Jacob Brintle, center, technology assistant in the distance education department, is recognized by the Surry Community College Board of Trustees for his work as the new Web site designer. He is pictured with Chair Gene Rees and President Dr. Deborah Friedman.
Greg Smith, director of occupational extension/special projects, is the new director of the CLEAR facility in Pilot Mountain effective immediately. Smith will maintain some of his former responsibilities particularly in dealing with special projects such as the annual taxidermy conference hosted by the college and events pertaining to the North Campus, the college’s presence at the Surry County Detention Center. His occupational extension responsibilities will shift to another full-time employee at the college.
“He has worked with all the different programs at the college in both curriculum and continuing education so he is very familiar with the college’s operations,” said Dr. George Sappenfield, vice president of corporate and continuing education, of the decision to move Smith.
Ray Hall, coordinator of computer skills training in continuing education, will be the new director of the CLEAR facility in Elkin effective Aug. 1. Hall’s previous responsibilities will fall to a new full-time computer skills instructor. The position was vacated last fall when an instructor moved from continuing education to curriculum and was never filled. The new hire will take on some of the responsibilities held by Hall.
“He was chosen because of his background with computers because the Elkin center will have two additional computer classrooms,” said Sappenfield. “With the two new centers, the IT department was going to be stretched thin. Ray has the background so he can assist with the maintenance of the computers.”
Both positions were filled by the President’s Cabinet from internal staff members in an effort to save money. Administrative staffing positions are covered by the Golden LEAF grant that made the facilities possible for two years. However, the college is already looking at how to fund these positions past that point.
“Given the budget situation, we were concerned about being able to maintain those positions after the two-year grant. We decided to utilize the people we have already on staff,” said Sappenfield. “We’re getting people in there who know how to do some things.”
Dean Gordon, director of the center for public safety and basic law enforcement training, asked the board to approve a request to align the college’s admission requirements to the same as the Justice Department. The legal council for the NC Community College System office told community colleges that they can no longer require students to submit a background check for admission into the program. This effects not only BLET students but also Certified Nursing Assistant students and other certificate programs.
However, the Justice Department requires BLET candidates to submit to a background check by code. If BLET programs do not have students perform a background check, the program can lose its accreditation.
“I want us to be able to continue to present this program,” said Gordon. “I am asking the board to look at adopting the entire admission policy from the Justice Department.”
“This is an issue that will have to be addressed in other departments of the college as well,” said Fred Johnson, board attorney. “I concur with your recommendation. Otherwise you would have a great program for educating criminals.”
Susan Pendergraft, vice president of administrative services, spoke to board members about the status of the college’s fleet of vehicles.
“We have some really old vehicles with a lot of miles on them,” she said of the need to look into ways to replace the vehicles. “We are looking at ways to beef up our fleet.”
In addition, the school’s insurance company has warned the college to get rid of all 15-passenger vans used to transport people by February of next year or it will face a $9,000 premium per year because of safety concerns associated with the vans. Pendergraft is looking at minivans as a possible alternative and may keep the 15-passenger vans to transport materials and equipment.
In other items:
n The college has decided to remove the food service area that has been serving Surry Early College High School of Design from the bottom of the T Building. Instead, those students will be served in the President’s Dining Room adjacent to the Knight’s Grill. Once the Shelton-Badgett NC Center for Viticulture and Enology opens in the fall, people who once used the President’s Dining Room for functions will be redirected to the new building’s grand hall.
n The facilities committee recommended against borrowing money to complete recommendations from the State Energy Services to become more energy efficient. The college did not receive the $200,000 grant because it has already been doing many of the things suggested so the committee did not feel it is necessary at this time.
n The SCC physical therapy assistant program received notice May 25 that it has been awarded accreditation.
n Dan Stone was appointed as the new chairman of the Board of Trustees effective July 1. Deidre Rogers received appointment as the new vice chair. If Rogers continues in her service to the board and completes the cycle to become chair, she will be the first chair of the board who is an SCC graduate.
n Andy Anderson and Ann Vaughn were appointed to two-year terms as trustee representatives to the SCC Foundation.
n SCC completed an internal equipment audit of 2,502 items which have to be tracked with a value of $7,631,681.06 and found that the only item missing is one LCD projector.
n SCC will begin undergoing a building value audit this year for the first time since 2005. The buildings and their contents will be audited for their replacement value.
n The board approved the policy on use of alcohol on campus to read that ABC permits must be presented to the college not less than 10 days prior to the event, a change from the previous requirement of 48 hours.
n According to Tony Martin, controller and chief financial officer, the college is in good shape finance wise with just more than two weeks left in the fiscal year for both the Surry and Yadkin campuses.
Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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