Press Releases

McGuirt Named Interim Director of SimHub™ Immersive Tech Center

SimHub™ Immersive Technology Center has named Lynne McGuirt as the new interim director.

McGuirt comes to SimHub™ ITC as the previous Student Services Program Coordinator for the Clemson University School of Nursing, where she oversaw all student services for the School of Nursing’s off-campus programs at the University Center of Greenville. She also has previous experience in the nonprofit sector, and as the Director of Student Alumni Programs at Clemson.

At SimHub™ ITC, McGuirt will oversee project management and faculty support for the center. As a part of the University Center of Greenville, SimHub™ ITC offers opportunities for faculty and students to gain experience with emerging social and immersive technologies in order to enhance education.

University Center Announces New Community-Based Board of Trustees

Additional Leadership Changes Accompany Organization Refocus
  

The University Center of Greenville, Inc. is a coalition of university and community leaders dedicated to increasing access to educational opportunities for the Greater Greenville area. The center offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate degrees through eight institution partners: Clemson, Furman, Lander, Greenville Tech, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State, University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina Upstate. It offers state-of-the-art technologies and diverse delivery systems, including day, evening, weekend, and distance classes, for both traditional and adult students.

Bringing together public and private sector leaders and higher education institutions positions UCG to meet the education and talent needs of its citizens, and help drive Greenville's competitiveness. Since the Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s 2009 Community Report Card placed Greenville 15% behind other competitor cities in terms of the adult population with bachelor degrees, the University Center of Greenville has been working with area leaders and industry partners to increase the community educational level by more than 40,000 new degrees.

Having an educated population greatly impacts both quality of life and available talent for area businesses. There exists a significant attainment gap between where Greenville is educationally and where it needs to be to match similar-sized communities like Richmond, Knoxville and Jacksonville. Based on analyses by the national CEOs for Cities, an increase of 40,000 degrees in Greenville will generate approximately $1.4 billion in the Upstate’s annual economy.

Director of Economic Development for the City of Greenville Nancy Whitworth adds, “For Greenville to remain competitive in the global economic market, we must focus on closing the educational degree attainment gap.  The University Center’s strategic approach will provide us with the focus and roadmap to make that happen.”

To bring the voice of Greenville’s business leaders to the forefront of closing that gap, the University Center announces its new governing Board of Trustees:

Dr. James Barker, President, Clemson University

Ms. Julie Godshall Brown, President, Godshall Professional Recruiting & Staffing Firm

Honorable Merl Code, former Municipal Court Judge & Attorney, Ogletree Deakins Law Firm

Mr. Robert Hughes, President, Hughes Development Corporation

Mr. Erwin Maddrey, President, Maddrey & Associates

Dr. Keith Miller, President, Greenville Technical College

Dr. Thomas Moore, Chancellor, University of South Carolina Upstate

Mr. Tim Reed, President, Principal, Margin Holdings

Ms. Minor Mickel Shaw, President, Micco Corporation

Mr. J. Coleman Shouse, Owner, Lazarus-Shouse Communities

Mr. Rodney Smolla, President, Furman University

Representative Tommy Stringer, District 18, SC House of Representatives

Representative David Sudduth, Administrative Director, Finance & Government Affairs, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System & Mayor Pro Tem, Greenville City Council, District 4

Honorable Nick Theodore, Former Lt. Governor of South Carolina

Dr. Garrison Walters, Director of Academic Affairs, SC Commission on Higher Education

Mr. John Warner, Founder & CEO, InnoVenture

Ms. Nancy Whitworth, Director of Economic Development, City of Greenville

Mr. Paul Wickensimer, Clerk of Court, Greenville County Government

Board of Trustees Chair Minor Mickel Shaw says, “Having an adequately educated population is truly a workforce talent issue, so that is why it is so important for Greenville’s business leaders to be leading the way.”

Under the new Board of Trustees’ guidance, the University Center will continue to work closely with member Universities, and is connecting with other organizations, like MDC I North Carolina, an educational nonprofit organization, as well as the Southern Regional Education Board based in Atlanta. These types of organizations work to shed light on factors impacting the attainment gap. Dr. David Dodson, MDC Executive Director, recently spoke at the University Center’s community Board of Visitors meeting, noting that many communities are becoming aware of the economic and quality of life dividends of increasing citizen education. Key to a community’s success is the engagement of leadership in understanding and advancing educational access and success. The UCG Board of Trustees is a clear example of engaged community leadership.

