2007 Highlights

As the year comes to a close, I want to share with you a few highlights from 2007.

The College has experienced great change and growth over the past year. Enrollment in credit courses increased eleven percent over last fall and enrollment in Chester increased twenty percent, thanks to the additional space at the transition facility. Our financial health is the strongest in history. We were able to provide significant pay enhancements for our faculty and staff.

We embarked on an exciting journey this fall, learning the hopes and dreams of our internal and external stakeholders. I had the pleasure of meeting with nearly 300 faculty, staff, students and community stakeholders over the past few months.

We were involved in several major facility projects, such as the building renovation for the Building and Construction Trades Program on Wilson Street, B-building roof replacement, and the dedication of 3D University. And today a building is being built on Hwy 9 in Chester that marks a new era of how we will meet the education and training needs of our region.

The Radiologic Technology Program and Dental Hygiene Associate Degree and Expanded Duty Dental Assistant Programs were reaccredited. The Early Care and Education Associate Degree Program received accreditation through the Division of Early Childhood Associate Degree Accreditation at the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Building and Construction Trades Program was credentialed by the Home Builders' Institute. Most recently, the Automotive Program received Master ASE Certification (Automotive Service Excellence) through the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. Congratulations Jamey, Chuck, and others who worked very hard to make this happen.

Congratulations and thank you for a wonderful year! I wish for you a restful and wonderful holiday break. You deserve the time off and unless security calls to say something is on fire, forget about work and come back January 7 with the energy and enthusiasm to make 2008 our best year ever.

Entrepreneur Network

On November 27, York Technical College launched the new Entrepreneur Network at the Baxter M. Hood Continuing Education Center. Sixty entrepreneurs attended to gain practical advice on how to obtain financing for their small businesses. Bill Payne, an entrepreneur and investment expert, presented “Let’s Make a Deal – Financing Options for Entrepreneurs.”

The Entrepreneur Network is designed to give small business owners and entrepreneurs an opportunity to network with each other and to learn about best practices from regionally and nationally successful entrepreneurs. We hope to offer quarterly Entrepreneur Network sessions with the next one tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 26. Special thanks to Edie Dille, Katie Dykhuis, Susan Brackett, Ginger Moore, and Kimberly Herndon for all their hard work in making the program a success!

Bridge Program with USC

You may have read an article in Friday’s newspaper regarding the statewide Bridge Program with the University of South Carolina and the SC Technical College System and wondered why you had not heard news of this program. We were asked not to discuss the program widely prior to the announcement.

On November 30, the University of South Carolina and the SC Technical College System signed an agreement that will provide first-time college attendees who are recent high-school graduates a smoother transition from SC technical colleges to the University of South Carolina. Students must complete 30 hours of general studies or earn an associate degree, and meet the university's admissions criteria to be eligible for transfer.

We are very excited about this new partnership and the opportunities for similar bridge programs with other higher education institutions.




SC Technical College System News Release

Recognition for Excellence in Teaching

Congratulations to Michele Wells, Radiologic Technology Department Manager, on being selected as one of four finalists for the South Carolina Governor’s Professor of the Year Award in the two-year college category. As the recipient of the York Technical College President’s Award for Instructional Excellence, Ms. Wells and approximately 40 faculty from other SC institutions were nominated for the Governor’s Professor of the Year Award. On November 1, Ms. Wells was recognized at a luncheon in Columbia for her excellence in teaching. Congratulations, Michele!

Dr. Layton McCurdy, Chairman of the SC Commission on Higher Education

and Michele Wells, Radiologic Technology Department Manager

Gratitude and Thanksgiving

At various times in my life I have been prone to complain. I am getting better, I think. Sometime back my uncle and mentor impressed on me the importance of being grateful. Now I am constantly reminded to be grateful even when I am exasperated. I have also recently seen the value of the hard times I have had in my life and am now grateful for those.

Some of you might think, “Yeah, it’s easy for you to be grateful.” Well, you may be correct, but it’s a funny thing about life, no matter where you are, you have the same base human tendencies that you have to constantly hold in check and one of those is ingratitude. Plus, I truly wish now, looking back at harder times in my life, that I had been more grateful then.

So, I hope you don’t mind but I want to express my gratitude.

I am thankful:

For forgiveness
For my family, immediate and extended, living and departed.
For a country that is built on meaningful ideals.
For a community that wants to improve and excel.
That I can add value to others’ lives.
For people who volunteer, giving more than they have to.
For people who have invested in me, even when I seemed a risky investment.
That I have been blessed with the conviction to be grateful.

I wish for each of you a beautiful Thanksgiving filled with . . . well . . . thanks.


"This is the true joy in life...being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one...being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy...I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can."
--George Bernard Shaw

New Commission Member

Dr. Doug Marion recently joined our College’s governing board as the first representative from Chester County. Dr. Marion is a native of Chester and is an Ophthalmologist with Eye Associates of Chester. He is a member of many professional and civic organizations including the Chester Regional Medical Center Advisory Board and Chester County Medical Society.

Our Commission members volunteer their time to serve on the College’s governing board and deeply believe in our mission to “contribute to the economic growth and development of Chester, Lancaster, and York counties and of the State.” We are grateful for their time and support!

Enrollment Increase

I'm thrilled to announce that College enrollment increased 11 percent from last fall. Chester Center enrollment increased 20 percent thanks to the additional space at the temporary facility. The top three program areas are:

College Transfer: 1,075
General Technology*: 767
Career Development**: 720
Total: 2,562 (61% of total credit enrollment in these three areas)
*General technology includes students in health science holding programs.
**Career development includes dual enrollment high school students.

Programs with significant growth over the past year include:

Dual Enrollment: 39%
Welding: 36%
General Business: 36%
Engineering Graphics Technology: 29%
Computer Technology: 27%
Early Care and Education: 20%
Office Systems Technology: 20%

According to preliminary data from the South Carolina Technical College System Office, York Tech had the second highest enrollment increase among the SC technical colleges. We can not attribute this huge accomplishment to just one person or one group but rather true total teamwork is responsible for this fantastic achievement!
I encourage you to keep up the great work!