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Friday, June 12, 2009 4:01 PM Wilson Community College's heavy equipment operator program in peril State budget crunch could affect high school courses and jobs at college By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer For years, Wilson Community College has touted the fact that it's the only community college in the state with a program to teach people how to run heavy construction equipment. But the program, which has drawn students from up and down the East Coast, and its instructors could be lost due to the state's budget crunch. Students and instructors are contacting state legislators in an attempt to save the program. Heavy equipment is one of several high-cost programs that state community college leaders have put on the chopping block. Final decisions about the program's future won't be made until the state finalizes a budget. But college officials have already decided to eliminate the heavy equipment program's Saturday option starting with the fall semester. Rusty Stephens, Wilson Community College president, met with employees last week and outlined possible pending program and employee cuts that could come. Stephens discussed what is at this point the worst case scenario. The budget cuts could go deep enough to eliminate the college's ability to have its instructors teach courses at the local high schools. In terms of potential employee reductions, the college could lose administrators in its community service, compensatory education, law enforcement and fire training programs. Denise Sessoms, the college's vice president for instruction and student services, said more than 200 high school students are registered to take courses through the college next school year. Sessoms said she has met with principals and at this point the college and school system are moving forward with plans for the fall schedule. Stephens said they are seeking clarification from the state on whether the college could run some of the high school classes on a self-supporting basis, which means students would pay for the classes, instead of taking them for free. The college would then ask community leaders and groups to help students cover the tuition cost for the high school courses. Plans for the Wilson Early College Academy are also moving forward even though the college and Wilson County Schools don't know if it will be funded by the state. The academy, which was approved by the State Board of Education in March, will be the school district's fourth high school and it will be housed on the college's campus. Wilson Community College receives its funding from two sources: the state and the county. Stephens said the college faces a 15 to 18 percent state funding reduction. Some of the cuts are in categorical programs, such as the heavy equipment course, while other cuts are in unspecified areas. Altogether, Stephens expects the college could start next fiscal year with about $1 million less in state funds than this fiscal year. Funding reductions of that scale hurt given the fact that historically people turn to community colleges looking for the chance to reinvent themselves in terms of careers during recessions. Curtis Avery Jr. of Wilson is one of those students. He enrolled in the heavy equipment program in April 2007 after leaving his commercial printing job at IWCO Direct in Elm City before the plant closed in October 2008. Avery heard about the possible program cuts from his instructors last week. Avery said he signed on for the heavy equipment program because he thought it would lead to a job given all the talk from the federal level about rebuilding the nation's infrastructure with the stimulus money. Now, Avery is left considering his options. He moved to Wilson from Zebulon so he'd be closer to the campus. Plus, Avery said he couldn't afford the cost of commuting. "I have no plan B," he said. About 15 of the current students are displaced workers, said Tim Stutler,a heavy equipment instructor. Stutler said the students are trying to start a new career but now they're being told it's over. Stutler said about 15 students won't be able to finish the program if it's eliminated. Right now, the program has 21 full-time students. There are people waiting to get into the program. The Saturday class was used mainly by cities around the state as a means of getting their employees certified for insurance purposes to use different equipment and to help the employees move through the ranks of equipment operators, Stutler said. He said they have talked to people with the cities of Durham, Greenville and Raleigh, for example, and let them know the Saturday class has been cut. Stutler said students can't afford the cost of going to a private school. He said private schools run 8 to 11 weeks and can cost students $10,000 to $14,000. Compare that cost to $541 per semester at the college, he said. Sessoms said if they get the budget and have the money for the Saturday course then it will be offered. But, right now, Sessoms said the money has to be saved to operate the full-time curriculum courses. "We are trying to get everybody involved in it and let people know we don't want to lose this program that's been in place for over 50 years," said Dan Dupree, another heavy equipment instructor. Dupree said he thinks the state should be adding to the heavy equipment program instead of dropping it. Dupree said he wants to keep his job. But, like Avery, he's questioning the logic of dropping a trade program. The state buys the equipment for the program. Sessoms said the state pays for the equipment, mechanics, equipment repairs and fuel. The state does not pay for the instructors. She said the state has been cutting the program's funding for the past several years. The college was receiving around $500,000 per year and the amount is now around $300,000 per year. Stutler said the state funding was right at $341,000 this year. Sessoms said there has not been money to buy new equipment in two years. "A lot of the equipment needs work done to it," Dupree said. College officials will continue to appeal to private companies for help with repairs and equipment donations as they have done over the years. If budget cuts force the college to eliminate programs, the college will offer career counseling and help those students find another area of study they might be interested in pursuing. Plus, college officials are looking at adding some new programs. For example, a new housing weatherization courses could be offered as early as September. creech@wilsontimes.com | 265-7822 |
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agree said...
Maybe some house cleaning, and starting anew will help matters. If you know what I mean!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Jennie said...Maybe some house cleaning, and starting anew will help matters. If you know what I mean!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 10:37 PM
To: Overtaxed in Wilson- That is your opinion in which you are entitled too, but being a former student, I respectfully disagree with you.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 8:19 PM
To, Agree & Jennie Do you realize the # of students that attend WCC? With the on-line classes included there are over 8000 students attending. Yes, that is right thousand. In addition, in times of high unemployment the community colleges swell with applications from laid off workers. As for those 4 year schools you spoke of I graduated from one of those very schools. I can assure you the language, and professors are the same way. When you reach that point in your life, it is up to the student to take responsibility for the work that is due. There are bad apples in every bunch and WCC is no exception. However, I think you are wrong in your assessment of WCC. For the record, I do not attend nor am I employed there.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Will someone answer this question for me: WHY IS MONEY BEING TAKEN FROM EDUCATION, WHAT CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at 9:38 AM
I agree with Jennie we don't need community colleges simply because they draw the rift raft of the city. I attended the community college a while back, and what I noticed was most of the people were there just to get the free grant money. Once they received that, they would leave before the semester was over. The profanity was out of this world. Students walked around cussing and saying whatever. They showed no respect, but what surprised me even more was the fact that the instructors didn't give a care. The reason being, some of them were CUSSING WORST THAN THE STUDENTS RIGHT IN THE CLASSROOM. THEY DIDN'T SHOW RESPECT EITHER. Anyone who is really interested in getting a good education, and progressing in life should seek out four year accredited schools like Barton, ECU, NCCU, AND OTHERS.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 1:13 PM
