DOBSON — The Surry Community College Board of Trustees opened its regular meeting Monday by supporting a Yadkin County commissioners’ resolution to fast-track construction of a proposed learning center the college would share with the county. The commissioners, not the college, would own the new building if a local bill were approved by the General Assembly allowing this.

College President Dr. David Shockley pointed out the bottom floor of the building would be used by the college as a satellite center while the upper floor would be used by Yadkin County to house various agencies and would be used as a center to promote agriculture in the area.

Shockley pointed out the land for the project was donated by the commissioners, who would offer the college a 99-year lease on the half of the property they would use. He said another benefit of construction being undertaken by the county was it was a faster process than the state system the college must use. He said the commissioners had indicated they hope to have the new building completed in two years.

Instructional Committee Chairwoman LaDonna McCarther presented the board with academic council program and policy proposals which were approved. Notable changes in policy included a change to the incomplete grade policy of the school. Shockley explained that incomplete grades are available to students with extenuating circumstances. Students assigned an incomplete on their transcript have one calendar year from the date the grade was issued to complete the necessary work.

If the necessary work is not completed, the incomplete will be changed to a grade of F. Students may ask for an exception in extreme circumstances from this policy from the vice president of student affairs.

Shockley also introduced two new hires to the college staff. Julie Pharr, who has previously worked as director of marketing and marketing manager for SouthData as well as coordinator for the Mount Airy Downtown Business Association and as a writer for The Mount Airy News, will serve as college marketing director. Randy Ledford, who comes to Surry Community from Davidson Community College, will serve as vice president of Student Development.

Faculty retirements approved by the trustees were electronics instructor Victor Bojarski and construction technology instructor John Young.

In the president’s report portion of the meeting, Shockley presented the college’s strategic plan with an added focus on meeting new and expanding industries’ needs with the school’s technical programs.

“This is a major focus for us and will continue to be a main focus for a long, long time,” said Shockley. He told the board the strategic plan extends until 2016 but it is “tweaked” annually and is updated in five-year increments.

A new portrait of Dr. William Dallas Herring was highlighted at the meeting as well. Shockley explained that Herring is regarded by many as the godfather of the community college system in North Carolina. He said all 58 community colleges in the system are holding events to honor Herring. The portraits were sponsored by Duplin Winery and by the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation.

Shockley pointed out the state’s community colleges are celebrating their 50th anniversary and SCC is celebrating its 50th year as a college as well. He said Herring set the tone for the system by advocating for community colleges to be within easy driving distance across the state. Herring was also a proponent of taking its students from “where they are to where they need to be.”

“Without him (Herring), I don’t think community colleges would exist as they do today and be what they are today,” said Shockley.

He also told the board Surry Community College’s Police Department in cooperation with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies, will sponsor a Multi-Agency Mass Incident Preparedness Drill on the college campus on Friday. This exercise will enable agencies charged with public protection to coordinate strategies for executing emergency plans and response. Emergency drills are important for ensuring public safety in the face of natural disaster, accidents and criminal activity.

Chief Marty Shropshire (SCCPD) and Eric Southern, supervisor with the Surry County EMS, have developed the scenario for the drill which is aimed at promoting collaborative partnerships with area agencies, training for rapid response and ensuring the safety of the public at-large. Students in the Basic Law Enforcement Training and Emergency Medical Training programs will participate in the drill as victims which will provide a real-time learning experience.

Outcomes of the training exercise will be used to evaluate and improve response plans while training a new generation of public servants. Persons may contact the SCC Public Information Office at 386-3269 for more information.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@civitasmedia.com or 719-1952.