VGCC Raking Up Awards: Business Administration program ranked among nation’s 25 best values
The Business Administration program at Vance-Granville Community College recently received recognition as one of the top 25 best values in its field across the United States. VGCC came in at number 22 on the list of the nation’s most affordable online business administration associate degrees published by Texas-based AffordableColleges.com.
The organization, which also recently recognized the VGCC Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education degree programs, ranked community college programs based on how they combined quality with affordability. VGCC was praised not only for its affordable tuition and financial aid options but also for its low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1.
At VGCC, students can complete the entire Business Administration degree online through the VOLT (Vanguard Online Learning through Technology) initiative, which is designed primarily with working adults in mind. The college also offers Business Administration courses in the traditional face-to-face format and in hybrid formats that combine online and on-campus instruction.
“We are honored to be recognized as an affordable, accessible, high-quality program that prepares students to be leaders in business,” said Carl Hann, who heads the Business Administration and Accounting programs at VGCC. “Our success is due to our outstanding faculty members who use educational technology in innovative ways.”
The Business Administration curriculum is designed to introduce students to the various aspects of the free enterprise system. Students are provided with a fundamental knowledge of business functions, processes, and an understanding of business organizations in today’s global economy. Course work includes business concepts such as accounting, business law, economics, management and marketing. Skills related to the application of these concepts are developed through the study of computer applications, communication, team building, and decision making.
In addition to the two-year degree in Business Administration, VGCC offers certificate programs in Business Management and Front Line Management. Eligible high school students can complete the Business Management certificate tuition-free through the “Career & College Promise” program.
Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information about Business Administration, contact Carl Hann at hannc@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3295.
DA Mike Waters welcomes new Assistant District Attorney
District Attorney Mike Waters welcomes new Assistant District Attorney Nicole G. Burnette to his office as of December 1, 2016.
Ms. Burnette was born and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She attended North Carolina State University on a full scholarship, where she double majored in political science and criminology. Ms. Burnette attended the University of Maryland School of Law, and graduated in May 2015, where she was honored with the Litigation and Advocacy Award, as well as the Public Interest Award. While in law school, Ms. Burnette served as a member of the trial team, an Articles Editor for the Journal of Race, Religion, Gender and Class, and served as Vice President for the Black Law Students’ Association.
Ms. Burnette resides in Creedmoor, North Carolina with her husband.
VGCC Work-Based Learning program partners with Wake Public Defender’s office
Students in the Criminal Justice Technology and Paralegal Technology programs at Vance-Granville Community College recently heard from a guest speaker, who spoke about his work in the justice system and about opportunities to jump-start their own careers while they are still students.
The speaker was Juan C. Bais, chief investigator for the Public Defender’s Office in North Carolina Judicial District 10 (Wake County), who has formed a new partnership with VGCC to offer Work-Based Learning (WBL) opportunities in his office.
WBL allows a student to gain relevant experience with an employer, while also earning academic credit that counts toward a degree. Many VGCC programs include WBL courses, either as a requirement or as an elective, as in the case of Criminal Justice Technology. WBL plays a role in VGCC’s five-year “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP) called “Advising in 3D: Dream, Design, Discover,” which is focused in part on improved career planning for students.
Bais learned about the program through his fellow investigator in the Public Defender’s Office, Gregory Porterfield, a former VGCC Paralegal Technology student. Both Bais and Porterfield are also former Raleigh Police Department officers. In his current position, Bais said his job is “to get the facts to help the attorneys in the public defender’s office, because when a defendant is appointed an attorney, the attorney may not have all the information they need.”
In order to help handle a large workload on a tight budget, District 10 Public Defender Charles F. Caldwell agreed to allow Bais to recruit a VGCC student to join their team through the WBL program. “It’s a win-win, for us and for the student, who will be getting credit,” Bais said. “I’m looking for a student who’s willing to work hard. I want them to work alongside me, see how it’s done and then do the work under my supervision, so they get real investigative experience that they can put on a resume.”
Bais added, “from what I hear, you are getting great preparation for the workforce at VGCC, and Work-Based Learning is a great opportunity for you.” His general advice to students in the criminal justice field is “to develop people skills, be dedicated and document everything.”
Porterfield also addressed the students, explaining that his office’s mission “is to make sure people are treated fairly, and that innocent people don’t go to jail…You have to be open-minded and not assume guilt or innocence in this line of work. I love to figure things out and put the puzzle pieces together.” He said that students going into law enforcement should always “go the extra mile” and “ask the additional question” so that their work holds up in court.
“Work-Based Learning offers our students work experience that connects directly to their majors,” according to Antoinette Dickens, who coordinates WBL while also heading up the Paralegal Technology program. “A Work-Based Learning experience is not only something that builds a student’s resume and skills, but it also often leads to a job after graduation. There’s nothing like that hands-on experience.”
For more information on Work-Based Learning at VGCC, contact Antoinette Dickens at dickensa@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3609.
VGCC Early Childhood program ranked in top 10 nationwide
The Early Childhood Education program at Vance-Granville Community College recently received recognition as one of the top ten best values in its field across the United States. VGCC came in at number eight on the list of the nation’s most affordable online early childhood degrees published by Texas-based AffordableColleges.com.
The organization, which also recently recognized the VGCC Criminal Justice program, ranked community college programs based on how they combined quality with affordability. VGCC was praised not only for its affordable tuition and financial aid options but also for its low student-to-faculty ratio of 16 to 1 and its technology resources. The organization’s stated mission is “to help students find a path to a rewarding, quality education that won’t leave them crippled by student debt.”
All of VGCC’s Early Childhood Education courses are offered either fully-online and/or in a hybrid format that combines online coursework with traditional face-to-face instruction. “After the spring 2017 semester, the only course that will not be offered fully-online will be our practicum course, in which our students apply what they’ve learned by working in an early learning or child care center under the supervision of qualified teachers,” explained Tracey Bennett Carter, who chairs the Education department at VGCC.
“We are excited that our program has been nationally recognized, which we attribute to our outstanding faculty, who maintain high academic standards to prepare students for the important work of nurturing and teaching young children,” Carter added.
The VGCC Early Childhood Education program is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
The Early Childhood Education curriculum prepares students to work with children from birth through age eight in diverse learning environments. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children. Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and child care programs; preschools; public and private schools; recreational centers; Head Start Programs; and school-age programs.
VGCC offers not only the two-year associate degree in Early Childhood Education, but also a three-semester diploma program and three certificate options, as well as a certificate in Infant/Toddler Care.
Registration is going on now for the spring 2017 semester at VGCC, which begins Jan. 9. For more information on Early Childhood Education, contact Tracey Bennett Carter at (252) 738-3471 or bennettt@vgcc.edu.
Attention Vance County Seniors and Juniors
Attention Vance County Seniors and Juniors, if you have been asked to participate in a WorkKeys review session please take advantage of it. You have been identified as a CTE concentrator. Congrats! You have an opportunity to earn a nationally recognized certificate valued by employers, did I mention national?
During the review sessions you will learn strategies for answering questions related to applied math, locating information and reading for information. These strategies will help you do well on the assessment in February as well as in your coursework and beyond. If you miss the review session you may contact Ms. Stevens, Career Development Coordinator, to find out how you can get information. Email: mstevens@vcs.k12.nc.us