Greenville Tech and Clemson University Create Early Childhood Transfer Program
November 10, 2010
GREENVILLE, SC – November 10, 2010 – Greenville Technical College and Clemson University today signed an articulation agreement that allows students to move seamlessly from Greenville Tech’s associate degree in early care and education to Clemson’s Bachelor of Arts, Early Childhood Education. Clemson’s classes are offered at the University Center of Greenville.
Photo at right: Dr. Keith Miller, president of Greenville Technical College, signs the agreement as Dr. Kellye Rembert of Clemson University awaits her turn.
The first group of Greenville Tech students will be admitted to Clemson for Spring Semester 2011. To qualify, students must complete an Early Care and Education Associate in Applied Science degree, maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average. Students must also apply to Clemson and attend an advising session. If candidates are working 30 or more hours a week in an early childhood development position, they may be eligible for scholarships granted by T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood South Carolina.
The agreement was forged not just to benefit students but to benefit the state’s children. “Those working to achieve this agreement were highly motivated by the difference this articulation can make to the quality of early care and education in our local communities,” says Lenna Young, dean for the Business/Public Service division at Greenville Tech. “Students from Greenville Tech will enter Clemson’s program with learning experiences in lab settings with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Many of the students from Greenville Tech will come from the Head Start arena and will remain in that arena upon graduation from Clemson. This means that within our community, this articulation agreement has the potential for building the level of education of teachers in our early care and education setting as well as building the number of certified teachers within our public school systems.”
T.E.A.C.H., an organization that works to increase education, increase compensation and reduce staff turnover in the early childhood field, has been a leading force in helping two-year colleges achieve accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and in crafting articulations between accredited two-year early care and education programs and four-year institutions in South Carolina. The T.E.A.C.H. Scholarship Program collaborates with seven public institutions and two private colleges in the state. A national program that exists in 21 states, T.E.A.C.H.’s effort in South Carolina is one of the top five programs in the nation every year with regard to the number of scholarships awarded to professionals in the early childhood field.
“We are thrilled our students will be able to expand their education by earning a bachelor’s degree at a major university right here in the Upstate, says Judy Hocker, department head for Early Care and Education at Greenville Tech. “The convenience of Clemson’s location at the University Center and the partnership with T.E.A.C.H. open many doors for our students to access the pathway to higher education. This opportunity will ultimately impact children and families in our communities as we cultivate a well-trained and educated workforce. “
“High quality early childhood educators are critical to school readiness and the success of our young citizens of South Carolina. We are very pleased to be working with Greenville Technical College to develop a seamless education program that brings the strengths of our two institutions together to build a high quality early childhood education workforce,” comments Dr. Lawrence Allen, Dean of the College of Health, Education, and Human Development (HEHD) at Clemson.
Dr. Kellye Rembert, Coordinator of Special Projects for HEHD says, “We have been very pleased with the level of collaboration and cooperation between our two institutions. We feel strongly that this agreement will lead to future opportunities.”
Clemson has also forged agreements with Spartanburg Community College, Piedmont Technical College, and Tri-County Technical College.