“The Board of Trustees, working with Fred [Baus] and David [Taylor], provide a proper mix of local folks who understand the need to educate people for the jobs that need to be filled and those that will need to be filled in the new ‘knowledge economy.’ The Board composition has a great mix of public and private members who represent the educational, business, and social needs of our community,” says Erwin Maddrey, president of Maddrey & Associates.

In addition to the Board of Trustees, the University Center also depends on the continued academic program guidance and leadership provided by the Academic Council, consisting of:

Dr. Joyce Blackwell, Vice President for Academic Affairs, South Carolina State University

Dr. John Beckford, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean, Furman University

Dr. Marsha Dowell, Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of South Carolina Upstate

Dr. Dori Helms, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost, Clemson University

Dr. Danny McKenzie, Vice President for Academic Affairs & Dean of Faculty, Lander University

Dr. Chris Plyler, Vice Provost for System Affairs & Executive Dean for Regional Campuses and Continuing Education, University of South Carolina

Dr. T. Michael Raley, Acting Director, SC Commission on Higher Education

Mr. Steve Valand, Vice President for Education, Greenville Technical College

Capitalizing on the new community support, the University Center also adopted a new strategic plan that includes initiatives to address some of the attainment gap factors, including outreach to typically-underserved populations, as well as identifying ‘near-completers,’ or individuals that have some higher educated, but did not finish a degree.

Accompanying the new strategic plan is a shift in the University Center internal leadership. Dr. Fred Baus will step down as President, and remain in his role as Chief Executive Officer, managing special projects. David A. Taylor, who joined the University Center in May 2011 as Chief Operating Officer, will assume the role of President with responsibility for all University Center Operations.

“David Taylor brings a collaborative management style and deep business experience to the leadership role at the Center. In his brief tenure at UCG, David has already made a significant contribution to the Center’s focus and direction serving Upstate citizens. I am excited to work closely with David and the new UCG Board of Trustees,” says Baus.

Taylor, a Tennessee-native, has extensive senior leadership experience in finance, accounting, operations, information systems & services, and supply chain management. He will lead the new strategic plan at the University Center to bring the organization to a more sustainable long-term financial state, as well as position the center for growth in regards to present and future initiatives.

"The University Center of Greenville, Inc. is uniquely positioned to facilitate and support the citizens of our community with access to, and attainment of, Higher Education Degree Programs from a broad array of Universities at a central location.  The outstanding combination of the University Center's Board of Trustees, Academic Council, and Board of Visitors provides us with the leadership, direction, and support to ensure we are focused on the correct strategies and programs most beneficial to our citizens and economic community," Taylor adds.

These leadership adjustments are a proactive response to addressing the educational state of the Greenville community. Future plans also include repurposing the University Center’s Board of Visitors, a community-based advisory group, into more active, initiative-based roles.

For more information about the University Center, visit www.UCGreenville.org. David Taylor can be reached at 864-250-1111 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MDC President Addresses University Center Community Board

David Dodson speaks on closing the educational opportunity gap

David Dodson, President of MDC, an organization that helps institutions and communities close the gaps that separate people from opportunity, recently addressed the University Center of Greenville’s Board of Visitors.

According to Dodson, there is a tremendous opportunity gap in the United States today, specifically with minority cultures and low-wealth communities. 60 years ago, the United States led the world as the most educated, measured by the number of 25-34 aged citizens with post-secondary education. Today, the US has fallen to anywhere from number 9-13, behind countries including Canada, South Korea, Japan, and most countries in Western Europe. Post-secondary education is considered anything that helps a person develop living wage skills—from a four-year baccalaureate to a specialty license, like HVAC or electrician. Specifically in the South, Virginia is the only state to rank above the U.S. average for the number of post-secondary degrees, due in part to the Northern Virginia/DC metropolitan area. The rest of the southern states are lagging behind in educational competitiveness. MDC, along with many other institutions and foundations, is working to change that.

