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Trustees Board Discusses New Courses, Construction

Approval of requests for extension course offerings to immured groups, an overview of new construction projects, and a review of a national survey directed to community college trustees headed the business agenda when the Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees met on Nov. 17.

John T. Church, Sr., presided over the session in the board room on Main Campus.

The members approved a recommendation from Henrietta Clark, curriculum committee chairperson, to provide several new extension classes requested at the Low Security Correctional Institute and the Federal Correctional Institute at Butner.

Pending state approval, small business and industrial heating and air classes may be taught to LSCI inmates, while small and major appliance repair and small engine repair courses may begin in January at FCI.

Vance-Granville may not offer these courses even after they are OK’d by the state, but the school will have that option. The state provides most of the funding for the courses, with some assistance from the prisons, according to Dr. Ben F. Currin, VGCC president. Currin noted that many of those incarcerated at the facilities are short-term inmates who will soon be back on the streets.

“Many also are illiterate and have no marketable skills, which reduces their chance of getting gainful employment,” Currin said. “If they can get an education, it gives them a chance to get back on the right track.”

Building committee chairman David Brooks reported on construction progress for the new satellite campus in Franklin County, where the foundation is being laid and other structural work is underway.

In addition, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has made available $66,640 for construction of entrance ways for the new campus. “We will accept bids for this project,” Brooks announced.

The college also can now accept bids on Parking Lots A and B for $94,699, leaving Building 3 and the parking lot for that building to be constructed at a late date, he said.

At the same time, Vance-Granville has requested DOT to construct turn lanes at both entrances to Main Campus.

Next, the board approved the full-time employment of Rodney G. Venable of Henderson as Chief GED Examiner in Continuing Education, effective Oct. 20. Michele Burgess, personnel committee chairman, stated Venable will be replacing Yvonne Alston, who is now working as a Student Support Services counselor.

The remainder of the meeting was given over to review of a national Association of Community College Trustees survey seeking input from its member boards on the basic policy questions facing trustees as they discharge their responsibilities to their colleges and communities.