SC CAN

During a press conference Monday, January 11, at Brookland–Cayce High School in Cayce, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) released findings of a statewide college access poll and announced an integrated plan for addressing the results that CHE Chairman Kenneth Wingate said indicate “significant collegerelated challenges, lying just beneath the surface.”

After first acknowledging the strength of the state’s technical education system, Wingate turned his focus to the significant challenges still facing South Carolina. Wingate referenced the state’s low graduation rate leading to its national ranking of 39th for percent of population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher. To put it all into perspective, this leads to South Carolina’s ranking 45th in the nation for per capita personal income.

“What this means is that South Carolina is not fulfilling its potential,” he said. “We are missing out on the many economic and social benefits of higher education. These circumstances are preventing South Carolina from creating a stronger, more competitive workplace –– and most importantly –– a more fulfilled citizenry.”

Cynthia Mosteller, Governor’s Appointee At Large to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, thanks Craig Garner Jr., president of the South Carolina Higher Education Foundation, for his support in establishing the South Carolina College Access Network (SC CAN). Research vs. Reality

To better understand the root of these problems, Winthrop University and South Carolina ETV, in collaboration with CHE, polled more than 800 parents of students ages 13–19 enrolled in South Carolina public schools. The poll investigated participants’ perceptions of higher education opportunities and expectations for their children.

Of the parents polled, 86 percent said they expected their child to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher, and an even higher percentage (94 percent) said that their children had that expectation for their futures. Further, 70 percent of parents polled said that they thought it was either somewhat or very easy to access the information they needed to make decisions and reach their expectations.

Though these numbers seem promising on the surface, Wingate warned otherwise after referencing recent findings that show that less than half of students who enter high school in South Carolina actually graduate and continue on to higher education — less than half of those who expect that achievement according to the Winthrop Poll.

Other findings released at the press conference showed that the majority of parents had not talked to anyone about financial aid options or reached out for help regarding their children’s educational futures.

“There’s clearly a disconnect between expectations and implementation,” Wingate warned. “Parents and students alike are assuming that if they dream of college, then the information and help they need will come to them.”

He then related that disconnect to “unexpected barriers” causing students to give up on their goals.

According to CHE, there’s a “significant, underlying problem” when parents and students assume that opportunity automatically means access. In reality, there are many specific steps students need to take to ensure college is truly accessible. Such steps include specific classes to take beginning freshman year, mandatory tests and applications to complete, and guidelines and deadlines to monitor.

“We’ve worked hard to promote higher education for every student,” Wingate stated. “But we now need to create a college–going culture in South Carolina... we need to make sure the path to higher education is clear so that our state’s students stay on track.”

First, a statewide campaign

First in CHE’s plan to create a “college–going culture” in South Carolina is the launch of a statewide college access campaign called SC CAN GO. CHE

secured federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s College Access Challenge Grant Program to cover the costs of the campaign, which is currently being implemented.

According to CHE, the primary goal of this campaign is to encourage South Carolina students and families to take an active role in pursuing higher education while raising needed awareness about college access.

“We need to show South Carolina students and their families how to overcome perceived barriers. It’s not that the doors to higher education are locked, but that the doors need to be proactively opened by students,” explained Governor’s App At Large to CHE Cynthia Mosteller, who took the podium following Wingate.

As announced by

Mosteller, the cornerstone

of the campaign, a

new Web site (www.sccango. org) serves as a comprehensive resource for information regarding financial aid, college and career options, planning advice, and much more.

Supporting elements of the campaign include television and radio spots that began airing in early January, outdoor advertising, and non–traditional efforts including in–school gym banners and social media.

Next, a statewide network

The SC CAN GO campaign is one of the first steps in a much larger plan to improve college awareness and accessibility in South Carolina.

“We are currently laying the foundation for South Carolina to establish a statewide college access network,” she announced.

“Ours will be known as SC CAN, the South Carolina College Access Network. The mission of this network will be to expand higher educational awareness, access and attainment throughout South Carolina, particularly among low–income, first generation and underrepresented students and their families.”

According to the National College Access Network (NCAN), a statewide college access network is a unique college access support system that is usually focused on the creation and sustainability of community–based college

access organizations.

Planning and development for SC CAN are currently under way. Next steps

As development of SC CAN continues, the SC CAN GO campaign will remain visible over the next two years. In addition to the advertising efforts currently being implemented, next steps include audience– specific initiatives such as the development of a school counselor resource manual.

The press conference closed with strong encouragement from Mosteller for students and families to start talking about higher education and taking an active role in pursuing their goals: “Sccango.org is live and contains many helpful resources, and if we all work together in promoting a college–going culture, we can succeed in helping South Carolina improve its educational level and reach its potential.”

Individuals interested in getting involved with SC CAN or SC CAN GO can email contact@sccango.org.