Dear Chasers,

As I write this message to you on the afternoon of Friday, March 3^rd, a storm is brewing outside my window, and I can hear the howling winds ripping and roaring through the majestic trees on our campus arboretum. The environment I find myself in reminds me of the old saying that if March comes in like a lion, it will leave like a lamb.

This old proverb stems from a belief that if the weather at the beginning of March is biting and rough, its waning days will be pleasant and warm. But even in the face of dynamic conditions, the Chase is on at Spartanburg Community College, and we are nipping, driving, and leading the way!

As changes in higher education continue to be just as variable as the weather in March our proud Chasers can rest assured that we continue to forge new paths to prosperity. Our new “Live to Chase Initiative” for the upcoming year will continue to ensure that the cost of tuition will not serve as a barrier for those seizing the opportunity to Dream It, Chase It, and Live It.

In the time since we first rolled out our free tuition initiative in May of 2021, we have enacted numerous internal improvements to ensure every dime in our budget is dedicated to student success and persistence, empowering our Chasers to live out their dreams without the burden of student debt.

During this 60^th year in the history of the College, all the communities we serve bask in the shining pride that 6,300 Chasers are showcasing their talents that may not have been realized without the free tuition initiative. 

As we move through the month of March I am sure that we will all look forward to the calm “lamblike” days when we will be basking in the warm rays of sunshine and the South Carolina blue skies at our commencement ceremony on our campus green celebrating the bright futures of our proud graduates.  

Go Chasers!

SCC Launches the "Live to Chase Initiative"

Spartanburg Community College announced the “Live to Chase Initiative,” a re-imagined design to deliver free tuition for all the College’s more than 70 different programs of study through the Fall of 2024. 

The initiative will focus on promoting persistence and the willingness to chase by requiring recipients to be enrolled in a program that awards either a certificate or degree and maintain at least a 2.2 GPA. Students will have to either live or work full-time in South Carolina, complete a FAFSA, and take a minimum of six credit hours. 

"Over the past two years Spartanburg Community College has redefined the definition of higher education opportunity for thousands of individuals that live to chase their dreams, and this momentum in talent development to meet workforce demands has solidified a strong foundation for future economic growth and prosperity," SCC President, Dr. Michael Mikota, said. 

"During this 60^th year in the history of the College, all the communities we serve bask in the shining pride that 6,300 Chasers are showcasing their talents that may not have been realized without this opportunity. With this new 'Live to Chase Initiative,' we strive to recognize those students that commit to the chase and realize their full potential," Dr. Mikota continued. 

In May 2021, SCC announced tuition would be free for all programs, including general education, transfer, and workforce development. As a result, the College has seen a 51.5% increase in enrollment and currently has the highest enrollment in its 60 years of operation. Notably, SCC’s non-traditional population (defined as students aged 24 and older) has seen the largest share of growth, with an enrollment increase of over 63% since Fall of 2019.

The new approach is made possible by internal operational improvements to better utilize available resources in a way that provides a significantly larger return on investment to the communities the College serves and the state of South Carolina as a whole. 

See links below for media coverage of the “Live to Chase Initiative” announcement!

Spartanburg Herald Journal

The Post & Courier

Fox Carolina

WYFF News 4

WSPA 7 News

VIDEO: Dr. Mikota & Chaser Free Tuition Announcement

Chaser Showcase: Meet Tasha

Tasha is a student at Spartanburg Community College pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity. Click the video above to hear her explain what the College means to her and how being a Chaser has impacted her life.

I was proud to showcase the future vision for economic development, workforce, and higher education opportunities to the Cherokee County Council at their February meeting.

Our partnerships are strong and the future is shining brighter than at any time since the county was founded in 1897!

SCC was proud to host campus police officers from Converse University, Limestone University, North Greenville University, Furman University, Bob Jones University, Spartanburg Methodist College, and University of South Carolina-Upstate as part of our Regional Campus Police Peer Group.

Public safety is paramount for higher education learning environments and collaboration among our officers ensures great ideas become great practices.

SCC TRiO First Thursdays

First Thursdays are workshops set up by SCC's TRiO Program that are designed to help build a community and welcoming environment for all first-generation students.

This month's event featured a workshop wherein Chasers were shown the ropes on how to tie a tie -- including bow ties!

SCC holds an average of two Transfer Fair Day events every year for our Chasers to learn more about how they can seamlessly transfer into a bachelor's degree program at many of the colleges and universities across the state.

The first for 2023 was held in early February.

In 2021, the College established three new direct transfer agreements with schools in or near our service area: Gardner-Webb University, Limestone University, and Converse University.

Our innovative Spark Center played host to Leadership South Carolina as they learned about the state’s myriad approaches to economic development.

In speaking with them, I invoked the state’s mottos (While I Breathe, I Hope & Prepared in Mind and Resources) to impress upon them the hope I have for them as leaders for the future of South Carolina.

I know this economic development session at our Spark Center will help prepare them in mind and resources.

-Dr. Mikota

Register Now for the Inaugural Chaser's Cup!

The SCC Foundation is hosting the Inaugural Chaser's Cup Golf Tournament on Monday, April 10, 2023, at the beautiful Carolina Country Club.

Participating teams will enjoy a day of fun on the course, followed by a special dinner for participants. The winning team will be honored with bragging rights and may display the Chaser Cup trophy at their organization for one year until the next tournament!

Your support will enable the SCC Foundation to empower SCC students and support the continued growth of the College.

Space is limited, so click here to reserve your spot today!

The Legacy that Joe Built

This month, the SCC Alumni Association celebrates the indelible mark one instructor has left on his program, and a Welding Department fully taught by alumni who have worked for multiple industries across the country and now help to pass on their talents to the next generation of highly-sought after welders.

After earning his welding credentials in 1977, Joe Richards worked for several years in local industry before answering a call to help share his knowledge of welding – and life – by becoming an instructor at Spartanburg Community College.

In the years since, Joe has left an impact measurable solely by the fact that the entire roster of current welding instructors at SCC count themselves former students of “The Legend.”

“I had Joe as an instructor when I was a student at SCC, but I couldn’t say just one thing he taught me stands out. Everything he taught me was as important then as it is now. I carry on a lot that Joe taught me to our students today,” said Brandon Lefler, a 2008 graduate of the SCC Welding Program and current instructor.

Brandon is one of twelve instructors currently guiding Chasers to their new careers in welding, all of whom have graduated from SCC and gained experience in the industry prior to returning to their alma mater. Some instructors, such as Cody Knighton (c/o 2005), even run their own shops on top of their teaching duties.

“I did travel welding all across the country and worked with a few local companies in between travel jobs before I opened my own fabrication business in 2009,” said Knighton. “Joe was such an inspiration to my career and was the main influence on me becoming an adjunct instructor in 2010 and then coming on full-time in 2012. I have always looked up to him for the way in which he shows what it means to be a welder and the importance of doing things the right way.”

Thank you for your support of Spartanburg Community College and our mission to drive prosperity and improved quality of life factors across Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties and beyond.

Please click here to visit the website of the SCC Foundation to learn more about the various ways you can empower our communities to Dream It, Chase It, and Live It!