“Historically, the general focus for this type of initiative has been surrounding access to education, but current schools of thought are now focusing more on completion. It is not enough anymore to simply get students enrolled to raise the educational bar. Considering the path of education from middle school to university as a pipeline, there exists countless reasons students drop out, or “loss points,” along the way - be it cultural, financial, or institutional. What is needed to combat the losses are “momentum points,” or encouraging student experiences that propel them forward, like mentoring and strong support services that institutions can offer,” says Dodson.

The opportunity gap is greatly impacted by the educational eco-system— or the culture in which a community values or devalues education, and how businesses and institutions impact it. Much is being done to address the gap at the policy level, but true change relies on local implementation. Dodson quoted Management Consultant Peter Drucker during his presentation, stating, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Institutional climate, marketplace and family culture, and socio-economic status are all factors that can make the opportunity gap more challenging to close. Organizations that directly impact the underserved populations, in partnership with entities like MDC and the University Center of Greenville, can collectively to change the status quo. If the idea of success can be normalized for the typically underserved populations, completing post-secondary credentials can become possible to those most affected. Managing this gap reduction can in turn help break the chain of intergenerational poverty.

Dodson stressed that one crucial piece of successfully changing this institutional climate is working with organizations and foundations that support the affected cultures. MDC’s work correlates with recent initiatives of the Lumina and Gates Foundations The Lumina Foundation for Education’s “Big Goal” is to increase significantly the numbers of students who complete postsecondary career certificates and associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, so that 60 percent of all working adults (ages 25 to 64) will have one of these credentials by 2025. The Gates Foundation also has a similar Postsecondary Success Strategy, aimed at dramatically increasing the number of young adults who complete their postsecondary education, setting them up for success in the workplace and in life.

When reaching for these large strides in closing the educational opportunity gap, Dodson stressed that true implementation happens at the local level. Supporting the Greenville Community in this way through its mission is the University Center of Greenville. Coupling the established infrastructure, with the strengths of eight educational institutions and numerous community partnerships, the University Center’s main goal is to raise the number of baccalaureate degrees holders to 40% - a level comparable to other communities with which Greenville competes.

University Center President & CEO Fred Baus adds, “We can’t raise Greenville’s educational competitiveness by simply increasing graduates from populations that already have educational access. We need to reach demographics that have never considered post-secondary education to be possible. As a community, we need to adapt the ‘educational climate’ to accommodate these individuals and the cultures from which they come.”

Greenville Chamber, with University Center & Clemson, Chosen to Present Regional Economic Scorecard Usage at Federal Reserve Conference

Greenville Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Hank Hyatt has been asked to give a case study presentation on the use of the Chamber’s Regional Economic Scorecard at the Unleashing the Power of Local Data Conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia on Thursday, October 13, 2011.

Hyatt, together with President and CEO of the University Center of Greenville Fred Baus and David Hughes, Ph.D., with the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development, will present one of three case studies at the regional conference, entitled “How the Upstate South Carolina Community is Utilizing Data from the Regional Economic Scorecard to Drive Change and Improve Community Prosperity.”

“The Federal Reserve is highlighting innovative uses of local data to drive community change. The Regional Economic Scorecard is a prime example of how we can use data to focus broad community attention on improving regional prosperity,” said Hyatt. “The research work done by Clemson University has been invaluable in promoting a holistic framework for economic development that will certainly lead to a stronger competitive position for our region.”

According to Baus, “The University Center of Greenville understands the importance of the Economic Scorecard findings as they underscore our efforts to fully develop human capital in our region. By providing higher education opportunities that are aligned with the long-term, strategic needs of area businesses, we can play a key role in improving per capita income in the region. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to share our use of the scorecard with other communities.”

About the Unleashing the Power of Local Data Conference

This one-day conference, hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, showcases the best uses of data in local decision-making. Participants will learn from case studies that exhibit communities' innovative use of data to address local problems, and they will engage in hands-on sessions using their own laptops to better understand how to apply data to their communities. This dynamic conference will demonstrate the power of data to inform decision-making and effect policy. Learn more at http://www.richmondfed.org/conferences_and_events/community_development
/2011/unleashing_data_20111013.cfm

About the Economic Scorecard

The Greenville Chamber launched the Regional Economic Scorecard project in 2007 after having noticed a long-term downward trend in per capita income relative to that of the United States. The Chamber contracted with economic researchers at Clemson University to help the region better understand what contributes to strong income growth. The authors of the report identified four major drivers of per capita income and 11 peer communities with whom Greenville should compare to in these areas. The intent of the Scorecard is to report objectively on the region’s economic performance and to identify economic development strategies for leveraging community strengths and addressing community weaknesses.

