By Kierston Smith and Bob Holmes

A group of state-appointed education and business leaders met at Columbia International University’s John R. Cook Jr. Business and Entrepreneurship Center in November and were introduced to CIU’s vision for assisting the business community.  

The Midlands Regional Education Center Board is a part of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The board meets to discuss what can be done locally to join the education and business communities. This meeting focused on preparing high school students for the next step after graduation.

As CIU works to develop its outreach and assistance to the local community, the Department of Commerce is looking at how it can partner with the Business and Entrepreneurship Center and the CIU School of Business & Professional Studies.

Dr. Kaye Shaw, the divisional workforce advisor for the Midlands Regional Education Center encouraged CIU to continue to foster its relationship with businesses in greater Columbia and prepare CIU students for the challenges ahead.

“Business don’t come to a community unless you have students that are prepared,” Shaw said.

Excitement is building on the CIU campus with a dramatic increase in enrollment and on-campus expansion including the $20 million William H. Jones Global Business & IT Center. Information on enrollment is available here or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.