VGCC Expands Online Computer Extension Program
Imagine sitting at home and completing computer courses that will lead to certification and maybe even promotions and raises. Or how about working on a business and industry management course, or a small business course. Or maybe you just want to learn how to get more from your personal computer.
All these are possible with about 150 online computer extension courses offered by Vance-Granville Community College.
In the past few years, VGCC’s computer extension program has offered about 100 courses online, according to Ann Behar, coordinator of the program. Basically, these were two types, the first being general computer courses such as Word, Excel, Access and others on Microsoft software, which are designed primarily for personal computer users.
The second category has been professional certification classes, those designed for people working with computers or those who want to become employed in information technology, according to Behar. These teach students a particular software and prepare them for certification exams. Classes are offered in Microsoft and Novell server software, in Cisco, Oracle, Java and several others.
“Online students come to us for a variety of reasons,” said Behar. “Sometimes, their work schedules or other responsibilities such as family make it difficult to attend one of our traditional classroom courses. Sometimes, they need training immediately. As long as someone has a computer and Internet connection, they can take an online class,” she added.
New at VGCC this fall will be online learning courses for business and industry. These include entrepreneurial and small business classes, as well as business administration and management courses. This fall, the college is offering courses in topics such as TurboTax, Grant Writing, Starting Your Own Home-Based Business, Principles of Sales Management and many more.
“We find that as companies are tightening their training belts, online classes are a great way for both employers and employees to get the training they need to stay current or expand their job knowledge,” Behar said. “And with online courses, the work can be done by the employee on their own or at work, and best of all training plans can be customized and developed for individuals.”
Behar emphasized that VGCC still offers numerous computer extension courses on all four of its campuses. New computers have been installed recently in the Franklin County and main campus extension labs, and the software has been upgraded on all campuses. Overall, Vance-Granville offers more than 200 computer extension courses.
A list of all computer extension courses offered by Vance-Granville Community College is in the fall edition of Arches, which have been mailed to all residences in the four counties served by the college and which are available on the main campus and at the satellite campuses in Granville, Franklin and Warren counties. Schedules are also available on the VGCC website at www.vgcc.edu , or interested persons may call the Computer Center at 252-492-2061, ext. 3417 or 3437 for information or to register for a class.Text
