Aiken Technical College

Opportunities:

• New and renovated instructional buildings
• New technologies implemented to enhance student services and academic programming
• New academic and continuing education programs
• Organizational, work process and data management redesign leading to improved communications and effectiveness across all college divisions.
• Workforce development programs and facilities unique in the region
• Emergence of new technology and labor sectors in the local economy
• Partnerships with K-12 to provide seamless educational pathways, such as the Pre-Engineering Academy.

Barriers:

• Reduced state support as a percent of total budget
• No state bond funds to replace aging and dysfunctional buildings on campus
• Balancing allied health/nursing job and program enrollment demand with high program delivery costs
• Changing local economic profile that has resulted in growth in the manufacturing and nuclear sectors, creating a demand for program capacity and facilities that have no current funding source.
• Significant number of academically under-prepared students entering the College, resulting in the need for large numbers of remedial courses and decreased student retention due to low academic performance.
• Increased student enrollment with insufficient state support for additional faculty and classroom space to meet the demand, therefore reducing student access to educational services.

Academic Advising:

• Her first advisor had the wrong classes on her schedule which made it take longer for her to transfer

Classes:

• She has found it fairly easy to get in to classes
• She is also taking 4/semester and said her peers typically take 2-3

Engagement on Campus:

• She has only been to one event and it was for extra credit for her college skills class
• She did comment that there are various events every Wednesday but she chooses not to go

Transfer to a Four-Year:

• The only help she got in transferring came from the counselor at USC Aiken
• The ATC counselor missed their appointment and would not return phone calls
• USCA's website and transfer counselor provided her with the best information

Final Thoughts:

• "I believe my overall experience has been helpful. It is helpful because it reminds me how badly I want to get out of this environment. To me I think it is basically high school but you make your own schedule. But for the most part Aiken Tech has been a bump in the road for me. This is just a bump in the road to my goal for USCA I believe I will look back at ATC with no regrets and have had friends to share it with."

ATC Technical Scholars Program

• The ATC Technical Scholars program partners with local industries to provide students with job training through part-time work, tuition benefits, and in class experience

Named 2012 "Achieving the Dream" Leader College

• ATC was one of 15 colleges in the nation to receive a $100,000 grant to encourage faculty and staff involvement in student success

Retention Rates (fall->fall)

• ATC: 53.8%; Other SC Techs: 52.8%

Job Placement Rates

• Associate Degrees: 84%
• Certificates: 84%
• Diplomas: 96%

Other programs:

• Transfer agreements with public four-year schools
• Dual-enrollment agreements with local high schools
• In the process of building a "gateway" program with USC Aiken

QUESTIONS

Special thanks to:

Bryan Newton & Jessica Moon for their time

Aiken Technical College

A Great Place to Start

Edited by Caitlin Sutton

Mission:

Aiken Technical College is a public, open-door, two-year, comprehensive institution of higher education established to provide citizens of Aiken County opportunities for educational, economic, professional, social and personal development. The College educates and trains students to provide an effective work force to support economic growth and community development through its focus on teaching and service.

Vision

We envision Aiken Technical College as a catalyst for developing educated, engaged and employable individuals whose collective energy will be the driving force for prosperity and the quality of life in our diverse communities.

Values

Students

Faculty

Full-time Faculty: 26.8%

Adjunct Faculty: 73.2%

Age:

• 18-24: 57.5%
• 25-29: 14.%
• 30-39: 15.6%
• 40-49: 7.1%
• 50+: 1.7%

Commitment to Students

Demographics:

• Black, African American: 33.2%
• White, non-Hispanic: 61.1%
• Female: 63.8%
• Male: 36.2%
• First-time Freshman: 22.5%
• In-state: 87.8%
• Out-of-State: 12.2%

Commitment to Students - Students deserve the finest instruction, resources and services to enhance their growth and development.

Excellence - The College promotes excellence in personnel, programs and work environment while encouraging integrity, accountability and respect for individuals.

Community - Partnerships that develop solutions to community challenges are important to economic vitality and quality of life.

Diversity - Respect for diversity is an important part of the educational process.

Average Salaries:

• ATC: $47,302
• Other SC Tech. Schools: $44,561
• National: $48,447

Degrees Awarded:

• Associate: 38.14%
• Diploma: 7.01%
• Certificate: 54.85%

Students Receiving State Financial Aid:

• Life: 3.68%
• Need-based Grants: 18.39%
• Lottery Tuition: 26.03%

Minority Faculty:

• ATC: 27.4%
• Other SC Tech Schools: 18.8%
• National: 14.1%

Nicole Mason

ATC Student

Full-time Tuition (12 cr. hrs.): $1,933/semester

Opportunities & Barriers

History of ATC

Nuclear Programs

Health Sciences

Governance

Education

• AA: Early Childhood Education Transfer Track
• AAS: Major in Early Care and Education
• Childcare Management Certificate
• Early Childhood Development Certificate

• AAS: Nuclear Quality Systems
• AAS: Major in Radiation Protection Technology
• CAS: Nuclear Quality Engineering
• CAS: Major in Electrical & I/C Nuclear Quality Control Inspection
• CAS: Major in Mechanical Nuclear Quality Control Inspection
• CAS: Major in Nuclear Quality Assurance Auditing
• Radiological Control Technology Certificate

• AAS: Nursing
• AAS: Radiologic Technology
• DAS: Expanded-Duty Dental Assisting
• DAS: Major in Nursing (PN)
• DAS: Major in Surgical Technology
• Licensed Practical Nurse to Associate Degree Nurse Transition
• Medical Assistant Certificate
• Medical Coding Certificate
• Emergency Medical Technology - Paramedic Certificate
• Pre-Allied Health Certificate
• Pre-Nursing Certificate
• Pharmacy Technician Certificate
• Health Sciences Preparation Certificate

2010

2013

2011

2012

2009

Business, Finance, & Marketing

Aiken County Commission for Technical & Comprehensive Education

• Founded in 1972 as the Aiken Technical Education Center
• The first courses enrolled 177 students
• ATC moved to its current location on the Aiken-Augusta Highway in 1973 and had three buildings that cost $2.3 million to build - $80,000 was provide by the county and the rest was provide by federal funds
• Name was changed to Aiken Technical College in 1977
• The Aiken Technical College Foundation was chartered in 1977 as a South Carolina nonprofit organization
• ATC now enrolls 3,400+ students in credit courses annually and more than 10,000/year in non-credit courses
• ATC has had four presidents the current being Dr. Susan Winsor

• AAS:Administrative Office Technology
• AAS: Management
• AAS: Marketing
• AAS: Accounting
• Small Business Management Certificate
• Business Transfer Certificate
• Marketing Specialist
• General Accounting Certificate

State Board for Technical & Comprehensive Education

Aiken Technical College Foundation

Dr. Susan Winsor

President of Aiken Technical College

Crunching the Numbers

Tuition: $11,885,982

State: $3,472,002

County: $1,878,420

Other: $515,844

Dr. S. Vinson Burdette

Dean of Student Development

Andy Jordan

Vice President for Administrative Services

Bryan Newton

Associate VP for Marketing & Enrollment Services

Dr. Gemma Frock

Vice President for Education & Training

Major Majors