Four College Campuses Enrich Educational Options for Students and Employees
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More than a half-century ago‚ Rocky Mount lead ers identified higher education as the key to developing the local economy.
So‚ in partnership with the United Methodist Church‚ the community opened North Carolina Wesleyan College‚ where high school graduates can still find top-notch educational opportunities.
Today‚ higher education is on tap at four separate colleges and universities in the Rocky Mount area‚ giving students choices that range from a liberal arts curriculum in a traditional academic setting to job-specific training programs offered online or in night classes.
North Carolina Wesleyan College has 900 traditional students on campus and another 1‚300 enrolled in evening classes at satellite sites. During the past 10 years‚ a strong adult evening degree program has developed in the Raleigh-Durham area‚ Goldsboro and in Rocky Mount.
With sustained leadership and support from the Rocky Mount community‚ the college has developed and managed its offerings to include a mix of pure liberal arts and sciences coursework and voca tional degrees.
Nash Community College opened its doors in 1967‚ giving students the chance to study in a wide range of fields from accounting to truck-driver training. Today the college offers 68 degree‚ diploma and certificate programs‚ as well as a selection of continuing education and professional development courses.
“It is estimated that America will need to double its college-educated workforce to remain competitive in a global economy‚” says Nash Community College President Dr. William S. Carver. “Over the years‚ the college has prided itself on hiring committed faculty who provide inspiration and expertise that have enabled our students to meet their personal‚ educational and pro fessional goals.”
Advisory committees with input from community leaders and local employers have helped Nash Community College remain responsive to local workforce and educational needs‚ Carver says.
Edgecombe Community College started in one small building in 1968 and then expanded to include campuses in Tarboro and Rocky Mount. Steady enrollment increases have characterized the college’s almost 40-year history. In 2006‚ some 9‚500 individuals chose Edgecombe Community College for their educational and training needs.
“Our customized industry training programs are designed around the local needs of our industries‚” says Dan Grimsley‚ dean of workforce development at the college. “Edgecombe Community College is called upon to offer high-level programs‚ such as Six Sigma certifications and other internationally recognized programs. Learning never ends and‚ hopefully‚ Edgecombe Community College is the catalyst and venue to assist students in meeting the workforce needs.”
A fourth option for students is the College of Adult and Professional Education. This branch of Shaw University‚ which was founded in Raleigh in 1865‚ is one of nine in North Carolina. The CAPE program is geared toward helping working adults obtain their undergraduate degrees.
“We have 110 students‚ and our faculty understands that most of them have families and jobs‚” says Dr. Marcellina Offoha‚ president of the Rocky Mount branch. “They take this into consideration by working around students’ schedules. We also give up to 27 hours of credit for life experience.”
Through these four institutions of higher education‚ post-high-school stu dents in Rocky Mount‚ Nash and Edgecombe counties are offered the opportunity to boost their job-market potential in a way that fits their lifestyles – whether that’s taking classes in the evening‚ studying online‚ enrolling in independent study or enjoying the bene fits of a traditional college experience.
Story by Bridget Huckabee
Photo by Ian Curcio
