VGCC Trustees Meet

The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees held their bimonthly meeting on Monday, May 14 at the Henderson campus of VGCC. At the meeting, Dr. G. Thomas Houlihan announced that he would leave the Board in June for an appointment on the State Board, and the Board unanimously approved a Warren County Liaison. The Board also voted to raise the rates for the day care center, honored SGA President Joan Ayscue, and heard an update on the college’s Distance Learning program.Houlihan Leaves BoardDuring the meeting, Dr. G. Thomas Houlihan of Oxford, a former Granville County Schools superintendent and a VGCC trustee since March 2005, announced that he would be leaving the Board to become a member of the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges. Dr. Houlihan’s term will officially end on June 30, 2007. The Board also unanimously approved the appointment of Clinton G. Alston to serve as the Warren County liaison on the Board. In other business, Gary Morgan, VGCC’s Vice President of Finance and Operations, announced that this would be his final meeting with the Board. Morgan will retire from the State on June 30 as well.Day Care Rates to IncreaseThe Board also voted to increase Day Care rates effective July 1, 2007 to cover the rising cost of operations. The college runs two award-winning day care facilities in conjunction with its early childhood program, which has been offered at the college for over 30 years. One facility is located on the main campus of the college in Henderson, while the other is operated on the Franklin County campus in Louisburg. VGCC awards certificates, diplomas and associate’s degrees in Early Childhood education.Ayscue Honored At the meeting, Joan Ayscue of Henderson, Student Government Association President and Student Trustee, was recognized and honored for her service to the college. Mrs. Ayscue graduated from the college on May 17 with an Associated in Applied Science degree in the Recreation and Leisure Studies program. She was also a key speaker at the graduation ceremonies. The Board honored her with a plaque for her dedication to the college and her one-year service on the Board.Harris Gives Presentation On Distance LearningDuring the meeting, Evelyn Harris, the college’s Director of Distance Learning, spoke to the Board on the Distance Learning program at VGCC. The Distance Learning program aims to link students off-campus with instructors on campus, creating a virtual learning environment via the Internet. Harris reported that in the fall of 2001, the college offered 11 courses online with 206 students enrolled. By the fall of 2006, that number had grown to 96 courses offered online and 1,287 students enrolled. Harris predicted that the program would continue to grow as it is one of the most popular program areas at the college.President Parker Announces Upcoming Board MeetingsVGCC President Randy Parker announced the 2007-2008 meeting calendar for the Board. The regular Board meetings are held bimonthly in the Board room on main campus. The meetings will be as follows: July 23, 2007; September 17, 2007; November 19, 2007; January 28, 2008; March 17, 2008; and May 12, 2008.The next meeting of the Board will be held Monday, July 23 at Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson. Above: Joan Ayscue of Henderson (left), Vance-Granville Community College SGA President/ Student Trustee, is recognized and honored for her service to the college by Donald C. Seifert, Sr., chairman of the Board, at the May 14 meeting of the VGCC Board of Trustees. (VGCC Photo)