and/or LPNs in the state.

In mid-March the pandemic required College officials to shift the classroom-based spring course offerings to an online format.

Tri-County transitioned to online instructional delivery with the goal of all students completing the spring semester. Course content, including labs and clinicals, was moved to an e-learning format.

“We banded together as a team and were determined to make this work,” she said.

Tri-County’s nursing departments are fully accredited by the State Board of Nursing in South Carolina and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

Virtual Summer Camp Held July 25 The Engineering and Industrial Technology Division hosted its annual summer camp virtually this year on Saturday, July 25, from noon to 3 p.m. The camp is held for under-resourced children, ages 8–17, from the Silent Victims of Crime organization. Participants were sent their kits by mail. Under

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the direction of camp instructors Brittany Talbert, academic resource specialist, and Foster Sims, adjunct instructor for general engineering technology, they built bots, learned binary with LEGO and learned how circuits work.

College Partners with Medshore for EMT Training The College partnered with Medshore Ambulance to offer free accelerated EMT classes which began July 20.

Twelve individuals were accepted into the EMT-Basic course with free tuition, certification and testing. Classroom instruction is provided by TCTC instructors at Medshore’s headquarters in Anderson.

The company plans to offer this course again in the fall and on a regular schedule in the future. The free, accelerated program for EMT training is the first of its kind in the area.

“The EMS industry has a real need for talented, dedicated students to begin their careers in EMS,” said Medshore Ambulance General Manager Josh Shore. “Medshore Ambulance has positions immediately available for these students and this course is the first stepping stone towards continuing to develop

Laura McClain (continued from page 1)

“Laura is a valued faculty member of the College who has been constantly working and improving the medical assisting program since she was hired,” said Donna Palmer, health professions department head. “She works tirelessly to promote her program, ensures her students’ success and represents the College on multiple levels.

She is enthusiastic and passionate about the medical assisting program and profession and her personal and professional growth.”

Tina Burton (continued from page 1)

“Tina defines what it means to be a servant leader.

She works tirelessly to serve not only our students, but her colleagues. Members of our team actively seek her advice and guidance because of her experience and know-how. Words cannot describe how thrilled I am for Tina to receive this deserving award,” said Tiffany Blackwell, director of recruitment, admissions and orientation.

Burton joined the College in 2010 as an administrative specialist for the Information Center and continued to successfully grow into new positons and new responsibilities. She is a 1994 graduate of our office systems technology program (now administrative office technology) and previously served on the College’s Alumni Association board of directors.

their skills in EMS or entering other areas of the healthcare and public safety field.”

Students will be fully trained and onboarded to begin working on a Medshore ambulance in eight weeks upon passing the national registry exam. The course is offered with a two-year employment commitment.

“By providing a free class and a wage for them to complete training full-time, we hope to remove all financial barriers towards that goal,” said Medshore Ambulance Vice President of Operations Jason Cooke. “Upon passing their exam, our students are immediately able to work on an ambulance making up to $30,000 a year. With a company-sponsored paramedic class, they can advance their career to make up to $45,000 a year in a short time. This is a great opportunity.”

EIT Team Makes Hands-Free 3-D Printed Door Openers As employees returned to campus in the reopening phases leading to fall semester, they received a no-contact, multi-use door opener, a safety product made by our Engineering and Technology Division in an effort to minimize touching surfaces during the coronavirus pandemic.

These gadgets are made of ABS plastic and help to mitigate the spread of germs by allowing people to perform everyday tasks hands free. Individuals can use the device to open doors, turn on faucets, pull drawers open and push elevator buttons without touching those surfaces.

Many thanks to Foster Sims, adjunct instructor for general engineering technology, who has been operating the 3-D printer lab, making thousands of these gadgets for faculty, staff and students.

August 2020 • 11

Board of Visitors Meets Virtually The Board of Visitors convened virtually on July 28 with an update from President DeHay about the College’s fall academic plan. His remarks were followed by a question-and-answer session and discussion about the important role our community partners play in addressing student needs during the pandemic.

Laneika Musalini, the College’s director of grants who manages the board’s activities, communications and meetings, asked members to continue to spread the word about the S.C. Technical College System’s statewide marketing campaign, I DEFY. The I DEFY campaign is designed to make people think differently about technical college education. It also aims to raise visibility of technical colleges and to grow enrollment among recent high school graduates and young adults ages 24–30 by defying the norm that the four-year college route is the only way to go.

“The tone of the campaign is rooted in storytelling, with a positive, inclusive set of stories,” said President DeHay. Musalini asked everyone to follow TCTC’s social media platforms and share posts about how technical colleges impact lives. To learn more about the I DEFY campaign, visit idefysc.org.

Foundation Fundraising Exceeds $1 Million

College Signs Agreement With The Citadel

During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the Tri-County Technical College Foundation raised more than $1.3 million. This comes on the heels of a record-breaking 2018–2019 year when staff raised $1,650,876. This is the fourth consecutive year the Foundation has surpassed its $1 million fundraising goal. The donations we receive every year are critical to the College’s success and its ability to transform lives. We thank all of our donors for choosing to invest in Tri-County and our students.

Tri-County is one of five community colleges that finalized agreements with The Citadel that will allow transfer students to complete business degrees from their hometowns, online. Our university transfer students now have the opportunity to earn a full bachelor of science in business administration degree from The Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business (BSB) at The Citadel.

Partners Participate in Ribbon Cutting for Hamilton Career and Technology Center President DeHay participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony August 20 for the new Hamilton Career and Technology Center in Oconee County.

The Oconee Industry and Technology Park, located on Highway 11 in Westminster, co-locates the Oconee Campus of Tri-County Technical College, the Hamilton Career and Technology Center for high school students and industry. The result is a unique center for technical education, work-based learning and economic development. The project is a partnership between Tri-County Technical College, the School District of Oconee County and Oconee County.

12 • CONNECTION

“This is a great example of partnerships and a vision of serving Oconee County in a different way,” said President DeHay. “We are proud to be a partner.”