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By Lisa Garrett
PENDLETON, SC — Textile employees working toward a textile management degree at Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) today don’t always have to choose the traditional classroom setting.
Instead, they can opt for on-line classes, which are steadily gaining in popularity among those whose work schedules and time constraints won’t permit them to attend classes on the Pendleton campus.
Eight students who began taking these Web-based classes this fall wouldn’t be able to pursue college if it weren’t for this format, said Jim Wilson, who leads Tri-County’s Textile Management Technology and Quality Assurance Technology programs.
“They fall into the ever-increasing category of employees who work swing or 12-hour shifts and attending class on campus is virtually impossible,” he said. “This system provides an alternate way to receive an education.”
Thirty percent of the plants in Upstate South Carolina are working these non-traditional shifts, he added. They offer employees more time off — they work the same number of hours but fewer days, he said.
“Industry is supportive and eager for us to offer these Internet courses,” said Wilson. “We intend to ensure that the quality and content of the Internet classes will be the same as on-campus classes.”
Both the Textile Management and Quality Assistance curricula are becoming Web based, and persons entering this career path could graduate with a degree within three to four years.
“Many textile companies in the state face this same dilemma of associates who don’t have access to textile education,” said Wilson.
Tri-County is the only college in the state to offer a two-year degree in Textile Management Technology.
“We will go statewide with the on-line curriculum and want to become the center for textile training for SC,” he said.
A $67,644 grant from the J. E. Sirrine Textile Foundation funded 10 new textile management technology scholarships at Tri-County this fall and supported the continuing development of the college’s Web-based textile courses.
Specifically, $27,000 is earmarked for the 10 two-year scholarships and the remaining $40,644 is being used to fund the development of two more textile courses: yarn manufacturing and textile manufacturing and synthetic fibers. Eventually, Tri-County will offer all of the courses required for the Textile Management Technology degree over the Internet.
“We are happy with the continued support the J. E. Sirrine Textile Foundation bestows on our Textile Management Technology program,” said Wilson. “Textiles remains the largest employer in our area, and the need for qualified management personnel continues. These funds enable us to offer scholarships that pay for a student’s entire tuition, plus a portion of textbook costs.
“These 10 new scholarships are available to students who are either employed in the textile industry or who want to enter the textile industry on a first-line supervisor level.”
Currently, more than 60 students are enrolled in the Textile Management Technology program. The majority of the students enrolled already are employed in a production capacity with area textile firms. Since the program’s inception in 1973, area companies have donated 1,138 textile scholarships valued at $1.65 million.
“Firms are dedicated to these students (their employees) by furnishing scholarships annually. We are grateful to these textile companies for their generous support of our department,” said Wilson.
“Almost all of our textile students are on scholarships, and many of them tell me that the scholarship is what makes it possible for them to earn this two-year degree.”
Many employees are coupling their textile degree with a quality assurance certificate to better arm themselves when looking for a job or being considered for a promotion. The nine-hour quality certificate supplements the degree and is offered on-line every semester.
Also, for the first time, the Introduction to Manufacturing Technology certificate is available on-line. It combines a course dealing with the fundamentals of textiles with others regarding OSHA guidelines, manufacturing safety, supervisory skills and quality assurance.
The degree allows a better chance for promotions, added Wilson. In many companies a degree is a necessity to advance into management level positions, he added.
“The degree makes them more promotable by bringing new skills and technical knowledge to their workplace. Communication, leadership and interpersonal skills, combined with a knowledge of quality assurance, safety, production and cost control, make them a valuable hire in today’s fast-paced environment,” Wilson said.
For those who want to continue their education at Clemson University, qualifying students who graduate from the Textile Management Technology program at Tri-County can now get a scholarship to Clemson’s textile program beginning with their first semester, said Wilson.
“Textiles still remains the largest manufacturing employers in the state,” said Wilson, adding that he is optimistic about the economic outlook for the area.
He cited Liberty Denim, LLC, which opened its new plant recently and Central Textiles that reopened in Pickens earlier this year.
“The need continues for highly trained, motivated leaders to help textile industries to compete in our globally competitive marketplace,” he said.
The Textile Management Technology department continues to garner the support of area industries. Last year Glen Raven, Inc. donated $400,000 in new equipment — two Jacquard weaving machines with computerized Bonas heads. Picanol and Global Textile Partner donated a new Picanol Omni 340 weaving machine valued at $56,000.
“These are just a few examples of the show of support from the local textile industries, and that’s in addition to the $1.6 million in scholarship sponsorships over the last 30 years. We simply couldn’t do it without them. The vitality of the department is directly related to that level of support,” he said.
“Our goal is to help our textile companies better compete through increased productivity and quality and by providing knowledgeable, new leadership through education,” said Wilson. “This is not the same textile industry of 30 years ago that grandmas and grandpas talk about,” he added. “Today’s textile industry is high-tech and computerized. To deal with changing economies, new technology and stiffer competition, textile education is more important now than ever.
“As an industry, we have to be better at what we do than anyone else in the world. Truly, the world is now our competition. To achieve the greater part of the market share, it will take new leadership and innovation. Education can make the difference. In America, we have the best people, the best manufacturing facilities and right here in the tri-county area we have the educational opportunity to help us be the best in the world.”
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