Claflin, OCtech Sign Agreements for Educational Partnerships in Degree-Seeking Programs

In an effort to help local citizens achieve their dreams of attaining a four-year college degree, Claflin University and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College have entered into memorandums of understanding in several academic areas.

“I’m really excited about the focus we are putting on connecting the two institutions,” Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale said during Thursday’s signing event at OCtech which included academic leaders from both institutions.

 “It’s really about the opportunities for students, and the opportunity to do things to make Orangeburg and the Orangeburg community a more attractive place in terms of economic development,” Tisdale said.

 The agreements establish “a formal academic transfer mechanism” between the two schools to “promote and facilitate” the transfer of academic credit for specific courses taken at OCtech to Claflin University so that students can earn bachelor’s degrees in the areas of early childhood education, elementary education, mid-level education, and politics and justice studies.

Also offered are academic tracks for professional and continuing studies students to earn bachelor’s degrees in either sociology and criminal justice administration or organizational management.

“This kind of partnership furthers the relationship between our two institutions,” OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin said. “We consider ourselves as the first stop on the road to the American dream. They begin with us and end with Claflin.

“I think this presents a great opportunity for our students and for both of our institutions.”

Tisdale said the agreement presents more than “an OCtech beginning and a Claflin ending.”

“We see it as a joint effort from the very beginning to the very end, because we have an interest in those students even before they get to OCtech, and will continue to have an interest as they matriculate through OCtech and come on to Claflin University,” Tisdale said. “And when they’ve completed Claflin University, we would hope that the credit, in terms of their achievements, will be shared by both Claflin University and OCtech, and, of course, become a win-win for the Orangeburg community.

“It’s more important today than ever that we increase the number of citizens, especially in our community, who have an educational degree, and we want them to keep going at every level.”

For more information, call the Claflin University Office of Admission at 803-535-5342 or OCtech’s Office of Admissions at 803-535-1234.