ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop Elevate, South Carolina’s first Competency-based Education (CBE) programs for working adults, has signed its first industry partnership with Rock Hill’s Affinity Health Center.
Winthrop University launched Winthrop Elevate this past January to provide a unique and flexible approach to higher education that allows students to advance through their coursework based on the ability to master a skill or competency at their own pace.
The first degree program offered through this innovative CBE modality is the Bachelor of Professional Studies which includes four concentration options: health informatics, organizational leadership, organizational operations, and community and health services.
With this three-year partnership, Affinity Health Center’s 100 employees and their family members will have the opportunity to pursue a degree via Winthrop Elevate at their own speed and on their own timeframe.
According to Sebastian van Delden, Winthrop’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, this partnership will continue to build upon a decade-long relationship between the two organizations.
“We are excited to partner with Affinity Health Center to expand academic and professional development opportunities for their employees and partners. This collaboration also creates valuable hands-on learning experiences—through internships, projects, and other initiatives—for our students in healthcare-related programs, connecting them with Affinity Health’s dedicated professionals. Winthrop is proud to support this partnership, which enhances both current and future healthcare in York County through education, service and community impact.”
Anita Case, Affinity Health Center’s chief executive officer, knows that the partnership will benefit the center’s staff and their family members as well as Winthrop students who are pursuing careers in healthcare fields.
“With a team of 100 dedicated professionals, Affinity Health is proud to work with our local partners like Winthrop to continue delivering high-quality, compassionate care to more than 9,000 patients and clients across Rock Hill, York County and beyond. Through this new partnership, we look forward to exploring mutually beneficial initiatives that support the evolving learning needs of both our staff and Winthrop students.”
Partnership Details:
As part of the partnership, Winthrop will: waive the program application fee for AHC employees and their family members; provide a no-cost review of unofficial transcripts and transfer credits; provide an academic coach to AHC employees to assist with course selection, degree planning and financial aid navigation; review any training, certifications or relevant work experiences to consider for Credit for Prior Learning, which will save the employee time and money on the cost of the degree program; visit AHC to discuss programs; and provide an AHC representative with a seat on Winthrop’s B.P.S. External Advisory Board.
AHC agreed to: send communications to its employees about Winthrop Elevate and Winthrop’s CBE programs; provide materials, outlines or learning outcomes for internal trainings and workshops; allow on-site visits such as “lunch & learns” or an information table in a convenient location for Winthrop to meet with employees to share overviews of appropriate degree programs; and display Winthrop program brochures and educational materials for employees.
About Winthrop Elevate:
Spearheaded by Winthrop’s School of Graduate, Continuing, and Online Education, Winthrop Elevate is offered at a 14-week subscription rate of $1,750 for part-time status or $3,500 for full-time status. This pricing structure allows adult students to complete a degree at almost half the cost of a traditional, four-year degree. The program is 100 percent online, offers three intake opportunities per year and requires a minimum of 30 transfer credits.
For more information, please visit https://www.winthrop.edu/elevate/.
To inquire about partnerships with Winthrop and Winthrop Elevate, please contact vandeldens@winthrop.edu.
