Tech proposes new student center

Tri-County Technical College seeks funding to build a new student center on its Pendleton campus. It’s a project that would address overcrowding on its main campus that, college officials say, inhibits students from finding quiet time and space to study. Part of the backdrop, as explained today to Oconee County Council members, is the maintenance costs for campus buildings which are outliving their usefulness. Under the cost-sharing formula for the college’s three service counties, Oconee’s share of the new student center would be $6.75 million. However, before Oconee would consider funding its share, a couple of council members want Tech to come thru with a commitment to build an Oconee County campus. District Four’s Joel Thrift put it this way: “Before I could really become warm and fuzzy about the total project, I certainly would like to see a campus in Oconee County for our students.” Dr. Ronnie Booth, Tech President, said the key to building an Oconee campus is the property, and he said there is to be a meeting April 30. District Five’s Reg Dexter agreed with the sentiments of his colleague Thrift, and added he would also like to see more Oconee County students enrolled for Tech education. John Powell, a Tech commissioner from Oconee, said he wants to see an Oconee campus constructed, but he wants to be sure there will be enough Oconeeans who go to school there. There was discussion among Tech and Oconee officials as to how to raise the numbers of county Tech students.