| This qualitative historical case study explores the decision-making process that surrounded the founding of the two-year Technical Education System in South Carolina. The study examines environmental factors beginning in 1959, proceeds with the creation of the first Technical Education Centers in 1961, and concludes with the establishment of the 16th center in 1972. The founding of the South Carolina Technical Education System model is then reviewed against the philosophical context of the two-year college story, beginning with the creation on Joliet Junior College in 1901 and ending with the sixth generation community college in 2001.; A conceptual framework model is used to assist in the analysis of data. This framework is based primarily on John Kingdon's model of agendas, alternatives, and public policies: a model that is framed on public policy-making and which is broadly conceived as a set of related processes, including agenda setting, alternative formulation, decision enactment, and implementation.; The study considers the economic, social, political, and technological factors that motivated the General Assembly to create a technical education program for the citizens of South Carolina. The historical case study relies on multiple sources of data, including the examination of primary and secondary documents and a number of personal interviews. The early decisions and processes from the West Committee and the State Advisory Committee for Technical Education are also reviewed to determine their impact on policy. |
