Spartanburg Methodist College
Encyclopedia
Spartanburg Methodist College is a private, two-year institution of higher learning, or junior college
, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina
. It is the only independent, regionally-accredited, residential two-year college in South Carolina.
As a junior college, SMC gives students the opportunity to focus on their freshman and sophomore years of college in order to prepare to transfer to a four-year college
or university
. SMC offers a liberal arts curriculum designed to help prepare students for this transition.
In 1927, the first two years of college-level work were added to the curriculum to provide graduates with an associate degree in liberal arts for transfer to senior level colleges. The continued close relationship between TII and local business and industry led to the development of associate degrees that prepared students for immediate employment.
In 1940, the high school classes were dropped from the TII curriculum. In 1942, Textile Industrial Institute became Spartanburg Junior College and for the next twenty-five years focused its efforts on providing associate degrees designed for transfer into a wide variety of bachelor degree programs. Beginning in 1965, the College began a cycle of growth during which over three-fourths of the present campus buildings were erected or renovated, the curriculum was broadened and strengthened, student enrollment doubled and new expertise was added through faculty growth and development.
In 1974, Spartanburg Junior College became Spartanburg Methodist College.
Since its founding, the College has been affiliated with the mission work of the United Methodist Church and its forebear, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The relationship between the College and the church has continued across the years through
the General Board of Global Ministries and the Board of Global Ministries of the South Carolina Annual Conference. The College’s name attests to the pride the institution’s trustees, faculty, staff, and student body take in working and studying at a college based on the traditional values of the church and the United States of America.
Today, Spartanburg Methodist College serves a highly diverse student body from several states of the United States as well as from several different nations of the world. The College seeks to meet the educational needs of its student body by enabling
each student to meet the challenges of a technologically based future. Spartanburg Methodist College offers a variety of educational programs to meet the needs of the traditional college student and of the non-traditional working adult.
The college is led by a Board of Trustees comprising 24 members, with six clergy members and 18 laity. Terms are staggered on a three-year basis. Colleen Perry Keith has served as the College's seventh president since July 1, 2009.
and with the South Carolina Annual Conference
. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.
Enrollment: 808 (775 full time / 33 part time)
Percent of Freshman applicants admitted: 70%
Male/Female Ratio: 57% / 43%
Racial composition: Caucasian 67% / African-American 27% / Hispanic 4% / Other minorities 2%
On-campus residents vs. commuter students: 66% / 34%
Spartanburg Methodist College serves students from every part of South Carolina. In fall 2009, 42 of the state’s 46 counties are represented in the student body, In addition, students from seven states (other than SC), one US territory, and three foreign countries are enrolled. Sixty-one non‐SC resident students account for six percent of the student body.
. Region X includes colleges in the Carolinas, West Virginia, and Virginia. SMC offers 14 intercollegiate athletic programs which include Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Softball, Volleyball, and Wrestling. The college's athletic teams have won numerous regional, divisional, and national titles.
The men's soccer team won the 1994 NJCAA national championship. Several other teams have made appearances in their respective NJCAA(JUCO)Division I national tournaments in recent years — most recently women's golf (three individual Top 50 finishes, 2011), men's tennis (26th place finish, 2010), wrestling (29th place finish, 2010), men's cross country (20th place, 2009), women's cross country (16th place, 2009) and volleyball (16th place finish, 2009).
Alumni of the college include major leaguers Orlando Hudson
, Lee Gronkiewicz
, Mookie Wilson
, and Reggie Sanders
.
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
. It is the only independent, regionally-accredited, residential two-year college in South Carolina.
As a junior college, SMC gives students the opportunity to focus on their freshman and sophomore years of college in order to prepare to transfer to a four-year college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
or university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. SMC offers a liberal arts curriculum designed to help prepare students for this transition.
History
Spartanburg Methodist College was founded as Textile Industrial Institute in 1911 by Dr. David English Camak, a visionary Methodist minister. At its founding as a work-study cooperative, TII served young adults working in area textile mills by offering high school level courses in preparation for advanced education or employment. In this first cooperative education program in the country, students worked a week and then took classes for a week. This arrangement enabled the school to provide resources for education and for life.In 1927, the first two years of college-level work were added to the curriculum to provide graduates with an associate degree in liberal arts for transfer to senior level colleges. The continued close relationship between TII and local business and industry led to the development of associate degrees that prepared students for immediate employment.
