Midlands Technical College continues bolstering its offerings, recently partnering with two big statewide names for new programs.

The school has signed an agreement to begin an architecture concentration in partnership with Clemson University and is one of five colleges and universities to be selected for the Prisma Health pilot nursing recruitment program, a $5 million investment for the hospital.

Kevin Floyd, director of public information for the college, said students from Midlands Tech have been transferring to Clemson to get a four-year architecture degree and both schools agreed a more formal agreement was necessary.

The new Associate in Arts with a Concentration In Architecture degree program will allow students to transfer into Clemson’s Bachelor of Arts in Architecture program with advanced standing.

Floyd shared that this program will streamline the process for students while allowing them to save money on tuition by attending Midlands Tech. He added that since students are not required to live on campus they are able to save money on housing.

“It's all about making it easier and filling the workforce demand that we're seeing,” Floyd said.

The college has similar partnerships with other schools and universities, including a criminal justice track with Lander University and a bridge program as well as 12 degree programs with the University of South Carolina. According to Floyd, Midlands Tech also works with Benedict College, Coastal Carolina University, Columbia College, and Newberry University, among others.

Architecture students aren’t the only ones benefiting from a new program, as nursing students at Midlands Tech are going to begin getting more hands-on experience.

12 students from Midlands Tech will be participating in the Prisma Health Nursing Scholars program. These students will have the opportunity to work alongside nurses, being able to shadow them and attend rounds.

There are five schools participating in the pilot program, with the University of South Carolina, University of South Carolina Upstate, Greenville Technical College, and Midlands Tech having already launched theirs, Clemson University following suit this coming fall.

According to Veronica Deas, executive director of nursing scholarship and program development at Prisma, students are selected by the schools through an application process.

Floyd mentioned that a student's aptitude and grades are taken into consideration.

Deas added that this program is an opportunity for students to gain exposure to the health system, adding that it’s important for them to have real-life experiences.

“You can learn a lot of stuff in the classroom, but what you really need is the hands-on hospital-type work, and this, it enhances things that are existing,” Floyd said. “If you've come to Midlands Tech and you want to be a nurse, you're certainly going to get into a hospital to get some hands-on experience.”

According to a release, this program will eventually provide up to 120 nursing school scholarships with up to 210 students and will expand to additional schools. 

The release brings up an often-cited shortage of nurses in South Carolina, noting that in the next seven years it is set to reach a 10,000-nurse deficit, which would be the fourth-highest in the nation. The national and local workforce has been impacted by an aging nursing population, instructor shortages and pandemic burnout.

“Prisma health cannot do this work without the involvement of our educational institutions, and we value the relationships that we have,” Deas said. “We're looking for opportunities to be able to leverage those relationships as well. And understanding the individual needs of the different schools that were partnered with is important to Prisma health and meeting the needs of those students.”