University Center epitomizes collaboration of agencies

e-mail this story discuss this issue in our forums Guest column • Ed Leap: God delivered us from beaches,angels and a vacation (06/20/04) • David Thomas and Brad Wyche: Envisioning Upstate's future calls for focus on growth (06/19/04) • David M. Slade: We need to redress uninsured health costs (06/18/04) • Lynn B. Stovall: Simple lifestyle changes can save water and money (06/16/04) • Terry Weaver: Seeking companies with 'InnoVision' (06/14/04) More details Barbara B. League is serving as chairman of the Board of Visitors for the University Center of Greenville. She also serves on the Governor's South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, the National Federation of Independent Businesses South Carolina Council and the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors.

The education of the work force for the knowledge economy is crucial if we are to employ our own rather than importing the required brains and talent for these industries. The solution is another collaboration: The University Center of Greenville.

The business and community leaders who led the effort to establish this higher education consortium in 1987 had the vision and creativity characteristic of Greenville's leadership.

The seven senior institutions in The University Center include the state's three research universities: Clemson, the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina. The Center offers 23 bachelors and 32 graduate degrees from our member universities, which also include Lander, South Carolina State, Furman and USC Spartanburg in addition to the three research institutions.

Teachers, nurses, business leaders, social workers, librarians, computer science specialists, among many others, are educated at the Center and prepared to enter or advance in the workforce. Together with the Center's eighth partner, Greenville Technical College, which offers the freshman and sophomore university transfer courses to the Center's students, the institutions that make up the University Center of Greenville represent the type of collaboration that will help the state move to the next level of economic development.

The Clemson/BMW partnership that anchors ICAR also involves Michelin, IBM and MUSC. The Health Sciences Collaborative is led by USC, MUSC, the Greenville Hospital System and Palmetto Health. Like the University Center, these new initiatives embody the spirit of cooperation, public/private partnerships, creative financing and entrepreneurial leadership that is transforming our state.

It is that spirit of optimism and growth that has led to the revitalization of Pleasantburg Drive. McAlister Square, home to the University Center, is being transformed into an academic village. The city has pledged to create a pond and park-like setting on the property which will also alleviate serious storm water problems.

Greenville Tech and the city are partnering to establish trees and greenways. Intellectual revitalization and growth through higher education will occur in this newly refurbished environment which will serve the needs of the nearby neighborhoods as well as students from across the Upstate.

One of the University Center's valuable partnerships is the Board of Visitors. These business and civic leaders advise the academic leadership on needed programs to serve our community. The Chamber of Commerce is currently conducting a countywide survey of the top 100 employers to identify current and future needs for higher education degree programs. The county has offered its support through funds to replace aging technology so the faculty and students have equipment at industry standards during their educational pursuits. A congressional earmark is also supplying funds for technology enhancements.

The governor has recently announced the formation of the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness, which is charged with retooling economic development strategy in the state. This group comprises leaders in business, government and academia. Several members of the University Center's Board of Visitors will serve on this statewide committee.

Education, beginning with our smallest citizens, and continuing life-long, will be the foundation for producing a work force suitable for the knowledge economy. South Carolina must retool its citizens to participate in the new jobs which will spin off from the emerging industries and innovative practices in existing industry.

The University Center is an asset for the city, county and state which exemplifies the best in partnerships, creative financing and cost saving, economic development support and education, and a culture of collaboration and vision that will enable our citizens to participate fully in the new economy.