To view the complete 2011 Scorecard, go to http://www.greenvillechamber.org/scorecard.php.

The Regional Economic Scorecard is funded through the Chamber’s ACCELERATE! initiative, a five-year effort dedicated to reversing the community’s declining income competitiveness through an expanded and results-driven approach to economic development. Over 100 companies, organizations, and individuals pledged five-year investments in ACCELERATE! to support focused efforts designed to measure and improve the decline of local per capita income relative to the rest of the U.S.

University Center Welcomes International Education Program

Open House Event to Introduce ELS Language Centers

As the Upstate evolves into acommunity rich with diversity, its educational opportunities for international students are growing as well. The University Center of Greenville (UCG) recently welcomed ELS Language Center to its facility at McAlister Square, opening its doors to new students from around the globe.

ELS Language Centers is the world’s largest network of campus-based English language instruction and university preparation centers, with more than 55 locations in the USA and Canada. Each year, ELS places thousands of international students in university degree programs at over 600 universities accepting the successful completion of the advanced ELS curriculum as proof of English proficiency.

Leisha DeRiso, ELS Center Director, says “While ELS is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, our center began classes on Clemson University’s main campus in September of 2009 with 14 students. To date, only two years later, we have grown to averaging between 70 to 80 students and have assisted 32 graduates with matriculation to their university of choice.” DeRiso began with ELS more than 5 years ago, having also served as a senior instructor and IELTS testing administrator before her role as Director.

Moving and expanding from Clemson University to the University Center of Greenville has started a new phase for ELS, and enhances the growth potential of the program. ELS now has the opportunity to work not only with Clemson, but with all of the South Carolina institutions housed at UCG. This would be the first multi-institution location for an ELS center.

“The opportunities provided to us and our students by the University Center are astounding,” DeRiso adds. “Not only does UCG afford them immediate, personal access to local colleges and universities, it also supports a variety of educational possibilities and nurtures the learning environment in general through cooperation partnerships and endeavors.”

The University Center of Greenville also allows for expansion in program capacity due to the ample physical space available at McAlister Square. Dr. Fred Baus, President & CEO of the University Center, says, “The resource-sharing model of the University Center allows multiple organizations to share a great presence locally in Greenville, at a cost-savings to all. We think ELS Language Centers will be a great addition to the programs housed here.”

Salsabeel L-Alfhashim, a current ELS student at UCG, found the new facility to be beneficial to newcomers. “It’s very big and very comfortable to use…I am not confused between class. Everything is very easy.” Her six-weeks thus far at ELS has taken her from “not speaking any word” of English to conversing competently.

Like Salsabeel, a large majority of the students currently in the program at UCG are from Saudi Arabia, with the remaining students arriving from countries such as Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Portugal and Taiwan. Upon the student’s arrival to the states, ELS guides students through the entire process of becoming acclimated to the Upstate, including transportation and housing arrangements.

“It is my first time here, I could not rent a house, not go by bus…I could not do anything,” Salsabeel adds. “[ELS] was very helpful. They made it very easy.”

In addition to rental options, ELS helps many students find housing opportunities with Upstate residents who volunteer through the Home Stay Family Network. Families throughout the area have the opportunity to host an ELS student in their home for months at a time or even up to a year. The program offers ELS students an unparalleled experience in a day in the life of a typical American family, while providing local families with the occasion to learn about the varied cultures that make up our world on a truly personal level. It is an unforgettable and enriching experience that many families enjoy. Greenville Technical College also offers some housing options through student apartments to provide a campus atmosphere.

The ELS program entails a 13-month series of classes beginning at level 101 with no English competency, and ending at level 112, which is equivalent to a graduate certificate level. A completion of level 109 is considered English Proficient, and is the stage many students are able to transfer to an associate program through agreements with Greenville Technical College and Tri-County Technical College.

