CCTC will kick off its Evening College program in fall; 7 programs of study part of new initiative

By Bruce Mills, The Sumter Item

Who says we can’t go back to the “good old days?”

Central Carolina Technical College is challenging that notion by starting an evening college program in the fall.

Going back to the college’s beginnings, it was well-known for its night offerings to working-class people seeking more training. After an extensive review of courses and a community survey, the new evening program will begin in August.

Nicole Miles, CCTC’s director of marketing and communications, spoke recently on the new initiative that will kickstart with seven programs offered at the college’s main campus in Sumter, 506 N. Guignard Drive.

Those on-campus programs of study will include a basic heating and air conditioning (HVAC) certificate, criminal justice associate degree, paralegal associate degree, police pre-academy training certificate and pre-nursing preparatory certificate, as well as the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science programs.

All courses will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. and only in Sumter.

“This is really to address the working population that is tied up with work in a typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule,” Miles said, “but if they want to attend higher education to earn additional degrees or certificates, they are not able to if we are only offering courses during the day.”

The college is not necessarily reducing daytime offerings now but just expanding night options with the program, she added.

Miles said programs could change or be added in the future.

“We just don’t want to not be able to offer what the community needs at times that they need it,” she said. “It just gives more flexibility and options for students to choose to come to CCTC.”

The fall semester begins Aug. 22.

Earlier this month, the college announced it was extending its spring no-cost tuition initiative to the summer and fall terms. Both full-time and part-time students will qualify.

For more information, visit: https://www.cctech.edu/eveningcollege/