Mount Pleasant Magazine Jan/Feb2016

185 / 194

Since its founding in 1770, the
College of Charleston has earned a stellar
reputation as one of the top liberal arts univer-
sities in the nation. Most people associate the
institution of higher learning with images of
20-somethings and downtown Charleston, but the School
of Professional Studies at the North
Campus is living proof that the
College of Charleston community is more than just young
adults learning against the backdrop
of a historic city.
The School of Professional Stud-
ies offers a new approach to earning
a College of Charleston diploma.
Students who have completed some
college work can finish their degree
while holding down a job and deal-
ing with family responsibilities. Lo-
cal residents also can take continu-
ing education and professional
development courses that help businesses and employees
alike. Whether you are trying to finish what you started or
just want to learn a skill in order to advance in the work-
place, the School of Professional Studies at the College of
Charleston has something to sink your teeth into.
Approximately 100,000 people in the greater Charles-
ton area have earned credits toward college work but have
not yet earned a degree. Most of them are working and
find it difficult to squeeze school into their schedule, un-
less, of course, classes are held at night and on weekends,
which is the case at the School of Professional Studies.
Students can earn either a bachelor of Professional
Studies or a bachelor of science in Business Administra-
tion degree. Adults who aren’t interested in a degree can
take professional development courses in areas such as
leadership, digital marketing and social media, and many
Mount Pleasant-area residents are taking advantage of
these and similar courses. In fact, 16 percent of all non-de-
gree-seeking students in the School of Professional Studies
are from East of the Cooper.
Students who aren’t seeking a degree are generally older
than those who are – their average age is 38 – but they
have access to the same resources as their younger counter-
parts. In addition to sharing its faculty with the downtown
campus, the North Campus is a full service model – com-
plete with admissions counselors and academic advisors.
Local businesses are taking advantage of the high-quality
education and non-degree courses offered by the School
of Professional Studies, in many cases providing financial
help for their employees to enhance
their educational opportunities.
Blackbaud and other companies are
paying for their employees to learn.
“Blackbaud supports the career
and personal development of its
employees by offering tuition-re-
imbursement programs for degree-
seeking and continuing education
classes,” according to Ben Brownlee,
a board member for the School of
Professional Studies and a Blackbaud employee.
In addition, entities such as Jear Logistics, Johnson &
Johnson, Morris Financial Concepts and Patriots Point all
have employees who are taking classes at the College of
Charleston’s School of Professional Studies.
Serving the community is at the heart of it all, accord-
ing to Godfrey Gibbison, Ph.D, dean of the School of
Professional Studies.
“Regions are sustained and nourished by their local
colleges and universities,” Dr. Gibbison pointed out. “The
North Campus currently serves 650 students and hopes to
serve more in the future.”
With plans to add more degrees and additional cours-
es, the School of Professional Studies is poised to continue to
serve the educational needs of the Lowcountry. The school is
proof that an academic institution can add to its prestige by
being responsive to the needs of the local community.
To learn more about the School of Professional Studies, visit
A NewApproach
The College of Charleston’s
School of Professional Studies
By Peter SPearman
185 | |
Learning
Photo courtesy of the College of Charleston.