Statewide transfer agreement aims to streamline transfer experience from SC technical colleges to SC public research universities

(Press release provided by the SC House of Representatives, Office of Speaker of the House Murrell Smith)

House Speaker Murrell Smith joined Governor Henry McMaster, President of the SC Senate Thomas Alexander, Senator Greg Hembree, Representative Shannon Erickson, SC Technical College System President Dr. Tim Hardee, along with all 16 South Carolina Technical College Presidents, University of South Carolina President Dr. Michael Amiridis, University of South Carolina Provost Donna Arnett, Clemson University President Jim Clements, and Clemson University Provost Bob Jones this morning to celebrate the signing of the Statewide Transfer Agreement.

The statewide transfer partnership agreement between the South Carolina Technical College System (SCTCS) and the South Carolina Public Research Universities, specifically Clemson University and the University of South Carolina Columbia, represents a concerted, collaborative effort to streamline the transfer experience to the benefit of student success. Its primary objective is to strengthen the seamless transfer of credits from technical colleges to public research universities within the state.

This agreement marks a significant milestone in refining the transfer process between the SCTCS and the South Carolina Public Research Universities. It is intentionally designed to be dynamic with ongoing assessment and evaluation to optimize student educational opportunities.

Key components of the agreement include:

• Establishment of 30 or more credit hours of guaranteed acceptance AND applicability to the student’s major designed to reduce credit loss at the time of transfer.
• Maintenance of the acceptance of a minimum of 60 credit hours for students completing the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science, per state policy.
• A reverse transfer credit option enabling credits earned at the university to be transferred back to the SCTCS college for the completion of an associate degree.
• Establishment of annual data sharing in an effort to highlight successes and opportunities for further collaboration to increase transfer student success.
• A commitment to ongoing, regular collaboration through the facilitation of faculty and staff convenings to promote better advising, pedagogy, and resources. 

“I am thrilled to celebrate the signing of the Statewide Transfer Agreement, an endeavor I have wholeheartedly supported for many years,” said Speaker of the House Murrell Smith. “I applaud the institutions of higher education and their leaders for helping this to finally become a reality. I know that this is a great first step in what I hope will be a continued commitment to making education more accessible, affordable, and adaptable to our state’s students.”

“At a time when workforce development is crucial to the future prosperity of our state, the Statewide Transfer Agreement will make college more affordable and accessible, further encouraging South Carolinians to pursue a degree in high-demand career fields,” said Governor Henry McMaster. “I thank the University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and the South Carolina Technical College System for their collaboration on this important initiative that will greatly benefit our people and state.”

“The SC Technical College System was built on accessibility, and we’re proud to reinforce this commitment by expanding our partnership with these two research universities,” said SC Technical College System President Dr. Tim Hardee. “This statewide agreement, encouraged and supported by our state’s leaders, streamlines achieving higher education goals for students and families across South Carolina. It allows them to initially take financial advantage of lower tuition at their local technical college and then seamlessly transfer to USC or Clemson for their bachelor’s degree.”

“Together with our partners in the state’s Technical College System and Clemson University, we are excited to expand opportunities that will enable more South Carolinians to earn a four-year college degree,” said University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis. “With strong support for higher education from our state legislators, USC continues to prioritize initiatives that promote educational access and affordability, as we build a better educated and more prosperous South Carolina.”

“The Statewide Transfer Agreement highlights a commitment from the state of South Carolina to continue elevating educational opportunities and contributing to economic growth for students across the state,” said Clemson University President James P. Clements. “Through long-term partnerships and strategic collaborations among higher educational institutions, we have established a framework to facilitate a more seamless transfer experience and support student success. We are proud to be a part of this statewide collaboration, which will positively impact the lives of our students for generations to come.”

“The signing of the Statewide Transfer Agreement is a huge win for South Carolina students and their families,” said Senate President Thomas Alexander. “It is great that Clemson and South Carolina along with our technical college system have worked together to make this long-standing dream a reality.  Their work will make college education in South Carolina more affordable and achieving a college degree more efficient. I hope that the teamwork we celebrate today will continue and assist our efforts to improve the development of the workforce our state needs tomorrow.”

“The collaboration between the South Carolina Technical College System, the University of South Carolina, and Clemson University will be a tremendous benefit for our students,” said Chairlady Shannon Erickson. “This is a wonderful example of the great work we can accomplish when we put families and students first.”

“This agreement builds a foundation for success for students transferring to South Carolina’s four-year public research institutions from the state’s Technical College System,” said University of South Carolina Provost Donna Arnett. “The Statewide Transfer Agreement will play a critical role in supporting our university’s mission of academic excellence by improving outcomes for transfer students through increased support, communication and transparency.”