SC Technical College System’s Foundation Receives $100,000 Grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Funds will assist students with textbooks and instructional supplies during economically challenging times

COLUMBIA, SC –  March 25, 2010 – 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.

 “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.

The SC Technical College System

SC Technical College System. The SC Technical College System is comprised of 16 technical colleges located strategically across the state and its statewide affiliate programs: the Center for Accelerated Technology Training’s readySC™ program, Apprenticeship Carolina™ and QuickJobs Carolina™. The System is committed to helping increase the employability of all South Carolinians by ensuring they are fully prepared for the careers of today – and tomorrow. As the largest higher education system in the state, the System provides its students with a comprehensive education as well as a fast track to a rewarding career. In addition, the System’s nationally-recognized affiliate programs, designed to train or re-train employees so that companies new to South Carolina and existing businesses alike can continue to prosper and grow, help spur job growth and economic development opportunities across the state. The SC Technical College System prepares students of all ages for real work today while demonstrating a commitment to increasing the employability of all South Carolinians and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all. www.sctechsystem.edu

Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy

Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, last year Bank of America embarked on a ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Bank of America approaches giving through a national strategy called neighborhood excellence under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 800,000 hours in 2009 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.