From Campus to Statewide Impact: NETC Leaders Lead the Way

NETC Library Director Ron Stafford and Justin Sherry, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator for the SC Technical College System, had the honor of presenting at the 2025 South Carolina Education + Business Summit, one of the state's largest professional development events for CTE educators and administrators. Their session, "Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The SCTCS OER Commons Hub," explored how open collaboration and statewide vision are transforming access and equity in technical education.

The presentation focused on how the SC Technical College System's OER Commons Hub directly supports the evolving needs of CTE students. By offering high-quality, no-cost learning materials, this initiative helps eliminate financial barriers and provides students with the resources they need to thrive in both the classroom and the workforce. The session also shared best practices for cross-institutional collaboration, cost-reduction strategies, and scalable models that promote student success through open educational access.

With combined expertise in library leadership, workforce development, and program management, Ron and Justin offered actionable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers looking to implement OER at scale. Their work exemplifies how strategic partnerships can lead to more inclusive and innovative learning environments, especially for students pursuing career and technical pathways.

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