Greenville’s Fine Arts Center and Clemson University partner to kickstart student careers

From The Greenville News:

Dr. Richard Goodstein, Dean of College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Clemson University, (left) and Fine Arts Center Director Roy Fluhrer at a press conference announcing partnership. Image courtesy Brooks Center for the Performing Arts

Greenville County Schools and Clemson University announced a partnership today that will allow high school students to earn college credit for their studies at the Fine Arts Center.

Clemson’s performing and visual arts programs will extend credit hours toward a bachelor of fine arts in visual arts or production studies for students who receive high grades in acting, visual arts and theater classes.

“This new partnership is specifically career-oriented,” said Rick Goodstein, dean of Clemson’s College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

He said by entering college with a few classes worth of credit under their belts, arts students will be able to “kickstart their careers.”

“You get to enter at a higher level. And that’ll develop their talent even further by the time they finish their undergraduate education,” he said.

Roy Fluhrer, director of the Fine Arts Center, said the collaboration is a reflection of the high-level curriculum already being taught at the Fine Arts Center, and no changes to class structure or content is planned in order to provide college credit.

“This program represents the future of college credit programs, and that is the opportunity to pair with students in their area of interest, their area of skill and the area that they will likely focus on, not just in their post-secondary education but in their later life,” said Greenville County Schools Superintendent Burke Royster.

The partnership goes into effect for the 2014-15 school year, including the class of 2014 graduates who are attending Clemson.

Fine Arts Center alumna and rising Clemson freshman Elise Huguley said it will help her keep college costs down by shortening the time she needs to spend in school to get her degree.

Related article from Clemson University with enrollment information.