The document discusses ways to strengthen relationships between higher education institutions and Pickens County communities. It identifies goals around promoting synergy between education and the community. A team of 11 students evaluated approaches and divided into three subgroups focusing on social media, correspondence, and internships. The social media subgroup identified local organizations to interact with. The correspondence subgroup attended council meetings and proposed a plan to the county administrator. The internships subgroup interviewed students and administrators about internship opportunities. The document concludes with recommendations around enhancing social media communication and promoting internships within Pickens County.

1. Pickens County and Higher
Education
The Path to Collaboration
Team Members: Amber Blackwood, Quandon Christian, Josh
Dorrity, Brandon Ford, Jillian Geraghty, Malliciah Goodman, Hannah
Jefferies, Jessica McConville, Rod McDowell, Madison Taylor, and Anna
Whitener

2. Educational Institutions and
Pickens County
• Goal: Help strengthen relationships
between local higher education
institutions and the communities
of Pickens County.

3. Relationship to Vision2025
• WC7: Promote creative and respectful synergy
between educational institutions and the
community.
• EC7: Build close partnerships between
communities and educational institutions.
• WC13: Create Pickens County based media
source.
• SP 15: Create a countywide alliance that supports
and markets the arts and cultural activities.

4. Process
• Started with large group (all 11
members)
• Re-evaluated approach after
speaking with advisors
• Three “sub-groups”
• Social Media
• Correspondence
• Internships

5. Social Media
• Identified organizations to interact with
– Ten at the Top
– Pickens County News
– Vision2025
• Identified Clemson University contacts
– Donald Munson, Athletics and Publicity
– Cathy Sams, Chief Public Affairs Officer
– John Gouch, Online News Manager
– Jacob Barker, Media Team Leader

6. Correspondence
• Attended council meetings
– Addressed council
– Observed interactions
• Sent proposal to Dr. Martin
– Followed-up on recommendations
• Planned to meet with County
Administrator

7. Internships
• Interviewed
– Clemson University students
– Tri-County administration and students
– Michelin Career Center Employees
• Grace Ammons- Administrative coordinator for
the University Professional Internship Program
• Troy Nunamaker, Director of Graduate and
Internship Programs

8. Conclusions and
Recommendations
• Social Media
• Enhance communication among social media
outlets currently available in Pickens County
• See Networking Chart on Poster
• Internships
• Further promote internship placement within
Pickens County (e.g. through UPIP)
• Correspondence
• Continue to encourage student involvement in
Pickens County activities

9. Thank You