Aug 9
RichmondCC Sets Record Enrollment for Summer Semester
August 9, 2018 – Richmond Community College’s Board of Trustees was provided final numbers for summer enrollment at its meeting on Tuesday, which showed a record number of 995 students taking advantage of summer classes at RichmondCC.
Dr. Dale Mcinnis, College president, attributed this growth to increased college-wide marketing efforts, more high school students taking dual enrollment classes in the summer to meet qualifications for the RichmondCC Guarantee, more summer course offerings and Summer Pell helping to offset the cost of tuition.
Industry Partnerships
Director of Career & Transfer Center Patsy Stanley reported on several job fairs held in collaboration with local industries and businesses over the summer.
In June, Direct Pack held a job fair with 271 people coming out to the event to apply for positions at the customized food packaging company in Rockingham. Several job positions were filled and more applications are being reviewed.
Like Direct Pack, RSI is new to the area and working with the College to fill positions across its operations. The company’s job fair on July 14 drew 189 people with 36 people hired and three new positions approved and three possible internships.
On July 18, Therafirm held a job fair to fill positions in various departments that need highly skilled individuals. While the job fair drew a modest 77 attendees, the plant manager was pleased with the skill level and quality of applicants, Stanley said.
ITG-Burlington held a job fair on July 25 that drew 156 people applying for positions. Stanley said ITG is still reviewing applications but has already started interviewing several people from the job fair and was pleased with the outcome.
“These job fairs were collaborative partnerships between the College and the industries, with everyone working toward a common goal,” Stanley said, also noting that NCWorks Richmond County and Richmond County Economic Development assisted in promoting the job fairs.
Literacy Campaign
Director of Adult Education John Kester announced to the Board a two-year initiative to significantly improve the literacy rates in Richmond and Scotland counties. Kester said the College would work with core partners such as NCWorks, local Literacy Councils, Department of Social Services and the schools to help in identifying the need, delivering the message and providing access to resources.
According to reports from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, 20 percent of the population of Richmond and Scotland counties over the age of 25 does not have a high school education and/or lack basic literacy skills.
“Richmond Community College provides adult education classes at dozens of locations in Richmond and Scotland counties throughout the year,” Kester said, noting that currently 37 classes are being offered. “Through this community-wide campaign, we will work closer with our current partners and develop additional partnerships that will broaden our reach and impact. In doing so, we want to improve the literacy in our community while preparing people for employment that allows them to make a family-sustaining wage.”
Project Updates
Board members were provided updates on the renovations for main campus, the simulation hospital, the downtown Rockingham project and the Morgan Center in Laurinburg.
The Board was presented the latest renderings from the architecture firm of the student cafeteria and the front expansion to the Lee Building, which will house Student Services and the Career & Transfer Center. The construction project will go out to bid in March with renovations starting in May. It is estimated the project will take 12 months to complete.
Maintenance crews have been repainting sections of the former Moore Regional Hospital-Hamlet that the College will use for its simulation facility. The College will hold an open house when the facility is completed and ready to be used by its nursing programs.
McInnis informed the Board that the City of Rockingham had finalized financing arrangements for the Kenneth and Claudia Robinette Building, which will house the Leon Levine School of Business and Information Technology in downtown Rockingham.
“Mr. Levine would like to attend the ground breaking ceremony, so we are excited to have him here to help us celebrate the kick-off of this project,” McInnis said. “This project could only happen with the generous support and leadership of the City, the Cole Foundation and the Community Foundation.”
The ground breaking is scheduled for September. Construction is projected to take a year to complete, opening to students Fall Semester 2019. The facility will house college curriculum programs for business and technology, as well as programs and services for the Small Business Center and Workforce and Economic Development division.
Board members also were presented pictures of the renovations inside the Morgan Center in Laurinburg, which is scheduled to be open to students in October.