Clemson Class Project May 2012

2.  Explore benefits of partnership between
Pickens County Schools and CU-ICAR
 Promote science and engineering in the
school system
 Highlight educational and professional
opportunities for Pickens County
residents
 Prepare students for careers in Science
and Engineering within Pickens County

3.  Establish “CU-ICAR DAY” for interested
Pickens County Students, which would
include:
 Tours of the facility in Greenville, SC
 Automotive industry and CU-ICAR guest
speakers
 Engineering
competition between Pickens
County High Schools at the CU-ICAR campus.

4. Relevant Goals from Pickens Co Vision Plan
Build greater cooperation/collaboration between Clemson
PC 13 University, Pickens County School Dist., and the Pickens
community.
WC 3 Train a workforce for future jobs.
Plan for CU-ICAR and Clemson University to be engines
WC 5
for growth.
Promote creativity and synergy between educational
WC 7
institutions and the community.
Grow an economy that keeps our youth in Pickens
WC 10 County, and improves marketable skills, including
construction trades, technology, and service industries.

6. CU-ICAR is…
 An automotive research and engineering
satellite campus of Clemson University.
 Located in Greenville, SC near Interstate 85.
 A nationally recognized automotive engineering
graduate program.

7. CU-ICAR…
 Facilitates public/private partnerships between
Clemson University, State of South Carolina,
and automotive companies.
 BMW
 Michelin
 Timkin
 American Titanium Works

8. CU-ICAR…
 Has secured over $200 million from
partnerships since opening in 2006.
 Currently employs 680 people at its Greenville
Campus
 Plans to create 1,620 new jobs in the next
several years

9. CU-ICAR…
 Impacts the surrounding economy by drawing
in other large companies and developers.
 $36million Hubell Lighting development adjacent to
CU-ICAR is expected to generate 350 new jobs.
 Verdae mixed-use development locatednear the CU-
ICAR campus will house approx. 10,000 residents as
well as retail and office space.

10. The question is…
How can Pickens County benefit
from partnering with CU-ICAR?

11. Methodology

12.  Evaluate existing social and economic
conditions
 Understand the area’s strengths and
weaknesses in workforce development
 Find examples of successful economic
activity/development within local cities

13.  Identify what aspect of the Pickens community
would/could most benefit from a relationship
with CU-ICAR.
 Case study analysis
 Utilize quantitative and qualitative data
through secondary sources, personal
interviews, and community outreach efforts
 Pickens County Schools
 Dr. Brooks (Clemson Professor, CU-ICAR faculty)
 Mason Ailstock (CU-ICAR Global Partner Manager
and Partnership Outreach)

14. Existing Conditions and
Findings

15. Educational Strengths…
 Four public schools within Pickens County, of
which all outpace national average SAT scores
 Pickens County Career and Technology Center
(Provides career training to 1,197 high school students)

16. Educational Strengths…
 School dist. participates in the “FIRST Robotics
Competition” and named regional champions
in 2011.
…These indicators of achievement show promise

17. Educational Weaknesses…
 2009-10 Pickens County drop out
rates 4.8% (3.7% in Anderson)
…These numbers should motivate change.

18. Employment Opportunities
 Over 30 major automotive-related companies are
located in the Upstate.
 BMW has invested over $3 billion in the region and
has created 7,000 new jobs
 Home to Michelin Headquarters
…This is good news for Pickens County residents,
but the news gets better…

19. Employment Opportunities
 In 2012
 %80 of adults in Pickens have a HS diploma
 %22 of adults in Pickens have Bachelors degrees
*Pickens County will need to attract knowledge base
industries to keep the skilled workforce within the
county.

21. Dr. Jonnell Brooks
 Large divide between Pickens County
students and CU-ICAR
 Students are rarely given opportunity to
participate in research at CU-ICAR
 Time constraints involved with reaching out
to Pickens students (travel feasibility)
 Elementary students regularly take tours of
CU-ICAR, but no program exists for HS
Students

22. Mason Ailstock
 Director of Global Partnerships at CU-ICAR
 Interested in hosting the “CU-ICAR DAY”
Note: A formal request to the CU-ICAR
Partnership Committee is necessary and must
be approved before a formal commitment is
made.

23. Josh Young
Assistant Principal of Easely High School
 Emphasized that the Principal and
various clubs would support the event.
Additional contacts:
 Guidance counselors (Daniel High School)
 Principals
 School Administrators

24.  All public High Schools in Pickens have
curriculum and extracurricular activities that
promote science, math, and engineering.
 3 out of the 5 public High Schools have
dedicated math and/or science clubs.
 Each High School offers Advanced Placement
courses in Math and Science

26. Case Study: Southern Indiana University
 Provides tours for High School students to
automotive factories.
 Students reported that the tours helped them
understand the engineering process.
 They also showed more interest after the tour in
learning more about the intricate machinery.
 Similar programs in Adelaid, Australia, and Pen
State have also been successful.

27. Case Study: Clemson University
 Previous programs and workshops for
those High School students interested in
the healthcare field.
 Interactive activities
 On-site visits
 Encourages minority involvement in healthcare
…Developing these ideas with CU-ICAR could bring
more minorities and women to the sciences

28. SHORT TERM GOALS
of Establishing “CU-ICAR Day”
 Open communications between Pickens
County schools, Clemson, and CU-ICAR
 Demonstrate commitment to local human
capital
 Show educational and professional
opportunities to students and families
 Energize students about the sciences

29. LONG TERM GOALS
of Establishing “CU-ICAR Day”
 Develop and retain a skilled workforce
 Prepare students for careers in engineering
and the sciences
 Encourage students to think locally when
searching for lucrative and rewarding careers
 Attract more knowledge based industry to
Pickens County.