Get-together
Jesse Thompson, Professor Randy Ivey, John Spiers, Rachel Gilchrist and Justin Kurtz socialize between classes.
USC-Union officials say more and more students are realizing they don’t have to leave the county to obtain a four-year degree, which has led to an enrollment increase for the spring semester.
Terry Young, director of enrollment affairs, said that according to figures compiled Monday the university had a 9 1/2 percent increase in enrollment over the fall semester.
“We have 402 students, where in the fall we had 367,” Young said. “As far as full time equivalent students (FTEs), we have 260 for spring and we had 249 in the fall — that’s a 4 1/2 percent increase.”
These positive numbers come at an anxious time for the university — earlier this month Gov. Mark Sanford announced that closing USC-Union and some other colleges in the state are part of his plan to cut the state budget.
USC-Union Dean Dr. Hugh Rowland said officials believe promoting the school’s new bachelor of arts in liberal studies program is part of the reason for the increase in enrollment.
“This bachelor’s program makes it possible for students to remain living in Union and not have to drive anywhere to finish their four-year degree,” he said. “They can take all of their course work right here.”
Rowland said the new degree has particular appeal for adult students, single parents and those with job demands that make it difficult to drive to Spartanburg, Greenville, or another city to earn a four-year degree.
The school also offers a second program, a bachelor’s degree in Technology Support and Training Management (TSTM.) It is a career oriented program that allows students to earn a four-year degree in computer technology
A third four-year degree is in the planning stages. Rowland said it also is a career-oriented degree program for students who are in the midst of their careers and need a four year degree with some business course work to qualify for promotion. If approved at all levels, it should be available for students in the fall of 2009.
Rowland said the increase in enrollment also can be attributed in part to the economic downturn — more people see the need for more education to compete for jobs in the future.
Young said the school also has experienced an increase this spring semester in the number of students transferring to USC-Union from other universities and colleges.
“They are transferring for different reasons — financial reasons, they didn’t enjoy the environment at the college they were attending, they didn’t get the attention there they would get here,” he said.
Rowland also said applications for the Fall 2009 semester are up 50 percent.
Ask Rep. Anthony if the majority of the enrollment "numbers" at USC Union are actual college students, or if the benefits outweight the negatives for the STATE! Remember, we are not the only people in the state, there are other counties outside of Union, i believe that alot of folks in this county forget that. I would like to believe that closing the campus would perhaps put more money in other venues, such as creating jobs for our dried up city.
Dr. Rowland at USCU will tell you that the numbers are a sign the college should stay open, however, the population in our county is dropping, and students are not driving to the county to attend USCU like he would have you believe.
The campus is no longer viable, there are much more important needs in our state and in our county. the residents of Union County have a selection of 6 higher education centers surrounding the county.
Union County's "only" option is not USCU. In fact, Union County students would SAVE MONEY IF THEY WENT TO SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE, granted, they have to have the life scholarship.
If we are going to continue to support a branch that has little to no positive impact on our state IN THE BIGGER PICTURE, we should close it down. if not, we should open up a private USC branch in every county, I mean if Union has a college for its tiny population, then so should Anderson, Charleston, Greenville, Cheraw, Pickens, etc, etc. Catch my drift?
the old saying goes: "the needs of many outweigh the needs of one." USC Union served its purpose and it has had a very positive impact in the past, but its time has passed, times have changed, and unfortunately, so has the states economic situation.
The money that goes towards USCU and USCU @ Laurens could support much more needful programs in our precious county.