In 1940, the high school classes were dropped from the TII curriculum. In 1942, Textile Industrial Institute became Spartanburg Junior College and for the next twenty-five years focused its efforts on providing associate degrees designed for transfer into a wide variety of bachelor degree programs. Beginning in 1965, the College began a cycle of growth during which over three-fourths of the present campus buildings were erected or renovated, the curriculum was broadened and strengthened, student enrollment doubled and new expertise was added through faculty growth and development.
In 1974, Spartanburg Junior College became Spartanburg Methodist College.
Since its founding, the College has been affiliated with the mission work of the United Methodist Church and its forebear, the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The relationship between the College and the church has continued across the years through
the General Board of Global Ministries and the Board of Global Ministries of the South Carolina Annual Conference. The College’s name attests to the pride the institution’s trustees, faculty, staff, and student body take in working and studying at a college based on the traditional values of the church and the United States of America.
Today, Spartanburg Methodist College serves a highly diverse student body from several states of the United States as well as from several different nations of the world. The College seeks to meet the educational needs of its student body by enabling
each student to meet the challenges of a technologically based future. Spartanburg Methodist College offers a variety of educational programs to meet the needs of the traditional college student and of the non-traditional working adult.
The college is led by a Board of Trustees comprising 24 members, with six clergy members and 18 laity. Terms are staggered on a three-year basis. Colleen Perry Keith has served as the College's seventh president since July 1, 2009.
Accreditation
Spartanburg Methodist College is affiliated with the United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
and with the South Carolina Annual Conference
South Carolina Annual Conference
The South Carolina Conference is an Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. This conference serves the state of South Carolina with its administrative offices and the office of the bishop being in Columbia, South Carolina...
. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.
Student Body Makeup
* Fall 2009 data provided by Spartanburg Methodist CollegeEnrollment: 808 (775 full time / 33 part time)
Percent of Freshman applicants admitted: 70%
Male/Female Ratio: 57% / 43%
Racial composition: Caucasian 67% / African-American 27% / Hispanic 4% / Other minorities 2%
On-campus residents vs. commuter students: 66% / 34%
Spartanburg Methodist College serves students from every part of South Carolina. In fall 2009, 42 of the state’s 46 counties are represented in the student body, In addition, students from seven states (other than SC), one US territory, and three foreign countries are enrolled. Sixty-one non‐SC resident students account for six percent of the student body.
Academics
SMC offers six degree programs: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Criminal Justice, Associate in Religious Studies, Associate in Fine Arts, and Associate in Business. It also offers a Paralegal Certification Program.Athletics
The college is a Division I member of Region X of the National Junior College Athletic AssociationNational Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association , founded in 1938, is an association of community college and junior college athletic departments throughout the United States. It is held as Divisions and Regions. The current NJCAA holds 24 separate regions.-History:The idea for the NJCAA was...
. Region X includes colleges in the Carolinas, West Virginia, and Virginia. SMC offers 14 intercollegiate athletic programs which include Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Softball, Volleyball, and Wrestling. The college's athletic teams have won numerous regional, divisional, and national titles.
The men's soccer team won the 1994 NJCAA national championship. Several other teams have made appearances in their respective NJCAA(JUCO)Division I national tournaments in recent years — most recently women's golf (three individual Top 50 finishes, 2011), men's tennis (26th place finish, 2010), wrestling (29th place finish, 2010), men's cross country (20th place, 2009), women's cross country (16th place, 2009) and volleyball (16th place finish, 2009).
Alumni of the college include major leaguers Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
, Lee Gronkiewicz
Lee Gronkiewicz
Lee Matthew Gronkiewicz is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Lee played for 8 seasons in the minor leagues. He played in the MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the current head coach of the Columbia Blowfish and the pitching coach for University of South Carolina Lancaster. Lee is...
, Mookie Wilson
Mookie Wilson
William Hayward "Mookie" Wilson is an American former Major League Baseball center fielder and current coach for the New York Mets. He played 12 years in baseball for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays . He was a switch hitter primarily known for his impressive speed and positive attitude...
, and Reggie Sanders
Reggie Sanders
Reginald Laverne Sanders is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Sanders was 24 years old when he made his major league debut on August 22, , after being selected in the 7th round of the amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds...
.