Priorities

Education

The 40/30 Challenge

Realizing the crisis at hand, The Spartanburg Area Chamber of Commerce commissioned a Taskforce on College Degree Attainment in 2007 to propose recommendations to put Spartanburg back on track to compete for jobs and industries.  The Chamber then turned to The Spartanburg County Foundation to serve as a catalyzing force in the implementation of The 40/30 Challenge, a goal of increasing the number of adults holding post-secondary degrees to 40 percent by the year 2030.  For the past two years, The Spartanburg County Foundation has convened more than 200 citizens to form a strategic plan, which will guide Spartanburg in meeting this goal.

The Vision:  Spartanburg County will be the best educated county in the state of South Carolina.


The Goal:  By the year 2030, 40 percent of the residents in Spartanburg County ages 25 and over will have a baccalaureate or associate degree.

 

Strategic Plan Summary

Strategy 1: To make college accessible for all of our citizens

  • Action 1: Remove perceived (and real) barriers to pursuing a college degree
  • Action 2: Create a countywide Dual Credit System
  • Action 3: Create a “Last-in” scholarship program for K-12 and Adult Return to Learn students

Strategy 2: To ensure that all of our students who graduate from high school are prepared for post secondary and/or baccalaureate attainment

  • Action 1: Support countywide college readiness success
  • Action 2: Develop a countywide mentoring and tutoring network
  • Action 3: Institute a college orientation system countywide

Strategy 3: To increase the number of adults (25 and over) who are attending and completing college

  • Action 1: Create The College Hub of Spartanburg County with services to focus on needs of the Adult Return to Learn population
  • Action 2: Create an alternative and distance learning network for baccalaureate degree attainment and beyond
  • Action 3: Recruit and engage Bachelor Degree Advocates in business

 


College Hub Board of Directors

 

Mr. William Cobb, Chairman
Chairman & CEO, J M Smith Corporation

Mr. Clarence Batts, Vice-Chairman
Retiree, BASF Corporation

Rev. Dr. Benjamin Snoddy, Secretary
Senior Pastor, Mount Moriah Baptist Church

Mrs. Susu P. Johnson, Treasurer
Community Volunteer

Mr. Ingo Angermeier
President & CEO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System

Mr. Bill Barnet
Former Mayor, City of Spartanburg

Mrs. Jennifer C. Evins
Trustee, The Spartanburg County Foundation

Mr. Isaac McKissick
Director of School and District Partnerships, Spartanburg County School District 7

Dr. Darryl Owings
Superintendent, Spartanburg County School District 6

Dr. John Stockwell
Chancellor, University of South Carolina Upstate