SC lawmakers propose ending open enrollment for some technical college students

Some future South Carolina technical college students may be required to meet academic criteria before taking credit-earning classes.

That’s if S.C. House Bill 4755, sponsored by Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, and Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, passes.

Currently, the state’s technical colleges are “open enrollment,” which means anyone can enroll and begin taking classes, no matter what they’re studying and no matter what their high school grades are.

Under this bill, those who are seeking an associates or bachelor’s degree would need to meet minimum academic standards before accruing credit. The academic requirements would be set by the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education, and requirements could vary by program, according to the bill.

The proposal is designed to cut down on the amount of incoming technical college students who need remedial classes shortly after enrolling, Allison said. Technical colleges would still offer remedial courses, but those would not count toward credit, according to the bill.

The state technical college board would have until Aug. 1, 2021 to develop the academic standards.

Students who are receiving a “nationally recognized business or industry credential” or certificate — such as those required to be a plumber, welder or computer coder, etc. — would still be accepted into technical schools on an open enrollment basis.

The bill seeks to increase resources for students seeking a credential or certificate by allowing them to tap into Lottery Tuition Assistance money, according to the bill. That money, however, would only be available to those within seven years of entering ninth grade, Allison said.

Lottery Tuition Assistance, funded by revenue from the state’s lottery program, provides up to $1,140 in scholarship money per term for full-time students and $95 per credit hour for part-time students, according to the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.