VGCC welcomes new trustee, celebrates staff-faculty scholarship drive
Vance-Granville Community College’s Board of Trustees brought on board a new member at its bi-monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 17, and received the results of the latest faculty and staff drive to benefit the VGCC Endowment Fund.
Dwight M. Frazier of Henderson, chief executive officer of Carolina Country Snacks, Inc., and Country Snacks Manufacturing, Inc., was sworn in by Ninth Judicial District Court Judge J. Henry Banks of Henderson. Frazier was appointed for a four-year term on the board by N.C. Governor Pat McCrory. He replaces John Foster of Henderson, who had served since July 1994. The snack manufacturer is a long-time supporter of the VGCC Endowment Fund through the annual golf tournament.
Eddie Ferguson, director of VGCC’s Endowment Fund , was joined by the co-chairs of the annual faculty and staff drive on Vance-Granville’s four campuses in announcing $21,441 was raised from among employees to support the mission of the college and students through scholarships.
The drive co-chairs were Jacquelin Heath, program head and instructor for the School-Age Education program; Steven Sievert, Computer Education instructor; and Amy O’Geary, director of student success.
VGCC awarded 339 scholarships at its annual awards ceremony last February. The funds raised by the faculty and staff this year will help with future scholarships.
Welding Technology Degree
The Curriculum Committee of the board, chaired by Trustee Michele Eaves Burgess, recommended board approval of an Associate in Applied Science Degree program in Welding Technology. VGCC currently offers a 38-credit-hour Welding diploma program .
The trustees approved adding the 64-credit-hour curriculum that will provide additional instruction for entry-level technicians in the welding and metalworking industries. Welding graduates holding an AAS degree will be eligible for jobs in construction, manufacturing, fabrication, sales, quality control and self-employment, according to Burgess.
The addition of the AAS degree program was a requirement of VGCC’s acceptance of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant , awarded in September 2013. With the help of the $1.75 million grant, the largest single competitive grant in VGCC history, the college is developing and enhancing innovative training programs for advanced manufacturing careers.
The TAACCCT grants are part of a nearly $2 billion initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor to expand targeted training programs for unemployed workers, especially those impacted by foreign trade.
Building 10 Update
Trustee Donald Seifert, chair of the Building Committee, reported that $65,090 has been transferred from the funds set aside for structural renovations at Main Campus to the Building 10 renovation project.
Seifert said the transfer has been approved by both Vance and Granville counties.
Bids were opened on Oct. 17 for the sewer system upgrade at the site located on Poplar Creek Road across from the college’s main entrance. The project was awarded to H.G. Reynolds Co., Inc., of Henderson, with a low bid of $122,800. The extra funds were added to state bond funds of $131,933 to complete the project.
Steve Graham, vice president of finance and operations, said the college expects to occupy the renovated building by Summer 2015.
Building 10 will house classrooms for Emergency Medical Services, Fire/Rescue Programs, Basic Law Enforcement Training and Law Enforcement In-Service training.
Other Action
In other action:
• Board Chair Deborah Brown announced that Danny W. Wright has been appointed by the Vance County Board of Commissioners to the seat previously held by Vance County Schools Superintendent Ronald E. Gregory. Wright will fill the unexpired term through 2018. Gregory had served since March 2007 when he was appointed to finish out the term for T.W. Ellis.
• The Warren County Board of Commissioners will be appointing a new liaison to the board of trustees to replace Ruby Downey, Brown announced.
• Theresa Chiplis, the newly re-elected president of the VGCC Student Government Association, was welcomed back to her seat on the trustee board. The president of the SGA serves as a student representative on the board. Chiplis graduated in May but has returned to VGCC to get another degree.
• The Vance County Board of Commissioners joined the VGCC trustees for a brief session prior to the regular board meeting. In addition to seeing a slideshow on recent events at the college, they heard from VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams and Board Chair Deborah Brown.
• Minutes of a called Investment Committee Meeting, chaired by Trustee Opie Frazier, Jr., were approved by the board. The Investment Committee reviews and approves account transfers of college investments on behalf of the board, according to Frazier. The college has total assets of $2.7 million in investments as of Nov. 17, according to the report.
• New board policies on class attendance, the acceptance of electronic signatures and the Affordable Care Act were approved after recommendation from the Executive Committee, chaired by Brown.
• Trustee Sara Wester, chair of the Personnel Committee, reported on recent hirings, retirements and resignations.
• Ethics Training for board members has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. in the Board Room on Friday, Nov. 21.
• In her report to the board, Dr. Williams announced plans for Vanguard Night, to be held Dec. 3, when the VGCC men’s basketball team hosts Louisburg College. The public is invited to the event at Aycock Recreation Center in Henderson. Pre-game activities will begin at 6 p.m. with tip-off at 7 p.m.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held on Jan. 26, 2015.
Above: VGCC Board of Trustees chair Deborah F. Brown (left) accepts a symbolic check for $21,441 from the leaders of the VGCC Endowment Fund Faculty and Staff Drive at the November 17 Board meeting. The drive co-chairs were, starting second from left, School-Age Education program head/instructor Jacquelin Heath, Computer Education instructor Steven Sievert and Director of Student Success Amy O’Geary. (VGCC photo)
Above: District Court Judge J. Henry Banks Jr. of the Ninth Judicial District administers the oath of office to Vance-Granville Community College’s newest trustee, Dwight Frazier of Henderson, on Monday evening at the board’s regular meeting. From left are Judge Banks, Dwight Frazier and fellow trustee L. Opie Frazier, Jr., also of Henderson. The Fraziers are first cousins. (VGCC photo)
