Natasha Cummings, Director
Courtney Kieslich, Program Coordinator

Experiential Learning at Greenville Technical College includes programs that promote applied learning opportunities for students, support quality curriculum development for faculty, and assist employers in meeting workforce development needs. Experiential Learning includes Cooperative Education, Technical Scholarship and Apprenticeships.

Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education (Co-op) enhances the student’s learning experience by integrating classroom lessons with “real-world” employment. The college and business community work together to provide the student work experience in jobs related to his/her major. This employment is arranged around class hours, usually part-time, and may continue each semester the student is enrolled at Greenville Tech. Students may register for cooperative work experience (CWE) courses and receive academic credit for work experience each semester they are employed through Co-Op.

Benefits to the Student

Co-op students have an advantage in the classroom since they have a better understanding of the relevance of their courses.

• Co-op allows students to test their interests and abilities.
• Co-op students develop a high degree of professionalism and job readiness.
• Co-op is an excellent method of securing permanent employment.  Over 80 percent of Co-op students remain with their employers at graduation.
• Co-op makes the transition from student to full-time employee much easier since the student has learned employer expectations and job requirements.
• Co-op students learn job search skills they can use at any point in their careers. They also learn about career options.
• Students are encouraged to apply for Co-op as early in their college careers as possible. However, students may apply at any point while working toward a degree.

Technical Scholarships

Technical Scholarship students also work in jobs related to their fields of study, but Technical Scholars receive scholarships and often additional benefits provided by their sponsoring employers. Technical Scholars are often selected early in their studies so that they may benefit from longer periods of on-the-job training before graduating.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are employer-sponsored and employer-driven opportunities to learn in a classroom and on the job. They are typically full-time positions with apprentices often selected before entering college.

You may apply to all Experiential Learning programs by contacting the Experiential Learning office at ExperientialLearning@gvltec.edu. Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/real-life-experience/.