University Center Addresses National Challenge of Degree Attainment

Southern Regional Education Board Director Speaks at Board of Visitors Meeting

The University Center of Greenville (UCG) hosted Dr. Bruce Chaloux, of Atlanta, GA, Director of Student Access Programs and Services at the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB), to speak at its recent education forum meeting for Upstate community leaders. Chaloux provided a regional perspective on the growing national challenge to increase higher education degree attainment and offered specific strategies for organizations in the Upstate to excel in increasing access to secondary education degrees for the Greater Greenville area.

In its beginning, the Southern Regional Education Board was the first interstate compact, of which there are now four nationwide. Increasing completion of career certificates, two- and four-year degrees is top priority in the 16-state Southern Region from Delaware to Texas. The governor and four appointees, including legislative and educational leaders from each state in the region, sit on the board, providing a vital connection to policymakers. SREB’s initiatives are designed to share resources, increase access to higher education and to promote educational standards and economic growth of the region. Increasing the levels of education attainment leads to improved societal outcomes for the region such as decreased rates of incarceration, improved health outcomes, reduced participation in social services programs, and higher levels of volunteerism and social engagement.

Based on US Census data from 2008, the national average degree attainment rate was 38 percent and the United States has slipped to 11th in degree attainment globally. For the first time in US history, the current generation of adults (ages 25-34) have lower degree attainment than the previous generation (ages 35-44). The implications of these statistics, many of which have worsened in the more recent census, put the US in a national degree crisis.

The Lumina Foundation for Education’s “Big Goal” is to increase significantly the numbers of students who complete postsecondary career certificates and associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, so that 60 percent of all working adults (ages 25 to 64) will have one of these credentials by 2025. SREB has embraced this goal and seeks to achieve it through better preparation for college, higher retainment of traditional college students and more programs for adults.

Chaloux says, “Although the current higher education models and policies are seeing a modest increase in degree attainment, the region is still likely to fall short of its ‘Big Goal’ of 60 percent and need to collectively make changes to close the gap. Policymakers and other stakeholders across nation, region and state need to strategically and systematically close achievement gaps.”

In 2008, nearly 500,000 South Carolina residents completed some college without earning a degree representing 21 percent of the state’s adult population need to be accommodated by institutions. Many of these adults want to return to their studies to earn a degree but need new options with more flexible programs to meet their needs.

Chaloux says, “The University Center is strategically positioned to help fill those needs, by serving the adult population – many working full-time - with a flexible and local higher education resource. We need to focus the near-completion population. Continuing to primarily target high school graduates into higher education will not provide us with enough degrees to meet our goal.”

In Greenville, recent studies have found that less than 25% of its population has a baccalaureate degree, whereas cities with which Greenville competes are near 40%. Fred Baus, President & CEO of the University Center, says “We need to create a culture that values education, and raise the profile of the gap crisis. More importantly, we need to continue to provide and expand access to these educational resources for nontraditional students and typically underserved populations.”

Many initiatives developed at the University Center are designed to do just that. The creation of an educational opportunity center is in process to help reach potential first-generation college-goers, and provide them much-needed counseling and support for entering an educational program. Other programs, such as the SimHub™ immersive technology center, are expanding access to immersive technologies to enhance online and virtual education.

Announcing 2011 STEM Summit on August 1, 2011

Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics Professionals and Educators collaborate

The 2011 South Carolina Summit on STEM Education will take place in Greenville on August 1^st bringing together passionate STEM supporters within education business, professional associations and government. 

“Why promote STEM education? Because we need scientifically- and technologically-literate citizens. We need technologically-proficient workers and skillful scientists and engineers to meet a growing workforce demand,” says Dr. Tom Peters, Executive Director of the SC Coalition for Math & Science – the Summit’s lead planning organization. 

Peters adds, “We can only increase a STEM skilled talent pool by raising the profile of STEM education and increasing collaboration among STEM professionals. We need to tap into the learning potential of all children.” 

Helping to raise the STEM profile are Summit sponsors within STEM industries: 3M, BMW, The Boeing Company, Fluor Corporation, Lockheed-Martin Corporation, and Michelin North America. 

"BMW continues to advocate the importance of innovative, educational programs that teach the skills necessary to build a technologically-advanced workforce. The STEM program is uniquely positioned with a clear focus on children from K-12 which, when combined with our other educational initiatives at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, gives us a nice continuum of support in this area,” stated Max Metcalf, Communications Manager, BMW Manufacturing Co. and chairman emeritus of the SCCMS Board of Advisors. 

