Community Member

Dear Community Member,

In Poor Richard’s Almanac in 1757, Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." Numerous recent studies, however, correlate advanced education, not improved sleep patterns, with higher wages, better health, lower unemployment, more philanthropic giving, less criminal activity and even a happier life. Engaging youth and adults in advanced education is about economic strength, but is also about healthier, more generous, safer, happier and more competitive communities.

The recent economic development report card commissioned by the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce shows that Greenville is 40,000 baccalaureate degrees short of competitiveness. That number comes from the fact that most communities in the Southeast with which Greenville competes have between 40% and 50% of their adult populations holding the BA or BS degree. Greenville’s number is 24.6% - 25% for all practical purposes. Given Greenville’s adult population, increasing degree-holders by 15% means adding 40,500 more degrees. What is Greenville to do about this challenge?

Since the year 2000, according to data reported by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, state recurring support for higher education has declined from 14.9% to 11.3% of state appropriations. During that same period, enrollments have grown 20%, and tuition and fees have more than doubled. Currently, South Carolina ranks 38th in state funding for students and 8th in tuition and fee charges. Clearly, South Carolina is not putting its state investments where its best interests are. And, we are putting the burden of economic and social competitiveness on the backs of our student populations.

For 21 years, UCG has used collaborative strategies to bring advanced education programs to Greenville through a partnership among its seven member universities (Clemson University, Furman University, Lander University, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State University, University of South Carolina and University of South Carolina Upstate), Greenville Technical College and the state legislature. Last year, for example, UCG delivered the equivalent of 400 new degrees in nursing, education, business and a host of other academic fields to over 2,000 residents of the Upstate. The Center is greater Greenville’s access point to public, higher education in South Carolina.

However, note that, at the rate of 400 degree equivalents per year, it will take 100 years for UCG to supply the degreed talent necessary for Greenville to reach the &ldqou;competitive&rdqou; level of similar communities. More must be done.

In this time of tighter economies and tougher competition, a key focus for Greenville and for South Carolina has to be the education of more of its citizens at higher levels. More students need to complete high school successfully. More students need to enter higher education not just eligible for admission, but prepared to succeed, to graduate and to enter the workforce of tomorrow. More of our adult population needs to be encouraged and supported to achieve higher levels of higher education.

Our need for more adults in higher education directly impacts our Upstate economy in a variety of ways. For example, when BMW was recruited to South Carolina, a major concern voiced by the principal competing state was the percent of Greenville’s youth graduating from high school and entering higher education. Fortunately for Greenville, the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Port of Charleston trumped educational attainment in our nearest competitor. BMW came to the Upstate. We may not always be so fortunate.

Our focus is Building Success Stories, both for the individual student and for our collective community. We welcome your support in our mission to increase our degree-holders and improve our community. We need community leadership to bring awareness of this need, both to our constituents and to our legislation.

Contact me any time to learn how you can contribute. Thank you.

Sincerely,