A LETTER FROM OUR PRESIDENT…

Greetings, SCAHCE Members and Friends! 

It is a real pleasure to share with you our fall 2023 newsletter, which presents recent activities as well as some important future plans for SCAHCE.

At the beginning of the year, we set four major goals for the organization. The first one was focused on reimagining the organizational structure of SCAHCE in order to better support our members and proactively advocate on their behalf. The second major goal was set on creating and launching activities and interventions to be undertaken by SCAHCE that are totally in sync with the modern continuing higher education landscape. The third major goal was aimed at identifying and promoting training programs such as workforce development and professional/technical certifications that meet the needs of our members and at the same time support goals and priorities of the state of South Carolina. Finally, the fourth goal involved building and expanding our connection and interaction with SCAHCE’s other key stakeholders, to include industry, government and community leaders in the state.  

I am happy to report the following results and achievements for the period.

1. The SCAHCE board is now at full strength after the loss of a few key members whose terms expired in 2022.

2. SCAHCE held a successful symposium on workforce development in Charleston on Oct. 17, as part of the ACHE 2023 national conference. The event brought together leaders and experts from the state and in the region to share insights, thoughts, and ideas on some the relevant challenges, opportunities, and practices on workforce development.

3. We welcomed 6 panelists to the 2023 SCAHCE Workforce Development Symposium. You can learn more about the distinguished panelists who were selected to be part of the SCAHCE workforce development symposium here.

4. Created work teams to: 1) Identify and implement professional development programs for SCHACE members; 2) Liaise with government officials to allow SCAHCE to disseminate plans, policies, and priorities of state with a focus on advancing continuing higher education and workforce development goals and plans; and 3) Prepare a revised constitution for the organization to be approved by the membership.

5. Plan to conduct SCAHCE board election no later than summer 2024. The goal is to have the new slate of elected SCAHCE Board members hold office starting Jan. 1, 2025.      

We are very excited about what we were able to accomplish this year and are looking forward to implementing key aspects of the plan set for the future of SCAHCE, starting in spring 2024.  

As noted, SCAHCE will hold elections for board membership in spring 2024. So, we would like to invite you to get involved with SCAHCE by, joining as a member, serving on the board, or presenting at our 2024 conference (details to be announced later). 

Please be aware that all members of SCAHCE are allowed to participate in the upcoming board elections. Also, a major benefit of joining the organization or serving on its board is the opportunity to network and collaborate with colleagues from across the state who are actively involved in the field of continuing higher education. Moreover, through serving on the board of SCAHCE, members will have the opportunity to examine, experience, and influence issues that are at the intersection of professional development, business needs, and government policies in regards to training and workforce development in the state. 

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you. Feel free to contact me or any other member of the board to let us know how we can be of help and assistance to you. We especially want to grow our overall membership and welcome new board members to SCAHCE this year. 

My email is guilbaudp@winthrop.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Pat Guilbaud, President, SC Association for Higher Continuing Education (SCAHCE)