Technical colleges, USC build bridge

New program aims to ease transfers

COLUMBIA — When Nick Payne was a freshman attending a technical college, he spent hours researching which classes to take, hoping to enroll only in those that would benefit him when he transferred to the University of South Carolina.

Payne, 21, who's now a USC senior and president of the Student Government Association, said a transition or "bridge" program such as the one launched Thursday between USC in Columbia and the state's 16 technical colleges will take away much of the uncertainty for students who want to make a similar jump.

He knew starting at a technical college was right for him. Even though Payne, who's among the first generation in his family to attend college, had good grades in high school and had earned a decent score on the SAT, he wanted to start at a place with smaller classes. At Midlands Technical College, he said, "I knew I could get more intensive care."

But when he transferred to USC after one year, "it was like a breath of fresh air," he said. "I was a Gamecock. It was one of my goals."

USC President Andrew Sorensen and Barry Russell, president of the state's technical college system, announced the new program at a news conference on the USC campus.

Sorensen said the program is especially important because it provides access to the university for students who initially aren't accepted. Admission standards for freshmen have increased, he said, and now only one student in four who applies is actually accepted and enrolls.

Admission is easier for students who have proven themselves academically at a technical college, he said, because they aren't judged on SAT and ACT scores.

In the past when students weren't accepted at USC, Sorensen said, they got a letter that said, "we wish you good luck." Now, the university will be able to refer students to bridge programs at the state's technical colleges.

Cheryl Cox, vice president of academic affairs for the technical college system, said programs will begin at all technical colleges in the fall of 2008. The programs are geared to recent high school graduates, she said, but they may enroll non-traditional students as well.

Each technical college will develop its own program, but they will all include a course that introduces students to USC. Students will take trips to the university to learn about things such as admission requirements, financial aid and career options.

Some students will be able to transfer to the university after one year, others after two, depending on the how the students perform and the requirements of the individual technical college, she said.

Bill Landry, Trident Technical College's dean of science and mathematics, said the school will soon begin developing its program.

Trident already offers some bridge programs, including at least four that help certain groups of students transfer to the College of Charleston.

Landry said that no matter what form the bridge program to USC takes, it will help a lot of technical college students who don't have much exposure to universities and are intimidated by them. The bridge program will help them make connections at the university before they arrive, giving them a sense that they belong there.

Students who complete the new bridge program, he said, will be prepared to succeed at USC.

"We're talking about seamless now," he said. "There's nothing getting in the way."

Reach Diane Knich at 937-5491 or dknich@postandcourier.com.