The Summit will take place at the University Center of Greenville from 1:30 – 5:45 pm. Initiating the event will be key note speaker Anita Zucker, CEO of The InterTech Group, followed by three time blocks of session opportunities. U.S. Senators Jim DeMint and Lindsay Graham will also be contributing speakers through virtual addresses. 

“The need for having students educated in STEM is critical to the state of South Carolina as we attempt to grow a knowledge society. The types of jobs coming in the future will require "talent" educated in STEM as the types of jobs will be in Information technology, health, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing, just to name a few.  We must also ensure that our educators are equipped to handle teaching STEM,” says Zucker. 

The robust half-day program was developed by planning partners Clemson University, Personal Pathways to Success, SC ETV, S²TEM Centers SC, Tri-County Technical College and the University Center of Greenville, Inc. 

The information sessions will feature various presentations from organizations like the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SC Project Lead the Way and others. 

Panel discussion sessions will tackle topics within areas of Integrative STEM Education; Preparing and Supporting STEM Educators; Public Awareness and Engagement; College, Career and Civic Readiness; and STEM Partnerships: Linking Education, Business, Professional Associations and Government.

Hot topic sessions will include facilitated discussions on timely specifics, such as Public Understanding of Science & the Japanese Nuclear Crisis; ways to make STEM education matter to parents, taxpayers, general public and policymakers; connecting STEM fields with literacy and/or the arts; and many more. 

The Summit is open to interested STEM supporters and costs $25 for program sessions. Additionally, the event will feature indoor and outdoor learning showcases that are open to the public at no cost. Showcases include the Greenwood Genetic Center’s ‘Gene Machine’ a state-of-the-art mobile laboratory, the United States Navy’s STEM outreach initiatives, the Air Force Association’s Cyber Patriot student competition, the prestigious Einstein Fellowship program for STEM educators and many others, as well as a Live Learning Lab of Pickens County Elementary and Middle School students. 

Interested participants can learn more about the Summit and register at www.scstem.org.

Veterans to be honored at Upstate PCC Purple Heart ‘forever’ stamp event

UCG Thanks McCall for Service; Welcomes Taylor as New COO

University Center’s McCall Retires After More than 18 Years of Service

UCG Welcomes David Taylor as new Chief Operating Officer

Greenville, S.C. (June 1, 2011) – The University Center of Greenville (UCG) would like to thank and recognize Dr Len McCall for her longstanding leadership and dedication to the center as she retires from her position as Chief Operating Officer. She has served UCG with enthusiasm and excellence to provide access to higher education for non-traditional adult students.

McCall joined UCG in 1993 after teaching in the English departments of both the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. She received her undergraduate degree from Furman University, masters in English from Clemson, and her doctorate in 19th and 20th Century British Literature from USC.

Her interest in providing access for non-traditional students began when she commuted from Greenville first to Clemson and then to Columbia for her graduate degrees. Providing access to citizens in Greenville who can continue their careers and family commitments while also furthering their education through the University Center without a commute continued in her work for UCG as a very personal mission for her. The Board of Trustees, the Board of Visitors and the staff of the University Center gratefully thank her for her years of service.

Joining the UCG team will be Tennessee-native David A. Taylor. As the new Chief Operating Officer, he will provide leadership for Finance and Administration, Human Resources, Information Systems & Services, and Operations.

Taylor has extensive senior leadership experience in finance, accounting, operations, information systems & services, and supply chain management. Prior to joining UCG, his 25-year career included division level and corporate leadership positions at NCR Corporation, Teradata, and AT&T. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Tennessee and has completed the Advanced Management College program at Stanford University.

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University Center of Greenville Brings TeachME™ Simulator to SimHub™

University of Central Florida simulation and training partnership to evolve teacher training

The University Center of Greenville (UCG) proudly announces the TeachMe™ simulator, the newest addition to its innovative immersive technology center SimHub™. UCG’s partner institutions, like Clemson University and the University of South Carolina Upstate, offer a variety of undergraduate and graduate teacher education degrees onsite at UCG. Now the Greenville-based students and faculty will have access to the TeachME™ simulator and the opportunity to customize their pre-service learning experience in a controlled environment.

