Tri-County’s Practical Nursing Program Moves to Easley Campus

This Fall, Industrial Electronics Classes Added to Program Offerings

EASLEY, SC – June 9, 2011 – This fall, Tri-County Technical College’sPractical Nursing program will move to the Easley Campus andfirst-semester Industrial Electronics Technology (IET) classes will beadded to program offerings.

The IET curriculum still will be offered in its entirety at thePendleton Campus and the full first-semester courses and labs will beoffered at Easley when fall semester begins August 22.  The LicensedPractical Nursing program will move from the Pendleton Campus to theEasley Campus this fall.

“We will grow the program at Easley, semester by semester, and in twoyears, we hope to have the full program running at that campus,” saidRobert Ellenberg, lead instructor for the IET program at the EasleyCampus. 

“The Easley Campus is a convenient location for Pickens Countyresidents who are interested in IET classes,” said Ellenberg.  “Ourdegree has a reputation that goes well beyond the three-county area.  With so much industry in surrounding counties, we feel there is atremendous need to be served.”  

The IET program trains future electronics technicians. Students learnmethods of producing, transmitting and distributing electrical power.They also gain experience with industry-relevant equipment in a hands-onenvironment. 

The Practical Nursing program and its sophisticated lab facilitiesare replicates of what has been at the Pendleton Campus for more thantwo decades.   “The same experienced, full-time, master’s preparedinstructors have moved to Easley,” added Julie Vernon, programcoordinator.

“The IET lab at Easley also is equipped with new equipment that isidentical to the Pendleton Campus,” Ellenberg said.  “We pride ourselveson offering equal parts lecture and lab time with the exception of twomath classes.  Our lab time is invaluable because learning to use theequipment and getting experience with tools and wiring shortens thelearning curve once they become employed.”  

“The Easley Campus is a calm environment conducive for studentsuccess,” Vernon said of the community campus that opened in January.  “It’s the perfect atmosphere for us to be student advocates.”

Five times in the last decade Practical Nursing graduates havereported 100 percent pass rates on the National Council Licensing Exam(NCLEX-PN).  Practical Nursing grads’ score ranks above both the stateaverage (95.09%) and the national average (87.06%) figures.

Tri-County’s Practical Nursing department is fully accredited by theState Board of Nursing in South Carolina and the National League forNursing Accrediting Commission.

“Practical Nursing remains a popular, strong program,” said Vernon,adding that LPNs are needed in long-term care facilities, doctor’soffices, medical personnel pools, schools, and flu clinics. 

“There also is a strong demand for industry technicians, fieldservice technicians and technical support for hospitals,” Ellenbergsaid.

Job offerings for IET grads are “through the roof,” said Ellenberg.  “It’s exciting for our recent alumni who have found employment and forthe new grads, who have two or three job choices in front of them,” hesaid.

Vernon urges persons interested in entering the Practical Nursingprogram to begin the application process for fall semester or to begintaking prerequisite classes to prepare for entry into the program.  Formore information, contact Vernon at 646-1398 or [email protected].    The Industrial Electronics program offers the associate degree and twocertificate options. Credit for courses in the certificates also can beapplied toward the associate degree.  For more information, contactEllenberg at 646-1410 or [email protected].

In addition to IET, Practical Nursing and University Transfer, theEasley Campus course offerings include Health Sciences, CriminalJustice, and Medical Office Specialist, in addition to the EarlyChildhood Development and Entrepreneurship/Small Business certificateprograms.  In addition, Business Foundations and University StudiesTransfer certificates will be available this fall.  

The Easley Campus is located at 1774 Powdersville Road.  A showcase event for the campus will be June 30 from 2 – 6 p.m.  

For more information about the Easley Campus, call 220-8888 or visit www.tctc.edu/Easley.