RCCC leaders talk R3 Center anniversary, enrollment

The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Board of Trustees met at the North Carolina Research Campus this week for its January meeting, where it discussed items that included the nursing program’s move there, the R3 Center’s five-year anniversary and enrollment for the spring semester.

Before and after the meeting, trustees and staff members for the college toured the nursing program facilities in the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) building at the research campus.

The licensed practical nursing and registered nursing programs at the north and south campuses moved to the research campus this semester. The college decided last August to move the program there for its additional space and to have the program under one roof. The space in the building was originally meant to house the agricultural biotechnology program, which had been postponed.

The college said in August that the nursing program would stay in the building for at least a few years.

Cathy Norris, director of nursing education at RCCC, told board members and staff this week that being in the new space has been wonderful, especially since the program was able to consolidate its resources.

She added that the building is quiet, which is good for testing, and the location is central for students.

“Students have been very pleased,” Norris said.

The associate degree nursing program was also recognized at the board meeting because all of its 2011 graduates passed their National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX).

During the meeting, RCCC also recognized the five-year anniversary of its R3 Center, which was established to help displaced workers and people who are unemployed or under-employed. The center has assisted more than 9,000 people and provided more than 33,000 appointments for its free career programs and services over the last five years, said Jeanie Moore, vice president of advancement and corporate education for RCCC.

“These people are coming back three to four times,” Moore said.

Bruce Potts, an RCCC graduate who also took workshops at the R3 Center after he was laid off from Freightliner several years ago, spoke to the board about his experience.

“If I compare myself to a cake … the R3 Center was the decorative icing on top of that cake,” Potts said.

He added that his experience with the R3 Center gave him confidence and the ability to stand out from other job candidates.

President Carol Spalding said the college was proud of Potts, and she said later in the meeting that his story showed that candidates have a better chance of getting a job when they have more skills.

“We’re worried people are losing hope,” Spalding said.

She said that as the board discussed this semester’s enrollment, which reflected a drop from 7,067 students taking curriculum classes in the 2011 spring semester to 6,500 students this spring semester.

Gaye McConnell, vice president of student services and enrollment for RCCC, said the numbers are not final, and they are 38 percent higher than enrollment five years ago.

“Historically, our increases were related to unemployment,” McConnell said. “What we are seeing now in Rowan and Cabarrus (counties) is a dip in unemployment.”

She said some students are also cutting back on expenses because they are obtaining part-time jobs, or their unemployment benefits have expired.

McConnell added that, in the fall 2011 semester, the North Carolina Community College System as a whole saw a drop in curriculum student enrollment.

She said the slight drop in enrollment will allow RCCC to look at program development, and Carl Short, chairman of the board, agreed.

“The rapid increase in enrollment we’ve experienced over the last few years was unsustainable,” Short said. “We couldn’t handle the growth if it continued. We’re glad it leveled off a bit…We hope to have the opportunity to do more program development.”

Spalding added that the lower enrollment should not have a financial impact on the college.

Contact reporter Jessica Groover: 704-789-9152