Greenville Tech President Focuses Mission On Skills For The Future, Access For All Kathy Laughlin May 11, 2026, 9:25 a.m. ET
Greenville Technical College aims to provide students with pathways to jobs that offer a living wage. The college offers over 100 programs, including dual enrollment for high schoolers and a bachelor's degree in advanced manufacturing. Greenville Tech is opening the nation's first AI-powered welding lab to meet high industry demand. The goal at Greenville Technical College is not just to graduate students, but to provide a pathway to good jobs at a living wage – and the economic mobility to uplift families and help employers and communities thrive.
“Our institution's mission is defined in three short statements. We empower individuals, we change lives, and we reshape communities,” says Dr. Larry Miller, President of Greenville Tech. “Empowering individuals is about access for all. We lean into that.”
To that end, Greenville Technical College is working to attract more first-generation college students and those eligible for financial assistance.
The college has created more than 100 programs to reach both high schoolers seeking an early start to their post-secondary education or their careers, as well as young people and adults who need additional job skills, intend to transfer to a traditional university, or plan to enter the job market quickly with certifications or associate degrees.
Miller – a first-generation graduate himself – became the third president of Greenville Tech last summer. He was the Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development at the college for five years before that, and has spent about 25 years in academia.
Dr. Larry Miller, President of Greenville Tech, connects with employers and organizations so that college leadership is informed about skills needed in the workplace. Graduation, Employment, Living Wage “When we talk about success, we're talking about our graduation rate. We're talking about students finding careers in fields for which they trained. And we talk about reshaping communities by ensuring that our graduates earn a living wage when they get out or have a pathway to a living wage within the first five years of their careers,” he says.
Since its founding in 1962, Greenville Tech has graduated 80,000 students. The college plans to surpass 100,000 graduates within five years.
To reach those goals, Miller and other professionals at Greenville Technical College create connections with institutions, employers and the community.
Miller and Royster, with their teams, collaborated to rework the dual enrollment agreement that allows high school students to take classes at Greenville Tech and earn college credit during part of their school day.
Dual enrollment had been free for students with financial need. Now, all Greenville County School students can participate in dual enrollment at no cost. Books and other supplies are covered, and transportation to Greenville Tech is available for students from Berea, Carolina and Southside high schools.
“Enrollment in the program increased by 38% within one year. Enrollment from underserved populations increased by over 50% in one year,” Miller says.
Through the Accelerate U Early College Program, high school students can study aircraft maintenance technology, HVAC, industrial electricity and welding.
Certificates, Degrees Or Straight To Work Certificate and degree programs at Greenville Tech can lead to high-demand, high-wage skilled trades, Miller says.
“Many students who earn a skilled trades certification want to go straight to work, and we support them, and we want those same students to stay with us and earn an associate degree while they're working,” he says.
Bachelor’s In Advanced Manufacturing Technology Students can then use those credits and certifications to work toward a bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing from Greenville Tech – “an innovative and affordable pathway to a four-year degree,” he says.
The school’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation opened 10 years ago and began offering a bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing technology in 2019.
Greenville Tech is the only two-year college in South Carolina offering a bachelor's degree.
Miller says manufacturers asked for the program so that their employees and other students could pursue technical leadership and managerial roles.
Brush Up On Skills: Continuous Improvement For those whose goals don’t include two- or four-year degrees, Greenville Tech provides continuing education classes so employees can learn new skills or earn credentials to advance in their careers or stay current in their existing jobs.
“It is about continuous improvement,” Miller says.
“We have a truck driver training program, with 333 graduates last year. That program helps our supply chain and logistics industries, major employers in our state.”
After earning a commercial driver’s license, graduates can return to Greenville Tech to earn forklift certificates or hazardous waste certifications.
“They become more productive for their organization and can make more money,” Miller explains. “That’s how we stack this together.”
Understanding Future Hiring Needs Miller stays in touch with employers’ job requirements – and the skills students need – by serving on the boards of the Greenville Area Development Corporation, Greenville Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.
Likewise, GADC Vice President Tavia Gaddy is a member of the Greenville Tech Foundation Board of Directors.
Miller says that when new industries or existing businesses approach the GADC with expansion plans, Greenville Tech is “at the table to understand future hiring needs, to make sure that we're producing enough talented, skilled, knowledgeable professionals to fill those roles.”
The newest innovation at Greenville Tech is the Center for Welding and Automation Excellence.
“Greenville should be proud. We will have the first AI-powered welding lab in the nation,” Miller says.
Construction for the new building at the school’s Brashier campus in Simpsonville was “topped out” in December and is expected to open this fall. Registration for the program is underway.
“We are doubling our capacity in that space. There are 400,000 welding jobs open in the U.S. right now. And we only produce one welder for every four who retire. This is a great pathway for students and our economy,” Miller says.
“Graduates from that program will place with companies like Fluor, Vermeer MV Solutions, Lockheed Martin building F-16 Block 70s.”
AI-assisted welding is a positive evolution, he says.
“The welders are setting up the equipment. They're monitoring the weld to make sure the equipment's working properly, that the quality is there. And they're moving to their next weld,” he says.
“It’s four times faster, which is an opportunity for more profitability for the welding sector and an opportunity for higher wages. It makes the job more technical. It also makes the job a lot safer.”
Economic Impact In Upstate As for the “community” part of the college’s mission statement: A study prepared by the University of South Carolina shows that Greenville Tech generated $930 million in total economic impact during 2025 on an operating budget of $117 million.
“I feel like we're having a positive return for the community on the investment we receive,” Miller says. “Our team has a five-year plan to double our impact to $2 billion by 2032.”
| 
