FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC PLANS FOR RECORD FALL

SEMESTER CLASS ENROLLMENTS

            DANVILLE, VA, August 21, 2002 -- Danville Community College will be the place to be this fall as the college kicks off its 2002-2003 academic year with what is expected to be a record year for enrollment. Fall Semester classes will begin Thursday, August 22.     

"We are anticipating an exciting year," said Dr. B. Carlyle Ramsey, DCC President. " Our goal is to be the College of choice in our region providing exemplary educational programs and services in response to the needs of the individuals and organizations we serve. That's our vision. That's where we are headed."

On the heels of a record enrollment for Summer Session 2002, the college is also expecting a record number of students taking classes this fall. Preliminary data for Summer Session indicates a 9.1 percent increase in the head count (individuals taking at least one class) and a 21.3 percent increase in the Full-Time Equivalent enrollment (FTE). The FTE represents the number of full-time students there would be if all the credit hours taken by all students – full and part-time – were averaged together as if everyone were taking a full load (15 credits per semester for an academic year). Overall, more than 2,029 students enrolled for summer classes. In the Fall Semester, typically there are twice as many students.

The increase in student enrollment can be attributed to a number of factors, Ramsey said, including new grant initiatives; proactive outreach efforts such as the neighborhood centers in Volens, Danville, Gretna, and South Boston; and  higher unemployment rates which caused more individuals to take advantage of DCC programs to update or learn new skills.

            “Other reasons for the increase include larger high school graduating classes in the last year, and our commitment to training and retraining of new and existing industries,” Ramsey added.

Ramsey said a host of changes are on the horizon for the DCC community, including a new Student Information System, campus wide renovations, and the establishment of two new outreach and workforce development initiatives.

The new student information system will allow students greater access to their records through on-line services. The system is expected to be operational for the Spring Semester, Ramsey said.

“This new system will allow students to register for classes and view their schedules on-line,” Ramsey said. He added that all 23 of Virginia’s community colleges are moving or have moved in this direction.

In the area of workforce services, Ramsey cited the college’s success in attracting external funds. In July 2002, DCC was named a One-Stop Job Training Center, offering services through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), with funding provided through WIA Board for Region 17. The center provides job information, referrals and training resources all at one location. Persons, who are unemployed, or underemployed, are urged to contact the center. Bill O’Brien, who has worked with previous one stop centers, was recently named director of DCC’s One Stop Job Training Center.

“In the few weeks that the One Stop Center has been operational, we have seen significant numbers of persons utilizing the services,” Ramsey said. “We are pleased to provide this opportunity.”

The second new outreach and workforce initiative at DCC is the establishment of the Southern Piedmont Educational Opportunity Center. The SPEOC is funded through a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education through its TRIO postsecondary education programs. The SPEOC, operated in cooperation with Patrick Henry Community College and several other area institutions, will provide awareness of postsecondary educational opportunities, resources for financial aid, and career awareness. The college is currently advertising for staff for the Center, which will open in September.

“The Educational Opportunity Center will significantly expand access for persons who have not taken advantage of postsecondary education,” Ramsey said. “These two projects (One Stop Center and Educational Opportunity Center) will complement each other and greatly enhance the college’s ability to serve this region.”

Ramsey added that the recent employment of Scott Barnes, formerly of ABB in South Boston, as the new Director of the Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training, is a plus to the workforce development services at the college. RCATT is currently located at the Danville Area Technology Center (in the old Sears Building)

“Scott brings energy, enthusiasm and significant expertise to the Regional Center for Applied Technology and Training,” Ramsey added.

“These new initiatives will enable the college to more effectively address the three broad goals of (1) strengthening the workforce; (2) assisting with economic development; and (3) partnering in community development,” Ramsey said.   

Ramsey added that student success stories abound at DCC. For example, two students won national awards at 38^th National Leadership and Skills Conference and SkillsUSA Championships held in Kansas City, Mo., last June. Jason R. Dunkley of Hurdle Mills, NC, placed second in the nation in the precision machining technology contest, while Lucas R. Owen of Gretna, won the second place award in the industrial motor controls contest. In addition, DCC’s new baseball team, the DCC Knights, won the Virginia Community College System conference title in the college’s inaugural season. Also, students in the DCC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, international honor society, and the newly-formed chapter of Omega Alpha Omicron of the American Criminal Justice Association won honors at their respective international  and district meetings.

Topping off a year of changes at DCC will be the expected completion of campus-wide renovation projects. Students this fall will see new labs for the sciences and technology program areas. In addition, the Wyatt Building renovations are expected to be completed this fall. The Wyatt Building will contain most of the administrative offices and several classrooms and labs.

“The campus wide renovations will offer us more flexibility in providing state-of-the-art facilities,” Ramsey said. “This is really going to be an exciting year for us.”

Although Fall Semester classes begins August 22, late registration will be conducted  through August 28. For more information on course offerings, contact the Admissions Office, at (434) 797-2222, or click here.