3-11 REACH Act Compliance

Rationale and Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Greenville Technical College complies with Act 26 of 2021, known as the Reinforcing College Education on America’s Constitutional Heritage Act (REACH Act), which requires undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program (and recommends those planning to transfer to a four-year South Carolina public institution of higher learning) complete a three-credit course which requires, at minimum, students to read in their entirely the following Founding Documents:

• The United States Constitution
• The Declaration of Independence
• The Emancipation Proclamation
• Five (5) Federalist Papers
• One or more documents foundational to the African American Struggle

Policy Statement

Under South Carolina statute Section 59-29-130 and through the guidance of the South Carolina State Technical College System, Greenville Technical College will require undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program to complete a three-credit course that requires, at a minimum, the reading of the following Founding Documents: U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, five (5) Federalist Papers, and one document foundational to the African American Struggle. Students who plan to transfer from GTC to a four-year South Carolina public institution of higher learning will be strongly encouraged to complete one of the courses (HIS 201 or PSC 201) that requires reading the Founding Documents.

Scope

This policy requires reading the Founding Documents, in their entirety, in the HIS 201 (American History: Discovery to 1877) and PSC 201 (American Government) courses. All undergraduate students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree will be required to complete either the HIS 201 or PSC 201 course to receive their degree. Further, students who plan to transfer to a four-year South Carolina public institution of higher learning will be advised to complete either HIS 201 or PSC 201.

Roles/Responsibilities

• Advisors will advise students in accordance with this policy.
• Faculty assigned to teach either HIS 201 or PSC 201 will incorporate the reading of the Founding Documents, in their entirety, into their respective course plan and syllabi, noting specific deadlines for each document within the course schedule.
• Department Head responsible for HIS 201 and PSC 201 will ensure that the reading of the Founding Documents, in their entirety, is documented in each course syllabus, noting specific deadlines for each document within the course schedule. Further, the department head will ensure that all faculty members newly assigned to teach HIS 201 or PSC 201 are given a copy of the REACH Act Onboarding document (REACH Act Compliance for South Carolina Technical Colleges) and sign the REACH Act Faculty Onboarding Acknowledgment form.
• Dean of Arts and Sciences or the Dean’s appointed designee will ensure that content is included in both HIS 201 and PSC 201 as outlined above. Further, the dean or dean’s appointed designee will ensure that all department heads responsible for the HIS 201 and PSC 201 courses are correctly instructed on the onboarding requirements for REACH Act compliance.
• Office of Academic Compliance and Review (AC&R) will prepare the documents required for submission by the college and complete the annual survey (including submission of the initial syllabi samples noted in the survey). Further, AC&R will submit course syllabi to CHE upon request. AC&R will maintain records of faculty onboarding directed by the department head(s).
• Vice President for Learning and Workforce Development will prepare the annual verification letter to be submitted by the college president verifying compliance with the REACH Act requirements and submit the letter, along with the verification form, to the president for signature.
• President will submit the annual verification letter, along with the verification form, to the Vice President of Academics, Student Affairs, and Research for South Carolina Technical College System, by June 1, who will review and compile for reporting to the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) by June 30 of each year.
• Registrar will validate the students’ completion of the REACH Act course requirement through degree audits.

Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with/follow this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.