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ReUp Education, a national leader in enrolling adult learners in degree and credential programs, has announced a partnership with Re:Degree, an initiative of OneSpartanburg Inc., to remove barriers that block degree completion at institutions in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
Officials said the new initiative expands on both Re:Degree and ReUp’s commitment to help the region’s adult learners return to college, complete their degrees, and unlock new career opportunities.
Although the partnership is less than six months old, 482 learners have been re-engaged, and 124 learners have re-enrolled in one of Re:Degree’s partner institutions.
ReUp is working directly with Re:Degree to support colleges and universities in Spartanburg County, including:
Converse University
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg Methodist College
University of South Carolina Upstate.
Erin R. Smith, director of Adult Degree Reengagement for OneSpartanburg, Inc. Re:Degree Spartanburg, said the partnership has been pivotal to scaling impact:
“Their expertise and professionalism made our task of re-engaging 5,000 adult learners by 2030 feasible… This work is complex and has to be highly individualized, which makes scaling difficult. I feel more confident now than ever before that we will achieve our goal — and then some!”
According to the US Census Bureau, Spartanburg County has more than 48,000 residents who have some college but no credential (“stopouts”).
Officials said many of these learners have sunk time and cost into their pursuit of education beyond high school but have not benefited from the potential of a credential or degree of value.
Adult learners face a range of barriers to credential attainment, including the cost of college, balancing work and family commitments, and a lack of guidance on how to re-enroll or complete their studies.
Ben Maxwell, vice president for Enrollment at Spartanburg Methodist College, emphasized the importance of empathy and collaboration:
“As a former ‘some college, no degree’ student, I understand the importance of a collaborative approach to reengaging students who have paused their educational journeys… Our partnership with ReUp enables us to do just that and make a meaningful impact in Spartanburg County.”
Since 2015, ReUp has been helping colleges and universities engage, enroll, and support adult learners.
Through this partnership, ReUp will provide its market-leading data analytics and technology with dedicated outreach and live coaching to support learners who have stopped out of Re:Degree Spartanburg’s partner institutions, helping them re-enroll, re-engage, and earn their degrees.
“This partnership is about more than just bringing students back—it’s about helping them move forward,” said Terah Crews, CEO of ReUp Education. “Time, money, and a support system are all crucial elements of a learner’s journey through higher ed, yet for many these factors remain barriers to completion.”
Institutional partners say this collaborative model reduces operational strain while increasing student success.
Donette Stewart, vice chancellor for Enrollment Management at the University of South Carolina Upstate, shared:
“The process of partnering with them has been simple — ReUp handles the majority of the work, making it easy for us to stay engaged. We truly appreciate our partnership with them.”
At Spartanburg Community College, the results are already visible.
“Their thoughtful outreach and student-centered approach helped us re-engage individuals who stepped away from their academic journey — and the results have exceeded our expectations, with 109 former students re-enrolling for the fall 2025 semester,” said Amber Kreger, dean of Enrollment Management.
Kreger added, “We’re seeing renewed momentum in enrollment and a deeper sense of purpose in our mission to help our community Dream it, Chase it, Live it.”
ReUp will also serve as a strategic advisor on adult learners for Re:Degree and their partner institutions, offering institution-specific insights and recommendations based on industry trends, millions of data points on adult learners, and direct learner feedback.
Since 2023 ReUp has re-enrolled more than 40,000 adult learners, and more than 1.8 million college stopouts now have access to ReUp’s platform and coaching.
ReUp supports more than 140 colleges and universities across 33 states and has helped its partner institutions realize more than $275 million in additional revenue.
OneSpartanburg, Inc. is comprised of a dynamic group of business, economic, and tourism development professionals led by a diverse group of volunteer leaders.
They aim to build a vibrant Spartanburg through business, economic, tourism, and talent development.
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