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EDUCATION

Ranked the Best 

Ranked as one of the best comprehensive colleges in the South by US News and World Report, the University of South Carolina at Aiken offers students undergraduate degrees through the College of Humanities and Science, the Schools of Business and Education, the College of Sciences and the School of Nursing.

Science looms large at USC-Aiken, and the centerpiece of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center is the DuPont Planetarium. Housing four state-of-the-art telescopes, a graphics projector and an automated special-effects system, the Planetarium offers programs for K-12 students, the community and university students.

For entrepreneurs and small businesses, USC-Aiken supports the region through its Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a facility providing services, resources, and workshops for the region’s start-up companies.

In addition to USC-Aiken, Aiken and Edgefield also offer options for vocational and technical training. The Aiken Technical College (ATC), one of the state’s leading technical training facilities, provides hands-on training in the areas of metalworking, health services, radiology and, through a unique program, fire detection. Each year, more than 3,400 students enroll in credit courses to earn degrees, diplomas and certificates in computer technology, office systems technology, industrial/occupational or engineering technology, business, health, and public service.

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Workforce Development 

The ATC Workforce Development Division provides on-site employee-training programs specifically designed for business and industry; as part of the Workforce Development Division, ATC’s Manufacturing and Technology Training Center also offers fire alarm and systems training in its state-of-the-art laboratory. The program, developed through a partnership with the Savannah River Site’s Fire Engineering Department, provides technical and procedural training for businesses such as alarm installation companies, emergency management groups, fire departments, fire inspectors, hospitals, hotels and restaurants, sprinkler system installers and manufacturers.

ATC works in conjunction with the Center for Accelerated Technology Training (CATT) for pre-employment training of new workers, and serves the region’s industry leaders through its Tech Scholars program. Under the program, ATC students, upper-level high school students, and local professionals apply for part-time positions with local facilities of major corporations, such as Bridgestone/Firestone, Monsanto, United Defense, and Avondale Mills. In return, the companies pay the employees’ tuition at ATC and a modest salary. Once the prospective employees have completed the program, the participating companies have the option of offering them full-time positions.

The Tech Scholars program allows businesses to train potential employees for a period of two years in complex skills ranging from automation maintenance to network systems engineering. "The businesses get well-trained employees that they are familiar with, so that whomever they hire is a known factor," says Stan Schrader, the program director. "These employees have the skills that the companies need, because the companies helped to design their curriculum."

"The program saves us a lot of money, and we get to look at these prospective employees for a long time," adds Tom Nance of Bridgestone/Firestone. "If you want local workers, this gives you a great way to grow your own."

Piedmont Technical College’s satellite campus in Edgefield County provides courses in business, engineering technology, health sciences, industrial and occupational technology, arts and sciences, and public service. For high school students looking for specialized training, the Strom Thurmond Career Center offers classes in auto mechanics, carpentry, and health sciences, among other subjects.

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