MTC, Darla Moore School enter partnership

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Midlands Technical College and the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business have entered into an agreement to expedite transferring into the Moore School’s operations and supply chain program.

After earning an associate degree with a concentration in business, MTC students can transfer to the Moore School as juniors.

MTC estimated that students will save approximately $16,000 in tuition and fees by completing their first two years of school at the technical college.

“This agreement marks yet another positive step by our two institutions against the background of undeniable opportunities and challenges,” MTC President Ron Rhames said. “There is a growing need in the Midlands and across the state for college-graduate supply chain management professionals. Right here in South Carolina, there are multiple global manufacturers and logistics employers needing these skilled professionals.

“This articulation agreement is both timely and efficient as it creates a clear pathway for students to become part of the world-class supply chain manufacturing and technology industry in our region.”

A recent study found that demand for supply chain professionals, which includes industries from manufacturing to health care, exceeds supply by an estimated 6-1 ratio, according to a news release from MTC.

“The Moore School’s operations and supply chain program is one of the best in the country and has an amazing way of combining strong academics with strong experiential learning,” Moore School dean Peter Brews said. “The operations and supply chain pathway is a great development for the Moore School, for Midlands Technical College and the state of South Carolina. Some of the Moore School’s best students come from community colleges, including Midlands Technical College.”

The average salary for students who graduated from the Moore School’s operations and supply chain program in 2019 was $62,158, according to USC, with an average first-year signing bonus of $6,466. Graduates of the program have begun their careers with major state and regional companies including BMW, Boeing, Colonial Life, Continental Tire, IBM, International Paper, Michelin, Nephron Pharmaceuticals and Siemens.

“I am a first-generation college student, and 30 years ago, a college degree was affordable, but that’s not the way it is today, for all the reasons we know,” said Mark Ferguson, department chair and the Dewey H. Johnson professor for management science at the Moore School. “This pathway is important to me personally. If students put the work in and take more challenging classes, (operations and supply chain) is a great career path.”

For more information on the partnership, contact Lee Hunt, MTC director of business programs, at 803-738-7778 or via email.