OneSpartanburg, Inc. unveils Re:Degree, aiming to help those with some college experience but no degree

OneSpartanburg, Inc. today officially launched Re:Degree, an initiative to break down barriers to degree-completion for those across Spartanburg County who left college before graduating.

Re:Degree is directly tied to recommendations from the OneSpartanburg Vision Plan 2.0, specifically supporting the reenrollment and degree-completion of the-nearly 48,000 adults across Spartanburg County who have some college experience but no degree. The initiative aims to work with these individuals on customized plans to break down the financial, familial, or other barriers that prevented them from earning a degree.

In addition to increased earning potential for the degree-holder, educational attainment is critical to attracting and retaining jobs. A higher educational attainment rate will help to diversify economic development efforts by making Spartanburg County more attractive to corporate and knowledge-based jobs.

The work of Re:Degree is led by OneSpartanburg, Inc. Director of Adult Degree Reengagement Erin Smith, and a team of College Navigators who work one-on-one with participants to discuss their needs, goals, and the best steps to enroll in the college or university of their choice. From there, face-to-face meetings are scheduled to start mapping out the process in detail.

The initiative has provided funding for roles at partnering colleges to ensure the participating adult students have the support they need on-campus. Re:Degree is also working to partner with employers countywide, as scaling the initiative up will take employer support through cohorts of students reenrolling.

Re:Degree is supported by Movement 2030, a sweeping plan led by the Spartanburg Academic Movement to dramatically advance economic mobility and educational attainment across the county.

Anyone interested in connecting can visit www.ReDegreeSpartanburg.com and fill out an inquiry form, which will provide a snapshot of the individual so a customized plan can be crafted.

QUOTES

“Re: Degree was born with the premise that Spartanburg County residents with some college and no degree could look forward, not backwards, towards social and economic mobility by completing their degrees,” - OneSpartanburg, Inc. Chief Talent Officer Ron Garner.

“The time is now to get back in the game. This level of personal and financial support has never been available to those seeking to complete their degree, and it won’t be around forever. I strongly encourage people to contact us. We are here to help…all the way across that graduation stage.”  – OneSpartanburg, Inc. President & CEO Allen Smith.

“Re:Degree empowers adults seeking to reignite their educational journey, offering vital navigation and support to navigate the path back to college. Dreams don’t have deadlines so by removing barriers and providing tailored assistance, Re:Degree is transforming aspirations into attainable goals, fostering personal growth, and unlocking new opportunities for Spartanburg County residents.” - Meghan Smith, SAM’s Director of the Center for Postsecondary Success.

“Educating and upskilling your workforce is a tried-and-true method of employee retention. Employees feel supported and bring the knowledge they develop back into their roles. We don't want Spartanburg talent to have to look elsewhere for opportunity. We want to keep our talent here by offering opportunities for them to grow and succeed locally.” – OneSpartanburg, Inc. Director of Adult Degree Reengagement Erin Smith.

“This program and staff have been amazing with the help and support. I had never heard of a program like this but I’m extremely grateful that it exists. The next step in this walk is finishing my degree. This is vital to opening new doors for me.” – Charles Browning, small business owner and Re: Degree enrollee.