FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC SETS NEW PROGRAMS

FOR 2006 - 07 ACADEMIC YEAR

            DANVILLE, VA, August 17, 2006 -- Danville Community College begins the new academic year this month with three new programs to enrich both students and the community.

            The new programs are: Technical Studies – Polymer Manufacturing Technology, an Associate in Applied Science Degree program, Residential Design and Estimation, a Certificate program, and the Horticulture Career Studies Certificate.

            Dr. Chris Ezell, Vice President of Academic and Student Services, says all of the programs are designed to meet the service area’s training needs. He adds that a lot of thought and preparation have gone into planning these programs.

            “These programs are designed to prepare the community for the occupational opportunities in the region, as opposed to the transfer programs which center on academics and eventually transferring to a four-year college,” says Ezell. “These three programs offer a quicker learning period and are geared toward providing good workers to area companies.”

A full-time student may complete the Residential Design and Estimation certificate program in one year. Some of the employment opportunities for graduates of this program include: draftsman, construction estimator, construction planner, sales technician, surveying assistant, and/ or site inspector.

            “We expect this program to expand within the next two years to match the well-rounded role of the area’s builders,” says Ezell.

            Dr. Ed White, Dean of the Business and Engineering Technologies Division, adds that the new Residential Design and Estimation program offers another opportunity for displaced workers and/or Trade Act students.

While DCC’s Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Program is the original two-year diploma program in this field, it has a heavy math requirement, says White.

            “A large number of students need additional math before they can complete the program’s required Pre-Calculus, and Calculus 1 and 2 courses,” explains White. “If students need remediation in math, it can take almost a full year to fulfill the math requirements for the program. So, for example, many students with Trade Act benefits can’t finish the program’s requirements in the two year allotted time table.”

            Sandy Saunders, Administrative and Office Specialist II in the Counseling Office, agrees that many displaced workers and Trade Act students test into developmental math, English and reading courses simply because they have been out of school for several years.

            “Some Trade Act students have been out of school for 15, 20, or even 30 years,” explains Saunders. “The developmental courses serve as refresher classes to help students have success in their program of study.”

As the driving force behind the new Residential Design and Estimation program, White says James Adkins, Instructor of General Engineering and Drafting & Design, talked to faculty, counselors, and the area’s construction industry about initiating a shorter program for students looking for a quicker turnaround. Hence, the new Residential Design and Estimation program was developed, says White.

            However, White explains that the Residential Design and Estimation program is not a compromise or “watered-down” version of the college’s Computer-Aided Drafting and Design program.

            “The new program focuses more on the architectural design than the other program,” says White. “This new program will give the students ‘sellable’ skills. Local businesses have been excited about the upcoming program. This shows the potential for good employment opportunities.”

Another program geared to enhance the area’s employment potential is DCC’s new two-year Technical Studies – Polymer Manufacturing Technology program.  Ezell says this associate degree program is designed to teach students valuable skills for employment in the plastics and polymer industry. A polymer is defined as a chemical compound with a high molecular weight consisting of a number of structural units lined together by covalent bonds.

DCC is no stranger to this technology, adds Jeff Arnold, Director of Business, Industry, and Economic Assistance in the Workforce Services Office. DCC has labs with rapid proto-typing (Selective Laser Sintering [SLS]) injection molding and extrusion machines, explains Arnold. These machines were purchased with grant funding and are foundational machines for the Technical/Studies Polymer program.

“The SLS machine can take a three dimensional drawing and produce the part while the injection molding machine takes a mold and builds the part,” says Arnold.

Arnold explains that DCC conducted a study of the polymer/plastics, film extrusion and injection molding industries currently available in the area almost four years ago and decided to develop the Technical Studies/Polymer program to provide a qualified and trained workforce.

“We looked at the major plastics/polymer companies, such as Essell Propak and Intertape Polymer, and film exrtrusion companies, such as Presto Products in Halifax County, in order to create a climate for economic development,” says Arnold. “In addition to helping the existing agencies find qualified and trained people, we hope the program will help to attract other businesses and industries to relocate to this area.”

 Arnold says students who are interested in manufacturing with an aptitude to providing equipment maintenance will be successful in the program. The program requires completion of at least 68 credits with a grade point average of 2.0 or better.

Ezell says the apprenticeship program within the Technical Studies/Polymer Manufacturing Technology curriculum will allow students the showcase their knowledge to potential employers.

            “This program will meet the needs of the growing plastics/polymer companies in the area,” says Ezell. “We hope this new program will help attract other companies, such as Essell Propak and Intertape Polymer, to this area.”

            Jerry Franklin, Director of Manufacturing and Technical Services, says the Technical Studies – Polymer Manufacturing Technology program will be available for student enrollment by the spring semester 2007.

            “At this point we are doing custom training for industry during the fall semester and have plans to start the first cohort of Associate degree students in the Spring Semester,” Franklin says.

            The third new program, Horticulture Career Studies, also meets the region’s workforce needs by preparing students for entry-level positions in agriculture and plant management, says Dr. Wade Davenport, Dean of the Arts and Sciences Division. He notes that area high school administrators and teachers, the faulty at Virginia Tech, and DCC all recognized the need for a Horticulture program in this area.

            “We are responding to the need,” says Davenport. “Our goal is to develop a trained workforce that will attract large greenhouses that will grow specialty plants to this area.”

            The program’s focus is to equip graduates with a basic understanding of the horticulture industry. A minimum of 12 credits are required for successful completion of the program. Davenport says the good news is that this is a fast track program, which means it can be completed in less than one year of study.

            For more information about the three new programs of study at DCC, please contact the following persons: Residential Design and Estimation – James Adkins, 434.797.8436; Technical Studies/Polymer Manufacturing Technology – Jerry Franklin, 434.797.6437; or Horticulture – Dr. Wade Davenport, 434.797.8402.