The TeachME™ (Teaching in Mixed-reality Environments) simulator was developed out of the University of Central Florida (UCF)’s Institute for Simulation and Training and its SREAL research lab. The immersive technology tool provides a unique method of teacher training in an environment which does not put actual children at risk while allowing teachers to hone their skills.

Dr. Steve Bronack, Founder & Director of SimHub™, said, “TeachME^TM has the potential to impact important teacher development and quality issues in significant ways.  Accentuating traditional training approaches with simulated ones can improve the learning experience for students. Providing a realistic classroom and student behavior experience through which students develop management and problem resolution skills offers new opportunities for teacher educators to develop sophisticated and focused instruction, as well.”

Julie McGaha, Clinical Instructor in Clemson University’s Master in Teaching – Middle Grades, adds, “[TeachMe] is nothing short of fantastic. It really has the potential to change the way we educate teachers.” The simulator features five realistic-looking student avatars seated at desks in two rows. The simulation team at UCF can customize the look of the students to reflect varied classroom demographics, offering developing teachers genuine and broad opportunities for experience.

Lisa Dieker, UCF professor and Exceptional Education Ph.D. Program Coordinator, said, “The University of Central Florida created the TeachME™ simulator to strengthen teacher education for our own university programs and across the country. We are excited to partner with the University Center of Greenville as our first multi-institution partnership - creating the opportunity to impact a large teacher education population. We also look forward to entering into additional program development partnerships with UCG member universities.”

For more information about the SimHub™ immersive technology center, visit www.simhub.org.

For more information about UCF’s simulation lab, visit http://sreal.ucf.edu.

Regional National Science Foundation Conferences Come to Greenville

Clemson University has been awarded a $575,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to hold three regional conferences in Greenville.  Clemson University’s Master of Arts in Teaching in Middle Grades program is the recipient of a Noyce Foundation NSF grant to train math and science teachers.  The southeast regional conferences are specifically for universities that have been awarded Noyce grants.  Thirty-six universities in Virginia, Washington D.C., Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana will be invited to send faculty and students.

Dr. Lienne Medford, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and a faculty member in Teacher Education, is primary investigator for both grants.  Her office is at the University Center of Greenville, where the conferences will be held.  “The Greenville business community, which is home to many hi-tech industries, is excited about these NSF conferences and plans to be involved.  I hope that one of our featured speakers will be from one of our partner industries.”

Medford reports that Penny Noyce, Dr. Robert Noyce’s daughter, will be the keynote speaker at the conference.  Dr. Noyce is credited with inventing the micro-processor and the Noyce Scholarships are named in his honor.  “Ms. Noyce is very enthusiastic about addressing our regional scholars.  She is especially excited about Clemson, because she has just written a book on teaching middle school math and Clemson is one of the few Noyce Grants that trains middle school teachers.”  Ms. Noyce will be touring some area schools and holding workshops as well giving the keynote speech.

Clemson will also be involved in the conferences through CU-ICAR and the SimHub.

For more information about the NSF Regional Conference grants, visit http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach.jsp.

University Center of Greenville, Inc.

The University Center of Greenville, Inc. is a coalition of university and community leaders dedicated to increasing access to educational opportunities for the citizens of the Upstate of South Carolina. The center offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate degrees through Clemson, Furman, Lander, Medical University of South Carolina, South Carolina State, University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina Upstate. For more information, please call 864.250.1111 or visit the website at: www.UCgreenville.org.

University Center of Greenville Expands Online with New Member: Greenville Technical College

1. (November 4, 2010) — The University Center of Greenville (UCG) launched the first phase of its new web site earlier this year, and has now expanded the informational site with new UCG member Greenville Technical College.

The web site features an interactive Degree Finder, which allows prospective students to search for degrees offered locally by UCG’s member institutions, including Clemson, Furman, Lander, MUSC, SC State, USC, USC Upstate and now Greenville Tech. Whether potential students know the program area, degree level or institution they would like, UCG’s Degree Finder database will offer a tailored list.

UCG offers online, evening and weekend classes for working adults, as well as traditional classes, for students in Doctorate, Masters and Bachelor Completion (junior and senior level courses) degrees. Now, with Greenville Technical College’s University Transfer Program for freshman and sophomore level courses, Greenville students have a new local four-year solution for higher education.